Beware: Perquin, El Salvador/Marcala, Honduras border crossing
 

Just to let everyone know, the border crossing at Perquin, El Salvador/Marcala, Honduras should be avoided.

I had been told by locals in El Salvador that the border was open and in business. When I crossed there (Aug. 22nd) it was just as I'd been told: no problems and very easy. The El Salvadoreans only glanced at my passport and there was never any mention of my aduana paperwork for the moto.
Entering Honduras was just as easy. A quick look at my passport, wrote something down in a ratty notebook, and sent me on my way. I never asked them about stamping my passport nor did I inquire about paperwork for my moto.

Less than a week later, in regards to another post I had made, I was warned by 'martinef' (motonomadas) that they had done the same thing I had done before me. They had the sense to ask for paperwork, but were assured by the "officials" there that all they needed was their title and drivers license. When they went to leave Honduras, aduana tried charging them a $200 fine.

After asking a few ex-pats in Honduras, I realized that I wasn't in the best situation and that besides the threat of a heavy fine when leaving the country, it was another excuse for the police to extract bribes if I ever got stopped.

Luckily, I never got stopped. As for leaving the country, I exited today into Nicaragua at Los Manos. When I was flagged down to pull over at the border (I was hoping that I wouldn't be noticed and I could just ride straight out of Honduras), I pulled over and joined the small mob gathered at the immigration window. I stood there for about 7 or 8 minutes, then turned around, got back on my moto, and rode into Nicaragua.

Of course, I consider myself VERY lucky. I mainly wanted to relate this story not to brag, but to let people know that if you are even allowed to cross at Perquin/Marcala, there are risks involved. Until El Salvador and Honduras gets aduana posts on both sides, this border should be completely avoided.

By the way, if thinking about crossing in the other direction, I have no idea what the Hondurans would do, but when I left El Salvador, again, no one asked for my moto paperwork. So if you entered El Salvador hoping for aduana, I doubt there would be any, as with the Honduran side.

Did you get an entry stamp in Nicaragua in your passport?
Did you get the temporary importation for the bike and did you had to pay the $ 12.00 tourist tax ( $10.00 + $2.00 for something else)?
Glad you made it, Did you go after 7 pm? as suggested ?

Ronald

all legal in Nicaragua
 

Yeah, I (happily!) went through all the border formalities on the Nicaraguan side with immigration and customs. No worries at all, really.
After having a good think about it, I ended up going first thing in the morning. Around 8 AM or so when I hoped there would be a lot of border traffic.

Glad that you made it into Nicaragua with paperwork and all! As you know, we were considering the same crossing at Perquin, but based on your experience will backtrack to El Poy. Out of curiosity, we rode to the border yesterday to talk to them about future possibility of aduana service for bike paperwork.

The migracion officials mentioned that they hope to have an aduana office up and running in about a month. That would be around October 2011. But of course take that with a grain of salt. And that does not say anything about the Honduran side.

Just a bit more info for reference...

Just curious? Why didn't you?

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

I went exactly the same way, about 2 years ago and it looks like nothing has changed. Paperworkwise it was the same, just 1 border control point on honduran side with custom officials not to worried about your luck or that of your bike. I remember that officer writing only my details, off my passport, in a book and he didn't ask about my bike's documents until I insited.
Also they did not have any official stamps to hammer your passport with nor motorcycle permit. I think they did not even know what that was. They said that any officials needing any documents of me or my bike would have to check with them on the phone (I dont know if they have that tecnology in the middle of nowhere). As a result, I just spent 1 or 2 nights in Honduras then turned round, informed the same officials of my leaving then I joined the Panamericana and did the usual official stuff when I left El Salvador an reentered Honduras, although it was less easy and had to pay lik everyone, , at least I had peace of mind when stopped by police.

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if anybody has any news about the Perquin border crossing. We were thinking to take it when leaving El Salvador in order to avoid the PanAmericana one. But any idea if there are Adauna offices now there?

If not, would you recommend to track back to El Poy or try to do it on the East exit, the PanAmericana?

Theres is no customs office at Perkin at least in the El Salvador side.
El Poy is easier border crossing than El Amatillo, if you dont mind riding couple hundred kms more.