Guatemala to Panama

[Fast103]

In Antigua right now...will take Spanish lessons for a week until Dec.21 st then leave for El Salvador and on down to Panama...need to be in Panama by Dec.30 th. Then heading to Colombia. Anyone around and want to ride together?

[1oldtimer]

the wife and i rolled into panama several weeks ago. the ferry seems to be a myth. we left the bike and flew back to reno, plan to return late march. please let me know what you find out for transport to columbia.

p.s. be careful crossing into honduras, there are some bad people that will definitely rip you off if they get the chance.

1 old timer

[Gsswede]

Leaving Creel tomorrow, but be in Antquia until Christmas. Also heading south. Hope meet you on the way

[Fast103]

Originally Posted by Gsswede

Leaving Creel tomorrow, but be in Antquia until Christmas. Also heading south. Hope meet you on the way

when are you getting to Antigua? Do you know where you are staying?

[Fast103]

Originally Posted by 1oldtimer

the wife and i rolled into panama several weeks ago. the ferry seems to be a myth. we left the bike and flew back to reno, plan to return late march. please let me know what you find out for transport to columbia.

p.s. be careful crossing into honduras, there are some bad people that will definitely rip you off if they get the chance.

1 old timer

Thanks! The ferry never happened...at least up to now. the Stalratte starts again in March.

[Fast103]

Originally Posted by Gsswede

Leaving Creel tomorrow, but be in Antquia until Christmas. Also heading south. Hope meet you on the way

Hi GS,
An Update, I am leaving Antigua Christmas day.I was going to leave on the weekend but heard the border crossings are packed until Christmas day. Will try to get to get at least to Honduras maybe even Nicaragua the same day. Don't know if that is possible.
Hopefully the border people are in the Christmas spirit!

[Gsswede]

Have a tips where to stay. I´m running late want be in Antuqia untill day after christmas. Planing to do a few days om spanishlesson
At the moment Guanajuato
Plese let me know how the border crossing went and what way you took
Drive safely

[Fast103]

Originally Posted by Gsswede

Have a tips where to stay. I´m running late want be in Antuqia untill day after christmas. Planing to do a few days om spanishlesson
At the moment Guanajuato
Plese let me know how the border crossing went and what way you took
Drive safely

Olga 502 50374106
2a Avenida Sur#34
5 mins walk from Parque Mercaldo ( the main square)
Clean,safe, friendly
I am paying100 Q for anice room with shower
You can take your bike into the Garden.
Also Sky Cafe
65 Q with shower but not as nice...but safe too.
Go to :
travel.gc.ca/ destinations/ honduras
Under entry info look for the 4-C Border Control Agreement.
It allows Canadians to travel between Hon, Nic, El Salv,Guat without going through the entry/ exit formalities for 3 months. I do not know how this will apply to importing a motorcycle but will let you know.
Merry Christmas.
Clive

[Mariposa]

Hi guys!

Thanks for the info.

My brother and I (both Canadian) are crossing to the Mexican mainland from La Paz tomorrow and then will be making our way South. We are also planning to do some Spanish lessons in Guatemala.

Please let us know how you make out on the crossings and what options you find for crossing the Darien gap.

Maybe we'll even catch up to you!

Jayne

[Fast103]

Originally Posted by Mariposa

Hi guys!

Thanks for the info.

My brother and I (both Canadian) are crossing to the Mexican mainland from La Paz tomorrow and then will be making our way South. We are also planning to do some Spanish lessons in Guatemala.

Please let us know how you make out on the crossings and what options you find for crossing the Darien gap.

Maybe we'll even catch up to you!

Jayne

Hi Jayne,
Will do. Send your email by private message and I will forward an email from Captain Jacks Boats.
The place I am staying is good, safe,clean and friendly. You can also have lessons here
20 hours a week one on one...5 days, room and 3 meals a day for 5 days accommodation for 7 days for 1200 Qs about $160. That is for one so you would get a better deal for two.
Cheers
Clive

[Fast103]

Originally Posted by Mariposa

Hi guys!

Thanks for the info.

My brother and I (both Canadian) are crossing to the Mexican mainland from La Paz tomorrow and then will be making our way South. We are also planning to do some Spanish lessons in Guatemala.

Please let us know how you make out on the crossings and what options you find for crossing the Darien gap.

Maybe we'll even catch up to you!

Jayne

Left at 6 am from Antigua for the border crossing at Ciudad Pedro de Alvarado/ Achuachapan . Wasted 30 mins around Escuintla as my GPS sent me in a circle. Got sorted out. This part was a little tricky as a bridge is out so there is a diversion over a dirt road.
The actual border stuff was a piece of cake. Got there at about 9:30am. There was no one leaving Guatemala, so I got my immigration exit stuff done in all of 5 minutes. You get an exit stamp on your motorcycle import document here. Then you go around the back and get cutoms clearance that you are taking the bike out you get another stamp on the back of the same document. So two stamps are needed. This took maybe 15 minutes. This is all basically in the same building.
You ride on and about 1 km down the road...across a bridge the El Salv border people stop you and check your passport and motorcyce doc. from Guat. Right behind them is the building with the immigration people ...you need to go there to get your pp stamped. They were pleasant and even provided me with a map.
You can park right there and see your bike. After that you need to go to the Agunda ( customs): which is a few doors down. You can move your bike down it is still visible.
Now maybe I was lucky because I met an English speaking off duty customs guy
not a tout. We got talking ...next thing he took my stuff into the office asked how long I was going to be in El Salv...said I' m just passing through in less than 24 hours. They issued me an intransit permit for my bike...no cost. You are issued a doc with a sticker on the back that gives the time when I need to be out of El Salv. 24 hours. He took me to get two photocopies of this document. The guy doing the photocopies collects some type of road tax...$5.00...it included the photo copies. One you leave with the customs at the border checkpoint opposite where you get the photocopies the other you keep to show the cops if stopped...keep the original safe. Whether or not this road tax is legit...I do not know but the whole thing only cost me $5.00 so I was not going to question it. This procedure took another 45 minutes. Then there was a police check point about 10 kms down the road. They looked in the top of one pannier and that was it. Maybe I chose the right day for this... Christmas. No bad stories.
Hit the border early...smile be pleasant. Made it to Playa Cuco...staying at the Los Leones Marinos... on the beach...$25.00 a night. Dumpy but it works. Tomorrow Honduras! Will let you know how that goes. No problem with the drivers here.

[Gsswede]

Great report, Thanks
God luck with the next border. I´ll be crossing Guatemala on thursday

[Fast103]

Guat/El Salv/Hon/ Nic/ Costa Rica borders in three days so a little shell shocked. I may be a bit hazy on a couple of things but still pretty acurate on my experience.
Leaving El Salv...easy. Stamp from immigration then Customs for the bike may have taken all of 15 mins at El Amatillo crossing.
Honduras entry. Touts/helpers/ money changers all over you! Get some Lempiras as the two close by banks do not change $. I actually went in and asked... so had to change with the guys. Negotiate a higher rate...I got 18 to 1 ...they will try 17...think the whole Hon border is corrupt. $3.00 immigration fee. Then customs. $34.00. No US $. You will need copies of their docs...copy place close by. Two hours in all. A helper did attach himself to me. He actually was usefull ...but do not let them hold your docs.I gave him $1.50 ...30 Lempira's for the two hours he hung with me. He knew what to do and made sure I got the right stamps. I think he may get a small kick back from the changers...maybe even the bank employees get a kick back. Who really knows what goes on. Never seen such BS. He also held my helmet and checked on my bike. All in all it was worth the $1.50. He mentioned $5.00...yeah well it was tax free. My first bribe to cops down the road. Got stopped for crossing the yellow line overtaking a slowing bus. The fine was $15.00 and most probably the run around if I took the ticket so gave him $13.00 and p***ed off. ...laughing to myself. Not bad for almost three months in Mexico and Central America especially considering the speeds that I was at times, the u turns etc. Honduras roads full of pot holes so make sure your tires are well inflated. You will hit some.
Hon to Nic... Cholucteca crossing. Stamp again...immigration and bike documents...pay a $12.00 exit fee. Pretty fast.
Nic entry. Fumigation$3.00 ...have $3.00 as the guy tries to rip you off in change.$12.00 immigration fee...the receipt says $10.00 so maybe the immig guy pockets two.Nothing for the bike. Again I said I was in transit. Had 24 hours to get the hell out. Did not have to get insurance. Don't know if they forgot or because I was in-transit. 2 hours. Mine is not to question but to get the hell out.
Nic exit. Oh how I would like to use profanity here but...
Just before getting to immigration there is a check point where your motorcycle is taken from you and the guys do burnouts on it. Only kidding!
Here you get a stamp on your bike doc. You think great that is done...no way.
Then the exit stamp at immigration. You are charged $1.00US to enter. That was quick.
You think you are free to go so head out to the exit checkpoint. Show your bike doc which was stamped by the first checkpoint. No you need a stamp from the policia and the customs. So back to customs, she signs the form. Then go and find the policia walking around the little market next to customs. He stamps it ...back you go. Free to go? No!The woman that signed it did not stamp it so back you go and get her to stamp it. Back to the second exit checkpoint and you are free. Yell in your helmet 'damn bastards' as you rapidly ride off into the next zone of hell.
Costa Rica...entry...Penas Blancas. So a big difference in appearance. Nice shiny new building lots of professional friendly policia.
Immigration. Easy and professional. Go out and right across is the Customs. You get a form. Fill it out and go and buy insurance...mandatory.Go to the left and you see policia motorcycles and a chain link fence with tractor trailers go through there and follow the road left at the end of the shipping dock is where you get insurance. It cost $30.00. around the corner from that is where you will get your bike permit. Before that however take your insurance doc and your passport and have the immigration entry stamp copied and your insurance certificate. Two copies of each plus the first form to be on the safe side. The copies are paid in Colones. Get $5.00 worth. going rate at the bank is 500 to 1. Use a money changer at the Nic/CR border. Copy place just across from the dock. They cost 50 colones each...10 cents. Take all of this back to where you got the form ...give him photocopies of pp, drivers licence and ownership and show him the insurance certificate. Keep your original safe. He will keep some copies. He will stamp the form and sign it. Now back to the dock where he will go over everything ...he keeps his copies and gives you your certificate of importation. You are at last free to go. This took me 3 hours as I had to go back and forth. The guy who gives the first doc does not tell you squat so after filling the form and trying to find where I had to take it...I then gave the certificate guy my papers only to be handed them back as incomplete and then finding out bit by bit what I had to do. So this will save you a lot of time and you should be done in 90 minutes or so.
So to sum up so far. Have lots of small US bills...1s,5s, 10s,20,s. So you can't get screwed around on change and also do not need to change more than you need.
Have photo copies of your own docs. Some borders wanted them some not.You will still need to get copies of some docs issued to you.
Arrive really early at borders or you will have longer wait time. I did not have any problems parking my bike even though it was out of sight often. Park in full view of people and you will be okay. Of course lock and take off anything that is quickly removed to be on the safe side. Don't forget the stamps and signatures. Man stamp everything ... yourself your bike everywhere you can put a damn stamp...stamp it. Even if you see a guy walking down the street with a rubber stamp get him to stamp something.
Tomorrow CR to Panama. I can hardly wait for more torture. Then on to SA around Jan. 10 th.By the way from the little that I saw in my haste ...Hon and Nic are not nice. CR is beautiful and actually I got a great sense of relief as I rode off from the border.
Clive.

[Jastrap]

Hi Guys!

First of all thanks for the info about border crossings in this thread. Good job!

I am currently in Acapulco together with my friend trying to solve the problem with one of our Yamaha XT660Z. We need new engine unfortunatelly or some spare parts after 30k km covered on this bike on the route from Poland to Brasil.

We plan to arrive to Panama in about 3-4 weeks and than somehow get to Colombia. We have read that the ferry is not happening so if you get there before us and could post an actual status of any possible transportation I would be gratefull

Maybye we could also arrange a container all togehther if that is only one option.

Thanks in advance!

Lucas
www.facebook.com/Wyprawa.VoltaAoMundo
Volta ao Mundo

[Gsswede]

Another Greta report. I' m Lake À going to Antiqua tomorrow.
Staying à few days for some spanish lessons. God luck with geting the
Bike over to Columbia. The Stahlratte leaves 12 th i think
But it was fully booked. Read about some other guys that shiped by air price
925 usd to Bogota