Central Heat: The Wild Heart of the Americas

Crossing into Baja California feels like stepping into another world—one where the pavement crumbles, the air smells of salt and cactus bloom, and the horizon burns with orange light. This leg of the expedition, which we call "Central Heat," is more than just the middle chapter of our journey. It’s where cultures shift, climates collide, and the rig—and its crew—are tested daily.

We began at the edge of California, rolling into the Valle de los Cirios Protected Area, where massive boojum trees and rocky outcroppings paint a Dr. Seuss-like dreamscape. These are roads that demand low gear and full focus. We camped on the cliffs above the Sea of Cortez, explored the fishing towns of San Felipe and Bahia de Los Angeles, and found the kind of solitude only Baja can deliver.

From the Baja peninsula, we took the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlán—a cultural reset, and the start of mainland Mexico. Here, the route took us through the highlands toward Guanajuato, a historic mining city buried in color and music. We wandered through colonial streets, tasted mole in Oaxaca, and stood in awe beneath the pyramids of Teotihuacan.

Crossing into Guatemala brought dramatic elevation changes and the ancient energy of the Maya. At Lake Atitlán, volcanoes ring the water like silent gods. We drove dirt roads up to the viewpoint at Indian Nose and visited the ruins of Tikal, buried deep in the rainforest.

In El Salvador, we followed the coastal Route of Flowers to sleepy surf towns like El Tunco. In Honduras, Pico Bonito National Park enveloped us in mist and mystery. Then came Nicaragua, where we camped on the twin-volcano island of Ometepe and hiked through the ash clouds of Masaya Volcano.

Costa Rica greeted us with jungle-lined beaches and the dense biodiversity of Monteverde’s cloud forests. And finally, Panama—with its highland coffee towns, mountain roads, and the glimmering skyline of Panama City.

Key Highlights:

• Guerrero Negro salt flats

• Cataviña Desert and cave paintings

• Teotihuacan pyramids, Mexico

• Antigua, Guatemala

• El Tunco, El Salvador

• Granada & Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua

• Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica

• Panama Canal and Casco Viejo

This stretch is more than just a corridor. It's a crucible—hot, chaotic, full of life and lessons. The kind of journey that turns overlanders into storytellers.