For Rainer Zietlow and team to drive all 16,000 miles of the Pan-American Highway in 12 days in a 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI® Clean Diesel SUV was one thing (and what a thing it was!). But can you imagine driving from Argentina to Alaska in a 1981 Volkswagen Beetle? Well, Pedro Delgado doesn’t have to imagine it, because he actually did it.
Pedro Delgado with his 1981 Beetle, parked beside the Pacific near Caldera, Chile
That’s right: in 1990, Pedro fulfilled a lifelong dream of driving the Pan-American Highway. As a kid, he’d see drivers zoom along the stretch of the highway that passed through his hometown of Tucuman, Argentina and think, “I’d like to see where that road leads.” So at the tender age of 59, he got behind the wheel of his 1981 Beetle and found out firsthand, driving from Ushuaia, Argentina to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, a journey not unlike the one Rainer would travel some 21 years later. But unlike Rainer, who was part of a three-man team driving a 21st century vehicle around the clock, Pedro traveled solo, and his journey took a bit longer.
Enjoying a breathtaking view of the Cascada de los Indios Colorados in Ecuador
“The trip took me 68 days, of which 38 days were traveling, and 30 days were spent doing custom duties, some car maintenance, and the time spent in Colombia waiting for the ship that took my Volky [Volkswagen] from Colombia to Panama by ship,” explains Pedro. Besides the added difficulty of traveling alone, Pedro faced other challenges that Rainer and team didn’t.
“Welcome to Guatemala”
“In 1990, there were many terrorist groups active in South and Central America,” Pedro reminds us. He was stopped by the Sendero Luminoso in Peru and the FARC terrorist group in Colombia, both of whom he had to bribe so that he could continue along. He adds that the fact that he speaks Spanish was a big help, but it also didn’t hurt to have a cool story. “They were surprised that I came from so far away with that small car, traveling alone with so little equipment.” He encountered similar difficulties in Nicaragua, where many government officials assumed he was American because of his appearance. However, when he spoke Spanish to them in his Argentinean accent, all doubt were quickly dispelled.
Visiting a friendly Volkswagen dealership in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico for an oil change
Part of the reason Pedro’s trip took so long is that he strayed from the Pan-American Highway so that he could see more of the US, specifically the West Coast. And it’s a good thing he did, because he says that the most memorable part of his journey took place in Southern California, just before he reached Los Angeles, when he was suddenly surrounded by some 50 cars, all of which began honking and waving. As it turned out, they were Argentineans who lived in Los Angeles and were on their way to a get-together at a local park. When they saw Pedro’s Argentine license plates, they greeted him warmly and wished him well on his journey.
Having fun on Highway 5 in California
After his adventures in sunny California, Pedro got back onto the Pan-American Highway, eventually traveling the same route through Canada and Alaska as Rainer and his team. But his story doesn’t end there: after reaching the end of the road, Pedro decided that he wanted to see even more of Canada and US, so he drove all the way to San Francisco before shipping his beloved Volky back to Argentina and boarding a plane himself.
Entering Alaska after driving from Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada
But the best part of Pedro’s story? He still owns and drives that ’81 Beetle, which now has more than100,000 miles on it.
Pedro taking a victory lap on Avenida de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina after completing his journey
Tell us: what’s the longest road trip you’ve ever made?
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That is a really great story. It just goes to show you how much people love the Beetle. Thanks for sharing!
I would love to do this in my 75 bus! (the blue biscuit)!! Sponsorship?
Awesome journey.
What an inspiring story. Truly beautiful
this is such a GREAT story! i would love to do this with my 07 rabbit. VW are the best cars hands down! i’ve had 3 VWs before the rabbit and they have always been great cars. <3
wow
Pan American Highway (PAH)
Congratulations to Pedro Delgado on his journey in1990 and Rainer and his team in 2011, twenty one years later, be proud!
Leonidas Borges de Oliveira, Franciseo Lopez da Cruz and Mario Fava started a journey from Rio de Janerio, April 16, 1928 to New York, with 2 “Ford Model T” motor vehicles. They arrived in New York 1938, 10 years later. Congratulations! Never too late.
I think it is time that the PAH be completed across the Darien National and Los Katios National Parks. The Panamanian and Colombian governments and other stakeholders should come together, to develope and execute a plan, that would enable them to build the PAH across this eco-sensitive environment.
Pan American Highway (PAH)
Pedro Delgado, a brave trip taken twenty years ago 1990, a nine years old VW, 16,000 Mls, Great job. Rainer and your team 2011, twenty-one years later, good work people. Congratulations guys.
Eighty-three (83) years ago Leonidas Borges de Oliveira, Franciseo da Cruz and Mario Fava set out on a journey from Rio de Janerio, on April 16, 1928, to New York. They used two (2) “Ford Model T” motor vehicles for their journey, arrived in New York 1938, ten (10) years later. Congratulations guys.
My view, the name for this highway “Pan American Highway” is a misnomer. What exist today is the Alaskan Highway, Inter American Highway ending at Yviza in Panama and the South American highway ending in Argentina. There is a fifty miles (50) disconnect in the Highway, the Darien Gap, between Panama and Colombia.
I think that every effort/avenue should be pursued by the Panama and Colombian Governments and other stakeholders to complete this highway. With respect to the environment, the best practices should be adhered too, when building and using the highway. The pristine evironment of the Darien and Los Kaitos National parks must be preserved.
Edmund
A tunnel under the region could work. It would be a massive engineering feat but then so was the Panama canal.
Norway currently has the worlds longest road tunnel, this would double it’s length.