Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Central America and Mexico
Mexico/Guatemala via Texas May-Jun 2013 Mexico/Guatemala via Texas May-Jun 2013
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Central America and Mexico Topics specific to Central America and Mexico only.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



Reply
Page 1 of 3 1 23
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 45
Mexico/Guatemala via Texas May-Jun 2013
Heading to Mexico and Guatemala in the May/June 2013 time frame. Exact date to be determined. Currently live on the Florida panhandle. Plan to move through Mexico fairly quickly. I will spend more time in Guatemala to learn some Spanish. And, then further south to Costa Rica. Glad to have company if anyone is planning a ride south at that time. This is my first time on a motorcycle trip of this nature so any suggestions would be appreciated. Have read that a good entry point into Guatemala is La Mesilla. Any route suggestions from Texas would also be helpful.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12 Mar 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mexico
Posts: 338
If you are coming through Veracruz, let me know and I will send you a ride guide in PDF.
Your first mistake is the idea of going through Mexico quickly. If you do the infamous "green blur" type of ride you are going to miss a lot of interesting things. If you cross at Matamoros, you can come down via the Sierra Madre Oriental and then ride the Teziutlan massif zone from Teziutlan all the way down to Tehuacan and then do Oaxaca and Chiapas and cross into Guatemala. Try to contact Guaterider on this forum for info, as well. If you do the rout outlined above you will need a week or so if you are moving point to point on a daily basis and do some limited sightseeing. If your budget is tight, get Sjoerd's guide books. Even if your budget isn't tight you should get them as there is a huge amount of solid useful information for you. Do the aforementioned and you'll be happy for sure.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 45
Mexico
Thanks MikeMike. I don't want to slight Mexico because i know it is a beautiful country with much to see. My main reason for moving quickly to Guatemala is to learn Spanish. I plan to have an extended stay in Central America, however, i know very little Spanish and Guatemala seems to offer some of the best schools in the region. Having said that, i can easily spend a week in Mexico, enter at Matamoros and swing toward Veracruz. Best route from Matamoros to Veracruz and beyond would be appreciated since i know nothing about the Mexican roads. The budget is ok for that. I will buy Sjoerd's book as well. Thanks, again.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 13 Mar 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: antigua,guatemala
Posts: 216
I agree 100% with MikeMike, speeding through Mexico is a big mistake ! Too much you would miss, even without speaking the language .
Let me know what you're interested in , and I can give you some ideas for Guatemala.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 13 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 45
Guatemala
Thanks for the advise. I'll slow down a bit through Mexico. And, i plan to spend at least a month in Guatemala and maybe more if i continue to make progress with the Spanish. I will contact u for some ideas of things to do and see in Guatemala when i know the arrival dates. If there is a way i can contact you directly, please let me know. Thanks, again Guaterider.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 13 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 36
I´m in souther méxico right now and planning on doing various, if not just one big ¨trip¨ through much of méxico then perhaps heading to central america. Maybe we could meet up at some point....the only thing is I´ll be having a 125c...the honda tool to be exact.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 14 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 45
Hey gnosis89,

Thanks for the response. I'll let you know on this thread what dates i will be leaving the states on my journey.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 15 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: La Penita, Mexico
Posts: 23
Actually I agree with your point about moving thru Mexico quickly. If you don't know much Spanish, how are you going to communicate there?
Much better to go to Antigua, pay someone $5/hr and get the basics.
Mexico will be there on your way home.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 15 Mar 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mexico
Posts: 338
Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbalouiex View Post
If you don't know much Spanish, how are you going to communicate there?
About 50% or more of the travelers that come through here, know little or no Spanish. You pick it up along the way. A little here and a little there. I maintain that rushing through Mexico to get to Guatemala is a waste. There is a pace to travel in Mexico that you acquire and go with you get in sync with it, setting long days in the saddle with a green blur going by, invites problems. Plus, even though tolls are half price, the only way to rush through Mexico is to take the cuotas all the way or at least 3/4's of the time. That'll get pricey even at half the cost, after awhile.
Do the green blur if you want, but you'll be leaving too much to see on your way back.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 15 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 45
Spanish
Well, after thinking about it, you're right Mike. I can at least ask for" el bano", order a" Cervesa", order a "Taco" and complement the "Bonita Chica's". That's about all i need to know right?
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 16 Mar 2013
John Hubbard's Avatar
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Formally from Fairhope, AL
Posts: 31
I live in Fairhope, AL and plan to leave for Latin America before May 1st '13. This will be my third such trip on Adv. Moto in two years. Spent last summer in Alaska....did Prudhoe Bay and Inuvik....the trip was just under 16,000 miles total. Now my goal is Ushaua in Terra Del Fuego through as many countries as I can manage.

Like you I speak no useful Spanish and plan to do probably two immersion courses....one in Mex. and one in Guatemala.....at least that is my plan at the moment. I plan to take four months in Mex. and Guatemala to learn the ropes...so to speak.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 16 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 45
Hey John...We are virtually neighbors. I live in the Destin, Fl area about 2 hours from you. If you have any interest, i'd be glad to ride over your way in the next couple of weeks. I'd love to pick your brain since you have done this for awhile. Let me know and give you my personal info via an instant message. Thanks, Gale
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 27 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Colfax , illinois
Posts: 77
guatemala
looking forward to see you guys in Antigua

Cheers

Taz
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 28 Mar 2013
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 220
returning... Centeral America to Alabama
Just after the holidays I will be returning home ( Birmingham, Al) after 7 months and 10,000 miles. I have been in Mexico and Central America. I had no spanish, no internet skills, no gps, had never done wifi before. etc etc. It was wonderful. Do slow down for the wonders of Mexico. These people brought me to the brink of tears repeatedly with their kindness. I would sometimes point and oink to indicate pork taco. But it is hard to do it wrong. I mean it was a great trip for me and I could have done a lot of things different. No regrets. The next trip I will have a gps, already lots more comfortable at the keyboard and know some spanish, will pack lighter etc etc. But for the first trip, it was a good as travel gets. I was surprised at how different the culture is in each country and north vs southern Mexico For a full report see 'ratbikemike in Mexico" on ride tales
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 29 Mar 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 45
Guatemala
Hey Motomundo...Thanks for your response. It's nice to know i'll have some friends i Guatemala.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 3 1 23

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2013 Rocky Mountain Adventure Riders Rendezvous, July 25-28, Colorado, USA Big_John Motorcycle Events around the world 5 22 Feb 2017 01:03
Canada West 2013 HU Travellers Meeting, Nakusp, BC, August 22-25, 2013 Grant Johnson HU Travellers Meetings - North America 18 2 Oct 2013 06:55
10th HU Germany Meeting Spring 2013 - Welcome!(17.5.-20.5.2013) El Aleman - Jens HU Travellers Meetings - Europe 93 10 Aug 2013 21:09
Oct. 2013: Seeking GB and/or Germans for China/Tibet entry & tour wickychicky Travellers Seeking Travellers 6 8 Apr 2013 19:19

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:29.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top