Central American Pass?
 

Is there a multi-country pass available for bike or person.

I had heard that Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were going to offer paper work that allows you to enter and exit easier than the standard border crossing.

Thanks for your help.

JD Smith
480 968 6609
USA - Phoenix, AZ

Central America pass
 

Last year March there were rumours that the "Central America Four " i.e. Guatemala,Honduras ,El Salvador and Nicaragua were going to simplify and standardise their entry and exit formalities and paperwork so that tourists would have less headaches. Supposedly getting the entrance formalities done for one would suffice for all four.
This would be a nice improvement, if they manage it. In the past there were also moves to simplify the processes between El Salvador and Honduras and not much practical improvement was noticed.
Have any travellers crossing these borders this month noticed any change yet ? Please report . Thanks

I went to all these countries, except El Salvador in Aug/Oct 06. The only practical difference I saw was they don´t stamp your passport between these countries, and your visa is only good for 90 days total. For example, I entered Guatemala, got 90 days visa, then visited Hounduras and Nicaragua. The 90 days did not reset when i crossed a border, the 90 day clock in Nicaragua was running starting with when I entered Guatemala. You still need to show passport at the borders, and need to get a new bike permit at each border.

Good for nothing
 

I second that. In theory, the passport bit should be easier, but they still want to charge you for looking at the stamp. The bike importation/fumagation/insurance bit is still substantively the same, and you only get 90 days once. I believe this only applies to Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, not El Salvador.

Interesting
 

I just checked my passport for Oct/Nov trip to Panama and I have 6 stamps for the 6 countries we passed thru.
Bob

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.