Central American Mileage
 

I plan to ride from Texas to Costa Rica and back using the quickest route. I have a limited window of opportunity. Does anyone know the approximate mileage between the Guatemalan border with Mexico on CA2 and San Jose, Costa Rica? The Mileage for CA1 would also be interesting. Thanks in advance.

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2001 Kawasaki KLR 650
2000 BMW K1200LT

Also important would be the minimum time it would take. Border crossings, weather, checkpoints, road quality, etc. will be as important as distance. The www.strikingviking website has some info on a couple of fast trips he made through Central America. Don't follow his info on flights to Columbia, however. Also check www.rocinantestravels.com.

Kevin

I`m also Plannig that trip but in the opposite way. We (3 bikes)are plannig to Fly from Colombia to Panama City and then take the bikes from there to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala but since we dont have road maps (we only have lonely planet guides that has maps but no mileage)we don't know mileage yet. is there any web site where you can check this out?

What is your window of opportunity? Seems I remember from some other post somewhere that you're always in a hurry. Just finished trip from Copper Canyon-Mazatlan-Baja. You wouldn't believe the "road" I came through mountains on. Didn't go south through Durango as I recall you suggesting, but many times wished I had.

Nicaragua you could probably do in a long day if you had to. Got a late(10 AM) start from Granada, did some poking around, and crossed into Honduras before dark. Honduras I took some time with cause the hot springs in Gracias were calling me. The crossing at El Florido was good--not too busy, and new paved road on Guat side. I know this doesn't answer your question, but allow more time. Houston'll still be there when you get back.--Porter

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on the road(almost)
and lovin' it!!

I'd like to make the trip in 30 days. Arlen Aas did it in 30 days without much trouble. I have only four weeks vacation and a limited amount of compensory time. I either make the trip in 30 days or wait 7 years for retirement.

Back in August we traveled through Durango to Mazatlan on Highway 40. Great road ride..
...but on the way home we traveled north on 15 to Precios, (North of Culican,) where we turned east on what I believe was highway 24. The pavement ends about 30 miles east at Badiraguato where the real fun begins. There are numerous creek crossings and one good river crossing along with countless ups and downs. Gas is available from 50 gallon drums along with other provisions in several small villages. After about 75 miles, (having too much fun to keep track,) you begin to climb. The scenery is amazing and the road is a glorified goat trail. Thousand foot drop offs are plentiful. You meet pavement again in the state of Chihuahua in the city of Aseradero Yerbitas. From there we took the paved road west to Hidalgo De Parral. Very nice city.

If anyone plans on taking this route I'd suggest the most dirt worthy tires you can find. One section, about 10 miles long, has very steep rocky grades. If you crash and burn you'll be all alone. That section of road appears to be seldom traveled.

Yep, that's the road. Wished several times I had no big load, or had XRL, or at LEAST more aggressive tires, but 'BURRO' did it on her Gripsters.

I came at the other way around, having gone from Batopilas to Guachochi to see Cumbres de Sinforosa, then spent night in Belleza, then 0n to Rd #24, which on my map said paved. By the time I found out otherwise, I was reluctant to turn around and re-do everything up to that point, so kept at it, spending 1 night in little pueblo just 30 miles into unpaved part(Atascadero), then next day going on into Culiacan

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on the road(almost)
and lovin' it!!
KLR650-A13 'BURRO'