This is for all of you that are planning a trip to central America
soon :-)
I just returned from 6 month traveling, from L.A to Costa Rica with a
car.
I'll try to give you some information according to what I was looking
for when I planed my trip.
Trip root:
L.A -
Mexico (Tijuana - Baja California until La Pazz - Ferry to Mazatlan -
Puerto Vallarta - Patzcuro - Cordoba - Villahermosa - San cristobal -
Palenque - Merida - Cancun - Tulum - Chetumal)
Belize (Cookscomb basin - Placencia - Dangriga - San Ignacio)
Gutemala (Flores - Rio dulce - Panajachel - Guatemala City)
Honduras (Tegucigalpa)
Nicaragua (Leon)
Costa Rica (Liberia - Arenal - Monta Vrede - Alajuela - Manuel Antonio
- Puerto Viejo)
CAR:
It took me about 2 weeks to find a car.
model : Chevrolet Blazer 94
Price:2800$ + 200$ insurance for 2 month (a must in USA)
GAS:
Price for a Gallon in California, is around 1.5 US$
Price for a LITER! in central America, is around 0.6 US$
In general, I did not had any problem finding unleaded gas when I
needed a refill.
Security:
Didn't had any problem with any of the Central American countries,
Except for bribing a police officer once.
Most of the natives are very helpful and nice... but you should not do
things that you wont do at your own country.
Selling the car:
Was not that easy, in Costa Rica the TAX for cars is very expansive
and it is not realistic to pay the tax before the sale.
I Sold my car to a dealership in Alajuela and got a letter from a
lawyer that all the rights for the car where transferred to the new
owner...
I'm not sure it is legal but that was the easy-fast way.
No one checked my Passport at the international airport when I left
the country.
Cool places:
There are so much ... here are my top
MEXICO
1) Playa Santispac - Baja California ***
2) Puerto Vallarta - Mexico Jalisco ****
3) San Cristobal - Mexico Chiapas *****
4) Palenque - Mexico Chiapas ****
5) Cancun - Mexico Quintina Roo ***
6) Tulum - Mexico Quintina Roo ****
BELIZE
1) Cockscomb Basin - Wildlife sanctuary ****
2) San Ignacio ***
GUATEMALA
1) Rio Dulce *****
2) Panajachel ****
HONDURAS - NICARAGUA
Passed them too quick
COSTA RICA
1) Monta Verde - Sky Trek ******************************************
2) Manuel Antonio *****
If you have any more questions, I'll be glad to help
Have fun
Shlomi Schwartz |