Spanish is NO drawback when it comes to
Maps-- the town names are the important bit and the road designations and distances will easily be explained if you know how to read a map .
The ENGLISH version ( never saw one) will only have English translation for all the editorial writing which is really just fluff for the tourist trade .
No Guate equivalent exists .

A 2002 ROJI is really too old , roads have been drastically changed and added to . You can get a 2016 edition through several online sources and a few bookstores

Your best bet for road maps of Guatemala are sourced from the Guate Tourism ministry , don't know any online seller though. But excellent Central America maps can be. bought from ITMB Publishers. ( in BC , Canada) and Halweg and Michelin and others from Europe

As Sjoerd Says
 

I second Sjoerd's advice for maps. I used the ITMB Mexico map for large scale planning and then bought the Guia Roji map book/atlas when I got to Mexico. In 2010 there was a stunning amount of road construction going on. So a 2002 map would, in my opinion, be next to useless. As Sjoerd mentioned already, there is no reason to avoid the Spanish maps. The town names are all Spanish or indigenous regardless of which edition of the map you use and a kilometre is a kilometre.

For Guatemala I used an ITMB map.

As with any map, especially in less developed countries, don't assume that there is an actual road on the ground just because there's a line on a map.

...Michelle

Pulled the trigger on the ITMB for Guatemala and the Guia Roji for Mexico. It's getting real now!

Opinions: San Antonio, TX to Laredo or Eagle Pass?

Either crossing is good , just depends on which route you want to follow south.

Laredo puts you on Mex 85 south to Monterrey and along the east side of the front ranges of the Sierra Madre Ote. You will see a variety of landscape and plenty of greenery in nature and agriculture , turning to downright lush tropical stuff and cloud forest south of Tamazunchale. Then you cross the divide and find yourself on the arid interior plateau .

By way of Eagle Pass you will be on Mex 57 and travel south in the upland of Mexico on the west side of the Sierra Madre and it will be a much drier type landscape , semi desert and desert , fewer towns , often long flat plains .
So it goes .
Your choice .

Read the entries for the selected border crossing towns and get details on where you do the processing for entry.

Well, another step closer...I picked up a 2002 KLR650 with under 30,000 miles. Have my shots, bought my maps got the latest edition of SB's Cheap Hotels and I am planning on crossing at Laredo and going down 85. The first day I will make it as far as I can, then make plans as I go.

That is the perfect plan for a trip like this :scooter:

...Michelle

Thanks Michelle!

I'm getting it together and trying my best to not rush it!

Working on outfitting the bike and myself for the trip.

San Pedro de Atitlan.
 

Isn't San Pedro de Atitlan on the southern road that is know for highway robberies?

I don't know...is it? Are you referncing the road to Lake Atitlan from Tapachula? I will have an escort from the charity Mayan Families that will take 200 to Quetzaltenago t0 CA-1 to Panajachel.

For RRHartzler and Scrabblebiker
 

Hi guys,

I wanted to email you privately but it seems that I can't. So first RRHartzler if you plan to cross by Loredo by December it will be nice to consider to travel with me. I was planning by the same time to go to Mexico by there. I'm Canadian and right now I'm in Texas. Oh right I'm French Canadian and I'm learning Spanish now, I might be helpful on that matter. Also I'm never been in the army, I'm more like a hippie (a cool one). So I live day by day and can show you how to enjoy your trip better. I also can learn from a military guy to be more organise I guess, wont hurt. Let me know...

Scrabblebiker I need info for Canadian rider traveling into Mexico and central America, like about the motorcycle title. Never heard about it until recently.... even read something about it online that we don't have it in Canada. What are the paper work I mostly need for crossing border??

Thanks.
You can message me privately if you want and can.

Dany

Dany ,
If your Quebec Or Alberta or ??? bike ownership papers are anything like Ontario's you have no thing labeled " title" . As long as you have the official slip that says it is your OWNERSHIP AND REGISTRATION you are all set and will have no problems . You can only show what official proof you have and it will be okay.
Just be absolutely sure that your name is printed the exact same way letter for letter on your drivers license, ownership/ reg ., your passport and all credit cards .
Do NOT have one with Dany , or Dannie or another with Daniel be ready to show the originals , but have some photocopies ready

I have to get a phone for use in Mexico. Can I d that on-line or do I wait till I get to Laredo? Also, what about a SPOT Tracker, are those things worth it for Mexico and Guatemala?

Dany, I sent you a PM and am interested. What are your plans?

Re: telephone for in Mexico. What you want or need may depend on your pattern of phone use . If you are the type who makes lots of phone calls throughout the day or you feel insecure without the possibility of dialling a number at any moment of the day then you might want what the posts here call a " disposable Mexican phone" . I understand they are fairly cheap for use over a number of days or weeks.How many people do you know in Mexico who you must call?
If like me you are not a phone " phanatic " and are satisfied with a call now and then consider just using Skype over the Internet from your hotel at night or from restaurants and other hot spots. That way I can make $6 worth of minutes last several weeks .

" Spot " devices are a form of security blanket but don't really do much if you behave yourself.
It is just a beacon to show the home folks where you are roughly or get the search and rescue folks in the USA attention so they can contact the Mexicans and tell them where to start looking for the buzzards . Really , are you going to be riding alone so far into the wilderness ALONE that you need it in case you run out of gas or have a flat ?
If you crash out badly you are either a goner or the locals will have picked you up before any rescue team from the US. can show up.
Ergo , don't crash ! Ride with care and caution and there is no excuse for needing that beacon .