beware, border crossing agua caliente
 

I have just tried to cross from guatamala to honduras at agua caliente. Guatamal was no problem but honduras corruption was so bad I eventually turned around and went back to guatamala. They asked for $1500 deposit which I refused. eventually came down to $150 by which time I had enugh and asked for my passport back so that I could return to guatamala which they refused saying I would not be alloed back into guatamala. I eventually had to pay a bribe of $25 to get my papers back, and return to the guatamalan side. I would advise anyone thinking of thrying this crossing to forget it.

The crossing from El Salvador wasn't much better. It took several hours to even get the first form required to fill in. (7am to 1.30pm) They wanted me to pay for a "guide" who would then pay for each form. I eventually got out of the border after dark, but without paying the money for the forms. To be honest, the crossing into El Salvador from Guatemala wasn't much better, but I believe that was just beurocratic inefficiency.

The border crossing from Guatemala to Honduras winter 2001 (road to Copan) was very easy despite not getting across. Once we said we were going to Copan we were told it was closed for the night so we back tracked through two booths and they gave us our money back no problem. I guess it had to do with the people working there being decent plus I had a guy from Spain traveling with me. We weren't too bothered since we didn't consider ourselves "in" a country until we had seen the capital.

Steve

if you like riding/ can ride mud or if it is dry, try the border via san francisco de goleta (not sure of spelling) in south of el salvador to honduras. in 2000 there was nobody to say goodbye to when leaving el salvador and the horduras side only had immigration... on the map it is a very thin red line. don't go there if your riding solo.

BUT IN WET SEASON IT IS VERY VERY MUDDY!

really nice locals en route.

so we got our bikes in without any customs procedure (and hence no cost).

also useful if you plan to sell your bike (illegally) in honduras.

when we left to nicaragua, they couldn't get rid of us fast enough, because we had nothing about our bikes in our passports and could easily have sold them http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

south america is much more chilled.
HTH
ChrisB

[This message has been edited by chris (edited 26 January 2004).]

A friend and I crossed into Honduras through the La Palma crossing in El Salvador.
It was hell.
7 hours of head shaking and fake forms, unofficial papers and fictitious bike inspections.
There is no-one to oversee the procedure so they just seem to go nuts.

Just to add fuel to the fire, the crossing from Guate into El Salvador took about 8 hours. Why?

- every motorcycle and personal document had to be copied at least 8 times (I had to pay for the copies, that's why I remember)

Also, if crossing into El Ray (ES-HO), which is north east of San Salvador, plan for the following:

-9 hours of waiting, copying paperwork (especially when the jefe is out at a reunion with his buddies)

-$40.oo US to cross for each motorcycle/ rider.

We actually didn't have enough money to pay this outrageous fee and had to return the next morning with the money (they held our moto registrations hostage).

Theres more info if you go to our online journals for Honduras, Guate and ES.

-Steve
http://www.bikerswithoutborders.org

I crossed from Guatemala to Honduras about 2 months ago at El Florido, near the Copan ruins. Had to stand in lines for a couple hours, but cost was minimal. I don't remember exactly but <$20. This was a very small border crossing, and I have become a big believer in find the smallest crossing possible.

Definitely do the El Florido crossing(Copan Ruinas) I've crosed there in and out several times, with hardly a problem.--Porter

Responses like these are one of the main reasons this site is so good. I just logged on to find out the best crossing to Honduras and bang! There it is. I will be crossing Monday or Tuesday. BTW the crossing into Guatemala from Mexico at La Mesilla is a piece of cake. Forty Q fee and ten for the wheel wash. No copies and out in less than 45 minutes.
John

The crossing at Copan Ruins (Hond - GT) is small, simple, and familiar with many foreign motorists crossing. It is quick(est) and not too expensive.

Further north, the border near Corinto (b/w Puerto Barrios, GT and Omoa, Hon) is quite different. The Aduana is not set up to accept temporary imports INTO Honduras, and you will be forced to proceed to Puerto Cortes, where they will treat you like your bike came in via the sea-port, so you will be charged accordingly (= Very Expensive).

While Omoa was a cute beach town with good Swiss hostal/camping, it would be better to enter via Copan, see the ruins, and do a little back-tracking out of Omoa.

If you are in Omoa and heading to Guatemala, it is OK to cross at Corinto. You will arrive to the Aduana near Entre Rios (about 20km from the Honduras border/check-point). There you will be given paperwork to take some 25km to Puerto Barrios where you will have to pay about 45 Quetzales(?) at the bank, then bring your receipt back to the Aduana who will return whatever collateral (passport or other papers) you left behind. We left Omoa mid-morning and arrived in Rio Dulce (on road to Tikal) by mid-afternoon.

We found that if we planned a full day for the border crossings in Central America, we were either on schedule or plesantly ahead!

Cheers!
C & E


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