For all the angst expressed about crossing into Honduras (I read, for example, one report from a guy who spent almost $400 including paying his various "helpers," and others reporting crossing times of up to 5 hours), I paid a total of US$33 in local currency and took 45 minutes to import myself and the bike. This was pretty comparable to entering Mexico or Guatemala. No one tried to scam me, no one even so much as offered to "help" me, and the aduana and migracion officials on both sides of the border were totally on my side, including the ones who worked through lunch and others who scooted up the road somewhere to find a working photocopier....at no charge.

I'm still stunned. May I recommend to one and all: the El Florido/Copan Ruinas crossing from Guatemala. All pavement, relaxed riding, and 2000 feet of altitude to keep the heat tolerable.

FWIW, it took about the same amount of time, plus 10 quetzales, to depart Guatemala. The moneychangers offered a reasonable rate, but allowed themselves to be bargained up to a pretty good rate changing my quetzales for lempiras. And my Spanish is as atrocious as any you'll hear.

But I do have a question: I was told that I cannot exit with my bike to El Salvador, then re-enter Honduras on the way to Nicaragua. Once I exit, I cannot re-enter. They said that in order to do this, I have to first go to Mexico, Costa Rica or Belize after leaving Honduras; only then will they allow the bike back in. For me, they said, it would be no problem; it's the bike that would create a problem--and no, I can't just buy another temporary import permit. I asked three times and got the same answer.

If true, this means skipping El Salvador and exiting directly to Nicaragua, which was not what I planned at all. This, in turn, means riding through the capital city, and I'm allergic to capital cities. Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks in advance!

Mark