Linking essentially all of the nations on the mainland of the Americas, the Pan-American Highway has been connecting countries for decades. This roadway is 30,000 miles in length, breaking only once for a rainforest in Panama. From Texas to Argentina this highway began to take shape in 1889 – as just an idea.
The original plan to link the Americas was a railroad. At the first Pan-American Conference, this idea was created and discussed. It would be a way to transport goods and people efficiently across borders. Unfortunately, this railway never took shape.
Years later in 1923, the idea was brought up again, but this time as a single road for motor vehicles instead of train tracks. Early 1937 marks when the Convention of the Pan-American Highway was signed and construction began. In 1950, Mexico was the first country to complete its part of the road. The other countries obligated to put in a piece of the highway included the US, Honduras, El Salvador and Chile.
Today the Pan-American Highway exists as an opportunity for road trips and taking in different cultures and landscapes. Travelers pass through climates from thick, green jungles to dry, sprawling deserts, each offering their own breathtaking views and photo opportunities. Stopping at a hotel, restaurant or roadside stand along the way also provides a quick look into the culture and customs of that area.
Now of course, the alternative method of transportation to driving is to fly from one Pan-American city to another. But this takes away from the romance and enriching experience of a transcontinental road trip and bonding with your friends, family or significant other.
Driving from one end of the Pan-American Highway to the other offers the chance to traverse 18 international borders, starting and stopping whenever you want. But if you forget your passport, you won’t make it past Mexico.