Scuttlebutt is that the crossing in to and out of El Salvador can be tricky. I've recently heard that the quickest crossing out of Guatemala is Copan, just north of the El Salvador border.

I'm in Antigua Guatemala now, and I'm headed to that crossing on Fri or Sat. I'll let you know how it went.

Cheers,
Mitch
silver f650GS

just a bit of time consuming bull shit really ,just have plenty of photo cpoies of all the usual and ignore all the tossers who want to help you for money ,my spanish is rubbish and i did fine,i think they hit me for 40 USD for honduras
cheap aussie

I hate this attitude. First, they are not "tossers" - they are basically good people with little education, living in a hopeless situation, trying to make a couple dollars to feed themselves or their families. Trying to make a couple dollars helping "gringos" cross the border is just what they do - its not like that was their dream job growing up, and its not like they have "unlimited potential" in their situation. If you think that, then you travel with your eyes closed.

Second, paying the kids a couple bucks to help expedite things a bit is in my thinking, pretty damn cheap - if they can help you get through in 30 minutes, as opposed to you stumbling around from line to line with little spanish language skills for an hour or two, then so much the better. It really is just a couple dollars they are looking for. Just don't buy any cervezas that evening and you'll probably more than offset the money you gave the kid...and you can go to sleep with the satisfaction you helped someone that day.

There's a bunch of folks on HU who have to latch onto a cause for their travels. Spending your 1st world money in a 3rd country is cause enough. Spend it wisely, without complaint, knowing that your money is helping others. Spread it out - buy lunch at one roadside stand, some sodas or water at another, snacks at a third. The people will appreciate your visit.

We travelers should be the last ones using derogatory terms for the people of the world.

__________________
quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Crossing from Guatemala to El Salvador, after we finished with immigration and aduana, we were told we needed to pay a $20 road use tax...all official looking and all, printed receipts, a rubber stamp - but this was bullshit.

I paid $50 to get across the Honduran border. The canoeguy paid $40. Its likely a free entprise zone for border officials....whatever they can get away with.

both border crossings, into El Salvador, and then Honduras, took 3 hours time...by far the most time consuming of all crossings in CA.

__________________
quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

If you speak Spanish poorly hire the kid to help you through customs. But do NOT hand him the documents as if he will get everything done for you. You are inviting a rip off if you do, the older guys have this down to an art- they will say it will go faster if you stay put or that it is near closing time and that haste is essential then they come back with a phoney document of gibberish on photocopy and say they spent $X for you and would like you to pay them for it. Nonsense..
The kid should be your guia only , lead you around from wicket to wicket and you hand the papers to the official and pay the required fees and get a receipt. $40 is about right for Honduras entry tax. Agree on a guide fee before starting and pay when completed and you are helping yourself and the locals.
Florido Copan entry from Guatemala is always straightforward and quick, entry into El Salvador from GT can also go smoothly.The crossing between El Salvador to Honduras on CA 2 is about the worst you will encounter, sometimes two hours of buraucratic paperwork and running about for stamps . Start these crossings early in the day and keep a sense of humour.

__________________
http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93

Agree all of this. Did each border a couple of months ago. CA2 from El S to Honduras was a nightmare, taking five hours, but in part my fault because I did Antigua to Honduras in a day, and two CA border crossings (El S and Honduras) was a mistake. Much better to overnight in El S and tackle the border crossing the next day.

I would recommend getting help at the Honduras crossing. It´s seriously confusing...particularly in the dark when there is a power cut!

Good luck.

Al

yeah they are annoying tossers ,there is a difference to spending money wisely and getting the shit annoyed out of you constantly .telling you a pack of lies ,is not, in my eyes ,a way of making a dollar from tourists,,oh yeah not to mention that one of them stole my title i dropped in all the confusion of ten of them huddling around me trying to get my business .it took the cops to intervene to get it back ,you are more than welcome to use them ,and i am more than welcome to spend my money on what ever i like, i have very open eyes and have gotten through more than 40 countries by bike just fine without your advice on how to divvy up my bucks but thanks any way