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Alaska to Patagonia

Bikepacking the Length of the Americas

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Between 2016 and 2023, Hana and Mark cycled 51,500km from the north coast of Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, encompassing 16 countries, over 20 different bikepacking routes, and a ton of exploring well off the beaten track.

We were on the road for just over four years, stitching together a route that stayed off paved highways and in the back country and mountains as much as possible, generally following the American Cordillera (Continental Divide), linking together the classic bikepacking routes, and researching our own routes for the vast sections between. Some of these we have published here and on Bikepacking.com.

Route Summary

Alaska to Panama & Cuba 2016-2017

The ride began on June 6, 2016 with the arctic Dalton Highway and the Denali, Taylor and Top of the World Highways. We then crossed Canada via the Klondike, Alaska, Stewart Cassiar and Yellowhead Highways, through to the Icefields Parkway which we followed down to Banff. From there we joined the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, mostly through the cold fall months, down to Hachita, New Mexico; just short of the Mexican border.

We then headed west across the deserts of South Western USA to San Diego, arriving in early December 2016. The incredible Baja Divide came next followed by a circuitous route through Mexico’s altiplano and the southern Sierra Madre. From Chiapas, after five months in Mexico, we crossed into Peten, Guatemala then to Belize and back into Guatemala, which we crossed from east to west into the highlands. A cross country adventure through Honduras followed, then Nicaragua (briefly), Costa Rica and Panama. In late November 2017 we flew to Cuba to ride the Ruta Mala (3 weeks), and then onto Cartagena, Colombia.

South America 2018–2020

We spent 4.5 months exploring Colombia before heading onto the Trans Ecuador and Tres Volcanes Mountain Bike Routes, which took us through to Peru (mid 2018) and its endless mountains and rich culture. We were enamoured with Peru, spending a year there, riding the classic bikepacking routes, as well as creating our own Camino del Puma (which entered Bolivia briefly) in the south of the country. We spent roughly four months based in Arequipa and Cusco and during the latter part of the wet season made a 6-week side trip by bike and boat to the Amazon basin, following ancient Inca roads (short film here) along the way.

Three months in Bolivia saw us visit the Cordillera Apolobamba, and following bikepacking routes to, and beyond, La Paz. We finished off Bolivia with the Lagunas Route into Chile and San Pedro de Atacama, where we then picked up the incredible Ruta de los Seis Miles (early December 2019) which took us through the Argentine puna.

From the end of the Seis Miles (Guandacol, Argentina) we zigzagged over the Andes between Argentina and Chile a further three times to Santiago. There we made a bus transfer 1000km south to Puerto Varas, in order to ride through southern Patagonia in late summer and autumn, but it was in Coyhaique, Chile that the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to our travels and we returned to New Zealand for nearly three years.

Argentina & Chile 2022-2023

In November 2022 we finally returned to South America, resuming the journey in Mendoza, Argentina and heading south in order to make up the latitude we’d missed on the bus. We explored the arid eastern cordillera as we headed south to Paso Pichachen, then Chile’s volcanoes towards San Martin, where we picked up the Patagonian Beer Trail. The Carretera Austral shaped most of our ride to Cochrane, but we made quite a few detours. From Cochrane we crossed over Paso Roballos, then back over Paso Rio Mayer and through to the famous peaks of El Chalten. We arrived in Ushuaia on the 28th April after a further 5 months on the road, having overlapped with very little of our original route.

Maps & Routes

Alaska to Ushuaia

→ 51,500 km

→ 16 countries

Review our ride, read blog posts or download the route GPX in bite size chunks.

View & download sections

Alaska to Ushuaia

→ 2016-2020

→ 2022-2023

Simplified Google My Map of the route with different phases and vehicle connections shown.

show me the route

Alaska to Ushuaia

→ New routes

→ Alternatives

Ride With GPS Collection of our new routes, variations, and useful connections between well established routes. All free to download.

view & download sections

bikepacking e-book

How do we plan, prepare & navigate for such a journey?

Bikepacking & Off-road Cycle Touring Guide

Our e-book provides a tool kit of skills and knowledge for cyclists who want to get off the beaten track and undertake extended bikepacking tours, with a focus on travelling light. While the information is designed for cyclists planning long distance off-road tours, it contains many tips that are applicable in any bikepacking scenario, long or short. US$19.99

238

Pages

200+

Photographs

Read more about Mark & Hana

mark watson photographer

Mark Watson

Navigator / Photographer

Mark is a New Zealand-based photographer and author specialising in landscape, adventure and travel photography. He has a professional background in publishing and graphic design. His passion for climbing, cycling and photography have taken him all over New Zealand and many places overseas in search of the perfect move, the ultimate track and epic light.

In 2013 Mark co-authored his first book, Our Mountains, incorporating over 100 images featuring 15 New Zealand mountains. This was followed in 2015 by the acclaimed Te Araroa – Walking New Zealand's 3000 km trail – a photographic exploration of the landscapes of New Zealand's long distance trail. In September 2016, Photographing Aoraki Mount Cook – A guide to the best walks and photography locations, was published.

Mark's photos have been been published internationally in books, magazines, advertising, catalogues, calendars and websites. He is a regular contributor to Wilderness Magazine.

Mark is a big believer in synergy between partners: that by combining the skills of two you can achieve more. To the team he brings an unquenchable curiosity and drive to explore, an open mind, and an endless stream of ‘what’s next’ ideas – combined with a drive to document and share his and Hana’s adventures to a wide audience, in the hope of encouraging people off the couch and into the outdoors.

Hana Black

Logistics / Language

Hana’s love of exploring the great outdoors inspired her career as an outdoor clothing designer and developer for several well known New Zealand businesses including Earth Sea Sky, Cactus Equipment and Kathmandu. It has also led her on many forays into the mountains and wilderness, both backpacking and bikepacking, often putting her own creations to the test.

One of her most notable achievements has been completing the 3000 km Tour Aotearoa length of New Zealand brevet solo in twenty days in early 2016 - the perfect training ride for her current day job as a trans-continental bikepacker.

Hana contributes her organisational skills to the team by focusing on logistics. Ensuring chocolate and caffeine requirements can be met in remote locations involves detailed map reading and careful calculations between resupply points. Communication with locals and playing a starring role in Marks many photography sessions are also top priorities.

If you find our content informative or inspirational, you’re welcome to show us some love with a donation or by purchasing our bikepacking guide.

Donate to Mark & Hana's Expedition Fund

Maps & Routes

Review our ride, or download GPX.

Google My Map, showing phases and transfers.

Ride With GPS Collection of new routes & variations for download.

bikepacking e-book

How do we plan, prepare and navigate for such a journey?

Our e-book provides a tool kit of skills and knowledge for cyclists who want to get off the beaten track and undertake extended bikepacking tours, with a focus on travelling light. While the information is designed for cyclists planning long distance off-road oriented tours, it contains many tips that are applicable in any bikepacking scenario, long or short. US$19.99.

Read more about the book

Latest blog post from
Alaska – Patagonia

Read more about Mark & Hana

mark watson photographer

Mark Watson

Navigator / Photographer

Mark is a New Zealand-based photographer and author specialising in landscape, adventure and travel photography. He has a professional background in publishing and graphic design. His passion for climbing, cycling and photography have taken him all over New Zealand and many places overseas in search of the perfect move, the ultimate track and epic light.

In 2013 Mark co-authored his first book, Our Mountains, incorporating over 100 images featuring 15 New Zealand mountains. This was followed in 2015 by the acclaimed Te Araroa – Walking New Zealand's 3000 km trail – a photographic exploration of the landscapes of New Zealand's long distance trail. In September 2016, Photographing Aoraki Mount Cook – A guide to the best walks and photography locations, was published.

Mark's photos have been been published internationally in books, magazines, advertising, catalogues, calendars and websites. He is a regular contributor to Wilderness Magazine.

Mark is a big believer in synergy between partners: that by combining the skills of two you can achieve more. To the team he brings an unquenchable curiosity and drive to explore, an open mind, and an endless stream of ‘what’s next’ ideas – combined with a drive to document and share his and Hana’s adventures to a wide audience, in the hope of encouraging people off the couch and into the outdoors.

Hana Black

Logistics / Language

Hana’s love of exploring the great outdoors inspired her career as an outdoor clothing designer and developer for several well known New Zealand businesses including Earth Sea Sky, Cactus Equipment and Kathmandu. It has also led her on many forays into the mountains and wilderness, both backpacking and bikepacking, often putting her own creations to the test.

One of her most notable achievements has been completing the 3000 km Tour Aotearoa length of New Zealand brevet solo in twenty days in early 2016 - the perfect training ride for her current day job as a trans-continental bikepacker.

Hana contributes her organisational skills to the team by focusing on logistics. Ensuring chocolate and caffeine requirements can be met in remote locations involves detailed map reading and careful calculations between resupply points. Communication with locals and playing a starring role in Marks many photography sessions are also top priorities.

If you find our content informative or inspirational, you’re welcome to show us some love with a donation or by purchasing our bikepacking guide.

Donate to Mark & Hana's Expedition Fund

Contact +64 2040132232