Guatemala: overstaying welcome
 

Ok, I give up. I was hoping to solve this one myself, but I prostrate myself before the wealth of knowledge that is ... "The HUBB". Simple really; one year ago I left my bike in Guatemala with a very unreliable foreigner on the premise that he could ride it, ( and it seems, throw it down the road), whilst saving me shipping it to the UK. He has failed to pay any of the six week temporary importation fees, since about January. In order to be able to travel across the border, I am prepared to pay this, or a fine, but where? At SAT in Puerto Barrios, they told us, "No, in Guate". In Guate they said, "No, in Puerto Barrios". I just want to know how to make things right again. If I go to the border, (Corinto), I have a feeling they will just send me back, or even impound the bike. If I get stopped on the road, I fear they will take the bike aswell - maybe that´s the best course of action, because then they can give me a definitive course of action to resolve the matter. HELP!! please.

The River
 

You can take your bike out through Bethel via lancha to Mexico. Customs at Bethel doesn't deal with vehicles.

Maybe... Have them stamp you out (passport) and then re-enter later. Borders and the paperwork that goes along with them aren't always 100% efficient. They all know this. Claim 'dunno' status when asked and re-entering.

It's a River Ride....

Ta
 

Yeah, thanks Lone Rider. I was reading your post on another thread here, and the link. I have been mulling this over as a potential resolution. Thanks again.

Yee Hah!!
 

Just a postscript to the above;I was going crazy, just mulling over the possibilities and consequences of leaving Guatemala. So, as it was Sunday and "Revolution Day" on the Friday, I decided things would be a little more low key at the border. Knowing there´s not much at Corinto, and it being close-by, I set off without having completed any of the legalities. As I came to SAT and emigration, I tucked myself in behind a bus and just as that pulled over, I let rip through the gap anfd over the topes. I did not look back, so I don´t know if anyone objected. Being a Sunday, as I suspected, I could not get any paperwork done in Honduras. I had to come back the next day, collect an escort and go 60km to Puerto Cortes. It was expensive too - $150 plus a whole day dicking about. My other option was to re-enter Guatemala and leave via, say Agua Caliente. However, I was counting myself lucky to be out of Guatemala with a bike and no payment to anyone. There is a big Aduana at Corinto which is not in use as yet, but will be soon, and it´s paved all the way through now. Shame, quite liked the jungle road.