South America Travel – the AmAndes Car Challenge Suriname-Peru

Oct 20, 2011
Karin-Marijke Vis

Between the rainforest of Suriname and the coastal city of Lima lie the daunting Andes Mountains - Coen Wubbels

5 countries, 29 days, 10,000 kilometres: driving the Transamazônica in Brazil, the world's largest salt plain in Bolivia and across the Andes Mountains.

On 3 October, 2011, twelve teams started out on an epic car journey in Paramaribo (Suriname) with the goal to reach Lima (Peru) 29 days later. Cars vary from a Mini Cooper convertible, a Mercedes convertible, a Volvo 240 and a Jeep Wrangler convertible to a Mercedes G-wagon and a Land Rover Defender.

A challenging yet organised trip through South America

From the Atlantic Ocean on South America's north coast they drove down to the equator in Macapa (Brazil). Here they crossed the Amazon River, drove down the Brazil Transamazônica and passed the continent's geodesic centre in Cuiabá before crossing the Andes Mountains into Bolivia and Peru. They are currently in Bolivia.

The AmAndes International car challenge, which is intended to become a yearly event, is not a race but an organised trip during which each participant faces a personal challenge in conquering long distances over unpaved roads through unfamiliar territory. Although the journey will be made under the professional guidance of initiator Jan Willem Koudstaal and organiser Floor Coens, it is not a trip for the faint-hearted.

The stages of the AmAndes International car challenge

The journey will pass through five countries, and can be roughly divided into the following stages:

Suriname and French Guiana are traversed in two easy-going days over tarmac and will include one river crossing between the countries. From French Guiana the road descends into Brazil where the first challenge awaits: a tough off-road stretch of about 200 kilometres typified by rickety bridges down to the Amazon River.
The ferry crossing of the Amazon River takes about 30 hours. In Santarém the participants hit the road again and drive the infamous, 1200-kilometre Transamazônica. The undulating red-soiled hills cut straight through the Amazon jungle (see photo below) and Brazil's interior scrubland called cerrado.
After the Bolivian border crossing of San Matthias the scenery changes from jungle to the Andes Mountains (see photo below). Altitude increases quickly to 4,000 metres and higher. The cars will stop at Potosí, once known for its rich silver mines, as well as at the world's largest salt flats of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia's most southwestern corner (see photo below).
The road northwards will take the travellers to La Paz, followed by the border with Peru. The road hugs the 4800-metre high Titicaca Lake after which there is an opportunity to visit Machu Picchu. The last five 4,000-metre passes form a formidable stage before finishing in Lima, Peru's capital.

Why participate in an AmAndes car challenge?

South America is a vast continent. Apart from urban areas that generally centre around the capitals, a large part of the continent is sparsely inhabited. South America invites outdoor travellers and adventurers to climb its mountains, conquer its jungles, and survive its deserts and salt plains. However, now matter how much of a challenge this may be to some people, others simply prefer a bit of guidance instead of plunging into the unknown entirely on their own.

Signing up with an organisation like Carchallenge.nl may combine the best of two worlds: the conquest of little explored territories, facing personal boundaries, yet professional backup when necessary. It is a worthwhile trip for those who don't want to spend time and effort organising such an expedition themselves, with all the bureaucratic hassle that comes with it, and who have a cushion in their bank account to pay for this service, because it doesn't come cheap.

Practicalities to join the Car challenge.nl

The Carchallenge.nl website has a detailed pdf on the AmAndes International, although for the time being it is still only in Dutch – but there is always Google Translation. The journey in 2012 is planned for October, will take 29 days with a minimum of 8 teams and a maximum of 15. Expect to pay around €10,000 per person which includes, among other things, transportation of the car, third party insurance, lodging in comfortable hotels, ferry crossings, permits and the organisation which includes support vehicle. Fuel is not included.

Four-wheel drive is not a requirement per se (Jan Willem Koudstaal drives the journey in a specially adapted Mini Cooper) but it is important for the car to have enough clearance and to carry spare parts. The organisation will provide each participant with specifics as regards car requirements such as the proper tires, which spare parts to bring, etc.

The AmAndes International offers a perfect balance between the comfort of an organised trip and a personal challenge. As Jan Willem Koudstaal explains, "We take care of all practicalities, but the drivers and navigators still have to conquer those kilometres. If the car breaks down, they'll have to fix it. If they linger, they'll have to make up for lost time. The team moves on according to schedule."