Traveling Central America in the wet season

[Wanderlost Moto]

Hi everyone,

I’ll be hitting the road for an extensive overland journey on my DR650 starting at the end of May leaving from California and am planning on heading south through Central America first. Unfortunately I made the assumption that Mexico and Central America would have a similar dry season to here in CA. Very recently did I find out that May-October is ACTUALLY the rainy season there. So now I’m a bit thrown off as to what I should do, considering my housing situation and work situation are both coming to an end in May. It feels like my two best options are;

1. Head south in May like originally planned and deal with the rainy season, or...

2. Cruise around the States and Canada for a few months and then head south in August or September.

I’d prefer to stick with the original plan but I can’t tell if heading off into Central America’s rainy season is “adventurous” or just plain stupid. Has anyone traveled Mexico/Central America during this time of year? Sticking around the states for a few months sounds quite expensive.

Any advice would be thoroughly appreciated!

Thanks,

Chris

[mollydog]

Hey Chris,
I've commented in detail on this on several recent threads. If you can, look them up.

At this point I would stick to your original plan. With such weird weather going on ... anything could happen. Traditionally heaviest rain is August, Sept, Oct. So no point holding off.

Remember, unless it's a big storm, most times it does NOT rain in the AM and the rain may hold off until night time but usually always until NOON. So, if rainy season, plan your riding starting in early AM ... and ride until you get soaked, then pull in for the day. But as mentioned, with Global Warming anything can happen now. I say GO FOR IT!

It will be VERY HOT (dry heat) going down in Baja. Once over to Mexico, get up high in Central highlands. Less rain, less heat. But once in Central America only Guatemala will provide relief. At or near sea level it's so hot and humid you won't believe it.

I was first there in the 70's. We also left in June. We were cooked everywhere and when we got to Guatemala it was so pleasant (land of the internal Spring), we stayed. For three years!

All the best! I'm in San Rafael and also own a DR650. Feel free to contact for tips.

[Wanderlost Moto]

Originally Posted by mollydog

Hey Chris,
I've commented in detail on this on several recent threads. If you can, look them up.

At this point I would stick to your original plan. With such weird weather going on ... anything could happen. Traditionally heaviest rain is August, Sept, Oct. So no point holding off.

Remember, unless it's a big storm, most times it does NOT rain in the AM and the rain may hold off until night time but usually always until NOON. So, if rainy season, plan your riding starting in early AM ... and ride until you get soaked, then pull in for the day. But as mentioned, with Global Warming anything can happen now. I say GO FOR IT!

It will be VERY HOT (dry heat) going down in Baja. Once over to Mexico, get up high in Central highlands. Less rain, less heat. But once in Central America only Guatemala will provide relief. At or near sea level it's so hot and humid you won't believe it.

I was first there in the 70's. We also left in June. We were cooked everywhere and when we got to Guatemala it was so pleasant (land of the internal Spring), we stayed. For three years!

All the best! I'm in San Rafael and also own a DR650. Feel free to contact for tips.

Thanks Mollydog,

I did see your comments on similar threads and appreciate the feedback. I was worried I was being foolish heading off when I was planning but the more I talk to more experienced riders the more I feel comfortable leaving in May. It’ll be hot and wet at times but no reason to delay things.

Thats awesome you’re so close to me here in Richmond. I’d love to pick your brain some more! When’s the last time you’ve been down through Mexico? And what were your favorite places you found while there?

Chris

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by Wanderlost Moto

Thanks Mollydog,

I did see your comments on similar threads and appreciate the feedback. I was worried I was being foolish heading off when I was planning but the more I talk to more experienced riders the more I feel comfortable leaving in May. It’ll be hot and wet at times but no reason to delay things.

Thats awesome you’re so close to me here in Richmond. I’d love to pick your brain some more! When’s the last time you’ve been down through Mexico? And what were your favorite places you found while there?

Chris

Hey Chris!
Last trip was a year ago, but was just a short stay in La Paz at a friends time share. Rode down for the 5th time on the DR650

Year before that I spent about a month in Baja, Ferried over to Topolobambo, then took off South, following my nose past Mazatlan, then east to Durango and eventually over to Real De Catorce where I'd spent time 15 years ago.

Then wound my way North and home through freezing Arizona.

How is your bike prep going?
I hope you're taking advantage of all the DR650 knowledge on the DR Riders forum and the BIG DR thread on ADV Rider.

Hope you'll start a thread here on Ride Tales and share your trip.

[Snakeboy]

Sorry to hijack this thread, if its inapropriate please let me now....

Im coming the other way, from south-America and plan to get my bike on the first Stahlratte shipment of the season over the Darien Gap and arrive Panama in the middle of June and then head north. Would be great to make it north to Prudhoe Bay this summer but I already realise that would be a very hard schedule and a lot of kms to ride everyday and not much time for sightseing and exploring.

So Panama to Guatemala from the middle of June to the beginning of July - how would that be? Quite wet possibly...?

Through Mexico in July - hot? Wet? Very hot I suppose, but how hot and how inconveniant?

Usa, west coast-ish, Calefornia and Oregon, maybe Utah, Colorado, Nevada etc in August? Very hot I suppose, but how hot and how inconveniant?

Canada and Alaska from late August and Prudhoe Bay latest entry maybe around 15th September? Or is that too late?

I know it would be very little time to see and explore latin-America, Mexico, Usa and Canada - but I have been on the road 3,5 years already more or less so Im getting a bit tired of this.

I could of course spend more time here in south-America, after all most of my time here has been spent waiting for spare parts in stead of adventuring, and then cross the Darian Gap late this year, find somewhere to park the bike and take a decent christmas break and come back and do the central and northern part of America next year from February/March.

Any ideas, comments and suggestions appriciated...

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

So Panama to Guatemala from the middle of June to the beginning of July - how would that be? Quite wet possibly...?

Well you could certainly blast through in that short time frame, but much better to slow down and see a few things. I stopped in Guatemala and stayed 3 years. (off and on)

Many Hubbers fly through Cent. America. The Caribe side is fantastic in places. Almost no one visits. Guatemala highlands (nicest part of the country, IMO) are coolest, provides great relief from oppressive heat and humidity if lowlands. Guate. is Land Of The Eternal Spring.

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

Through Mexico in July - hot? Wet? Very hot I suppose, but how hot and how inconvenient?

By the time you get there you will be acclimated to the heat. Lowlands and coastal areas may be super hot/humid but Central Highlands are a bit cooler.
So you go UP around Mexico City and stay up high until at least Zacatecas.

In rainy season try to do most of your riding in morning, plan to arrive by 2pm or 3pm. But rain can come anytime after Noon. You will adapt. Be on the road by 7am. Problem in Central America is you come to a border every 200 km or so. Borders are a PITA ... take forever and tough in the heat.

So much to see and do in Mexico. I know what it's like to be tired on the road, so up to you.

The historic Central Highland areas of Mexico are some of my favorites for ALL Latin America. But Mexico is changing fast. More and more traffic. Everyone now has a car it seems. True everywhere down there. Paradise lost.

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

Usa, west coast-ish, Calefornia and Oregon, maybe Utah, Colorado, Nevada etc in August? Very hot I suppose, but how hot and how inconvenient?

These are my favorite states. Yes, very HOT in places but remember, Colorado and Utah have LOTS of high mountains. COOL! California Sierra too.

Coastal Oregon, Washington and California can be foggy, cold, yet temperature inland just a few miles can be over 100F. So it's a balance depending on your tolerance and weather conditions and roads you take. I like to criss cross back and forth. HOT cold HOT cold.

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

Canada and Alaska from late August and Prudhoe Bay latest entry maybe around 15th September? Or is that too late?

Definitely too late for Alaska. I've been to Alaska 3 times, one time working on a Salmon purse seiner, 2 times on SHORT bike trips. Everything is too far!

I think as a Norwegian, it may not be that impressive to you, terrain will look like home. It's huge and mostly all straight roads. I liked the Bears and Moose ... use caution! Last thing about AK ... too expensive. WAY $$$$$.

The Yukon of Canada is said to be more interesting. Also HUGE ... would take a month to explore properly. I only did a brief dip there for about 4 days of riding, then had to turn round. Many eons ago.

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

I could of course spend more time here in south-America, after all most of my time here has been spent waiting for spare parts in stead of adventuring, and then cross the Darian Gap late this year, find somewhere to park the bike and take a decent christmas break and come back and do the central and northern part of America next year from February/March.

Love your idea of taking a break. Maybe fly home, rest up, work or whatever? ... then return and continue ... and see the world with new eyes.

If you take a break in Colombia and cross to Panama at another time, remember, weather wise, typically, October to March are best months for Cent. America and Mexico. Of course this varies. But you miss the hottest months and heaviest rains. For me, November to February best of all. But of course it is nearly ALWAY HOT in Central American lowlands and sub tropical zones.

Good luck with what ever way to go!

[markharf]

Snake boy, if you rode like crazy you could make it to the Canadian border from Panama in a month. You'd be feeling somewhat fried, and wouldn't have seen much along the way. A shame, unless you've already spent time in Central America and the western US, which it sounds like you haven't. But that would put you in Alaska in early August, which is fine. You'd have time to ride to Deadhorse, see a few of the sights, then escape south with the great herds of migratory RVs before it's suddenly winter.

Northern Alaska starts to get problematic by mid-September. In fact, most of Alaska (and the Yukon, too, plus some of the high passes and plains in the US and Canada) can get difficult. Maybe you'll luck out with the weather....or maybe not.

On the other hand, August in the US desert Southwest actually cools considerably, with intermittent torrential rains, thunder, lightning, flash-flooding, etc. It's not ideal, but it's a lot more tolerable than June.

The California, Oregon and Washington coast never really heats up, but just slightly inland can be ferocious during summer. Generally, high altitude is your friend during the middle of summer, but can create real problems once it starts snowing in the fall.

Hope this collection of random information is helpful. I'd never suggest that anyone skip Alaska (Alaska is larger, prettier, and waaaaayyyyy more wild and rugged than Norway), but if anyone has a reason to do so it sounds like you're the one.

Mark

PS: for the OP, I'd agree with Mollydog that riding in Central America is perfectly tolerable during the rainy season....most days. The lowlands are hot, but it's hardly ever really necessary to dip down to low elevation unless you have specific things to do there. Unfortunately, low elevation is where all the oceans are, therefore the beaches, coconut palms, clear turquoise waters, and ice-cold margaritas. But that's life.

[Snakeboy]

Thanks a lot both to Mollydog and Markharf for your answers, comments, advise and information. Much appriciated!
I have a lot of decisions to make in near future...

[Lonerider]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

I know it would be very little time to see and explore latin-America, Mexico, Usa and Canada - but I have been on the road 3,5 years already more or less so Im getting a bit tired of this.

I could of course spend more time here in south-America, after all most of my time here has been spent waiting for spare parts in stead of adventuring, and then cross the Darian Gap late this year, find somewhere to park the bike and take a decent christmas break and come back and do the central and northern part of America next year from February/March.

Any ideas, comments and suggestions appriciated...

I think the above is a sound idea Kurt, have more time in S Am then chill for Christmas. Then re-think on what you want to do. I would hate for you to finish quickly then regret it, even though you are tired

All the best

Wayne

[markharf]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

...come back and do the central and northern part of America next year from February/March.

Any ideas, comments and suggestions appriciated...

I missed that part. There is no way you're going to "do the central and northern part of America" during February or March, even if you leave out Canada and Alaska entirely. It's winter here. The scenic highway nearest where I live is covered in snow to a depth of 6 meters, and various others to the south are closed until May, April, June, or July.

Best think again about this part. If you're dedicated you might ride around some of the northern States and southern Canada in April; most would wait until at least May, and maybe try for Alaska in June.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by markharf

I missed that part. There is no way you're going to "do the central and northern part of America" during February or March, even if you leave out Canada and Alaska entirely. It's winter here. The scenic highway nearest where I live is covered in snow to a depth of 6 meters, and various others to the south are closed until May, April, June, or July.

Best think again about this part. If you're dedicated you might ride around some of the northern States and southern Canada in April; most would wait until at least May, and maybe try for Alaska in June.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I think you might have misunderstood me or I might have expressed myself awkwardly. Of course I wouldnt go to Canada/Alaska on a motorbike in February/March. I would START from central-America in February/March, then Mexico April/May, USA May/June, Canada/Alaska/Canada in June/July/August. Or something like that....

[markharf]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

I think you might have misunderstood me.....I would START from central-America in February/March, then Mexico April/May, USA May/June, Canada/Alaska/Canada in June/July/August. Or something like that....

I guess I did misunderstand you after all. While writing my post I was thinking "He's seemed like such a well-mannered, rational sort of a guy 'til now..."

Yup, that sounds like a good trip. Depending on which route you take toward the Yukon and Alaska (I've got a few opinions to offer), I might be just a couple hundred meters from you at some point. Signal your presence and I'll buy you a , plus may be able to give you a place to stay. In return, if that's Reginaldo you're visiting in Curitiba, buy him one in my name.

Mark

[navalarchitect]

I'm also in South America heading north at present and like Snakeboy planning on taking the Stahlratte in early June. So thank you Markharf and Mollydog for all your valuable information on Central America. I appreciate all both of you put into the forum.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

[Wanderlost Moto]

Originally Posted by markharf

PS: for the OP, I'd agree with Mollydog that riding in Central America is perfectly tolerable during the rainy season....most days. The lowlands are hot, but it's hardly ever really necessary to dip down to low elevation unless you have specific things to do there. Unfortunately, low elevation is where all the oceans are, therefore the beaches, coconut palms, clear turquoise waters, and ice-cold margaritas. But that's life.

haha, I know I'll be needing some beach time here and there so I'll have to brave the heat and humidity. Luckily those margs will help cool me down.