Touring South America on bicycle: Chilean rider Carlos Borquez amazed by scenery & people

Many people use a pedal cycle to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ — usually a relatively short distance; however, one man is using a bicycle to travel from his point ‘A’ — his home country Chile, to his point ‘B’ — any of the several different countries in South America.
This phenomenal adventure of traversing countries with simply a bicycle and loads of courage is being undertaken by 47-year-old Carlos Borquez, a Chilean who departed his home country some 10 months ago on a tour of South America.
Given the remarkable opportunity to interview this father of one, Guyana Times was told of the inspiration behind his undertaking, which has ultimately led him into this great land of Guyana.
According to Borquez, the main reason for his wanting to travel is his realization that the South American route is challenging to traverse.
“Yes! I’ve been travelling for several months. I wanted to cross the Amazon and reach the Caribbean because it is a challenging route,” he revealed.
Leaving his beloved country and only child behind, he embarked on an adventure that has become a remarkable journey. Many people have voiced their opinions on social media about how remarkable his journey has been. Others have also asked the Chilean traveller how he had managed to traverse the huge countries of South America while leaving his wife and child at home. In response, he told this newspaper that he is willing to travel because he knows that his family is safe. However, many people have found it hard to fathom undertaking such an adventure while leaving their families behind.

“This is not easy to cope with. Fortunately, my family is well, and I don’t mind spending time outside the country,” Borquez has said.
Reminiscing on some of his most remarkable moments in some South American countries, he said he has been most impressed by the serenity of those countries.
“I enjoy the quietness and solitude of the road trips. So, to me, the most remarkable moments arise when I find stunning natural landscapes, usually near mountains, valleys, or waterways,” he disclosed.
Borquez has said there are both great and challenging experiences while travelling; and he noted that loudness of music at times hampers his peace of mind.
“I’ve got nothing against people, but I try to avoid the noise,” he explained, adding that he focuses on not getting mad about anything, and keeping peace in whichever country he is in.

Fortunately for Borquez, he visited many of countries at the right time, as many cultural events were taking place upon his arrival there. He also mentioned that most of those countries are very big.
“Most of the countries I go to have big cities, so the deserts, jungles, valleys, farmlands and rivers are normally the best picks in each country. Argentina was surreal, very good for biking, and (my) arrival coincided with the presidential elections, so there was a lot of risk and uncertainty. This was in December,” he said.
“I also enjoyed a religious ceremony that I participated in in Brazil, close to the border with Peru,” he disclosed.
He is advising those who desire to travel but are postponing the experience to consider abolishing fear and commencing their travel. “Good advice is: to plan ahead of time, have no fear, and enjoy the trip,” he says.
Although his first language is Spanish, and he commonly greets people with “Hola,” the Chilean has since learnt some words in English.
After travelling through Argentina and Brazil, he has arrived in Guyana. He says that in each city he visited, he took the time to connect with locals, who have offered him encouragement and support, and his experience in Guyana was no exception.
During his week-long sojourn in Guyana, he met various businessmen who were inspired by his mission and passion for exploration. As a gesture of appreciation, those private business owners have presented him with financial aid towards his journey back home, and he has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to them for their generosity.
The two wheels of Carlos Borquez’s bicycle have rolled in several countries, and according to the traveller, he does not plan to stop his journey just yet. He plans to leave for Suriname later this week, then continue on to French Guiana before making his way back to Brazil, and finally returning home.
Guyana Times wishes Carlos Borquez bon voyage and a safe return to his home country.