Resources
and Data
A few stops
on the Mexico part of the tour - "click" on a link below.
Climate
along the way
The majority of our route will be at
the higher elevations.
Mexico
Mexico is bisected by the Tropic of
Cancer. Climate generally varies with elevation. The tierra caliente
(hot land), which includes the low coastal plains, extends from
sea level to about 914 meters (about 3,000 feet). The weather
here is extremely humid, with temperatures varying from a mild
16° to a scorching 49°C (61° to 120°F).
The tierra templada (temperate land)
extends from about 914 to 1,830 meters (about 3,000 to 6,000 feet)
with average temperatures of 17° to 21°C (63° to 70°F).
The tierra fría (cold land) extends from about 1,830 to
2,745 meters (about 6,003 to 9,006 feet) with average temperatures
of 15° to 17°C (59° to 63°F).
Mexico’s rainy season lasts from
May to October. Although sections of southern Mexico receive about
39 to 118 inches of rain per year, most of the rest of the country
is much drier. Rainfall averages less than 25 inches annually
in the tierra templada, gradually decreasing to about about 10
inches in the semiarid north.
Guatemala
The climate of Guatemala is generally
uniform, although temperatures vary considerably according to
elevation. Between about 915 and 2,440 meters (about 3,000 and
8,005 feet) above sea level, where most of the population is concentrated,
the days are warm and the nights cool; temperatures average about
20°C (about 68°F). The low-lying coastal regions are more
tropical, with an average annual temperature of about 28°C
(about 82°F).
A long rainy season occurs between May
and October, with a corresponding dry season from November to
April. Annual rainfall in the north averages 60 to 100 inches.
Guatemala City, in the southern highlands, receives about about
52 inches annually.
El Salvador
Although El Salvador lies within the
tropics, high elevation moderates the climate in many regions.
The climate of the coastal strip is tropical. The plateau and
highlands are semitropical and temperate, and the mountain regions
have a temperate climate. The average annual rainfall is about
about 72 inches, and the rainy season lasts from May to October.
The average annual temperature of San Salvador, the capital, is
24°C (75°F).
Honduras
The climate of Honduras is tropical
but is tempered by the higher elevations of the interior. The
mean annual temperature in the interior is about 21°C (about
70°F). The low-lying coastal regions, however, are warmer,
and the humidity is oppressive; the mean annual temperature here
averages 27°C (81°F). The dry season prevails from November
to May. The annual rainfall averages 40 inches in some mountain
valleys and 100 inches along the north coast.
Nicaragua
The coastal regions of Nicaragua have
a tropical climate with a pleasant mean average temperature of
25°C (77°F). In the higher elevations of the interior,
the temperature ranges from 15° to 26°C (59° to 79°F).
The rainy season is from May to October, with annual rainfall
averaging 150 inches along the Caribbean coast.
Costa Rica
The climate of Costa Rica ranges from
tropical on the coastal plains to temperate in the interior highlands.
Average annual temperatures range from 32°C (90°F) on
the coast to 17°C (63°F) inland. The long rainy season
lasts from April or May to December. Annual precipitation in the
country averages from from 118 to 138 inches.
Panama
Panama has a sunny, tropical climate
with average annual temperatures ranging from 23° to 27°C
(73° to 81°F) in coastal areas. At the higher elevations
in the interior, the average temperature is a mild 19°C (66°F).
A long rainy season extends from April to December. On the Caribbean
coast, the rainfall averages about 117 inches annually. On the
Pacific side, precipitation lessens to about 65 inches).
Conversion
factor-local currency to US
Knowing the current conversion rate
will be important as we approach each border We want to know about
what it should be so we can compare what the "money changers"
are offering. Your staff will have current information for you
as we approach each border.
Mexico ---------------------- 10.00
Mexican Pesos for one US dollar
Guatemala ----------------- 7.82 Guatemala
Quetzals for one US dollar
El Salvador ---------------- 8.75 El
Salvador Colons for one US dollar
Honduras ------------------ 15.52 Honduras
Lempiras for one US dollar
Nicaragua ----------------- 13.57 Nicaragua
Cordobas for one US dollar
Costa Rica ---------------- 330.55 Costa
Rica Colons for one US dollar
Panama ------------------- 1.00 Panama
Balboa for one US dollar
Present Laredo, Texas Weather