Best road to cross Guatemala?

[herbertroelandt]

Hi, I will enter Guatemala from Mexico in a few days, heading south.
What would currently be the best road to gross the country?CA1 or CA2?
I heard earlier this year that some roads where flushed out.
Does sombody has recent information about that?

[BlackBeast]

There are several border crossings as you don't specify where you currently are in Mexico (north vs south). I posted a step by step on the border crossing from San Cristobal here somewhere - hope it helps. Currently in Antigua and heading to Semuc Champey shortly. We have been sticking to the Pan Am. and it is down to one lane in many places, however we haven't had any problems yet. Can't comment on the secondary roads.
Daryll

[AndyT]

I was in Guatemala in August for a couple weeks, and there were slides almost daily on the highway between Quetzaltenango (Xela) and Guatemala City. They did a pretty decent job of getting at least a lane open within hours afterwards. I think if you stick to the main roads you will be fine, but don't stay on the main ones, Guatemala is a fantastic country. It's been a very wet year, Lake Atitlan was 2 meters over normal at that time. As always, ask locals about the road ahead whenever you stop. Someone may have more recent info.

[Bigfoot]

Hi
Came through Guat a couple of days ago. I bypassed the city and just stuck with the CA2. The border after Tapachula is easy and modern. However you will have to cancel your Mex bike paper work 12kms BEFORE Tapachula. I've included a couple of photos of the place. GPS coords for the Banjercito are: N 14 54 435 & W 092 19.572

[guaterider]

CA 1 is the best option ! The border at La Mesilla is much smaller than Tapachula and the scenery is 10 times better .
All the roads are open for traffic again , the rain is over and the wether is great down here .
Ride safe,
Julio

[Lonesome George]

If you cross at La Mesilla where do you cancel your temporary vehicle import. How many Kms before the border (roughly) just so i cna be on the lookout and don't have to back track.

Thnaks

Dom

[Motivator]

Hi Dom,

Currently in Antigua, but crossed at Le Mesilla, you cancel your permit about 4 km before the border. Have fun!
Hi Daryll,

Are you still in Antigua?

Bri

[BlackBeast]

Originally Posted by Motivator

Hi Dom,

Currently in Antigua, but crossed at Le Mesilla, you cancel your permit about 4 km before the border. Have fun!
Hi Daryll,

Are you still in Antigua?

Bri

In Rio Dulce right now camping at Bruno's on the lake. Really nice spot with fast wifi as well. Will be crossing into El Salvador over the next few days.
Daryll

[Calvin]

Daryll

When in El Salvador you can stay at Hostel La Sombra in Playa El Tunco which is 10 kms before La Libertad. $10.00 and 50ft from the beach.
Cal

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Hey George ,
At the La Mesilla crossing, which is the name of the town on the GT side of border, you cancel your Mexican TVIP in Cuauhtemoc, the Mexican town which is 4 km north from the actual border. You cannot miss the border tramites terminal , it is big and on the east side of the highway facing a hotel and restaurant and bus terminal.
Speaking of the border crossing "at Tapachula" as singular is a bit misleading as the city is 20 km from the actual border. At Tapachula you have to decide which of the two possible crossings to take.
The most direct is at Ciudad Hidalgo and is southeast of Tapachula- from Mex 200 there is a more direct city bypass there and the customs terminal is at that fork in the road in the hamlet of Colonia Viva Mexico some 15 km west of downtown Tapa .USE THIS TEMINAL FOR WHICHEVER BORDER CROSSING POINT YOU CHOOSE HERE. See Bigfoot's pictures and details.


In Cd Hidalgo take the downtown crossing, ; there is a second Cd Hidalgo crossing too , but it is only for commercial trucks( * last time I was there a few years ago)
The other crossing to GT is north east of Tapa at the end of Mex 200 just outside the town of Cacahoatan. The crossing is a bit of a hole, down in the river valley, lineups of trucks, "guides " hasseling you for work.
Either way,you easily wind up in Guatemala on CA 2,just follow the signs for Retalhuleu, Mazatenango and Guate

[IronArse]

Hey there Herbert, don't know if I'm too late here in this, but anyway... Well, today I came west from Semuc Champey to Huehuetenango, via Coban, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Nearly all fine paved roads, apart from about maybe 40km just west of San Cristobal (just west of Coban), and of course the 10km's off the main road to Semuc Champey. Anyway, it was a stunning road, I would really recommend it.

[herbertroelandt]

I crossed at La Mesilla and had no problems at all. I followed the CA1 all the way to El Salvador, most parts where in exellent condition. I will cross into Honduras tomorrow

[herbertroelandt]

I cancelled my Mexican permit 2.1 km before the actual border crossing

[jamesobrady]

I crossed at La Mesilla today..am now in Xela(quetzaltenango)...did not see one car/bike insurance sales office at the border, or in any of the towns i passed through. Anyone any advice on where to get it ? Thanks,

[guaterider]

Insurance is not required in Guatemala; I believe it is not even possible to insure a vehicle with foreign license plates