To Panama…the Best Way: March 2024?

So here’s what I’m thinking for a dual sport adventure— possibly next year or more likely Spring of 2024:

I want to take a small group of guys on a ride from San Diego to Panama, crossing back into the US in Arizona, New Mexico or Texas.

I don’t have an itinerary or a solid plan yet but I just want you to put it in the back of your mind and think about it. 

How long, time-wise? I don’t know that yet and I’ve been asked.  I know for a fact that it could be done— Florida to Panama and back—in 10 days as some guys on BMWs just did it…but that’s just ridiculous. I’m going to try to do it in about 21-30 days total because I want to have fun without rushing.

When? Likely in the Spring. I’d like to plan for good weather and stay away from rain. I can ride in hot weather and cold weather but I’d prefer to not ride in wet weather if I don’t have to. March, overall, has the lowest percent chance of rain.  

Which bike? Unsure if I’ll take my trusty KLR or my big BMW…or something else.  But this is not a ride for a smaller bike. This would definitely be a dual sport ride because there would be an awful lot of dirt …however there’s also gonna be an awful lot of pavement. 

I plan to start in San Diego, go down into Baja. At La Paz we will take the ferry across to the mainland, landing in Topolobampo/Los Mochis. 

Once there, we cut into the mainland—maybe do Copper Canyon—then south through the decent parts of Mexico and the Central American countries. 

I’d like to move along at a decent pace but stop to see the pyramids, as well as good breaks in Costa Rica and Panama.

On the return, we can either follow the same route back north or hit the countries that we missed on the way down, such as Belize and/or Honduras. 

And since we’ll probably be exiting somewhere around Arizona or maybe even El Paso, I may plan Copper Canyon for the way back, going up the mountain instead of down it. But that’s to be decided. 

Some info about that: The elevation in Copper Canyon is between 1600’ and 7800’.  That portion of the ride is mostly dirt. Creel is about 400 miles from the Arizona border.  Then there’s the bridge at La Bufa and the towns of Batopilas and Urique. Definitely something I’ve wanted to do but maybe it’s just too much for this particular ride. 

And so far, that’s all I’ve done regarding the planning phase.