Border crossings in Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador...

[renimus]

I'm in San Cristobal, Mexico currently and trying to figure out my next move. Not sure if I want to check out Belize and then to Guatemala or straight to Guatemala. It depends a lot on roads and border crossings, how good/bad they are. Any experience or suggestions to share?

[Peter Bodtke]

Belize, Guatemala, El Salvidor, all easy borders as crossing go. I didn't particularly care for Belize, but did visit a butterfly farm that was very cool. Buy the insurance soon after entering the country, like within the first few miles. The border officials will tell you where there are insurance brokers; its not too expensive for a short policy. There are many police road blocks set up with the sole purpose of checking for your insurance papers (I was stopped three times in 2008.) If you do go to Belize, I would suggest skipping Belize City, not much there. Although I had great plate of shrimp and rice from a street vendor and hung out one night in a billiards bar on the south side of town (the guide books steer tourist away from that area.) Some vestiges of the British remain and mostly a Caribbean feel from the people on the coast. Some are on the abrasive side.

The Pine Ridge District reminds me of Colorado, dry forest with scrubby pine, waterfalls and caves. The Western Highway is the road from Belmopan to San Ignacio, keep going to Guatemala...its a long stretch of gravel on the Guat side, then you are at Lake Itza (nice) and the ruins of Tikal are a short ride north (well worth a visit.) English is the offical language of Belize, so the crossing into the country is easy. You'll start experiencing the border rats (helpers and aggressive cambio guys) at the Guat border. It just gets more intense as you go further south, but think past that stuff. Keep you humor and wits about you. Change a little money on the street, not a lot. Hopefully you have a currency app on you phone or know the exchange rate. I recommend pushing back for a better rate out of reflex. =)

Hopefully Andy T is reading and will add some thoughts on Guat, a country he knows well.

[kalaharigeorge]

For the last 3 months I've ridden a USA registered bike, titled in my name, from Utah to Costa and back to Arizona. I'm Australian. My Spanish skills are close to zero.

I never used trunk/main road border crossings. Not once, not even close to once did I have a problem with people harassing me at borders (helpers). The process at each border is clear and straightforward. If you go to the wrong building (aduana or immigration) someone will tell you. I never had a problem with my lack of Spanish, never a problem with people trying to kill me in Mexico, never a problem in any way. CA is fantastic. I met only decent, honest and friendly people.

There are reports on this site of the need for multiple photocopies of documents at borders. Yes, it happens. As a generalisation I found that immigration people in the exit country would warn me what I need for the next country. And, they would make the necessary photocopies for me. I was always polite, straightforward and grateful.

Almost always the road conditions are good. In Nicaragua they're exceptionally good, in northern Honduras they're tar but potholed. Sometimes you'll come across roadworks, as in anywhere in the World.

San Cristobal ..... a beautiful place.

Originally Posted by renimus

I'm in San Cristobal, Mexico currently and trying to figure out my next move. It depends a lot on roads and border crossings, how good/bad they are. Any experience or suggestions to share?

[UKbri]

We just spent 3 months in Mexico and crossed Chetumal into Belize a few weeks ago. New facilities there so all clean, easy and efficient. Spent about 3 weeks in Belize, mainly in San Ignacio and Placencia. If you get to Placencia around a full moon you can snorkel with Whale Sharks. We went out to do it but the big bastads never showed up.
Crossed into Guatemala near San Ignacio. Again all very easy. We got 2 bikes through in 1 hour. Must be some sort of record. Now we are on Lake Atitlan watching the wet season start.
You are in the area so I would say just do it all. You may regret missing a country so while you are close, just do it.

[renimus]

Great info, thanks guys. UKbri, those are my thoughts exactly. I want to see as much as possible while on this trip.

[kalaharigeorge]

Originally Posted by renimus

I want to see as much as possible while on this trip.

Absolutely!

Don't miss Belize, or any country in CA for that matter. Belize is definately worth it. The contrast with Guate and Mexico is fun to see.

The Hummingbird Highway is not what it's cracked up to be, but worthy of a tick. Check out the howler monkey reserves along that road.

In my experience Placencia was ok, San Ignatio is a base for tourism and a border crossing.

Don't be concerned border crossings, whether you need this or that insurance, which building to choose, etc. If you have the bike's title in your name, there are enough genuine people at each border to give you advice and directions.

Road distances are short between these countries and road conditions are generally good.

Safe travels.

[UKbri]

Just make sure you have photo copies of everything or you are in for a lot of walking and a long wait.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Originally Posted by renimus

I'm in San Cristobal, Mexico currently and trying to figure out my next move. Not sure if I want to check out Belize and then to Guatemala or straight to Guatemala. It depends a lot on roads and border crossings, how good/bad they are. Any experience or suggestions to share?

If you are still in SC trying to decide where to enter Guatemala , you have sseveral good options.
Mex 190 east puts you into the Mayan country highlands but it will be a roundabout route to get to Belize .
Quickestway to Belize is to go north to Palenque then take Mex 203 east to Tenosique and cross at El Ceibo. ( daylight hours only) From there you can easily head to Flores and visit TIKAL then to the BZ border at Melchor de Mecos, do a week in Belize and come back the same way . Then head south on CA 13 to Rio Dulce and you can still work in a tour of the Mayan highlands, Lake Atitlan ,Antigua Guatemala etc etc etc .
before heading to El Salvador.
The amount of time you give it is up to you.
Belize insurance must be bought , sold right at the border and it is cheapest to buy a whole week instead of buying it for theree days.

[UKbri]

We purchased a months worth of insurance at the Belize border. Worked out a $1 US a day.

[renimus]

Been in Belize for 8 days, got to Guatemala two days ago. I've decided to visit Cuba too so I left my bike in Playa del Carmen while there.
Easy border crossing. Gonna be in Guatemala for 2-3 weeks than to El Salvador and Honduras. Would appreciate any recommendations about border crossings, places to see or good roads. I feel comfortable once in Nicaraqua and more down south since I've been there bunch in last 3 years but I heard Honduras and El Salvador can be tricky especially at border.

[Peter Bodtke]

In 2008 I heard from locals that those that are caught without insurance are thrown in jail or given a stiff fine. It has been a few years now andd the fine points are getting fuzzy. The idea was to make the penalty severe such that everyone bought coverage. Not sure how Belize treats tourist that ride without insurance, but I wouldn't want to find out. Not when buy is as cheap as it is...

[Tony LEE]

I heard from locals that those that are caught without insurance are thrown in jail or given a stiff fine.

Should be more of it. Might be me they run in to.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

[QUOTE: renimus. Never got Belize insurance ( kinda stupid ,I know) ,I wanted to see what happens if i get pulled over and if I would be able to talk myself out of trouble. QUOTE. ]

You KNEW beforehand that such insurance was compulsory in Belize so you can change that " kinda .... " to incredibly recklessly. !
May we expect future reports of this type after you attempt to cross into Mexico or Canada with an automatic rifle strapped to the bike or enter the US or another country with a packet of drugs ....or maybe check your bikes fuel level using a butane lighter to peer into the tank ...... just because you" wanted to see what happens"..... ?
No matter how well you think you can talk or lie your way out of problems there is no excuse for intentionally courting trouble by ignoring reasonable rules of a small country you visit.The trip may be an adventure but I think police courts , fines and jail time would not be the kind adventure you would enjoy.

You can exercise your talking skills
plenty at the Central American borders to thread your way through the bureaucratic maze which can be particularly tedious and annoying at the El Salvador / Honduras crossing known as El Amatillo ( highway CA1 east end of El Salvador ) See if you can fend off the pestering hordes of so-called helpers and get all your required paperwork done in proper sequence ( that is : Migracion,Transito,Fumigacion, Aduana) without missing any .
Other CA border crossings are easier than that one , and the GT to HN crossing at Florido Copan is usually the most helpful and speediest.
If you would like to help future visitors to CA why don't you take careful , precise notes for the CORRECT current procedures and fees you encountered at the border crossings you used and do write up on www.borderhelper. com

[guaterider]

Originally Posted by renimus

Never got Belize insurance (kinda stupid, I know), I wanted to see what happens if i get pulled over and if I would be able to talk myself out of trouble. Fellow rider that I've been traveling with for last 10 days got it, but we never got pulled over.

Instead of being worried about El Salvador , Honduras and borders you should be worried about bloody tourists coming down here and believing they are entitled to brake our laws and disrespect our countries .