1 00:00:07,380 --> 00:00:08,660 Muchos gracias. 2 00:00:20,140 --> 00:00:21,380 Well, this is it. 3 00:00:23,180 --> 00:00:27,740 I'm on a deserted beach off the coast of Mexico 4 00:00:27,740 --> 00:00:29,340 and this is where my journey begins. 5 00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:32,540 Adios. 6 00:00:38,420 --> 00:00:40,460 My name is Levison Wood. 7 00:00:40,460 --> 00:00:46,860 In 2014, I walked the Nile and in 2015 I walked the Himalayas. 8 00:00:48,020 --> 00:00:51,060 Now, I'm about to trek between two continents 9 00:00:51,060 --> 00:00:53,940 on what could be my toughest journey yet. 10 00:00:53,940 --> 00:00:55,940 You don't get that if you rub sticks together. 11 00:00:55,940 --> 00:00:57,220 THEY LAUGH 12 00:00:57,220 --> 00:01:00,020 MONKEY HOWLS 13 00:01:00,020 --> 00:01:04,540 My plan is to walk from the point where Europeans first made landfall 14 00:01:04,540 --> 00:01:10,100 in Mexico, all the way to Colombia along the length of Central America. 15 00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:14,900 My route will take me through eight countries across volcanic plains, 16 00:01:14,900 --> 00:01:17,780 drug-smuggling routes and cloud forests. 17 00:01:17,780 --> 00:01:20,460 But before I can cross into South America, 18 00:01:20,460 --> 00:01:22,060 I'll have to make it through 19 00:01:22,060 --> 00:01:24,620 one of the last great wildernesses on Earth, 20 00:01:24,620 --> 00:01:27,180 the lawless jungle of the Darien Gap. 21 00:01:31,500 --> 00:01:33,060 I'll take four million steps... 22 00:01:34,420 --> 00:01:35,260 ..over remote... 23 00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:37,820 ..unpredictable... 24 00:01:37,820 --> 00:01:40,740 I've never seen anything quite like this before. 25 00:01:40,740 --> 00:01:42,340 ..and beautiful landscapes. 26 00:01:42,340 --> 00:01:43,980 You can see everything. 27 00:01:43,980 --> 00:01:45,740 This is absolutely incredible. 28 00:01:45,740 --> 00:01:47,980 HORSE WHINNIES 29 00:01:47,980 --> 00:01:49,420 I'll see Central America... 30 00:01:51,420 --> 00:01:53,340 ..through the eyes of the people that live here. 31 00:01:53,340 --> 00:01:54,420 That's a bullet hole. 32 00:01:54,420 --> 00:01:57,620 Dangerous business being a pastor around these parts, isn't it? 33 00:01:58,900 --> 00:02:00,500 On the first leg of my journey... 34 00:02:01,660 --> 00:02:04,580 ..I'll witness an ancient civilisation... 35 00:02:04,580 --> 00:02:06,900 Wow, I've never seen anything like that. 36 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:09,340 ..do battle with the jungles of Belize... 37 00:02:09,340 --> 00:02:11,780 It's been described as "the green hell". 38 00:02:13,740 --> 00:02:16,820 ..and step into narco territory. DOG BARKS 39 00:02:16,820 --> 00:02:19,620 On alert at the moment. You never know who you're going to bump into. 40 00:02:31,060 --> 00:02:33,500 My journey begins on the northern shores 41 00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:35,820 of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. 42 00:02:35,820 --> 00:02:36,900 Let's go. 43 00:02:39,180 --> 00:02:44,020 This is the same coastline that the Spanish conquistadors 44 00:02:44,020 --> 00:02:47,300 arrived at when they invaded Central America 45 00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:49,500 in search of gold and riches. 46 00:02:52,460 --> 00:02:56,260 The Spanish clashed violently with the great kingdoms 47 00:02:56,260 --> 00:02:57,860 of the Aztec and Maya. 48 00:02:57,860 --> 00:03:00,900 It's a collision that still reverberates through this region... 49 00:03:02,100 --> 00:03:05,660 ..one of the most fascinating and diverse on Earth. 50 00:03:08,260 --> 00:03:12,620 So, the first thing I need to do is find a suitable guide... 51 00:03:13,780 --> 00:03:17,300 ..and I've got somebody in mind called Alberto, 52 00:03:17,300 --> 00:03:18,900 so I'm going to go and track him down. 53 00:03:21,660 --> 00:03:25,100 First stop is the town of Merida, where I'll meet my companion. 54 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:31,020 From there, the Americas will draw us through Mexico's Mayan heartland. 55 00:03:31,020 --> 00:03:34,140 I want to track the amazing coastline of Belize 56 00:03:34,140 --> 00:03:36,100 before being forced inland 57 00:03:36,100 --> 00:03:40,100 past the jungles where I trained as a soldier to the only land crossing 58 00:03:40,100 --> 00:03:43,780 into Guatemala and the lawless wilderness known as El Peten. 59 00:03:46,060 --> 00:03:47,540 Alberto. 60 00:03:47,540 --> 00:03:48,660 GATE BUZZES 61 00:03:49,980 --> 00:03:51,420 How do I get in? 62 00:03:51,420 --> 00:03:55,300 Alberto Caceres is an old expedition buddy of mine. 63 00:03:55,300 --> 00:03:56,580 How are you doing, old friend? 64 00:03:56,580 --> 00:03:58,780 I can't believe you are here. It's been a long time. 65 00:03:58,780 --> 00:04:02,580 In 2010, we drove the length of Africa together. 66 00:04:02,580 --> 00:04:05,220 He wants to walk the whole way with me, 67 00:04:05,220 --> 00:04:07,140 something none of my previous guides have done. 68 00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:10,300 He said that he couldn't turn this down. 69 00:04:10,300 --> 00:04:13,140 The moment that I called him and said that I was coming to Mexico, 70 00:04:13,140 --> 00:04:14,660 he said, "Right, I'm coming with you." 71 00:04:15,940 --> 00:04:19,180 No debate. So, I didn't really have a choice in the matter. 72 00:04:20,780 --> 00:04:23,380 I'll miss you, Merida, a lot. 73 00:04:23,380 --> 00:04:25,260 See you in four months. 74 00:04:31,780 --> 00:04:33,540 Again in the roads. 75 00:04:33,540 --> 00:04:35,780 Exactly. After six years. 76 00:04:35,780 --> 00:04:37,540 Unbelievable. 77 00:04:37,540 --> 00:04:39,820 I'm glad you could come along. 78 00:04:39,820 --> 00:04:42,580 I met Alberto six years ago. 79 00:04:42,580 --> 00:04:43,780 Hola. 80 00:04:43,780 --> 00:04:47,860 I'd lost my camera and, being a photographer, he lent me one of his. 81 00:04:47,860 --> 00:04:49,660 Buenos dias. 82 00:04:49,660 --> 00:04:52,940 Born and bred in Mexico, he's the ideal man to have around. 83 00:04:54,060 --> 00:04:55,860 So, how do you say the name of this place? 84 00:04:55,860 --> 00:04:58,580 Acanceh. Acanceh? Acanceh town. 85 00:04:58,580 --> 00:05:02,980 And that's a Mayan, a Mayan word. That's a Mayan name. 86 00:05:02,980 --> 00:05:06,340 Mayan word, OK. And there is a lot of Mayan people around. 87 00:05:07,900 --> 00:05:08,860 Hello. Hola. 88 00:05:09,940 --> 00:05:13,100 Up ahead, like a lot of these places, 89 00:05:13,100 --> 00:05:16,740 there's always a colonial-era church, 90 00:05:16,740 --> 00:05:19,620 but what is quite unusual about Acanceh 91 00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:22,100 is that right next to the church 92 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:26,020 you've got an ancient Mayan pyramid right in the middle of town 93 00:05:26,020 --> 00:05:30,020 and it really is this clash of old and new right next to each other. 94 00:05:31,980 --> 00:05:33,340 Do you want to hold the camera? 95 00:05:36,740 --> 00:05:40,420 This peaceful plaza was once the site of ritual murder. 96 00:05:42,180 --> 00:05:46,020 The Spanish described horrifying scenes of human sacrifice. 97 00:05:47,180 --> 00:05:51,580 Decapitation, disembowelment and heart extraction, 98 00:05:51,580 --> 00:05:53,740 all performed on pyramids like this. 99 00:05:55,620 --> 00:05:58,820 And the further we get into the Mayan heartland, 100 00:05:58,820 --> 00:06:01,180 I think the more of these we're going to see. 101 00:06:06,780 --> 00:06:09,660 It often hits 40 degrees Celsius in the Yucatan. 102 00:06:11,660 --> 00:06:15,660 Most Mexicans avoid the midday sun, unlike Alberto and me. 103 00:06:17,820 --> 00:06:20,740 This heat is unbelievable. 104 00:06:20,740 --> 00:06:22,820 HE PANTS 105 00:06:22,820 --> 00:06:27,700 And the sun beats down on the tarmac and just reflects it up 106 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:31,540 and you just get these wafts of just hot air. 107 00:06:31,540 --> 00:06:33,540 It's like walking into a hairdryer. 108 00:06:36,940 --> 00:06:40,260 For the next five days, we'll be crossing the flat, 109 00:06:40,260 --> 00:06:42,300 arid plains of the Yucatan Peninsula. 110 00:06:45,020 --> 00:06:48,380 There are no mountains, hills or rivers to see, 111 00:06:48,380 --> 00:06:51,220 but there's a unique world hidden beneath our feet. 112 00:06:52,420 --> 00:06:54,580 So, the whole of the Yucatan Peninsula 113 00:06:54,580 --> 00:06:58,620 is completely flat and all of the water 114 00:06:58,620 --> 00:07:04,100 is in fact underground and that's because, well, 115 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:06,260 some people suggest, anyway, 116 00:07:06,260 --> 00:07:08,380 that when the meteorite hit 117 00:07:08,380 --> 00:07:12,220 that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, 118 00:07:12,220 --> 00:07:16,620 this whole landscape became pockmarked with these sinkholes, 119 00:07:16,620 --> 00:07:17,740 the cenotes. 120 00:07:19,940 --> 00:07:23,500 The ancient Maya used to say that these are the portals 121 00:07:23,500 --> 00:07:24,700 into the underworld. 122 00:07:26,180 --> 00:07:28,820 When the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, 123 00:07:28,820 --> 00:07:31,380 the Mayas were one of the most advanced cultures 124 00:07:31,380 --> 00:07:32,860 in the Western Hemisphere. 125 00:07:34,100 --> 00:07:37,140 Cenotes provided fresh water for vast cities. 126 00:07:38,620 --> 00:07:45,020 Now, most are overgrown and hard to find, unless you know where to look. 127 00:07:45,020 --> 00:07:47,980 Senor Aaron. How are you? How are you doing? 128 00:07:49,540 --> 00:07:52,020 Local dive master Aaron Diaz 129 00:07:52,020 --> 00:07:55,380 has agreed to show us a cenote few people know about. 130 00:07:57,340 --> 00:07:59,180 This is the place. 131 00:07:59,180 --> 00:08:01,420 And how deep is it there? I can't even see the bottom. 132 00:08:01,420 --> 00:08:03,380 Ah, yeah. Here to the water, maybe... 133 00:08:04,460 --> 00:08:06,260 ..15 metres. 15 metres? 134 00:08:06,260 --> 00:08:07,980 Wow. Yeah. What's the noises down there? 135 00:08:09,460 --> 00:08:11,220 Birds. Birds? Yeah. 136 00:08:14,140 --> 00:08:17,980 There's an estimated 6,000 sinkholes across the Yucatan. 137 00:08:19,860 --> 00:08:21,900 Locals still use some as wells. 138 00:08:23,980 --> 00:08:28,300 Landowner Don Elmo discovered this cenote had a grisly secret. 139 00:08:47,820 --> 00:08:50,860 Somebody lied to me. 140 00:08:50,860 --> 00:08:54,140 They told me we are just going to walk and now I'm jumping in a hole. 141 00:08:57,220 --> 00:08:58,420 OK. Ready? 142 00:09:01,060 --> 00:09:01,940 Whoa. 143 00:09:06,540 --> 00:09:08,060 Going into the Mayan underworld. 144 00:09:12,020 --> 00:09:13,300 Wow. 145 00:09:13,300 --> 00:09:15,460 Many cenotes are connected, 146 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:19,540 forming vast networks of flooded caves hundreds of miles long. 147 00:09:21,500 --> 00:09:25,620 This year, three divers died when they got lost and ran out of air. 148 00:09:28,220 --> 00:09:30,260 This is definitely an eerie place to be. 149 00:09:36,380 --> 00:09:38,660 Mum, Dad, I love you. 150 00:09:38,660 --> 00:09:42,180 Sorry for all the bad things I did when I was a kid. 151 00:09:42,180 --> 00:09:43,940 Whoo! 152 00:09:43,940 --> 00:09:45,180 Where are you? 153 00:09:51,060 --> 00:09:52,740 Here we go. 154 00:10:12,460 --> 00:10:17,140 Dive master Aaron leads us 15 metres down to the cenote floor. 155 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:50,740 Being sacrificed was in fact an honour, 156 00:10:50,740 --> 00:10:52,660 guaranteeing entry into heaven. 157 00:10:56,100 --> 00:10:58,740 Whilst Don Elmo says 100 victims lie here... 158 00:10:59,980 --> 00:11:03,100 ..some estimate that the Maya killed a quarter of a million people 159 00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:05,060 each year to appease the gods. 160 00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:33,900 Wow. I've never seen anything like that. 161 00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:38,620 There's just heads everywhere. 162 00:11:41,860 --> 00:11:44,180 This is not somewhere I'd like to be stuck for much longer. 163 00:11:48,420 --> 00:11:50,460 Don Elmo? 164 00:11:50,460 --> 00:11:51,700 Can we go now? 165 00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:01,720 I'm walking Central America from Mexico to Colombia 166 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,000 with my friend and guide, Alberto. 167 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,880 HE LAUGHS 168 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,320 I'm better at walking than I am football. 169 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,200 Buenas tardes. 170 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:27,920 So, this is Homun 171 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,840 and every town and every village has got its own patron saint. 172 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,600 And whenever it's a patron saint's day, 173 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,360 they have a big party, a fiesta. 174 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:40,440 LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS 175 00:12:55,480 --> 00:13:00,480 There's no health and safety going on here. 176 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,680 Out in force today are the rancheros and their steeds. 177 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,720 Before the Spanish arrived, there were no horses in Central America. 178 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,160 The Maya had never seen men on horseback and it's said they thought 179 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,040 they were looking at gods. 180 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:20,080 450 years later and the horse is still worshipped. 181 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,320 The charrerIa, 182 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,480 or rodeo, is Mexico's national sport. 183 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,920 So, they're going to release a bull into the stadium for the rodeo 184 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,440 and then all the guys on horses chase in there. 185 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,960 And then I think it seems like it's a competition to catch him. 186 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:40,160 Then they start pushing each other like very aggressive 187 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,160 because everybody wants to catch the bull and bring it back 188 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:46,440 into the trucks. But they don't kill the bull, right? 189 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,560 I fear that if we stand here much longer we're going to get stampeded. 190 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,160 The last time I was on a horse in Mexico I broke my leg. 191 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:23,920 Alberto and I are pushing south through Mexico's Yucatan region, 192 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,840 averaging around 20 miles a day. 193 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:30,040 I'm very hungry. 194 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,240 You're very hungry? What about you? 195 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,160 I'm pretty hungry, too. It's taco time. 196 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:36,560 Buenas tardes. 197 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,560 'We've reached the town of Mama, 198 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,640 'where Alberto's promised me the best tacos going.' 199 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:43,400 Hola. 200 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:47,240 'Made by his adopted family, the Tzib Tshus.' 201 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,720 Cruz. Lev. 202 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:53,200 Hola. Mucho gusto. Buenas tardes. 203 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,680 He is... 204 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,040 mi ahijado. Hola. Mucho gusto. 205 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:02,280 The Tzib Tshus are some of the 10 million descendants of the 206 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,840 ancient Maya living in Central America. 207 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:06,840 Let's go to make the tortillas. 208 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,080 CHAIR CRACKS THEY LAUGH 209 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:14,800 He broke the chair! 210 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,360 Sorry, sorry, I'll buy you a new one. 211 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,320 SPEAKING SPANISH 212 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:24,560 Oh! 213 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:26,400 HE SNIGGERS 214 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,120 Sorry! 215 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,680 Mayan family gatherings mean everyone's invited, 216 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:38,560 like cousin Theodoro, who's known Alberto for eight years. 217 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:39,800 My brother. 218 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:46,400 Pays well? 219 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,520 That's the reason that they prefer to risk their life and go. 220 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,840 So, do many people from Mama and Yucatan go to Estados Unidos? 221 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,560 Just from this town? Wow. 222 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:34,320 And then they were asking money to the family so they had to send some 223 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:38,800 money and they dropped him onto the mountain, wherever. 224 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,880 So they can steal your money just so easy because you are there, 225 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,160 there is nobody to protect you, you are doing something illegally. 226 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,560 Yeah. So it's a super risky thing to do. 227 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,280 For the next 100 miles, 228 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:05,920 we must navigate highways and dirt tracks to the more remote parts of 229 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,920 the Yucatan to reach the border with country number two, Belize. 230 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,200 Now that we're on our own, 231 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:22,520 I've asked Alberto to try and negotiate a tricycle so that we can 232 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:26,800 carry extra water and our bags because of the heat and 233 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,040 this is what he's found. 234 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:33,280 'Alberto's worked his local contacts from Mama to buy a classic form 235 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,760 'of Yucatan transport. And this one's a vintage model.' 236 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:39,320 Happy with it? 237 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:41,320 Yeah. It's better than nothing. 238 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,160 Adios. ALL: Adios. 239 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,400 Ready, Alberto? Whoa, this is hot! 240 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,160 Shit! You need some gloves! 241 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:03,600 Super hot, too! 242 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,640 This is the hard thing to do. 243 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:20,680 Alberto's going to ride the tricycle with the water and bags on 244 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:22,680 and I'm going to walk. 245 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,040 You feeling hot, Alberto? 246 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,520 Yes, a bit. 247 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:44,640 Very dry, no? Dry and hot. 248 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:46,720 I thought this was the rainy season. 249 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:48,680 It is but still hot anyway! 250 00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:51,880 Where's the rain, though? 251 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,680 I don't know, I don't see any rain around. 252 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,200 Finally, he catch us, the rain. 253 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:07,360 We couldn't escape. 254 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:26,040 'We're deep in Mayan backcountry and so far the roads have been quiet.' 255 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,200 Alberto. 'But things can change very quickly.' 256 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,760 Three. So there's still many more out there? 257 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:06,240 Yeah, they only catch three and they have weapons with them. 258 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,600 Oh, really? 259 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:14,320 The fugitives are linked to Mexico's most feared drug cartel, Los Zetas. 260 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,520 And we're walking on their home turf. 261 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,000 The cops tell us to pick up the pace for the next 20 miles and get 262 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:29,440 ourselves over the state line and away from any potential trouble. 263 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,720 To be honest, they can't have got very far because three of them 264 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,960 were apprehended by the police really close to here. 265 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,600 The problem is that I guess they know that all of the main roads 266 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,000 have got police checkpoints on them, 267 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,040 so they're going to be avoiding the main roads. 268 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,440 That's what I would do if I was running away 269 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:49,840 and that's where we are, so. 270 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,840 After a tense day spent looking over our shoulders, 271 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:13,160 Alberto and I make it out of the Yucatn and into the next state, 272 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,200 Quintana Roo. 273 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,080 But we're not out of bandit country just yet. 274 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:26,920 No! 275 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,480 Now we have nothing. Now we've got nothing left. 276 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,680 Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis... 277 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:47,760 After ten days, 278 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:52,240 the Americans have taken us from open plains into thick forest. 279 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,240 Nature rules here now. 280 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,080 But 1,000 years ago, 281 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:02,920 all this was cleared to make way for sprawling cities 282 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:04,960 home to tens of thousands of people. 283 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,880 Locals like community leader Darmian are the only ones who know 284 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:12,960 what secrets are hidden here. 285 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,960 Some of these little trails, one or two people have been here, maximum. 286 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,760 'We start to see traces of ancient life.' 287 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:26,680 Wow! 288 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:32,080 So, here we go, we've got just pieces of ancient Mayan pottery 289 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,240 that's just lying around. 290 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:36,600 Damian was saying any time it rains, 291 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,960 it just washes this stuff straight out of the ground. 292 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:42,840 You can see the stairs. 293 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,120 This is proper Indiana Jones stuff, this. 294 00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:50,000 'The Maya were highly skilled architects. 295 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,640 'But wars, droughts and massive deforestation forced them 296 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,520 'to abandon these magnificent cities.' 297 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,320 Just everywhere, bits of pottery. 298 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:03,320 'And within 100 years, the jungle had engulfed them.' 299 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,200 This has got to be one of the highest pyramids in the whole of, 300 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:13,640 wow, Mexico, right? 301 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:15,240 This is not on any of the maps. 302 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,080 It's not on, it's not even on Google Earth. 303 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:22,000 It's not on any of the tourist literature. 304 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:23,480 HE SPEAKS SPANISH 305 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:25,280 No. No. 306 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,160 Even Damian doesn't even know the name. 307 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:33,640 Crazy to think, isn't it, that here we are in the 21st-century 308 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,440 and there's still enormous pyramids like this 309 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:37,840 hidden away in the jungle. 310 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,200 Blows my mind. 311 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,280 So, to get to the Belize border, we've taken what, 312 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:58,960 according to the map, 313 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:02,040 looks like the remains of an old road. 314 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:06,400 The only problem we've got is that we've been told that 315 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,920 along this route there's a certain kind of tree called a Chechem tree, 316 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:13,840 which has got poisonous leaves and if you touch it, 317 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:17,200 it burns your skin and it's toxic. 318 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,400 People have even been hospitalised just from touching it. 319 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,680 I think these ones are the Chechem, they're like very skinny. 320 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:29,880 Some people told me that they preferred to take a knife and remove 321 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,760 the skin where it's hurt by the Chechem because that's less painful. 322 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,520 Maybe we just run through it as quickly as possible? 323 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,840 Eventually, the old road disappears completely. 324 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,320 Yeah, it looks like we've got a river to cross. 325 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,440 Big stones in here. 326 00:24:58,280 --> 00:24:59,920 Yeah, I think left a bit. 327 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:01,640 It's quite deep. 328 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:12,800 OK. 329 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:15,280 This is what we have the holes here for, watch. 330 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:20,880 I love it. 331 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:26,240 'After two weeks of walking, we've covered over 250 miles 332 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:28,680 'to make it to the edge of Mexico. 333 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:34,160 'In front of us is country number two, Belize. 334 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,960 'But before we reach the border there's bad news. 335 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:39,840 'A massive hurricane is on its way.' 336 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:56,400 packing ferocious winds of up to 80mph. 337 00:25:56,400 --> 00:26:01,200 Devastation to houses and infrastructure have been tremendous. 338 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,240 I should be in Belize, 339 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:04,960 but before I reached there, 340 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,760 a massive hurricane slams its Caribbean coast. 341 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,480 The Belizean government declares a state of emergency. 342 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:17,920 'But after a few days waiting, 343 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,520 'Alberto and I are good to leave Mexico and make our way there.' 344 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:29,040 So, this is it, leaving Mexico now, onto country number two, Belize, 345 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,160 which is just over there. 346 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,320 Just have to see what state the place is in. 347 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:34,880 Hopefully, it's not too bad. 348 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,960 Say, "Goodbye, Mexico." Goodbye, Mexico. 349 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:45,200 I'm entering Belize on its far eastern border with Mexico, 350 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,240 on the island worst hit by the storm, 351 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:49,680 San Pedro. 352 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:54,360 We will rejoin the mainland at Belize City, 353 00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:57,840 where we'll follow the route west through the Belizean jungles, 354 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,360 where I trained as a soldier with the British Army, 355 00:27:00,360 --> 00:27:03,920 before pushing on to the only border crossing with Guatemala. 356 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:11,320 As soon as we step off the boat, 357 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,720 we can see where Hurricane Earl left its mark on San Pedro. 358 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:25,200 You can see the piles of debris all over the place. 359 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:29,200 The piers, all the stuff that's made of wood, just completely blown away. 360 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:38,440 So, this island of San Pedro brings in millions and millions of tourist dollars. 361 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:42,560 But there is definitely a price to pay of living in this area. 362 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:47,560 The whole tropical region of Central America is fraught with hurricanes 363 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:50,720 and this is right on the hurricane corridor. 364 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:54,960 '90% of the island's piers and docks have been obliterated 365 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,600 'and it's the fishermen who've been hit hardest.' 366 00:27:58,600 --> 00:27:59,880 Hello, how are you doing? 367 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:04,880 From England. Look at him, look at him, look at him. 368 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:06,360 England. England? Oh, hi, mate. 369 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:07,960 How are you doing? 370 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:11,040 Nothing to do. 371 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,520 No. I'm Joe, anyway. My name is Joe. 372 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:14,880 What's your name? Joe. 373 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:24,040 This is the guy right here. 374 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:25,640 What happened with the hurricane? 375 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,400 Did you lose any of your buildings or what? 376 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:29,960 You lost your boat? Everything. 377 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:30,920 Yeah. 378 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:35,040 That was where yours was, right? 379 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:35,920 Yeah. 380 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,720 Belize is a tiny nation of just 300,000 people. 381 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:46,120 And 10,000 of them lost their homes in the hurricane. 382 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,280 Further down the coast, we pass through Belize City. 383 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:04,840 Until 1981, Belize was a remote outpost of the British Empire, 384 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:06,880 known as British Honduras. 385 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:11,080 Thank you. Thanks, very much. Have fun, guys. 386 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:14,400 Look at the old... The old British postbox there. 387 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:15,440 You can see it's an old colony. 388 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:21,000 Belize was Britain's only foothold in Central America 389 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,640 and, for once, I'm fluent in the local tongue. 390 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:25,880 Morning, how are you doing? 391 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,280 Yeah, where you from, man? From England, how are you doing? 392 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:29,600 Good. Good. Yeah. 393 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:32,200 So, are you just walking around? 394 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,160 Walking to Guatemala. 395 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:35,480 WALKING to Guatemala? 396 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,400 Well, actually we're walking to Colombia. 397 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:39,840 You're the walking crew? 398 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:41,600 Yeah. Don't mess around, brother, really? 399 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:43,920 Yeah, really. 400 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:46,320 You guys are crazy, baby. 401 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:55,800 Up ahead 402 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,920 are the hills of Western Belize 403 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,960 and that's the direction that we're going now, 404 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:06,880 into the jungle and then heading towards the border with Guatemala. 405 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:09,120 'We're approaching the same rainforest 406 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:13,680 'where I did my army jungle training in 2007. 407 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,840 'It's the ideal place to prepare for our mission 408 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:18,920 'to walk through the Darien Gap, 409 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:23,080 'a notorious stretch of wilderness between Central and South America.' 410 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:28,600 The jungle has always been regarded as one of the most dangerous 411 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:30,920 and difficult environments to be in. 412 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,000 It's been described as "the green hell." 413 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:35,920 'To survive out here, 414 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:40,920 'we need the help of an expert and I have just the guy in mind.' 415 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:42,400 We're going to meet Aaron. 416 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:45,360 He's the guy that taught me jungle skills way back, 417 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:46,760 almost ten years ago, 418 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:48,720 so he's going to come tomorrow morning 419 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,120 and, for Alberto's first time in the jungle, 420 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:55,880 show us just how to live and survive in this environment. 421 00:30:57,600 --> 00:30:59,880 THEY LAUGH 422 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,120 You don't get that if you rub sticks together! 423 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:16,120 Expert tracker Aaron has trained British soldiers 424 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:19,160 in jungle warfare for over 16 years. 425 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:20,720 And I feel safe with you. 426 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,080 Today, he'll lead us on a trek 427 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:27,600 to teach us survival and navigation skills. 428 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,760 So, 5K. 429 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:33,280 On the road, that would take one hour. 430 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:35,880 How many hours do you think this is going to take through the jungle? 431 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,160 Six hours. Six hours, OK. 432 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:40,680 So, we're going to head off the main trail now. 433 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:43,560 And this is where things get tough. 434 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:46,120 'All being well, we'll be a few miles closer 435 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:48,360 'to the Guatemalan border by the end of the day. 436 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:58,760 'A lot of things in the jungle can either kill you or keep you alive. 437 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:00,960 'Luckily, Aaron knows the difference.' 438 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,200 We're going to be using this stuff later. 439 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,200 It's a termite nest. What is it? Explain what it is. 440 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:11,240 It's called a termite nest. OK. I'm going to see if it's alive. 441 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:14,880 Oh, it's lovely. It's alive. 442 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:16,640 That is food. 443 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:17,800 That's surviving. 444 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:18,760 How do they taste? 445 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:23,160 They taste like fish and chips. 446 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:24,120 It's lovely. 447 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:27,880 How do they taste? 448 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:29,080 Taste shit. 449 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:41,080 It's there. 450 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,840 We've got a baby tarantula here. 451 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,000 And the whole family is there. Does not want that on my... 452 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:47,760 OK. Let's let him go now, I think. 453 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:49,480 Let's see how far she goes. 454 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:52,960 OK. 455 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:57,600 THEY LAUGH 456 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,720 That's enough for me. That's enough, right, 457 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:02,680 let's leave the poor thing alone. 458 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:03,760 Let's go. 459 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,080 Progress in the jungle is slow. 460 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,640 Walking through the Darien Gap will involve over a week of trekking 461 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:16,640 in terrain much tougher than this. 462 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:20,440 It's hard work. 463 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:24,520 You know, you almost forget that the dangers are lying all around, 464 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,240 snakes, deadfall up above, you know it's a proper... 465 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:30,480 ..difficult environment. 466 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:39,000 You were telling me earlier about a story about your boss, right? What happened? 467 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,960 He was, erm, clearing an area like this and he just pulled a vine. 468 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,240 Actually, there was a dead branch on top of the tree 469 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:48,840 and it came right on, towards his face, 470 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:50,240 entered through his mouth, 471 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:53,080 came out the other way under his jaw. 472 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:55,720 He's OK. All his teeth was gone. 473 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:07,560 Maps and compasses can only get you so far in the jungle. 474 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:10,920 Aaron is navigating by following this stream. 475 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:14,880 He says it will lead us to a river and onto civilisation. 476 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,920 THUNDER RUMBLES 477 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:24,000 It was bone dry ten seconds ago and now it's bucketing down. 478 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,880 When it rains in the jungle, you know about it. 479 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:34,920 Everything is just soaking wet. 480 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:36,200 It's super slippery. 481 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:41,240 Bollocks. 482 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:45,920 Aaron. 483 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:01,520 That tree there just collapsed over... 484 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:18,280 We head downstream until we find a crossing point. 485 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:24,160 But the rain means the water's rising by the minute. 486 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:29,040 Well, we made it to the river. 487 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:34,680 You see the river is coming fast, so we have to hurry, OK? 488 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:37,320 OK. Let's do it. 489 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:41,680 Aaron tells me to go first. 490 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:57,000 It's taken us eight hours to cover three miles. 491 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:00,400 We've learnt just how unpredictable the jungle can be. 492 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:05,560 But, for now, there's only one thing on our minds. 493 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:06,760 That way? 494 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:08,440 Which way for the tacos, then? 495 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:10,680 Which way? Surely you can smell them? 496 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:13,280 HE SNIFFS OK, follow me, then. 497 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,280 This way. Wrong way. 498 00:36:16,720 --> 00:36:19,160 Let's go, vamos. Vamos. Press on, on foot. 499 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:22,880 Hungry, very hungry. 500 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:36,360 The next morning, we're back on the main road, 501 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,640 and aiming for the only land crossing into Guatemala, 502 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:40,840 20 miles west. 503 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:45,440 Hola, entrada? Gracias. 504 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:48,720 That's it, we're inside Guatemala. 505 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,720 Alberto's happy, he gets to speak Spanish again. 506 00:36:53,720 --> 00:36:54,840 Yeah, finally. 507 00:36:58,040 --> 00:36:59,960 Away from the border, 508 00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:02,480 we find ourselves amongst lush, rolling hills 509 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:04,120 dotted with small ranches. 510 00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:16,760 Alberto and I spend our first night in a small forest camp. 511 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:22,840 It's chilly, huh? 512 00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:27,040 It's 7am, far too late for any self-respecting explorer 513 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:28,720 to still be in bed. 514 00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:31,600 I love this, this is like a baby cow. 515 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:34,600 It's a big baby, this one, 516 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:37,320 so it's going to take a little bit to come out. 517 00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:46,360 You wake up, get out your hammock, 518 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:47,400 then you discover... 519 00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:50,400 ..something a little bit like this. 520 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:55,760 And it's hidden gems like this 521 00:37:55,760 --> 00:38:00,240 that make Central America one of the most incredible parts of the world. 522 00:38:00,240 --> 00:38:02,480 One, two, 523 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:03,920 three. 524 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:12,080 Woo! 525 00:38:22,860 --> 00:38:24,580 I'm in Guatemala, 526 00:38:24,580 --> 00:38:26,220 four weeks and 400 miles 527 00:38:26,220 --> 00:38:29,660 into my journey to walk the length of Central America. 528 00:38:31,340 --> 00:38:35,060 We are walking through the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, 529 00:38:35,060 --> 00:38:38,660 a protected area of tropical forest in northern Guatemala. 530 00:38:40,060 --> 00:38:43,300 There's not many people about but we are definitely not alone. 531 00:38:43,300 --> 00:38:45,420 FAINT ROARING 532 00:38:47,060 --> 00:38:49,420 LOUD GROANING ROARS 533 00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:55,420 Those incredible noises, 534 00:38:56,980 --> 00:38:59,540 that sound like dinosaurs, they are actually howler monkeys. 535 00:38:59,540 --> 00:39:01,540 Let's go and see if we can get closer. 536 00:39:03,620 --> 00:39:06,220 LOUD HOWLING ROARS 537 00:39:13,580 --> 00:39:17,140 Sounds like a combination between a dog and a Tyrannosaurus rex! 538 00:39:23,660 --> 00:39:27,020 These monkeys guard one of the oldest and most mysterious 539 00:39:27,020 --> 00:39:28,500 Mayan cities. 540 00:39:30,140 --> 00:39:32,700 This is Yaxha, and it's unbelievable. 541 00:39:34,420 --> 00:39:38,900 It's one of the most spectacular and biggest ruins in the whole of 542 00:39:38,900 --> 00:39:44,220 Guatemala. And what's incredible is that all of this was built without 543 00:39:44,220 --> 00:39:46,620 even the use of the wheel or any metal tools. 544 00:39:48,420 --> 00:39:51,500 The ancient Maya believed blood had to be spilt 545 00:39:51,500 --> 00:39:54,780 to ensure life on Earth continued. 546 00:39:54,780 --> 00:39:58,660 And these pyramid temples are some of the largest monuments 547 00:39:58,660 --> 00:40:02,220 dedicated to death and sacrifice anywhere in the world. 548 00:40:04,300 --> 00:40:07,220 Built as staircases to reach the gods, 549 00:40:07,220 --> 00:40:08,860 many people climbing these steps 550 00:40:08,860 --> 00:40:10,700 would have been walking to their death. 551 00:40:19,900 --> 00:40:23,660 Wow! We are almost at the top of this pyramid and, from here, 552 00:40:23,660 --> 00:40:27,500 you can see everything, the jungle all around. 553 00:40:27,500 --> 00:40:29,300 This is absolutely incredible. 554 00:40:33,500 --> 00:40:35,060 This is what I live for - 555 00:40:36,420 --> 00:40:38,780 finding places like this around the world. 556 00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:47,020 But now, we're heading south into a very different Guatemala. 557 00:40:47,020 --> 00:40:48,780 DOG BARKS 558 00:40:51,700 --> 00:40:54,220 Northern Guatemala shares a border with Mexico. 559 00:40:55,300 --> 00:41:01,020 Too vast and remote to police, it's now cartel territory. 560 00:41:01,020 --> 00:41:02,700 We've already been warned that this 561 00:41:02,700 --> 00:41:05,420 is a particularly notorious stretch of road 562 00:41:05,420 --> 00:41:07,580 for drug trafficking, smuggling. 563 00:41:08,700 --> 00:41:10,500 Definitely on alert at the moment. 564 00:41:13,300 --> 00:41:16,220 You never know who you are going to bump into. 565 00:41:23,780 --> 00:41:26,300 This area, El Peten, which means the Bush... 566 00:41:29,140 --> 00:41:33,300 ..it's where a lot of the Guatemalan drug lords, 567 00:41:33,300 --> 00:41:36,340 they have got their mansions and big houses. 568 00:41:37,740 --> 00:41:39,500 With that comes a bit of edginess. 569 00:41:40,780 --> 00:41:45,780 80% of the cocaine that reaches the US passes through El Peten, 570 00:41:45,780 --> 00:41:49,420 and I'm well aware that walking around with a camera could attract 571 00:41:49,420 --> 00:41:50,380 unwanted attention. 572 00:41:52,460 --> 00:41:53,900 Just hoping that, um... 573 00:41:55,300 --> 00:41:59,660 You know, the fact that we are just a couple of tourists walking through, 574 00:41:59,660 --> 00:42:01,580 they are not going to take any notice of us. 575 00:42:05,300 --> 00:42:07,340 So there's a car that's been following us for a... 576 00:42:08,940 --> 00:42:12,820 for a little while. I think it's the same one that drove past earlier. 577 00:42:12,820 --> 00:42:14,220 They are just stopping now. 578 00:42:16,220 --> 00:42:17,500 'I'm not sure who they are... 579 00:42:19,060 --> 00:42:21,820 '..but the three men in the car insist we get in 580 00:42:21,820 --> 00:42:25,420 'and travel to the next village for lunch. 581 00:42:25,420 --> 00:42:28,500 'With no-one else around, I feel we have to go with them.' 582 00:42:52,420 --> 00:42:55,380 'Half a mile down the road, we arrive at the village.' 583 00:42:56,700 --> 00:42:57,660 You live here? 584 00:43:01,540 --> 00:43:05,300 'Hugo, in the blue T-shirt, says he is an off-duty policeman. 585 00:43:05,300 --> 00:43:08,940 'He and his mates, Walter and Chico, have plenty of questions for me.' 586 00:43:18,580 --> 00:43:21,980 'They are interested in where I've walked before and, in particular, 587 00:43:21,980 --> 00:43:23,260 'my book sales.' 588 00:43:28,700 --> 00:43:30,420 How many did I sell? 589 00:43:39,220 --> 00:43:41,260 'Having answered their questions, 590 00:43:41,260 --> 00:43:43,500 'I'm relieved that we really are here for lunch.' 591 00:43:45,740 --> 00:43:47,740 Looks good, huh? Very good. 592 00:43:47,740 --> 00:43:49,580 So this is... 593 00:43:49,580 --> 00:43:51,620 This is, what, pork or... 594 00:43:51,620 --> 00:43:52,940 Puerco? Puerco. 595 00:43:54,700 --> 00:43:56,380 'It's an uneasy 30 minutes 596 00:43:57,740 --> 00:44:00,140 'and we are about to make our excuses to leave 597 00:44:00,140 --> 00:44:03,700 'before Walter says he wants us to stick around.' 598 00:44:07,060 --> 00:44:09,900 They've invited us back to their house, just to... 599 00:44:09,900 --> 00:44:13,380 He wants to show us his mini-mansion, as he calls it. 600 00:44:15,820 --> 00:44:19,580 'It's impossible to tell who works in the narco trade here 601 00:44:19,580 --> 00:44:22,420 'but illegal drugs are on plain view, 602 00:44:22,420 --> 00:44:25,140 'even in front of someone who says he is an off-duty cop.' 603 00:44:26,620 --> 00:44:28,020 What's this, Walter? 604 00:44:30,460 --> 00:44:31,860 Marijuana. 605 00:44:34,100 --> 00:44:35,740 'Walter doesn't just grow the stuff.' 606 00:44:52,980 --> 00:44:55,740 Wow! That is an absolutely massive reefer! 607 00:44:56,940 --> 00:44:59,540 I think I'll leave that. 608 00:44:59,540 --> 00:45:01,140 It's time to move on, quickly. 609 00:45:03,420 --> 00:45:05,100 'Finally, they let us go.' 610 00:45:06,460 --> 00:45:07,420 Adios! 611 00:45:16,620 --> 00:45:20,780 'Those guys were friendly but El Peten's known for violent robberies, 612 00:45:20,780 --> 00:45:23,980 'extortion, even kidnappings. 613 00:45:23,980 --> 00:45:27,100 'A stranger can't be sure of anything or anyone here, 614 00:45:27,100 --> 00:45:29,660 'but I've told those guys where we are going in Guatemala, 615 00:45:29,660 --> 00:45:31,820 'and now I feel anxious.' 616 00:45:31,820 --> 00:45:35,780 So do you think those guys were the real deal or what? 617 00:45:35,780 --> 00:45:37,820 I don't know. 618 00:45:37,820 --> 00:45:43,700 In Spanish, we were talking, he was asking too much questions. 619 00:45:43,700 --> 00:45:46,900 To be honest, the thing that worried me the most was him asking 620 00:45:46,900 --> 00:45:50,580 how much money we've got and which route we're taking. 621 00:45:51,900 --> 00:45:54,420 This is where we need to start being a bit more cautious 622 00:45:54,420 --> 00:45:57,300 about where we go, who we speak to. 623 00:45:58,460 --> 00:46:01,300 The truth is, anything could happen. 624 00:46:06,980 --> 00:46:09,860 'Still to come... Mother Nature at her most extreme.' 625 00:46:10,940 --> 00:46:13,540 It's not called the mouth of hell for no reason. 626 00:46:14,740 --> 00:46:16,740 'Central America's deadliest city.' 627 00:46:17,980 --> 00:46:20,220 There is literally just a dead body just there. 628 00:46:20,220 --> 00:46:22,220 'Incredible scenery.' 629 00:46:22,220 --> 00:46:23,380 This is next level! 630 00:46:26,980 --> 00:46:29,220 'And the mighty Darien Gap.' 631 00:46:29,220 --> 00:46:31,100 Now we are properly into the jungle. 632 00:46:51,980 --> 00:46:55,660 Subtitles by Ericsson