[sandcruiser]

After spending this weekend getting to know a great couple who is en-route from Rhode Island to Argentina, and after having met several other Pan-American Cruiser travelers, I thought I'd start a thread with some links to sites.

Eventually I hope to put in some more info about how-to and what-to pack and stuff of that nature, but for tonight I just thought I'd get the thread started.

oh, first: if anyone finds themselves in Northern Costa Rica, travelling, and needs/wants to say hi... my cellphone number here is 506 376 6278 my email is steve at sandcruiser dot com I've got plenty of tools, some good parts contacts, a little bit of knowledge about repairs and an ample supply of talkative-ness. Oh, and a washing machine/dryer. Most of the time we've got a spare room, but we get a lot of visitors, so I can't always promise it is available.

Anyhow

Our site is www.sandcruiser.com I think it is pretty good and has some good info.

We've just met the fine folks of www.oladream.com they are headed towards Panama as of Nov 06.

We met up with the www.balum.com folks a few years ago. I think they are still in Valle de Bravo, Mexico.

www.newcruiser.ca stayed with us for a night or two some while ago and definitely win the award for most-modified expedition vehicle that I've seen so far.

www.ihana.com - we never met them, but they've got a great site with lots of pictures demonstrating how Landy's get stuck a lot (so can cruisers, be careful out there!)

www.twogypsies.com didn't drive a cruiser either, but we have had a lot of fun comparing travel notes over the years. Mostly Mexico content.

http://www.gefi-travel.ch/home.cfm Roland, the Swiss Cruiser got to know a number of folks on ih8mud, including us, when he was in California. We barely overlapped with him later when he was down here in Costa Rica, I don't recall the reasons exactly, but he only spend a short time in Tamarindo.

I'm sure that there are many more people who have done the Central/South America trip.... hoepfully this thread will fill up with information over time.

Thanks to everyone who has helped us out in the past!

Steve (Sandcruiser) Broyles
Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica

[Silverscout]

Steve. Much like many other vehicle dependent travelers (or armchair travelers), you've provided years of fuel for the travel fire. I've even e-mailed you a few times my self. Although you guys are settled down a bit form your wanderlust days, the site is still the shiznit.

Keep up the good work and thanks for the links.

[sandcruiser]

Thanks. With a little luck, we may be adding some miles to our travels this spring. Thinking about doing a Bay Area to Alaska trip. Mostly highway :( but hopefully in a cruiser, at least.

[hks3sgte]

nice thread! My dream is to travel to Patagonia with a diesel 60 series.

This has a few sites:
http://www.africa-overland.net/americas.htm

Planetincognita.com was a good one also but seems to be dead...

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Around the world in a 4Runner:

http://www.travelhead.com/trip/

He's finished for now I guess, but a cool site still.

[dieselcruiserhead]

HEre is another one.. John Braser at proffitts cruisers who has been down to mexico and guatamala in cruisers and I went to a presentation of theirs here in Park City before they left... I honestly never thought they would make it with such a beast of a truck powered by only a 3B diesel, but they have gotten pretty far in Central America... Can read all about it here...

Anyway,
http://nrpw.com/

[karoja]

If you come through Guatemala, give us a holler at http://www.4x4guatemala.org, or e-mail me at mailto:karl.jacobs@monkeybaymarina.com..

[sandcruiser]

Hey Karoja, there are some folks in an HJ61 in Guatemala right now
www.educruiser.com

Their site is in French, but Eric types English too.

[Diescipel]

Originally Posted by sandcruiser

Thanks. With a little luck, we may be adding some miles to our travels this spring. Thinking about doing a Bay Area to Alaska trip. Mostly highway :( but hopefully in a cruiser, at least.

If you come via the coast (Hwy 101), let me know.

B

[TEPUI]

I'm located in Santiago, Chile. If any of you ever come through Chile I'm happy to help with anything within my reach, from lodging (with indoor parking) to parts/repairs.

See ya!

[Panmundo-Tobias]

Hi guys!
...and here is our site: www.panmundo.com - the roadbook for our 2-years world-trip in a Land Cruiser HDJ82 Diesel... We made it to San Diego so far - in January we head down towards Tierra Del Fuego...

It would be great to meet up with you!

Btw: the guys from Ihana.com are really cool - I met Tom and Barry in Zurich, Switzerland... They gave us a lot of inspiration for our world-trip (and made sure that we did not take a Landy but a Cruiser :-)

Hope to hear from you!
Tobias

[Alaska Ranger]

Sandcruiser - if and when you get to your ALASKA trip, make sure you include the Denali Highway on your route, and stop by and we'll take great care of you.

That goes for all other of you long-distance Cruisers, too

'Course, maybe Jenny and I.....and VoxyTheMalamute....will pass through Costa Rica en route to Patagonia before you get up here ......if I can get the BJ40 in that kind of shape. SandCruiser and Tepui: What is the status of ToyDiesel techs in Costa Rica and in Chile?

By the way, it was great to see once again a link to "Gefi". Roland was here - gosh, 3? 4? 5? years ago....he was so happy to buy eggs from me (well, from my hens ). I think I heard from him in Peru.

[cruiser_guy]

I hope to explore Central America a little more this summer (we've been to lots of places in Guatemala and Honduras) and maybe I'll find my way to Costa Rica!
PM me if you plan on being out in June/July/August.

[i4c4lo]

How about for the guys that are down South or have been South, can you (please) loosely plan a trip from the US. Maybe starting point is San Diego, CA. Where to go and how to go. I've always dreamed of doing something like this. Sandcruisers trip and photos are inspiring.

Also one the of joys of a Land Cruiser is the community and how generous (most) people are, I guess its like this for most 4Wheel drive groups.

Thank you

[TEPUI]

Originally Posted by Alaska Ranger

SandCruiser and Tepui: What is the status of ToyDiesel techs in Costa Rica and in Chile?

Alaska Ranger,

There are Toyota stealerships everywhere in Chile, and in most cases techs (employed by Toyota or indie shops) are familiar with Toyota diesel engines.

[joex3]

Originally Posted by sandcruiser

After spending this weekend getting to know a great couple who is en-route from Rhode Island to Argentina, and after having met several other Pan-American Cruiser travelers, I thought I'd start a thread with some links to sites.

We've just met the fine folks of www.oladream.com they are headed towards Panama as of Nov

Hello Steve,
This is the first time I have seen this thread. Jon Paul and Nat told me all about you. They said you were very helpfull and an all around good guy.
Cheers,
Joe
SUPERCRUISERS.COM

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by i4c4lo

How about for the guys that are down South or have been South, can you (please) loosely plan a trip from the US. Maybe starting point is San Diego, CA. Where to go and how to go. I've always dreamed of doing something like this.

This is really a personal thing. What do you want to see and experience? I generally come from the west coast and I've been down the west coast of Mexico (Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Puerto Escondido etc.), I've also gone down the center (Morelia, Taxco and Oaxaca etc.) and been up the east side (Tampico, Veracruz etc.). They are all different and will appeal to different needs and interests.

The same goes for Central America.

[i4c4lo]

cruiser_guy,

How about a trip towards you from the West Coast? Is 3 weeks enough to do a leisurely drive. I don't have anything in particular that I want to see, I just want to see. I like getting away from the tourists area and a lot of people in general. I like the real local (good) people. Thanks for starting the thread and your input.

You are right it is a personal thing but since I don't know much other than the desire to go and if someone like you suggest a route or a place, my wife and I would go do it since you have done a trip like this before. Either way or place - I am sure it would be a lifetime of memories.

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by i4c4lo

How about a trip towards you from the West Coast? Is 3 weeks enough to do a leisurely drive. I don't have anything in particular that I want to see, I just want to see. I like getting away from the tourists area and a lot of people in general. I like the real local (good) people.

Three weeks return from Guatemala will NOT be a leisurely drive! I would be tempted to suggest something like the Copper Canyon for a three week leisurely drive that is away from most tourists.
I personally have not done the Copper Canyon as there is potential of having river crossings which I will not do on my own with one vehicle. If you are interested PM me and maybe we can set up something for summer 2008 or some other mutually convenient time.
You could also drive south from Tuscon along the coast towards Mazatlan then head inland towards Morelia and back up past Guanajuato and Zacatecas and out at El Paso. If you do that be sure to do it in the spring and check out the monarch butterfly refuge a little east of Morelia. This drive would not be away from tourists though as you are in some places that are on the tourist route.

[TEPUI]

Originally Posted by Panmundo-Tobias

Hi guys!
...and here is our site: www.panmundo.com - the roadbook for our 2-years world-trip in a Land Cruiser HDJ82 Diesel... We made it to San Diego so far - in January we head down towards Tierra Del Fuego...

It would be great to meet up with you!

Btw: the guys from Ihana.com are really cool - I met Tom and Barry in Zurich, Switzerland... They gave us a lot of inspiration for our world-trip (and made sure that we did not take a Landy but a Cruiser :-)

Hope to hear from you!
Tobias

Hello Tobias, I saw your Land Cruiser yesterday in Santiago. How long will you guys be in town?