Is this South America's finest national park? It's hard to disagree when considering the azure lakes, emerald forests, and radiant blue glacier located in the here, one of the first stops on the "Long Way Up" journey. “In all our travels, we’ve barely spent any time in South America even though as a motorcyclist, it’s one of the world’s great rides,” says Boorman.

In the first two weeks of the ride, McGregor and Boorman hopscotched along the archipelago of Argentina and Chile. “You yearn for adventure and not knowing what’s up ahead,” said McGregor. Sometimes the sites you journey to see are also on the move, like the Perito Moreno Glacier, which can advance up to 2 meters per day, cracking and groaning as building-sized icebergs calve from its face.

The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on the planet, which means there is little in the way of human development, making it the perfect spot for travelers who are keen to get off the beaten track. Extreme rides through this landscape can get difficult, though. "Ewan goes, 'Whose idea was this, anyway?' and then of course you remember that it was ours," said Boorman.

Bolivia was some of the toughest roads to ride, according to Boorman. "Really rutted, lots of corugation on the dirt tracks." For challenges such as this, it's good to have a little supernatural support. At the Witches Market in La Paz, you’ll find just that amid a dizzying array of amulets, creepy critters and herbal potions that claim to help you become stupendously rich (though your mileage may vary).

Machu Picchu is the most famous archaeological site on the continent, so it was a must for McGregor and Boorman. In a spectacular location, shrouded by mist and surrounded by lush vegetation and steep escarpments, the sprawling Inca citadel has been seared into our collective consciousness, though nothing can diminish the thrill of being here.

One of the most extensive urban-renewal projects in South America, Malecón 2000 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, is made up of monuments, playgrounds, gardens and river views. It is also near the site of a bit of sci-fi serendipity for the "Long Way Up" team when, unbeknownst to them, there happened to be a “Star Wars” fan event going on. “Out of nowhere people turn up with ‘Star Wars’ things to be signed,” recalled McGregor, who happily posed with the fans.

Las Lajas Sanctuary is a strange but spectacular sight. It's a stone church built directly against the rocky wall of the gorge where, some pilgrims believe, a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary emerged sometime in the mid-18th century. It was one of the first stops in a country that made an impression on the "Long Way Up" team. "Colombia was incredible," said Boorman. "I would advise anybody to go to Colombia."

One of the world’s greatest marvels, the Panama Canal stretches 80km from Panama City on the Pacific side to Colón on the Atlantic side. Ships worldwide have traditionally been built with the dimensions of the canal’s original locks in mind. Typically no swimming is allowed near the locks - around 14,500 large vessels are passing through each year, after all - but Boorman met the engineers and was given unique access to swim the canal and explore a control tower.

One of the most important of all Maya civilizations lived, prospered, then mysteriously crumbled around the Copán archaeological ruins, a Unesco World Heritage Site. During the Classic period (AD 250–900), the city at Copán Ruinas culturally dominated the region. The architecture is not as grand as that across the border in Tikal, but the city produced remarkable sculptures and hieroglyphics, and these days you'll often be virtually alone at the site, which makes it all the more haunting.

All journeys end, and "Long Way Up" features Palm Springs among its final stops. The erstwhile getaway of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and other old Hollywood stars, the city’s retro-chic vibe and elegant mid-century modern structures are hip again. Palm Springs is the principal city of the Coachella Valley, a string of desert towns ranging from ho-hum Cathedral City to glamtastic Palm Desert and Coachella, the latter home of the star-studded music festival.