Central America Four warning
I crossed the border from Guatemala to El Salvador with two other riders on November 28. I met both riders in Antigua - they were heading for TDF, and had picked November 28 as their departure date since it was the day one of their 90 day Guatemala tourist permits expired.
At the El Salvador border, the one who's permit expired that day was turned back. He had to return to the frontier with Belize or Mexico - outside the "CA Four area" in order to renew his permit. He could not do it at the El Salvador or Honduras border. He could not do it in Guat. City. They said they would not let him enter El Salvador unless their was sufficient time remaining on his permit to get through to his exit point - Costa Rica in his case - probably 2 days minimum.
So - for the Central America 4 - you get a total of 90 days tourist permit for the 4 countries, and cannot renew within those countries or at any border crossing within those countries - only at the frontier - Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica.
The real beneficiaries of this co-operative arrangement are the citizens of those 4 countries - they are able to pass through the borders much easier than previously.
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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand
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