Just a few unrelated Central America questions:

1) After befriending Morocco's beach dogs on my last overland trip, I've decided to find a puppy in Panama, name him "Jack", and bring him back to the US with me after my next trip. I've done a little research regarding US customs and it seems do-able, but I'm curious if anyone has tried anything similar?

2) Which would you take into Central America... a Honda XR400 or a XR650R? Why? Do they really guzzle 36MPG (US)?

3) I'd love to hear about the most inaccessible or physically challenging places to visit in Central America. Off the tourist track, muddy and worth the trip. Particularly places that would be impassable without a motorcycle.

4) Next spring I'm leaving LA with my buddies, four Honda XRs and a shit-kicker truck ($500 - $1000). If we declare the truck as having little or no value (i.e. $12), could we theoretically sell it in somewhere in Central America without being nailed with import taxes? Is there a minimum value? Is any particular country better than the others to sell in? Alternatively, could we donate it?

Happy Trails,

Bill



[This message has been edited by DogTag (edited 04 April 2003).]

2) Which would you take into Central America... a Honda XR400 or a XR650R? Why? Do they really guzzle 36MPG (US)?

I'd take the 650, cos I'm tall, there's also a lot of highway between LA and wherever you're going....

3) I'd love to hear about to most inaccessible or physically challenging places to visit in Central America. Off the tourist track, muddy and worth the trip.

My favorite bit was the mountains Guatemala in the rainy season. Check out Todos Santo, switch on a gps, and head north.

4) Next spring I'm leaving LA with my buddies, four Honda XRs and a shit-kicker truck ($500 - $1000). If we declare the truck as having little or no value (i.e. $12), could we theoretically sell it in somewhere in Central America without being nailed with import taxes? Is there a minimum value? Is any particular country better than the others to sell in? Alternatively, could we donate it?

Sadly your desclaration of the truck's value is going to be a little different from what their blue book says. You could make a few bucks, though, if you do import the truck somewhere and pay the taxes, but it's also a hassle, and probably not what you want to be doing.

To ditch the truck someplace, you'll need to NOT have it entered in your passport. That's a little tricky.

If you do get a stamp, and you probably will, you shouldn't have much problem leaving from an airport, where they're not likely to give your passport a thorough read, but land borders can be different. And you might have to pay a little 'multa'

I'd try to wing it. Good luck.

I guess you could drive/tow the truck to a border, exit through one side and leave it parked in no mans land whileyou take a bus out the other side.

even better maybe you could get some cash for it from one of the locals in the area..
L

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I have many friends who have performed puppy extractions from Mexico.

I almost did the same on a recent trip to Baja but wasn't sure if they would turn me back at the US border.

. . .thus. . .

I asked the US Customs agent and he said "as long as it looks healthy" they would let it pass.

I don't know what stated policy is but I also gather that if you had basic vaccinations done down south you'd have no problems.

Again, I don't know offical policy though it seems there are no requirements.

I do know several happy dogs who started out as miserable mangey S.O.B. pups.

buena suerte --