I crossed 2 days ago, Frontera Crazol - Bethel, without a problem.
It had rained the night before and also that morning. The slopes down the river banks are very slick when wet.
I paid $40us for the lancha and approx $10us for extra labor to load and unload the bike.
If you had a light bike, you might be able to handle this without extra help. Mine weighs 600lb.
If it were dry, you could ride up the bank at Bethel. When wet, knobbies may not even work.
The entire world helped loading the bike... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif The lancha pilot took along 2 guys and we four were able to push the bike to level ground at Bethel.
The trip took about 30 minutes and a lot of floating debris was navigated while going up river.
Customs at Bethel was very quick and easy. Two officials were on duty and they said [there is no fee at Bethel]. I asked about my bike and a 'sticker'. He then wrote Bethel into my passport, again saying, there was no fee at Bethel.
I went thru the border at Beize in '99 and received a 'sticker' for my truck at that time. Who knows....
I enjoyed this crossing and it was a lot more fun than the normal BS of lines and paperwork tossing that can happen at the more traveled borders. I will do this one again, someday.

BTW, I did ask the lancha pilot (and crew) about La Technica and learned that this would have been down river, and a longer trip. Also, I had no knowledege as to if Customs/entry could be handled there.

Have fun...

Thanks for the report, will be going that way in mid Feb. , as I said earlier we went almost straight across the river to were you left from. There would have been almost no way for you to get a 600lb. bike up, what we came down, but I'll be trying it with my 300lb ATK. thanks again, and let us know if you have trouble exiting. Dan

Lone Rider's pictures are here:
http://www.trailpilgrim.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=1050

Sounds like fun Lone Rider. I opted for the Belize route. I did get a sticker from adjana when I entered Mexico. I just stuck it in my pocket and havent been asked for it the few times Ive been stopped(just passport). Id be interrested to know if you have any problems not having this sticker. If you make it up to the US boarder my advice would be to drive straight through to the US and not ask any questions.

Jason, nobody will care if you just drive out of Mexico, only US cutoms will stop you, but don't do it unless you intend to return within the remaining valid time on your permits ,or if you intend to NEVER return to Mexico. Failure to have a permit, and failure to cancel the permit before its expiry date will show up without fail if they run your papers on a roadside check or when you return on a next visit. They have the legal right to confiscate your bike, jail you and impose a heavy fine , and prevent you from entering again. The days of tons of paperwork getting filed never to be looked at again are gone.All your legal movements across the border into the interior,are documented on their computers. In Sept .'04 I had a friendly chat with the aduanista at Tecate and she showed me the onscreen list of all the times I had visited Mexico since their computer tracking started. If you want to enjoy Mexico play by their rules.

I still have my MX sticker on the bike from an earlier trip in Oct, so no problemo.

The only place I've been asked to show the vehicle paperwork is at the 20 km/mi checkpoints.

I'm been in MX both with and without the sticker afixed to my bike. It's the paperwork permit that's important. It's not uncommon for stickers to be stolen.

Bethel issued me no permit for my bike, only wanted my passport. Again, I asked, but they had nothing for me. This may create a problem when I exit Guat via a more normal land border. If so, I'll report back.







[This message has been edited by Lone Rider (edited 28 December 2005).]

Good post, Senor Bakker.

Even if you leave MX and the permit expires, you may turn in the paperwork at another time. This only takes a little more time to get your new permit processed. I actually think it helped me one time by them already having my 'facts' on the old, expired permit.

The KEY to this is having the same moto, because your VIN numbers will be checked.

You can even lose your paperwork, but you better show up with the same moto.. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

I do have experience, from years ago, of trying to re-enter MX after a permit has expired and without the original vehicle. I was lucky, but it wasn't much fun. Total case of ignorance on my part.

The last time I left mexico(to the south)with the plan of returning ,on the way home. They made me buy a "doble entrada". I don't remember how much it was.
Hopefully the worst case senario in exiting guat. is they make you buy the permit to leave.
Dan

"it's not uncommon for (Mexican temporary vehicle import) stickers to be stolen"

This makes no sense as the stickers self-destruct when removed and you have to remove the dyes from your windscreen with gasoline. Plus they are numeralized to match the numbers on your paper permit.

Pure vandalism, I suspect. I was been told told by one official to not apply the sticker. But, the 20? pt checkpoints want to see them.

Life is interesting, no?