The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
Directed by Walter Salles
In 1952 two young Argentinians set off from Buenos Aires on an old motorcycle to cross South America, through Chile and Peru to a leper colony on the Amazon and on to Venezuela.
- Travel shown
- On foot, bike, skis or swimming
- Not shown on screen
- Fictional place
- 1Buenos Aires, Argentina≈ 00:02:00Stated on screen
The two friends leave on Alberto's Norton motorcycle, La Poderosa.
- 2Chichina's family≈ 00:07:00Miramar, ArgentinaStated on screen
Ernesto says goodbye to his girlfriend at her family's seaside estate.
- 3Temuco, Chile≈ 00:30:00Stated on screen
They charm a local newspaper into printing a story about them.
- 4Valparaíso, Chile≈ 00:48:00Stated on screen
Now on foot, Ernesto treats an elderly woman.
- 5Chuquicamata copper mine, Chile≈ 00:55:00Stated on screen
After meeting a couple of migrant workers in the Atacama, they witness the harsh hiring at the copper mine.
- 6Cusco, Peru≈ 01:05:00Stated on screen
They see Inca stonework and modern poverty side by side.
- 7Machu Picchu≈ 01:10:00Stated on screen
Exploring the ruins, Alberto dreams of a revolution.
- 8Dr. Pesce≈ 01:15:00Lima, PeruStated on screen
A leprosy specialist helps arrange their visit to a colony.
- 9San Pablo leper colony, Peru≈ 01:25:00Stated on screen
- 10Airport≈ 01:57:00Caracas, VenezuelaStated on screen
The journey in numbers
- Distance travelled
- 7,947 km
- Places
- 10
- Countries
- 4
- Stops
- 10
- Not shown: 2,895 km
- Car: 2,252 km
- Motorcycle: 1,694 km
- Boat: 1,106 km
Distances are measured in a straight line between stops, so real road distances are longer.
Spotted a mistake?
Every journey is checked against the film, but we can still get things wrong.