TipsForTheRoad

Hotels/motels

• The most cost effective US nationwide chain is Motel 6 – do need to pay a few extra dollars for WI FI and the signal strength depends on proximity to the office
• You have the easily available option of camping in the US
•  In Mexico, organized camp grounds are scarce and with the current escalating crime and associated violence  – I will not recommend camping
• Surprisingly it’s the love/auto motels that are provide the best bang for your buck! For the following reasons:

1.   Clean! I was amazed how clean the rooms are

2.   Secure – in Mexico and further south you have to park your vehicle in a guarded secure area and its does get any more secure than your own private drive in garage. Moreover, these motels have good overall security

3.   They are located outside city/town/village limit – which is great as you avoid the insane traffic congestion and the hassle of trying to find a hotel and a place to park – at the same time!

4.   Cannot beat the cost! - these motels only cater to locals and you get to pay the same price

5.   The downside is that there is no way to lock the room from the outside – therefore cannot leave anything of value in the room

Border Crossing

Mexico

You have to make a security deposit at a Banjercito office (depending on the year of your vehicle) as you enter the country which is returned when you leave, via credit, debit (visa and MasterCard only, Canadian debit cards do not work) or cash. I would recommend cash as its always a plus to get cash back in US dollars when you exit Mexico – keep in mind that most ATMs in Mexico are local currency only

Belize - Chetumal

Buy insurance after you cross into Belize - it’s a lot cheaper.  Touts will try and convince you that you cannot cross into Belize without insurance - which is BS

If you run into the ‘have to unload the vehicle for inspection’ scam - I find it easier to just pay the bribe as compared to either unloading or refusing

Guatemala

Be very careful of the following if using one of the hundreds of touts - Local transport agents/agency pretending to be immigration officials who will try and sell you a permit which is apparently valid all the way to Panama and costs a ton of money – make sure you only deal with government officials (they will be in uniform and have visible identification)

Honduras - Corinto

I was lucky when entering Honduras - actually may well have been one of the more stress free crossings - but did run into the goon squad when exiting to Nicaragua - I prefer to just pay the bribe and move on

Nicaragua - Las Manos

Time consuming crossing with long lines - could have something to do with the time of the day (afternoon)

The only country that fumigates your vehicle in and out! Took a few days to get the stink out

Costa Rica - Panos Blancas

There are no touts/coyotes allowed at the border but you do have them immediately after (for the auto insurance bit) - and they will try and extort money by being very aggressive - my advice avoid them altogether - there is nothing you need them for

Auto Insurance office is after the border and hidden behind a line of trucks - will take some finding and is expensive!

They also have a $8 departure tax ($ 7 if you pay by credit card)

Panama - Sixaola

Hit the border after 9 am (there is a one hour (plus) time difference between Costa Rica and Panama) as the insurance office opens at 9

There is a $ 10 municipal tax you have to pay and the office is hard to find (pay some a dollar or two to guide you)

Colombia - Cartagena

Please see page on ‘Ferry Express’

Ecuador - Ipiales

Easiest crossing so far - although they need colour copies of your driver license, vehicle registration and passport - only country that needs colour!

Peru - Huaquilles

No hassle crossing - just make sure you have the right road/border crossing as it’s a semi open border and if you have a vehicle you have to go through immigration and customs

Bolivia - Yunguyu

Time consuming crossing but hassle free - other than the Aduana officer kept me waiting as he updated his resume!

Argentina - Villazon

Second most painful crossing after Panama - long lines and just waiting for something to happen - while the Argentineans are doing the same!

US and Canadian citizens have to pay a visa fee - which can only be done online before you get to the border

ATM/Cajera

• Try and only use ATM located in banks 
• I was ripped off twice in Mexico – both times by a HSBC machine and I do not believe in coincidence, this is how the scam works – the transaction/process works as it should, you will even get a receipt at the end of it but no cash! And the beauty of this scam is that you can do nothing about it (I tried) – and yes the said amount along with a hefty transaction fee is withdrawn from your account
•  Remember to stock up on US $ before you get to Argentina as ATMs in Argentina only give local currency

Traffic/Roads in Mexico and Beyond

• The traffic and drivers are insane – just have to deal with it and go with the madness!
• Be VERY careful of insane bus drivers, so called speed breakers (topes) and pot holes/craters – they can end your trip in a second. The ‘Topes’ are rarely marked
• Traffic does get better in south America - particularly in Argentina and Chile
• There are police and army security check points/blocks all over the place so be prepared to searched regularly – just smile a lot and work on the stupid tourist routine!

Gas Stations

• Fuel in Mexico is easily available via Pemex with full service pumps – just be careful  the attendant does not rip your wiper blades while cleaning your windshield or you will end up buying a very expensive pair of new wiper blades. Also check vehicle fuel cap is secure
• Buying fuel in Guatemala is a little more challenging and will get more challenging the further south you go
• Bolivia Gas - difficult if get fuel at local price - but most gas stations along the highways will sell for a price higher then the local price but lower than the price for foreigners

Ferry Express (Panama to Colombia)

Still a hit or miss - having trouble with the red tape in Panama and Colombia as a result sailing are frequently cancelled and apparently they have stopped ferrying vehicles!?

Vehicle Sale in Chile

If your vehicle is good condition with ok mileage - it’s not a problem! I sold mine in 2 days

And you can sell a foreign registered vehicle anywhere in Chile - of course Punta Arena is the closest to Ushuaia, Argentina - the downside is - as it’s a free port the prices are lower