Paging Lone Rider....

Adventurous route across Honduras.

Ok, So I am finally trying to iron out some details for my upcoming trip through Central America. Looking at my ITM map of Honduras, there seems to be a route along the entire north coast of Honduras that I am interested in.

I am thinking of crossing into Honduras near the Copan ruins then heading north to Tela, then east from Tela to Limon where my map indicates a "other road or track" that goes all the way to Nicaragua. Although it does not indicate swamps, there are several river crossings which might be a problem.... but the "road/track" continues. From my readings, this area is full of Garifuna villages... which should be cool.

The route follows the coast just past Tusi Cocal where it turns south to Brus Laguna and then eventually ends up at Leimus where there is a "crossing" into Nicaragua.

The alternate route would be, instead of continuing along the coast, to head south from La Ceiba and over to Catacamas up to Dulce Nombre De Culmi over to Leimus(or Waspam which has shown up on more maps).... Leimus to Puerto Cabeza to Managua.

Any ideas if this is doable? Or, get a set of knobbies and plan to spend a week wallowing out some mudholes? I'm young and in shape and from Louisiana.... I can handle it, huh?

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Ideas?

Thanks
Scott
AventuroLasAmericas - Me Aventuro porÂ*las Americas

Googlemaps basic routing-
Google Maps

I also have a question about the border crossing between Costa Rica and Panama near Bribri and Guabito, Panama on the Carib. Coast.

Easy?

That proposed route might be my Mongolia (reference to long way round)... but I think it will be the best route culturally.... "seasonal tracks" and Garifuna villages.... (GARIFUNA ON WIKIPEDIA). I'm also interested to see about the Miskito Indians. (MISKITO ON WIKIPEDIA).

I have been taking classes on Latin America, (mainly geography) and a couple anthropology classes... so I am really interested to see what these people are like. It helps the interest when my professors have been to the areas and studied some of the people (not the Miskito though).

Miskito Distribution (in red)


The Garifuna have populations in most of Honduras, but mostly in the remote regions (like where I intend to visit) will be the most interesting, and culturally significant, I believe.

We'll see.

The coastal route might be a little more difficult that assumed....

I was supposed to be riding these routes the last 2 months, but things got in the way and this winter's ride vacation had to be canceled.

I've done quite a bit of web research on those routes and don't think you can stay up along the Hon coast for the entire run without some boat help, but the blue route you've outlined should be OK in decent weather.

Google the little towns, especially those along borders, and see what you find. Much of it will be missionary reports.

Hello to everybody.

I am from Spain and this is my first post. I think my experience can be helpful.

I backpacked the north cost of Honduras and into Nicaragua in 1994. Conditions now can not be worse.

It was very easy to arrive in Trujillo by tarmac.

There I found a boat transportation to Brus Laguna (I guess I could have found a ship to Puerto Lempira with more time to search). I slept in the boat one night (no bed neither matress), ate the crew food and helped to bale sometimes. There was room for a motorbike. And it was not expensive at all.

From Brus Laguna to Puerto Lempira I flew.

From Puerto Lempira I went in the back of a pickup truck. There would be no problem if you go motorbiking.

There was a permanent small boat to cross the border at Rio Coco, capable enough to carry a motorbike.

Then I took a russian big truck to Puerto Cabezas and diferent buses until Managua.

Of course not tarmac since Puerto Lempira to near Managua but easy dirt roads.

That was a great year!!!!!!!

Cool thanks guys. I'm determined to give this route a try, whether it is the coastal or the southerly route.

I lived in Nicaragua for over a year back in 1998, and spent some time in the northeast part of the country. I travelled by 4x4 from Matagalpa to Puerto Cabezas to do solar and wind energy work in schools that had no electricity. I was there in October, and the roads were rough, but dry and easily passable. Be sure and spend some time in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, a huge rainforest with almost no tourist infrastructure and truly wild. Also check out Siuna, an old mining town that reminded me of how the wild west might have been transplanted to Central America. The Miskito, Rama, and Suma cultures of eastern Nicaragua are fascinating, particularly their crazy creole mixes of local languages along with english and a little spanish. As you probably know, the area around Puerto Cabezas is one of the poorest areas in Nicaragua and was hit hard by hurricane Felix last September. Have a great trip- looks like an exciting route.

Marcus

Thanks Road,

How do you think it will be if its been raining? Doable? My riding partner will be on a KLR... but he's a nOOb when it comes to dirt.... and mud. I'm from Louisiana... so I'll be fine. I'm planning on getting hold of Salcar to see how the weather conditions in that region have been and if its been slightly wet, I'll buy some knobby shoes.

Thanks for ya'lls help.
Scott

As I recall, the mud in that lowland area is really muddy- I mean the kind that's more like gooey clay that sucks off your boot when you step in it. And it's a long road with no tarmac at all, unless they've done some roadwork in the last ten years, which I doubt. I was in the central part of the country during the rainy seasons, where drainage is better and the soil is faster drying and a lot more rocky. One possibility if it's truly impassable would be to hitch a ride on a lumber truck. Unfortunately, there is little forest management in the area, and huge trucks haul mahogany and cedar back to the west. You might catch an empty truck headed west from Puerto Cabezas; it seems like most of the sawmills are around Siuna. Most likely the trucks will be full of lumber and going all the way to Jinotega/Matagalpa and beyond. Either way, I say go for it. In my opinion you're not taking enough chances if you don't have some obstacles to overcome and hardships to endure. If you really want to get there, you'll get there.

Good luck-
Marcus

Thats a good way to put it!

Salcar was warning of the red clayish mud between Puerto Cabezas and going west towards Managua... I'm hoping for dryer weather... But it will be at the beginning of the rainy season when I'll be getting there....

I'll play it by ear, but plan to attempt the route at least.



Has anyone ever thought about making a sled to pull saddle bags behind the bike when its really muddy or sandy?

A source in Puerto Cabezas is saying that it has begun the rainy season. The only way I will attempt this route is if I get some good DIRT BIKE tires. I'm trying to decide if I want to bring some tires from the US to change into if its overly wet... or if I want to try and find some down there...

We'll see i guess.