Outside of learning Spanish (which unless you did border crossings down here all the time I don't think would help that much) I like some advice on if anyone can give it about border costs in C.A.
I just spent ten days driving down from Texas and this is how my expenses lined up at the borders, and also time waited.
Mexico, $23 entry permit for me, $30 for a thirty day permit for my bike, used a credit card for that, found out its non refundable if you use a credit card (even though he asked for it), it is if you use cash. Total for Mexico $53, total time, about an hour and a half.
Guatemala, for bike permit, which I was told was good for all of C.A. $243 Its not,( I gave him $250, he never did give the $7 in change) The handling fee, there were 3 guys watching the bike and three doing other stuff, he told me about $50, and that wasn't with paying the watchers, they wanted $20, I gave them $10 and he was pissed about that. $10 probably in other miscallaneous charges, spraying the bike, stamping passport, copies of everything, paying to cancel permit of Mexico. Total for entry to Gautamala, about $320. Total wait time, about 5 hours!
El Salvador don't remember if I paid to have anything from Guatamala cancelled, I think maybe $10 for stamps in and out, no fee for El Salvador permit, $20 handling fee, no change, he wanted $14 with a tip. Total to get into El Savador $30, Total wait time, 2 hours.
Honduras after handling fees, paying a guy $20 to drive me back to draw out money at a bank, I was out again, permit to drive in country and the other miscallaneous stuff, Total to get into Hoduras $340. Total time 3 hrs.
Nicauraga, to leave Honduras probably $13 or so with handlers fees 20 or so to enter Nicauraga. Total to enter Nicauraga about $33 if I remember right. It was later and since yesterday morning counting leaving and entering I 've crossed 6 borders. Total time to get into Nicauraga, 1 hour
Costa Rica, leaving Nicauraga with handling fees $24 (of course includes handlers fees) Entering Costa Rica, permit to enter and insurance for three months, with handlers fees $120. I was out of money, my handler settled for $80 for some reason. Total cost to enter Costa Rica, probably with all misco $120 (could have even been more its so hard to keep track of everything) LIke the $10 bribe for not have everything tore apart and inspected leaving Nicauraga. total time, about 2hrs.
OK here's the conservative breakdown for costs of borders to costa rica and time spent, it actually could well be more.
Total cost roughly $900, could well have gone to $1000. I absolutely did not plan spending this much, roughly my entire other expense budget for the trip, and to think I could pay that much on the way back. I'm going to try not to let it ruin my trip, but even without all the handlers fees, the permits, insurance, stamping fees etc, still would have hit $6 to $700.
Ideally it would be nice to speak a little spanish, and have a written outline for each border, a map to get thru, even if it takes forever on my own, know I know what each document is, and what needs to be done in order.
I don't know how to handle this maize on my own. How about flat fees for handlers and state it even before you start. But that doesn't do any good unless you know exactly what the other fees are going to be. Help! This has really hurt my trip, how long I can stay, how I'm going to get more money etc sent etc.