Original subtitles

Reaching the other side of the world has never been easier.

But by flying over, are we forgetting how to travel through?

Mexico City,

North America's largest Metropolis,

to ushuaia, Argentina,

the most southerly city in the world.

Twenty hours by plane.

But could you travel the length of Latin America

without boarding a single flight

and all for the price of the air fares?

What have we got ourselves into?

Five pairs of ordinary brits

are attempting just that.

Let's go.

They will cover over 25,000 kilometers

at ground level...

There are moments I guess you'll remember for the rest of your life.

And are demanding.

Don't cry coz you get weak.

And challenging race...

Let's all go there.

...which soars high into the andes

crosses vast deserts

and goes deep into the jungle.

Come on. What's next?

They must negotiate volatile regions...

We gotta be careful with the gun.

Without the help of smartphones.

Bank cards and with a limited budget.

Got no Google maps, got no mom, got nothing.

Have they got what it takes both physically

- someone call an ambulance. - If you were flying,

you don't really meet the real people of these countries.

...And emotionally.

He's quite clearly changing for the better.

We need a miracle to get out of here.

I feel like this is has brought us closer together.

The rewards are great.

This is crazy good.

The first team to the finish line

will claim the prize of £20,000

in a race across the world

Let's go, let's go. Thomas, Thomas.

Excitement, adventure trauma.

Oh, my god.

Built on an ancient lake bed

almost 2,000 meters above sea level

and watched over by an active volcano,

Mexico City.

Twenty one million people are crammed into this megalopolis,

one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Think we're quite high up.

I'm already out of breath.

The race begins in the heart of the city,

chapultepec castle.

This castle's beautiful.

I'm not sure it's a castle, dom.

I think it is.

First to arrive dom and Lizzie,

siblings from Yorkshire.

I don't think I have a picture doing this with my sister

I think traveling around the world was something...

- something you do with your mates, yeah. - Yeah.

When we were younger, we were so close.

We used to make plays together,

dance, climb trees.

Our village was our playground.

Can you see the volcanoes over there? Wow.

But we've grown apart.

I would say we're siblings, not friends anymore.

- You can say that. - Yeah.

- There's no better way to save our relationship than this. - Mm.

Next to join the race,

couple of three years, Michael and shuntelle.

We were brought together by tinder.

We swiped.

She was hooked and couldn't keep away from me.

I work for a large international accountancy firm

I have to admit my first business class travel trip,

I was like, "oh, I could get used to this."

But Michael is ex-army.

He loves a challenge.

- This matches, yeah? - Gotta.

I've made him do all-inclusive holidays

coz he needs an adventure, and that's the difference.

Buenos dias.

So this is our first test of what an adventure

together looks like.

I would need your mobile phones,

your credit cards and all your cash, please.

This is everything I have. Put it here, please.

Stripped of all the trappings of modern day life,

the teams receive in return

a world map, a travel guide, money belts

and for their safety, a GPS tracker.

Good luck.

I think it's gonna be fantastic experience. I can't wait for it.

Third up, mother and son

Jo and Sam from Manchester.

- Are you nervous? - Well, I am, but I don't admit it.

We'll be fine.

It's a perfect time to go traveling now

because my mum's getting to the age where she's too old.

And...

I think now, with the state that she's in now,

that she's just able to do it.

I'm so glad that I brought you.

Probably I don't have many backpacking years left in me.

Thanks, love.

I know he's always wanted to travel.

And I thought it would be really good fun

to watch Sam see the world

and hopefully give you the confidence to enable you to...

Go on my own and do all myself.

- Well, hopefully that's what we get out to. - Yeah.

- I'm Jo. - Sam.

Wow. OMG.

Mexico.

Recently reunited after a family estrangement,

uncle and nephew emon and jamiul.

I can't believe we're starting in Mexico.

When I was younger, we were really quite close.

I used to look up to him quite a bit. I still do look up to him.

Let's do this. Come on. We're here now.

In the past ten years,

I don't think we've spent a full day together.

It's gonna be a learning curve for both of us.

He always was kind of following me around

when we he was like 12-13.

See you soon.

And it's happened now.

He's pulling me around the world.

- Pretty scary, isn't it? - I feel so nervous.

- Now that it is real. - I feel sick.

Completing the lineup, husband and wife

from reading, Rob and Jen.

Been married four years.

We've been married five years.

Four years. It's four years.

We've been married for four and a half years.

- Look at the size of this place. - Oh my geez.

How even gonna get like out of the city?

I don't know.

We actually think that we're quite awful travelers, don't we?

Yeah.

I just always think everybody's trying to Rob me

all the time.

I do not speak any languages.

You know a little bit of Spanish.

I don't know any Spanish. He thinks I know Spanish.

I don't know any Spanish. Non.

I can say hi and order a glass of wine

if that's gonna get me far.

Thank you.

Thanks very much and good luck.

Oh, god. Okay. Adiós, amigos. Bye.

Do we really have a game plan?

We don't have a game plan. Should we have a game plan?

That panics me. Have other people got a game plan?

Teams fully equipped,

it's time to find out where the race will take them.

So here it is.

- So the race begins at 2:30. - Oh.

- The final destination is... - Oh my god.

You sure...

Ushuaia.

Ushuaia.

Ushuaia.

I have no idea.

We have got a map, yeah.

Let's have a look.

This is it.

Maybe flip the paper.

I can't imagine we're going that far.

- Oh, there it is. - No way, no way. No way.

Ushuaia.

The finish line and most southerly city in the world, ushuaia.

More than 25,000 kms away.

To get there, for each team member

just over £1400.

The equivalent cost of flying.

Right so we've got... Let's count it and see,

and we got American.

A budget of around just £26 each, a day.

I don't think it is a lot for a week.

That's food, travel

- and accommodation. That's everything, innit? - Yeah.

- Don't lose that, please. - I won't, I won't.

On the way, they must pass through

seven checkpoints

spanning the length and breadth of Latin America.

Only when they reach one

will they learn where the next will be.

The first checkpoint is copán ruinas.

I haven't got the foggiest idea where it is.

Can I have a look?

- No. - Okay.

I don't think it'd be on the map.

Why not? How are we going to get there?

We're just gonna have to find someone who tells us.

With the race about to begin...

- I'm excited to meet the others. - Yeah.

...The teams gather at the start line.

Getting exciting.

Fellow competitors.

- Hi. - I'm Lizzie.

The first chance to size up the opposition

- Hello. - Hi.

- It's the nicest start. - It's real.

- Nice to meet you. - Nice meeting you. I'm dom.

- Oh, hey! - How are you doing?

- Well, this is it, eh? - Yeah.

Let's get going, guys. Let's get going.

The last time I did a lot of traveling, I was 24.

My body's got 30 years older.

- Let's just grab the race by the balls. - Dominique.

Just so anxious.

I've never even put a pack on my back.

You see, I'm known for me.

Excitement, adventure, trauma.

I won't go into something, if I don't believe I could win it.

No one remembers second place.

I don't believe in second place.

Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go!

- Why are you running? - I don't know.

We'll have to find out where the first checkpoint is.

Yeah. We can ask some people to help us.

Oh god.

I probably should have gone to the toilet before starting.

Excuse me. Do you speak English?

Escaping from this chaotic Metropolis

has the potential to be difficult and time consuming.

Hold on a minute.

Oh, come on.

I'm sorry. Do you speak English?

No.

Without their mobile phones...

Copán ruinas. You know where that place is?

...Communication is key.

We're very lost right now.

Nobody really speaks English. We don't speak Spanish either.

Can't really speak to anyone.

The taxi and the Metro, which is...

I'm struggling a bit.

I didn't think it'd be this hard

just to get somewhere.

Sam, we need to get to the traffic light so we can cross there.

- We're new right now. - Yeah.

We'll be okay together.

Sam is a complete pain in the ass throughout his childhood.

He really struggled at school. He has adhd.

So he started off in mainstream

and then ended up in special needs schools.

Things like booking a ticket

and actually going at the right day or time

will be interesting.

- I think. - We're going to check in the phone.

Okay. Thank you.

Oh, god. I've got my mom

coz if I didn't have her, then I'd be screwed.

So we're here.

Honduras is...

Wait, I've not got my glasses on. Here.

1,600 kilometers from Mexico City

and the republic of Honduras,

the first checkpoint, copán ruinas.

Once the center of ancient Mayan civilization,

now a bustling town

welcoming tourists drawn to the archaeological ruins.

Can you fly? No.

- We have to go by train or... - Donkey.

Yes. You know, I know we're going to Honduras

and guys told us to get a Metro.

Nine stops to the bus station and ask at the bus station...

and then we'll go from there!

Can we go by...

No. Bus. He's saying bus.

No go train? Only bus, yeah?

The most direct route to copán ruinas,

head south to Mexico's spectacular pacific coast.

Then through Guatemala,

where travel is cheap but can be unpredictable.

Or teams could be tempted by the more reliable transport system

around tourist hot spots in the northern Caribbean coast

and then down through the tiny nation of Belize.

Others may be drawn to the cultural treasures

of Mexico's central highlands,

which has the benefit of flexible routes

for their final push to the checkpoint.

Guatemala might be more direct,

but we really fancy Belize, don't we?

I think we've got a bit of a route forming.

I want to visit everywhere coz I am so not well-traveled.

We'd like to go to Tanzania.

I'd really love to go to Dubrovnik.

- Belize? - Yes!

- Yes, that's on our list. - Really fancy Belize.

Hola! Is there like a main coach station?

Jan and Rob have discovered

their best bus connections to Belize...

Gracias, gracias.

Can be found in puebla, two hours away.

So, we could get a Metro to puebla.

Fantastic. Our plan is to get from sevilla,

which is where we are now.

We're on the way to puebla,

and we're hoping that there is a coach station.

Do you think we're in the wrong location?

I'm not sure it's the right place.

Let's give it a go.

Do you know what we're better doing?

He's ignoring me.

Robbie, I'm trying to speak to you.

I lost my hearing in my left ear in childhood.

And then, recently,

I recently lost my hearing in my "good" ear.

Kinda knocked me and Jen for six, really.

Rather than in a fast train that gets there in three hours.

We're not getting in a train though.

Well, whatever we get.

With the hearing aid in I'll hear most sounds.

I can't hear you very well. It's really noisy.

I think this journey's gonna be challenging.

It will challenge our communication, won't it?

Absolutely. Yep.

We do struggle with that. From time to time.

All the time.

I don't know how we're gonna know

if it is the right, pueblo or not.

It's got the same name,

so let's just, let's just give that a go.

Eager to leave the city

dom and Lizzie have jumped in a taxi

hundred and twenty-eight pesos?

I mean, I didn't know if it was five.

And we've got to re-evaluate where we actually go.

Oh, we got a bus right down by Guatemala.

I don't know. I'm not too keen on that idea.

Yeah, I just feel like I wanna get there.

- That's all I'm saying. - I know.

We want to get there, but we need to enjoy some of this.

I know, I know.

That's what you're saying. I'm just putting across my point.

Okay. You may change your mind when you're sat in a coach for...

- Yeah, exactly. So, yes. - 30 hours.

- Yeah. - Okay then.

I think mom and dad's biggest worry about the race

is us two falling out.

Yeah. Having fights and bickering.

You never know, maybe we'll mature a little bit.

Mature in this experience, maybe.

I'm looking at that meter,

and it is just going up and up.

As the siblings sit in traffic,

across town...

Puebla. Puebla.

...Jen and Rob exit puebla Metro station.

Uh, autobus international?

Uh, where?

Around here somewhere.

This is like... oh, my god.

Where is the bloody station?

We're very lost.

Says, "puebla is also well-connected for those who continue to..."

- Yeah. - "...To the south."

But puebla, it's another state from Mexico.

Here's uh, subway station.

- So different places? - Yeah.

Ah.

Now, if you go to puebla...

- Si. - Yeah.

I can help you to go to the station.

- For me it's okay. - That's kind.

- Okay. - That's kind. Well, let me let me.

- Let me... - Oh, yes.

Let me call my wife.

While Jen and Rob

restart their journey to Belize...

See you. Nice to meet you guys.

- Thank you. You're an angel. - Bye-bye.

...By heading to the correct puebla...

- Oh, my goodness, a four seasons. - We're going down.

That's where I want to go.

Michael and shuntelle

have already sorted a different route.

Going to the Gulf of Mexico by the Caribbean.

That's a home from home.

So it's always good to go back towards that way anyway.

They've booked a grilling 22-hour bus journey to Merida,

taking the tourist trail along the Gulf of Mexico.

And from there, into a race south to Belize.

It's just fantastic. This whole thing's great.

I don't need a luxury five star hotel to enjoy something.

This is the experience, the adventure that we were looking for.

At least I was, anyway.

I don't take buses. So...

Probably haven't done a bus in about ten years.

I thought that's what we were gonna be coming in.

For 22 hours.

Having spent almost one percent of their entire budget

to travel just six miles...

Dom and Lizzie have finally reached a bus terminal.

- Hola.erm. - Hola.

Can we get a bus to oaxaca tonight?

Aiming to head south,

towards Mexico's pacific coast...

Okay, that's worth it.

That's worth the 200 pesos.

What's this mode of transport here?

- Good luck getting us to copan ruinas.

Still to settle on a plan, emon and jamiul...

We need to figure out where we're going.

Should we ask someone?

I've always been a keen adventurer.

I've spent three months traveling Africa.

I've climbed Everest, Kilimanjaro, mont blanc.

To be honest with you,

mount Everest is not as tough as people make out.

In which direction should we start heading?

Well, I know the ruins of palenque are

obviously something that I wanna go see without a doubt, right?

The Mayan architecture is beautiful, man.

Jamiul wants to head to the world-famous Mayan ruins at palenque,

780 kilometers away, through central Mexico.

It's fine.

We'll settle in palenque.

But we need to find out how far it is in distance

- and how far the bus trip is. - Okay.

- 'Cause we're still pushed for time right now. - Yeah, we are.

I like to have his input.

But it will be my decision ultimately.

At the end of the day, I'm still his uncle.

I think the route that we've decided on

is right up jamiul's street.

This is for him. This is for the kid.

We're really stupid.

We went to a place with the same name.

Today was always going to be the hardest day.

- Do you think? - Yeah, getting into it.

- Yeah, I guess. - Right, this will become natural.

- At some point -i hope so, yeah.

In two months' time.

Maybe we just get the first bus out of here

that goes still further towards Belize.

Yeah. Half an hour to there.

I'm getting stressed out just trying to think of where to go.

As day 1 comes to an end...

This is a hard core way of traveling.

Twenty-two hours on a coach.

...The last teams escape Mexico City.

- I'm so tired. I only want to sleep. - You look stressed.

You really do.

It's the most thinking

I've ever had to do in my life.

- Dom? - What?

Look out the window.

I didn't realize it looked like that last night.

Ooh. That's a nice vice, that.

- Around the corner here, I think. - Yeah.

Ah. There.

After spending the night at oaxaca,

dom and Lizzie are looking for a bus

to speed them to the border with Guatemala.

So...

The only bus is at 7:00 tonight.

- That's not ideal. - No.

If we left tonight, what time would we get to tapachula?

Uh, 3:00 in the afternoon the next day.

I think when we get to Guatemala, we just gotta go.

Yeah, let's get the tickets

- and enjoy the day in oaxaca. - Yeah.

- Yeah? Okay, come on them. - Yeah.

The conquistadors first came here

in the search for aztec gold.

Sitting 90 meters above the oaxaca valley

hierve El agua mineral Springs form a natural infinity pool.

- Ready for a dip? - Absolutely.

As they run down the rock face

the waters, saturated with calcium carbonate,

create large stalactites.

Oh.

The pasty bum's out.

- Oh, my god. - Oh. Ah.

Fini.

I'm gonna jump in.

- Please don't do that, dom. - I'm gonna do it.

- Oh! - Did you touch the bottom?

No.

I don't think I've ever seen anything

as beautiful is that in my entire life.

I think we're quite fortunate that we couldn't get a bus.

I'd be absolutely gutted if I knew I'd miss this.

Exactly. Like, we could've easily just gone straight past this

I've got a much better understanding

- of what this race is about. - Yeah.

We want to win,

but we don't miss out on moments like this.

How far are those?

- It's just... - Ridiculous, isn't it?

We're both gonna Cherish this.

Mum and dad will be happy.

Especially us two doing it together.

- I think that's what they've always really wanted. - Yeah.

- And we're not at each other's throats either. - No.

Doing this overnight bus,

I personally think we're way ahead of everybody else.

But as soon as we get a palenque,

I say we give the teams a chance to catch up to us.

- Yeah. - Make the race interesting.

Of course.

I'm looking forward to seeing the ruins, man.

Emon and jamiul still have their sights set

on the Mayan ruins of palenque,

but on an overnight bus, to tonala.

I'm just wondering if you could help us, man.

I mean, we're gonna be going to tonala.

And from tonala we wanna get to palenque.

Yeah, but that's up north.

That is up north.

In terms of, like, miles or kilometers of time.

Oh. It's about six hours.

- Six hours? - Six to eight hours.

Oh. Things that we should've checked out, yeah?

A comfort break...

You can't get from tonala to palenque.

...And a rethink.

If we wanna get to palenque, we have to go from here.

Let's go and get our stuff. Come on.

- Okay. - I'll get it.

Obviously, our plans somewhat changed a bit.

Ah!

Obviously I thought that we were way ahead of everybody else.

Let's just get to palenque, and then...

Uh, once we're in palenque, we'll enjoy our time in palenque

and then, we'll take it from there.

- All right. Cool. - Yeah?

Another bus and another 600 pesos.

I'm assuming that is the best decision that we made so far.

But, uh, first class buses aren't cheap.

Right, this is gonna last us two months.

All of this/

I feel like we spent quite a bit of our budget.

It's quite frustrating, to be honest.

Sixty kilometers closer to the border,

Jo and Sam.

Hola. We need to go to Guatemala.

This is the time.

It leaves at, um, 5:40 and it arrives at 9:35.

Oh, 9:35.

Si.

Perfect. That gives us the afternoon to explore the city.

- Yeah. Brilliant. - Brilliant.

With six hours to kill...

- Do you got your camera? - Yeah.

...An opportunity to grab some time off the bus.

Look at these buildings. Aren't they stunning?

With its narrow cobblestoned streets

and colorful painted facades...

Do you see that?

San Cristobal De las casas

was colonial town frozen in time.

That is amazing.

I want to go and travel the world,

not just a couple of places.

I mean, like, go everywhere you can.

You see absolutely everything.

Different ways of life.

Different food, smells, tastes.

Can we go in your car?

Hoping I'll be eating street food.

Not, like, road kill, but street food,

meet you at the top.

- I'll race you. - Okay.

Overlooking the town

is the cerro San Cristobal...

- Come on. Come on. - I'm not giving in.

...A hill crowned by a church

offering stunning views...

Think you're first at the top.

Only accessible by claiming its 436 steps.

Halfway up.

I might just stop here for a rest, son.

Okay, I'm gonna take pictures.

I'm the oldest competitor in the race.

Hopefully, I will still be a contender.

Just need the odd break when climbing stairs.

Beautiful.

Last time I did a lot of traveling,

went trekking in Nepal,

had my 25th birthday in India.

And I'll be having my 55th birthday on this trip.

So I'm getting back in the saddle, as it were.

How are your bloods?

They're dropping a bit.

I just, I'll start my Insulin.

So I've had type 1 diabetes since I was 12.

And generally, you know, I've been okay.

But I just have to keep an eye on things.

And this this monitor is my blood sugar,

which is sort of attached to me.

I hope I won't slow Sam down and affect his trip adversely.

Onwards and upwards.

You ready, mum?

- Yeah. Yeah, let's go. - Let's get to the top.

- Okay. Great. - Let's go.

Of course I'm gonna keep an eye on my mum

because I can't not, can I?

She's the most important person to me

and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her.

Well, she's like the strongest woman I ever met.

Like, she just carries on. No matter what.

- Hey, we made it. - Well, we made it.

- Whoa. - Oh, wow.

This is what we signed up for.

I'm so glad I'm doing this with you, love.

Couldn't do it with anyone better, to be honest.

Oh.

And this is just the start.

- Day 2. - Yeah.

- Day 2. - I know. Amazing.

Very tired. That's what 22 hours does to you.

To the north,

taking a costal route to Belize.

Michael and shuntelle have reached Merida,

situated in the crater formed by an asteroid

that struck 66 million years ago,

hastening the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Uh, may we have, uh, two tickets

from, uh, Merida to tulum.

I don't even think that my mind is functioning properly at the moment.

Um, wanna get to tulum today.

Didn't realize how long it would take.

We've done over 22 hours on a bus

and then we're back on another bus.

Fingers crossed we end up in a motel at some point this evening.

I'd rather be doing this

than going to Barbados or Jamaica right now.

I would.

I'm just grateful for the whole experience.

- I don't really care... - i find this more like cattle class.

Michael and I are very, very different.

I think if you could sleep outdoors, he would.

This is quite useful.

We used to use these type of things in the military.

That's very handy.

You know, I joined the military when I was 16.

So, you see a lot of things.

Like adventure, adventure training, different countries.

I could live off the contents within my pockets of my, of my jacket if I had to.

Those in the military. Know what I'm talking about.

We can survive in any, in all terrains

and get on with it, yeah.

He literally has moments of craziness.

Emergency whistle, just in case.

Shuntelle gets lost, I'll be able to find her.

"Oh, babe, I've bought a motor home." You've done what?

Yeah, so this is my, my baby, really.

You coming in?

Yeah, so this is it inside. I love it.

The plan is to travel as much as I can do

with shuntelle around the countryside.

You know?

We definitely had our ups and downs in the relationship.

We don't live together.

But we have talked about moving in together and...

So there is a conversation we have had.

So this is quite a risk we're taking.

I hope that even when we do hit challenges,

we're able to work with each other

rather than against each other.

We'll see.

If we find accommodation or find somewhere to sleep tonight...

Why will we be doing that?

Say it. Go on. Say it.

- I don't wanna say it. - Say it.

Camp.

You know, you can give me one day. Straight into camping.

Oh, help me.

Oh, god, I'm hungry.

What fancies you?

Full English?

No. Mexican.

Back in San Cristobal De las casas...

I don't think it's very Mexican,

but I might have pasta bolognese and parmesan cheese.

A bit... yeah.

- Uh, Manchester, england. - Manchester.

- What country? - Yeah.

Manchester.

A chance encounter...

Where are you going?

- Well, we don't know. We're trying to get to Belize. - Thank you very much.

We just need to go fast, you see.

And a change of plan

Can you...

So I can recommend you to take this other road.

- It's quicker than to take on this. - Okay.

We thought we were going to have to go Belize and then Honduras.

And they told us you can go just straight through Guatemala

to the checkpoint.

And they've given us the route that we're best to take.

I'm feeling like a backpacker again,

and it's great to be able to interact with people.

You can rely on the kindness of strangers

- because... - Yeah.

When you do, they are there to help.

- Really, really... - Way more friendly than brits.

We get off this in, like, an hour.

We kind of need a bit of a plan, I reckon.

There's this place offering jobs

at the border crossing.

To make it to ushuaia,

the teams will need to work to earn extra cash

and have been provided

with a directory of local job opportunities.

- But if we can negotiate better board... - Better board. Yeah.

- Then we're winning. - Yes.

And we actually get a ride across the border.

Woo-hoo.

- We're making good progress, I think. - Do you think?

Having motored across country,

Jen and Rob arrive

at the border town of frontera corozal

situated on the bank of the usumacinta river

with Guatemala a stone's throw across the water.

You, you show us how to, what you want doing, a boat.

Si? uh, for, for free.

- If we work. Si? - Oh, gosh.

Oh, muchas gracias. Muchas gracias.

Are you comfortable that you know what's going on?

We're doing half day's work.

We're getting free board.

- Yeah. - And a free canoe ride

- to the border. - Tomorrow, at 7:00 A.M.

All that no stands between them and Guatemala

is 50 meters of water

on a mountain of the hotel's laundry.

Okay. Always fold inside.

- Okay. - Ah.

Oh, it's sticky, like high washing life.

Okay.

How many washes have you done

since we've lived together, Robbie?

- Uh... - You could count it on a person's hand

who'd lost all their fingers in a severe...

Uh, again, I get...

That's not... mal.Bad. Mal.Again.

Two years ago, Jen and Rob's lives changed forever.

If you hear that, it means danger, danger.

Can you hear that? Can you actually hear?

- I can. Now you... - Oh, you can

now that you stood right next to me and knocked on my hearing aid.

Following a routine operation

to remove a growth in Rob's inner ear,

doctors discovered the damage was worse than first feared.

So I'm completely deaf in this ear.

Um, got little bit of hearing in this ear.

This is my hearing aids.

With this, I can hear most sounds.

Quality's not amazing.

We don't really kind of socialize in groups anymore

'cause it's a lot of effort to kind of read people's lips.

And when so many people in the group are chatting,

I see, yeah, his confidence is definitely decreased.

He likes to spend a lot of time on his own.

Right, communication is key, isn't it?

And... you're not the same person after it's happened I guess.

And you worry whether your partner

still feels the same way about you after that.

Because you're not the same person that they knew and loved.

But yeah.

Okay. What are we painting the tree with?

- Okay. - Oh, with paint.

- Like here, down. - Up to there.

I've never done this before in my life.

This is a little bit fun.

I just want to, like, reconnect.

And I just really can't wait to see you in this environment.

Just having fun and just yeah,

being you rather than kind of deaf Rob.

Mmm. Okay.

It's not an instruction. Okay, I will do that.

Yes, yes.

I just want to see him, like, giggle and laugh,

and god, I would just like

to say to Robbie that, um...

That I'm there.

Like the old Robbie,

because, like, it's...

Oh, it's so sad. Um...

It's just different.

I think it was down to you that we overcame the language thing.

Well, we're both adults.

Yeah.

That was good.

How did the demonstrate work?

You're really getting more expressive. I love that.

Yeah, it was fun.

Just stay there just one minute.

I just want to remember you in this view.

That is such a nice picture.

Oh, Robbie.

We're hoping to get a ride over to Guatemala.

Good morning.

Boat.

- Free ticket. - Free ticket.

- Si. - Si.

Oh, we just go. You come with us.

Great. I think what he's saying is

um, because we worked last night,

he now knows that we can have a free ticket.

Adios.

What?

Oh, no. We got to do more work now?

Really?

Oh, my god, Robbie. Is this even true?

I have confidence that this trip's gonna break me.

Should we just pay?

No, we're not paying.

There's no way in hell like...

Oh, oh.

Oh, Robbie.

So I thought because we did all the work yesterday, we got a free ride.

But that's not what happened.

Um.

So now we're doing more work.

What was I expecting to be doing though?

Let's just crack on.

We just kind of hope that

we're nearer to the border than everybody else.

While Jen and Rob struggle to pay the ferryman...

- This is the bottom of it. - Yeah, look.

It says "welcome to Guatemala."

Joe and Sam are the first team to leave Mexico.

Muchos gracias.

After a long and bloody civil war,

today, Guatemala is becoming

an economic success in the region

as a major exporter of coffee and chocolate,

the food of the Mayan gods.

God, it's hot today.

Sam, however, worships some more savory deity.

Hello, can I get a packet of cheetos?

Si. Si.I just spoke Spanish.

I'm happy. I managed to get what I wanted for the first time.

Get in there. Get in there.

Gracias.

I can't wait to see some, uh, Maya architecture.

Stopping just short of the border,

emon and jamiul have reached palenque.

The westernmost city of the Mayan civilization

reached its peak in the seventh century

under the rule of pakal the great.

I think we can go inside that one.

Can we go inside here?

He was buried along with human sacrifices

in the temple of inscriptions.

I think it was a tomb, innit?

After its decline, the city was absorbed into the jungle.

And over a thousand structures remain unexplored.

I've been studying architecture for the past seven years,

so to come to historical archaeological sites like this,

it gives you this understanding

of how people back in the day sort of lived.

I'm definitely looking to always expand my knowledge

on what's out there.

Want to feel it on...

Want to feel it in my fingertips.

The reason I came here was for him.

I've been fortunate I've had this experience in my life.

Let him see what he wants to see.

I don't know where we are in the race.

But I think about these things,

I'm thinking about these things all the time.

I guess I've always been that frame of win, win, win.

I know jamiul is not so much about it, but well, it is what it is.

Yes.

Rocky couldn't do this.

Stay there.

Nice.

Two days of traveling through Mexico.

That's it. We're done.

And now it's time to play.

To the north,

Michael and shuntelle have arrived in Belize

on a very special day.

Let's go have a party on independence day.

This former British colony gained independence in 1981

and has a distinct Caribbean vibe.

Brilliant.

The couple head to caye caulker,

one of its 450 islands,

studying the world's second largest body of reef,

aiming to join the celebrations.

What a brilliant day to come to Belize.

I'm so glad to have made it.

Today is a holiday day.

The race begins again tomorrow.

Play the music.

Yeah. Party vibe.

Let's go.

This is paradise.

I'll tell you what we're looking for

is camp out here for the night. Yeah?

We want to camp out on the beach.

- On the beach? - Yeah.

All of you can stay right over there.

Tell you what. You take me there,

I'll give you ten dollars.

Michael?

Well, what's happened in the space?

Um, I was just checking the times

to go back, and Michael's following

a gentleman in some red shorts.

That's as much as I know.

What we can do here.

Maybe talk to me.

Outside.

My man has seen a few decent company here.

Well, in this garden?

Yeah, we just... He's just gonna sort it out.

If we're supposed to be camping here,

how we then supposed to enjoy the island?

We've got nowhere to put our stuff.

We haven't done anything yet, you know?

I mean, if I make, you know.

Yes, I should have negotiated straight away with you in the beginning,

but I didn't. I had it on my mind.

I'm on the wrong. That's it. I'm sorry, but I'm still in the competition here.

I'm just speechless, really, at the moment.

On this island to enjoy ourselves,

we're going to be in an accommodation

where we can't secure our belongings.

A random person who he doesn't even know

is happy to leave his luggage with

just doesn't make any sense.

Please, you know, give us a little bit here.

I want to win this race.

And that's what I thought we both wanted, too.

Do I look like someone who slept outside in my life?

No, but this is about opening up your mind.

I think doing this trip will make or break our relationship.

I think, you know, we've gotta argue for pure eight weeks

that I think might realize that actually,

we are too different to be together.

Or at the end of the eight weeks,

we might be like, "fantastic. Let's get married."

Kind of thing, you know.

I don't know.

Adios.

Look how clean...

Oh, yeah. This is spotless.

While two more teams cross into Guatemala...

Oh, my god. Oh, my god. Oh, my god. Oh, my god.

- Hola. - Hola.

We're just traveling. We don't know yet.

Another has opened up a lead, but at a price.

I've been keeping a budget.

We gained at 25 pounds a day.

But so far we've spent 160 pounds.

So we could do this job here.

Organic farm. Fifteen minutes from Antigua.

We need to earn some money, don't we?

Well, we've spent way too much.

We've got all that way to go.

Oh, my god.

The following morning,

dom and Lizzie wake up to a nasty surprise.

So our room is completely flooded

and all our stuff is soaking wet.

I'm really quite annoyed about it actually.

A lot of our stuff's been ruined.

Our passports and where anything

that was touching the floor is now ruined.

And this is supposed to be a nice hotel.

We've got a hole in the ceiling.

Okay. Okay.

Okay. Gracias.

That helps a little bit.

Silver lining.

Actually can't be bothered to stay.

Well, we just have to pull ourselves together, I'm afraid.

Yeah, I think we need to be positive.

Yeah. Just let me be angry sometimes.

Give me two minutes.

That is such a minor.

Yeah, but don't you think it's just frustrating?

- Okay. - Just let me be angry.

Okay. Sorry. I'll leave you be.

He just doesn't understand and I feel like I don't have anyone to talk to.

'Cause his way of comforting is,

"be positive or I'm gonna get annoyed at you."

I can see it in his face.

He just doesn't want... He can't be bothered with me.

I think that's really not fair.

I don't really know what I'm gonna do.

If you're upset, I can comfort you.

Yeah, but when you're looking at me angrily,

the last person I want to speak to is you.

Okay.

Sometimes I think I've been quiet about brother.

Um.

My mom and my dad try to remind me that that's not the case.

But when Lizzie broke up with her boyfriend,

she was so upset and I felt helpless.

And I felt like she couldn't really confide and speak to me naturally.

- Honduras. - Yeah.

Let's ask.

We haven't been really open with each other for such a long time.

That was there.

- Oh, here. - Si.

The soaked-through siblings

face a farther 500 km to the checkpoint.

And Belize, after yesterday's disagreement,

Michael and shuntelle splashed out on a hose-down.

So, the way I kind of organized it,

and, you know, I wouldn't do that again

without having a confrontation with you.

I'm trying to enjoy this experience with Michael,

and I did say I was going to try and give everything a go,

but obviously the reality of going for it just freaked me out.

I'm finding living out of a bag really hard.

Um, yesterday just took me over the edge.

- You okay now? - Yeah.

- We friends? - Yeah.

All right, cool.

Honduras.

Off we go home straight.

While Michael and shuntelle head back to the mainland...

- What was your name? Sorry. - Earl.

Earl.

Yeah, I'm a musician.

Oh, nice.

Newly arrived in Belize, Jen and Rob...

- So where you headed? - Headed to Honduras.

How much will it cost us to get there?

You look like a police officer, taking down notes.

Look at these men, just like having a little dip.

Emon and jamiul, however, are only just crossing the border.

It's mad how you're just literally on this crossover bridge,

- and see you're here in another country. - Yeah.

Belize.

To be honest with you, I never heard of this country.

The teams heading through Belize

will be unable to reach Honduras by land.

For the past month, a state of emergency

has been in operation in central Guatemala

imposed by the government in response to the killing

of three soldiers,

cutting off the area from any travel.

The teams will have to continue their journey

towards the checkpoint by boat.

This is us both. Placencia.

I think that's crossed. We end up on the boat tomorrow into Honduras.

Just one boat is available a day,

leaving from the port of placencia at 9:00 each morning.

How much is this, Robbie?

Fourteen Belize, I think.

Winning.

We're about to get to Antigua.

Just out at the square.

Antigua, 270 km from the checkpoint.

Joe and Sam aim to boost their budget

by working at an organic farm.

Start moving a little bit of soil and look at the chickens.

They love this stuff.

They're happy chicken.

Tired already, mum?

Not good.

When I was at school, I was never academic.

Started working as a brick lift two years

and that's when I found the love for working outside

because I've attention deficit hyperactive disorder.

I'm a nutter, basically, and it gets in the way of everything.

Just been selling boxes,

not been able to burn my energy off.

So far, we're halfway done and doing a great job at that.

- You all right, mum? - Yes.

Look at her. She's working hard.

She's doing what I do.

Oh, that's me.

- You good? - Blood sugar.

I'm watching you and the vultures, mum.

Yeah. See.

Stop using your diabetes as an excuse.

6:00 A.M.

How much to the border?

- To placencia. - To placencia?

- Yeah. - That's 175 Euros.

Determined to catch the only boat to Honduras today...

Sort me out.

I was going to walk there today.

One-sixty, yeah?

- All right. - Okay.

Emon and jamiul stump up five percent

of the entire budget to race across Belize.

I just wanna make sure we get on that boat.

What do we do now? I think, uh,

we can count ourselves back in the race.

Honduras, here we come.

If we miss this boat, Robbie, because we've not been doing anything.

I'm sweating already. It's 8:00.

Oh, look.

Let's stop here. Let's stop here.

- Keep going. Keep going. - Oh, my god.

We need to get a move along.

Oh, my days.

Seeing that team threw me off, man.

This one here.

Just go in, just go in, just go in.

Now stop here, please.

You get yourself a ticket

and let me pay this guy.

Wanted to see you guys here.

- How you doing? - All right.

How are ya?

We did not think anybody else would be here.

- When did you get here? - Literally just now.

- Just now? - Just now.

Guys, I think we have to get our tickets.

Oh, you've not got your tickets yet?

Jesus. Okay.

Jesus?

Oh, my god.

Have you got any more spaces on your boat across?

Guys, I'm sorry, we don't have any more.

- Oh. - Jesus.

All filled up.

Oh, no.

But you can purchase a ticket now for your space tomorrow.

Well done.

Where are they?

Babe, the couple, they're there.

Huh?

We've got the husband and wife.

Hey, guys.

Hi!

You got your tickets this morning?

Yeah, we got our tickets in the morning, yeah.

- Oh, my god. - Been here a while.

- Have you? - Been here a while?

- Yeah. - Oh. All right.

Twenty-four hours behind now because we missed the boat today.

That's a big, big problem for us.

When did you guys arrive?

Yesterday afternoon.

- Goodness. That's tight. - Yeah.

We stayed in a hostel last night. Never stayed in a hostel before.

- We shared with how many people... - You did a dorm?

- Yeah. - Yeah, you probably went.

Okay. I've gotta figure out dorm life.

Yeah. More would be good.

She can do it, so can I.

There you go.

I can do it.

No holiday mode. We're in competition.

Okay.

- Be strategic. - Game on.

The heat is really on now.

Open my eyes.

I can't say I haven't tried already,

but seeing them in the boat with me

it's official it's real.

I'll bring out some reserves.

I didn't know I had but I'll find some.

Jump in, man.

Just proper gutted, wounded about it.

We want tickets for tomorrow,

so we'll just chill out here.

Yeah. What will you do?

I was thinking that we could potentially find some work to do here.

I don't think we'll find any. Just chill out.

Of course, I have a lot of respect for my uncle because he's an elder.

Um, I know he's not all that much older than me.

But he's still an elder nonetheless,

and if he thinks that his ways are better,

I'll put it down to experience.

As emon and jamiul sit tight

and two teams head across the Caribbean...

Okay, guys. Well, thanks for your work.

So here's, uh, 60 each. It's 120.

So, uh, that will help your trip.

Okay.

Closing in from the south,

Joe and Sam

and dom and Lizzie.

Okay.

Uh, oh, god.

I'm shaking with nerves now.

We're getting through the Honduran border,

and that is in within touching distance from the checkpoint.

Yeah, I know.

Another border bites the dust.

Just across the border,

the first checkpoint on the epic journey to ushuaia.

Copan ruinas.

We're here. We are here.

Oh. Okay.

The GPS tracker tells them the exact location of the checkpoint...

Please proceed to the clarion hotel.

Three kilometers outside the town.

Turns that way.

Okay, let's go.

We are here.

Where's the bus station to copan?

We need to get here tonight.

- Is that achievable? - Yeah.

We need to know what time the bus goes there

'cause I can't obviously miss it.

I think it should be up here.

I think it's here, mum.

Here, let's go through this.

Let's go here, mum.

Senor, clarion hotel? Bueno.

Okay, almost. Almost.

So, this is a big movement.

- Right on. - Let's go, let's go.

Oh.

- Can you see it? - Nearly there, mum.

- Hola. - Hi, welcome to the the hotel clarion.

If you could sign in, please.

Each team must sign in to find out its position in the race.

- Your name and signature, please. - Oh, my god, we're first!

Oh, my god.

I can't believe that we're first.

Right.

I think the key strength was my mum speaking a little bit of Spanish

and being able to ask the questions.

The guys we met in the bar gave us an idea

of the route through Guatemala.

Meeting them definitely helps us massively.

Really, well done, love.

You did really well.

Going to be a muddy scramble to the top.

Nah.

I'm not really dressed for this type of weather.

Come on.

Don't wait for me. We're finishing this together.

Okay.

Oh, my god, we're nearly there.

Hola.

Hola.

Okay. Do we want to open this?

- Yeah. - Okay.

- Oh, we're second. - Come on!

- Oh, I'll take second any day. - Yeah.

No way.

Oh, my god.

I think when we opened that book,

I was just like... I even gave you a hug.

I know that's like... That means happiness.

Like, I don't do that often.

I'm starting to think may be we could have come first now.

- We've got a chance. Like, we've got a chance. - We do. We're up there.

It's set us up for the rest of this race.

This is awful. We just need to find somewhere to stay asap.

I think we're just gonna have to take the hit 'cause look.

As tropical storm Karen lashes down

Michael and shuntelle and Jen and Rob...

Look at that.

Are forced to take shelter

70 kilometers shy of the checkpoint.

What's the price?

- Two-fifty. - Two-fifty?

Two-fifty.

I'm not looking forward to staying here, to be completely honest with you.

Absolute dive.

What a lovely day.

Everything's wet, our trainers are wet,

our socks are wet, our coats are wet,

our hair's wet... It's just wet.

I would be at the check point.

I thought I would be able to wash my clothes, was my body,

but instead, robby, guess what's just happened,

I've gone to turn t tap on,

and it's broken off in my hand.

Um, I've had these pants on now for three days.

Come on!

The 23,000 kilometers remaining to ushuaia.

Are full of beauty...

We can see it. We can see it.

But full of dangers

and conflict...

- Get off me. - Oops.

Capable of breaking even the strongest spirits

Next time...

We've been to this jungle.

Where did that come from?

Dreams are fulfilled...

Beautiful.

I've never seen that before.

...As the teams battle across five countries of Central America...

Come on, let's run.

Before reality bites.

Have you seen?

I'm gonna cry.