Race Across the World (2019–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - Copán Ruinas - Honduras - full transcript

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.