Ok here it is, I wanted to give something back to Grant, Susan and this site for all the good info it provides and its promotion of a way of travel and lifestyle that is unique and has so many benefits.
I took my Vulcan 750 down from Michigan (in the u.s.) to Costa Rica last fall. I did a blogging site during the whole trip and got good feed back from other riders and people following the trip looking to perhaps do the same thing. I had a lot of problems and needless expenses at the borders that I wrote about on this site and got some really good responses.
One thing I wanted to do with my site was to do an extensive post on all the border crossings (except Panama since I didn't go that far) with the idea of perhaps helping others new to this experiance. I wanted to share this with readers of this site as well and instead of trying to get all that information in the form area of this site, I'm just giving out my blogging site so people can read it there. Eventually I would like to organize my site better with links to this site and vice versa, as well as other travel friendly sites, also maybe moving my site to this site or at least related posts like the border crossings ones here. But for now to get something on here that people might be able to use sooner I'll just give my blogging site's address and also my thanks for help offered on my trip... Thanks Again ...... Doug (nanagosa4)
sites address: freedomthrumovement.blogspot.com
P.S. I just wanted to say this is really an extensive post of fees paid both coming and going, times of the day, and days, as well as serious strategies for dealing with all the corruption and crowds at these borders, especially for the novice......

Damn dude $307 to enter Guatemala and $325 to enter Honduras!!!????

Sorry man, but I think you might have been had.

FWIW, When I have any problem in Latin America I just kick back and act like I have all the time in the world (pretty much true) and can sleep all night right where I sit. Seems to work well in Mexico anyway. :-)

Over $600 bucks to cross 2 borders would have been almost a month of my budget. I've only been into Guatemala once and I think I paid about a tenth of that and I still thought I was had. I paid a kid 10 quetzales to watch my bike once and he was totally stoked about it.

But, I have yet to go all the way through CA, so I dont have nearly as much experience as you. I'm not an expert. All I know is from Mexico and Guatemala.

Otherwise, nice blog, its all a good adventure though eh? thanks for posting as its great to hear other traveler's experiences. good stuff.

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Sorry , I do not wish to be cruel but I think the best thing you can do with the blog as it now exists is to take it down and thoroughly edit it to take out all the errors and wrong information. Return it only when you have corrected all the misspelled place names ( eg "xelea" unncapitalized too ) , incorrect spelling of supposedly Spanish words (e.g "migration, migracione" ), and can vouch for the accuracy of your allegations as to the procedures and fees at the borders. Sure granted, the odd typo will sneek in but this is far more than simple missed key strokes.
I gave up reading through it after a while and skimmed the rest because it was just too much work and agravation .In your eagerness to thank the HUBB posters for their help with the data you used for your trip you went to print before you were ready. But we can only conclude that you did not read the HUBB advice very closely seeing the high fees you let yourself get suckered into paying at the Honduras and Guatemala borders. With such blatant booboos the rest of your material comes into serious question .You had a wonderful trip and muddled through, just like we all did on our first few trips, but please get some facts straight before spreading inacuracies on the internet.

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

I have to agree. That info is not accurate. You paid $10.00 for a vehicle permit to get into Guatemala one time and $250.00 the other. You got robbed one of those times. Paying someone to NOT search your bags? $20.00 tramitadores?

We were all new at this at one time and we all made mistakes, but searching the HU forums and/or asking questions here is the way to get accurate information.

We crossed all the Central American Borders (Exept El Salvador) without paying any bribe or exesive fees this year (2009).
The Costa Rica Borders were the most confusing, and took us 5 hours to get into and out of the country. But we did it the hard and cheap way by not bribing and not hiring any guides to help us. We also speak almost no Spanish, so it can be done.

We just made sure we had the entire day to do the crossing and were friendly to the officials. This is important, dont try and do these crossings quickly, just go with the flow and make sure you have lots of time. Then its not so bad.
We took the road along the Caribean (North) side from Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, which I think has less corruption and friendlier locals anyway.

In general we loved Central America and had a great time there.

Johan

nanagosa4, Doug, thank you for taking the time to private message me. I got it that you would like me to comment on your substantial effort to help others.. As explained in our private com, I was withholding comment until your work was edited, and/or completed. Since you did not respond, with an edited. completed work, here are my requested comments.

Sjoerd Bakker had, what I consider to be a valid critique of your work.

crashmaster, petefromberkeley and jc also offer valuable data that you might consider incorporating into an edited edition of your effort.

I would not sleep well tonight, if I neglected to present the following.

My first ride through Central America and Mexico was in 1968. Costa Rica to Los Angeles....For this 4 month epic journey, at a time when long stretches of the Pan American Highway were still dirt and gravel, I rode a 175cc Honda CD model purchased in Costa Rica after having served 2 years as a US Peace Corps volunteer.

My last ride through Mexico and Central America, was 3 years ago round trip from Arizona to Panama. I have lived in Mexico and Central America many years. Currently I am a permanent foreign resident of Argentina.

1. The Central American countries have no agreement that enables a Guatemalan border official or anyone else to sell a "permit" authorizing a foreign motor tourist entry into and exit from all central American countries.

2. The reality is that most foreign motor tourists do purchase moto/vehicle liability (third party) insurance, the prices you quote are for comprehensive coverage, not for liability insurance. A foreign tourist can purchase liabilty insurance for a motorcycle, a little cost in each Central American country. Here are some facts about not having insurance in Mexico and central America.

If anyone needs to be convinced that insurance is an absolute necessity while riding in Mexico Central or South America, please read:

It is true you might not be asked to prove you have insurance unless you have an accident.

But, I have lived in Mexico for 3 years and as recently as a couple years ago rode through Mexico. Sit down, my boy, and let me explain the facts of life.

If you are involved in an accident with substantial property damage or any injury that requires hospitalization, here are some facts to consider.

The Mexican police, on the streets, are not trained or allowed to determine fault. They generally arrest everyone involved in a serious accident, who does not have insurance. This is done to prevent anyone escaping responsibility for the accident. If you have insurance, the police will verify that insurance with the insurance company, and unless the accident involves, significant property damage, a death or possibility of death, you probably will not be detained.

If you are arrested, for not having insurance, or because the accident is very serious, you might be in a Mexican jail for weeks, even months, waiting for your turn to go before a judge, who is qualified to determine fault in the accident.

Without insurance, you stay in jail until the judge sorts out who was at fault.

If you have insurance, your insurance agent may be able to have you released from jail, while you wait your turn before the judge. I have known of foreign tourists being held for 6 months before their involvement in an accident could be sorted out by a judge.

Please consider these facts, before deciding to buy or not to buy insurance before entering Mexico and/or Central America."

3. Thank you for sharing your hard won lesson in your descriptions of CROSSING BORDERS. Some of your suggestions reveal a keen insight into local customs and the behavior of some border officials. Keen, because you you are not fluent in Spanish.

But, in Central America, to pay more than one US dollar per hour to have someone watch you bike, indicates that you are not be applying what you know, or what you should have known before beginning your international ride.

At this point I will let the chips fall where they may, just know in your heart I could not review your efforts to help others without duplicating facts already stated, and I am sorry I cannot give you a glowing review.

Doug, you have a good start and if you do edit your work, utilizing suggestions posted here, and you understand my intention is not to insult, but to help, send it to me. Thank you for your continued efforts to help others.

xfiltrate Eat, Drink and Be Careful and buy insurance damit...

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