A few questions about Mexico and South

[msg996]

I will be riding from Canada to Mexico city in November/December with the hopes of travelling further South through Guatemala and Honduras at a later date. I am planning on storing my bike at a mini bodega place in Mexico city when I arrive, and then flying back to Canada for a month or so to work. Then in January fly back to Mexico pick up the bike and head South from there.
Does anyone know the rule about having to leave Mexico WITH the vehicle you arrived with? I am wooried they may not let me fly home and leave the bike in the country. Also, I seem to remember the last time I rode to Mexico my temporary vehicle import permit was only valid for 90 days. Although I know I can apply for a further 90 days after that, is it possible to just get an initial 180 day permit at the begining?
I am also wondering if I am required to have country specific insurance to enter Guatemala, El Salvador, or Honduras? I dont think so, but not sure. Is there any vehicle import permits required for these countries?
Of course any other nuggets of wisdom that anyone thinks might be useful for this trip would be appreciated by me

[Werner]

Hi, MonoSodiumGlutamate,
People have done South America in instalments all the time. What you do, since your bike is entered into your passport, and they have your credit card number, you go to Customs in Mexico City, or in any other country, and make arrangements with them. Can be done. How is your Spanish?
Local insurance mandatory only in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Not expensive. They nap you at the border. No way to escape.

[AndyT]

It could be different for Canadians, but as an American the Mexicans don't stamp the bike into my passport when I go to Mexico, so I don't see any problem with flying out, as long as you get back and leave Mexico with the bike before you permit expires. I have always got 180 days on my permits at the border.

[Carrera]

In Guatemala insurance is not a requirement

[Albert Hoermann]

I left my bike in Mexico for 9 month in 2002/2003 and tooked a flight out. My bike was not stamped in the Passport and as i was home i got a new creditcard. Nothing ever happened. When you leave the country to Guatemala it is easy. South of San Christobal at the boarder inland you nearly miss the Mexican immigration office. Leave the bike a 100m away get your exit stamp and drive than past to the boarder from Guatemala. I dit the same on the Belice side, hided the bike behind the truck got my stamp and as the guy asked if i have the stamp i just sayd yes and drove through. But near San Christrobal it will be the easyest, i do not remember the name of the boarder, but it is not that one on the coast!!!

Good luck, Appie!

[msg996]

Excellent!
Thanks for the info guys. Sounds like I should be able to muddle my way through without any real hassles. Yo hablo muy poco espanol, but it is usually enough to get my point accross.
The previous 2 times I have ridden into Mexico they did not stamp the bike into my passport, but I thought that maybe I had just been lucky. Guess they don't do it anymore. I am not too concerned with the rest of the border crossings because I should be able to ride uninterupted without the need to store the bike anywhere other than Mexico.

[MattB]

Just ridden LA - Panama. Bought insurance in Mexico (not worth it) and Costa Rica (VERY mandatory). Everywhere else we didn't bother. We've never had the insurance checked.

HTH

[mnspdstr]

I read the reply's below and I think as long as you fly out of the Mexico you will be OK. I got a different impression from customs with regard to leaving a vehicle in Mexico and crossing the border without it. I recently crossed at Larado, Texas and rode down the east coast up and over the continent to Ixtapa up the west coast and then back up over the mountains to Texas. Nine days and 3,000 miles. I avoided Mexico City because you can't drive on the streets on Mondays if your license plate number ends in a 1 or a 2. Not on Tuesday's if it ends in a 3 or a 4, Etc... for the entire week. You can read my story in La Ropa Sucia available at www.amazon.com Thanks and ride on.

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 04 April 2006).]