Motorcycle Roadtrip Across South America: Alexandre’s 13,000 km Solo Ride

In this motorcycle roadtrip South America interview, Alexandre, 25, looks back on a five-and-a-half-month solo ride across the continent—starting with a one-way ticket to Rio and a low-budget 125cc bought in Paraguay. Seven countries, 13,000 km, hostel nights, border paperwork in Spanish, high-altitude routes near the Andes, and an Amazon cargo boat where the hammock became home for 15 days. His story isn’t a glossy “perfect plan” narrative: it’s a rider’s reality—fuel stops, fatigue management, improvisation, and the kind of encounters you only get when you travel alone.

Interview: Alexandre, a 125cc and a continent

Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

My name is Alexandre, I’m 25, and I’m a business school student. I’m passionate about travel, and I started a YouTube channel—“Alex Travels”—to share my adventures.

How did the idea of a motorcycle roadtrip begin?

I’ve been fascinated by motorcycles for as long as I can remember. At 14, with €130, I bought my first moped. The passion never stopped—only the dreams got more expensive.

The “big trip” idea really clicked in 2014 during a detour to Indonesia. I was in Australia for a year to improve my English and, like most backpackers, I ended up in Bali. Traveling solo, taxis were too expensive to explore the island, so I rented a Kawasaki KLX 250 and rode for a month. That was the moment: travel and motorcycles could become one project.

Why South America, and why by motorcycle?

Because of a friend I met in Australia. One night in a hostel he handed me a USB stick and told me: “Watch this—THE film.” It was The Motorcycle Diaries. The next morning I gave it back and said: “One day I’ll cross South America by motorcycle.” He smiled.

A year and a half later, I’d finished my Bachelor’s degree and wanted to travel to learn Spanish before starting my Master’s. It felt like the right time to follow the tracks of Ernesto Guevara—my own way.

Which bike did you choose, and why?

I chose a Yamaha YB 125, based on a few non-negotiables. First: budget—less than €900 to buy the bike, which limits the options fast. Second: reliability and low fuel consumption. Third: being able to find spare parts in basically any country.

The choice proved itself. I had no mechanical issues over 13,000 km. Yamaha is solid.

When did you leave, and for how long?

I left in September 2016, after working as a bartender all summer, with a one-way ticket Paris → Rio de Janeiro (the cheapest flight I found from Europe). I didn’t have an exact return date, but I knew I had to be back in France in March for exams. In the end, the trip lasted five and a half months.

Did you travel alone?

Yes—solo. My friends were busy and couldn’t disappear for that long. It didn’t bother me; it was already my third solo trip. It’s not easy at first—it can be intimidating—but once you get past that, it’s incredible. And honestly, traveling alone is often how you meet the most people.

Funny twist: I met my girlfriend in Colombia. She was also French and traveling solo. We crossed paths in Santa Marta, on the Caribbean coast, rode together for a while—and eventually became a couple. Now we’ve got motorcycle roadtrip plans together. That’s the magic of travel.

How did the roadtrip unfold—what was your route?

I flew into Brazil, then took a bus to Paraguay because I’d read it was the cheapest place to buy a motorcycle. From Asunción, I rode through:

• northern Argentina
• San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)
• Uyuni and La Paz (Bolivia)
• Puno, Cusco and Lima (Peru)
• Iquitos (Amazon region)
• then Ecuador
• Colombia (south to north—basically the whole country)
• and finally northern Venezuela

Before leaving, I built a bucket list of what I wanted to see. In total I crossed seven countries and rode 13,000 km on a 125cc—my body still remembers it.

Was it difficult to organize?

Honestly, even when I arrived in Paraguay in October, I wasn’t 100% sure I could make it happen. I’d done research from France for months: called embassies, posted on forums, contacted riders who’d done similar trips. I never got a clear answer on the procedure—especially buying a bike and riding it across borders.

My previous trips helped me organize what could be organized:

• Gear discipline: a 35-liter backpack under 8 kg (including electronics). Compact on the bike, and cabin-sized for flights—no extra baggage fees.
• An “ideal route” designed around the two toughest constraints: time and budget.
• A Plan B: doing the same journey by bus if buying the motorcycle failed.

Everything else was freestyle—with a big dose of luck.

I arrived with Spanish limited to “Hola, ¿qué tal?”—not great for negotiating a motorcycle purchase or handling paperwork: inspections, registration, title documents, administrative offices… Try explaining you’re French, buying a 125cc to cross a continent to Colombia. It gets complicated fast.

How did you handle accommodation?

I tried Couchsurfing four or five times, mostly early on. But it became hard to manage because I rarely knew exactly where I’d be, or for how long. So I went back to what I knew: hostels.

In many South American countries, dorm beds are affordable (around €6 on average for me). I also carried a hammock and used it when the temperature allowed—sometimes sleeping outdoors.

One of my strongest memories: crossing the Amazon on a cargo boat for 15 days total, sleeping in the hammock—five days between Pucallpa and Iquitos, then ten days between Iquitos and San Sebastián del Coca. One of the most powerful human experiences of my trip.

Did you have a single favorite place?

People ask me that all the time, and I can’t answer. How do you choose between Iguazú Falls, the Uyuni salt flats, Machu Picchu, the Amazon jungle, Colombia’s Caribbean coast…?

And beyond landscapes, it was the people—so many encounters, so many shared moments—that make it impossible to pick just one.

What message would you share with future riders?

Go for it. Live your dreams.

Planet Ride pro tip (the part riders underestimate)

On a long motorcycle roadtrip South America, the risk isn’t only the route—it’s the accumulation. Even with a small-displacement bike, plan your days so you’re not riding exhausted: build one “buffer” day every week or so, and avoid stacking long riding days back-to-back when altitude, heat, or paperwork days are coming. Your margin is what keeps the trip enjoyable—and safe.

Mini-FAQ

Can you do a South America motorcycle roadtrip on a 125cc?

Yes—Alexandre rode 13,000 km on a 125cc. Expect slower days, more patience on climbs, and be realistic with daily distances and rest.

Is it easy to buy a motorcycle locally and cross borders?

It can be unclear and time-consuming. Alexandre had to handle negotiation and multiple administrative steps in Spanish, without having full certainty before arrival.

What’s one packing rule that really matters?

Compact wins. Alexandre traveled with a 35-liter backpack under 8 kg, which kept the bike manageable and avoided extra flight baggage costs.

À savoir aujourd’hui

This is a dated travel interview, and the core lessons remain true: budget discipline, flexibility, and the reality of paperwork and language barriers. Before leaving, verify today’s border requirements, vehicle ownership rules, and the current security situation by region—because these can change quickly.

Want to ride South America too? Explore Planet Ride motorcycle trips in the region: read more here.