What's an epic drive like this cost? Here is our answer. This is truly every penny we spent from start to finish. (figures in USD)

1958 volkswagen panelvan restored
13,600
      
engine, transmission, brakes, safaris
5,400
      
camper kit  
2,101
      
           
 
sept 07
oct 07
nov 07
dec 07
 
gas
439.55
229.47
549.40
178.27
  
vw expenses
231.05
231.87
109.87
5.44
  
camping
31.00
0
164.22
154.18
  
hotels/hostels
579.08
151.70
579.50
0
  
food
262.15
285.88
622.04
557.17
  
border fees
6.00
0
75.91
0
  
other
172.50
496.03
559.04
518.99
  
 
$1,721.33
$1,394.95
$2,659.98
$1,414.05
  
           
 
jan 08
feb 08
jun 08
jul 08
  
gas
241.45
229.09
288.05
1,441.26
  
vw expenses
98.67
0
0
97.27
  
camping
340.00
294.55
124.22
264.28
  
hotels/hostels
108.55
127.27
0
143.19
  
food
610.50
552.78
384.87
1,249.38
  
border fees
0
0
198.00
0
  
other
359.20
292.64
492.80
315.80
  
 
$1,758.37
$1,496.33
$1,487.94
$3,511.18
  
           
 
aug 08
sept 08
oct 08
nov 08
  
gas
1,174.38
549.97
496.71
323.86
  
vw expenses
137.06
1,247.99
42.46
6.40
  
camping
206.85
144.94
336.02
100.67
  
hotels/hostels
153.83
0
170.34
499.23
  
food
761.78
434.24
712.59
777.36
  
border fees
0
0
110.59
124.81
  
other
1,818.39
449.03
477.42
250.13
  
 
$4,252.29
$2,826.17
$2,346.11
$2,082.46
  
           
 
dec 08
jan 09
feb 09
mar 09
  
gas
214.34
317.50
315.94
737.18
  
vw expenses
182.64
198.52
458.23
51.49
  
camping
168.73
103.48
107.55
210.49
  
hotels/hostels
540.61
477.44
444.34
197.25
  
food
820.86
628.56
466.92
724.29
  
border fees
37.56
1.00
0
23.24
  
other
2,956.85
309.33
495.21
288.45
  
 
$4,921.59
$2,035.83
$2,288.19
$2,232.39
  
Note: December "other" includes shipping the bus from Panama City to Colombia totaling $2,616: container and Panama port fees ($1305), airfare for us ($435), hotel ten nights ($502), and Colombian port fees to get the bus out ($374)
           
 
apr 09
may 09
jun 09
jul 09
  
gas
511.20
267.37
1,009.17
808.88
  
vw expenses
216.44
279.50
28.21
302.60
  
camping
124.16
131.43
602.72
662.14
  
hotels/hostels
430.96
0
0
953.19
  
food
642.33
277.77
1,098.66
1,047.93
  
border fees
0
0
10.86
0
  
other
5,611.57
553.78
571.45
4,272.85
  
 
$7,536.66
$1,509.85
$3,321.07
$8,047.59
  
Note: April "other" includes cargo ship from Argentina to Germany totaling $4,795: RORO bus shipment ($932), cabin for two ($3496), wire fee ($67), Brazil visas ($300)
July includes side trip to Paris and flights to the States