Mexico to Panama fast borders help?
 

Hello everbody!

I'm currently In Mexico but in a few weeks I'll have to get from Belize city to Costa Rica's San José in about 6 days. Don't ask! I can actually go back and enjoy Guatamala, San Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua after!

I'll be sticking to the fastest roads and biggest borders. Any help with info on docs or permits - when is it ok to ride past waiting cars at a crossing etc - is much needed and apreciated so I can be fully prepared !

Thanks one and all

Will :mchappy:

That will be an interesting few days, that's for sure. I recently did all the border crossings, I used the following link and found it very helpful:

Border Crossing – S&M Boiler Works

Most crossings will take around 1:45 to exit and enter the next country. Some will be shorter, some longer. I found entering Panama the slowest just due to all the bus traffic, entering Belize and Guatemala the fastest. The most annoying borders were for entering and exiting Nicaragua due to needing stamps from random people in parking lots. Honduras was probably the easiest. You will have enough time to enter and exit Honduras in one day but start early and you should be able to make Leon in one day though I did it in two days because I had more time than you.

As for dodging by traffic, there literally will not be any car traffic lines, I only saw that in south america. You will see insanely long lines of Transport Trucks that go for km's but just whip past them right to the front. Sometimes if there are lots of people around you can give a dollar to a kid to watch your bike while you wander around. Just read all the crossings on the link I gave you and you'll be laughing when you get there. I never once hired a fixer and was not scammed once and I don't speak any spanish, most people are quite helpful and interested in your trip. Having pre-made copies really doesn't speed anything up whether people say they do or not because you usually need copies of stamps they just gave you or copies of documents that you just filled out and it only takes a few more seconds to get your other stuff copied. Hope this helps. Have fun and be patient and have water on hand, its hot!

CentroAmerica Jan-Apr 2017 info
 

Did them all from January to April 2017 (Mexico to Panamá).

Here is my advice:

1. Have everything in order, all papers in your name and keep some small change in dollars or local currency for copies.

2. Better dont make the copies of your paperwork in advance because you cannot know what they will come up. Sometimes, they need copies of your already stamped passport, so better make copies on the spot. There is always a copy store around!

3. Other than that, always drive over the cars, buses & trucks lines (we drive a van actually).

4. Always smile, play the dump (when needed) and greet them with basic Spanish.

5. You will only need basic 3rd party insurance for Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama (you buy on the spot) so calculate some extra time, extra copies and extra money ;-(

6. Remember that for some countries you will need to pay exit fees. Always have USD handy.

Good luck mate ;-)