Los Angeles to Argentina

[arpon]

currently in Tamarindo , Cosat rica. Resting a few days before going to Panama to get the boat to Cartagena. VEY IMPORTANT NEWS!!!Going through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica is not what I have read in this site. I guess they were old ones. YOU DON'T NEED ANY HELPER TO DO THE PAPERS. NO BRIBES WERE NEITHER ASKED OR NEEDED.EVERY OFFICIAL WAS STRAIGHT FORWARD. Just go with a good attitude and learn few words in Spanish. Donde esta la aduana? Donde hago migraciones? Que documentos necessito? Basically, that's it.
Also very important, you can go as fast as you want in every country but not in Nicaragua. If you pass a yellow line or some infraction they will give you a penalty but they will take your driver license for many days (she didn't tell how many) They were two very cool cops that stopped me and they forgive me but I think it could be bad.
Also very important. Make sure you get a stamp when you get into Mexico or they will give you a $100 penalty. I don't know where since I didn't get it but make sure you go after it.
Good luck

[Rondelli]

Good stuff, maybe meet you on the road North, Leaving TDF after the New Year and heading North
Gino

[MikeyMoto]

Hello all,
I have used the La Mesilla crossing, closest to San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico to cross into Guatemala. Relaxed, polite and quite fast. I was the only person crossing at the time. Bike or no bike. Yesterday I crossed into Honduras at another quiet crossing, the El Florido crossing near Copan. Again, quite and relaxed. It does take time to process the bike in order to enter Honduras. That was the slow part. It took about 2 ½ hours in total. Friendly officials though. $36 for the bike, $3.00 for me. Let’s see what exiting Honduras holds in store for me.

Regards, Mike.