Book Resources Used on this Trip
Vehicle and Trailer Storage Area
Exchange Rates
Money in Mexico
Required Documentation
Required Insurance
Medical and MedEvac Insurance
The Route
Hotels
Packing List
Telephoning the States from Mexico and Central
America
Medical Inoculations
General Travel Tips - Lessons learned
Mexican Police Road Blocks-What do I do?
Book resources used on this trip
The "Lonely Planet" travel guides were used for trip planning, hotels, history, culture, and suggested sights to visit within a region or city. The two books used were:
"Mexico" and "Guatemala, Belize and Yucatan - La Ruta Maya"
These books are available at most book stores or by ordering direct from Lonely Planet:
Vehicle and Trailer Storage Area
Rio RV Park
8801 Boca Chica Blvd.
Brownsville, Texas 78521
Reservations: 1-800-776-1895, 1-956-831-4653
Email: ziegerl@aol.com
Mexico - Eight Pesos for one US Dollar
Belize - Two Belize Dollars for one US Dollar
Guatemala - Six Quetzals for one US Dollar
I have found over the years the best way to carry money in Mexico and Central America is to carry US Dollars in cash - 20s, 50s, and 100 dollar bills. I wear a hidden pouch (either around the neck or waist type) to carry most of the cash, keeping only a small amount in my pocket. Travelers checks are difficult to cash and a fee is normally charged to cash them.
ATM machines are very easy to find in the larger towns and cities of Mexico and Central America. They give the official exchange rate. Banks are always a good place to exchange money. They give the highest exchange rate with no fees.
When going from one country to the next it is best to wait until you are in the country of destination to exchange money. Many money exchangers will meet you at the border crossing and it is convenient to change some money here and then wait until you get to your days destination to change more at an ATM or bank.
How much you spend is a personal choice matter. I plan on having $75.00 per day available to spend. This includes money for food, hotel, gas, beverages, gifts and other small daily expenses. Some can get by on less - some need more! Cost will be less if you share a room, don't drink, eat simple, and don't buy a lot of gifts.
Required Documentation - The following documents are needed to enter Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.
Proof of citizenship (Passport or birth certificate)
Vehicle Title or registration (Must be in your name) or letter of permission
if in an other persons name.
Valid drivers license
Credit card in your name (MC, VISA, AMX) They will use the card to pay for
your Vehicle papers.
You must have a license plate on your bike to gain entry into Guatemala
and Mexico.
Required Insurance - Mexico and Belize require liability insurance on your vehicle.
Mexican Vehicle Insurance can be purchased through "Sanborn's
Insurance Company" at 800-222-0158.
Belize Insurance is purchased at the Belize border. (The insurance offices
are closed Sunday's) Plan to arrive other then Sunday!
Guatemala has no required insurance for vehicles.
Medical and MedEvac Insurance is highly recommend by this author. It will pay for any emergency medical expenses you have while out of the USA as well as pay for and arrange emergency medical evacuation should you require medevac to the US. AAA Auto Club offers this insurance as well as a company called "TRAVMED." TRAVEMED can be reached at 800-394-2500.
Day 01 - Tampico
Day 02 - Veracruz
Day 03 - Villahermosa - Park de la Venta - Museum of Olmec Heads
Day 04 - Palenque
Day 05 - Palenque - Maya Ruins
Day 05 - Campeche
Day 06 - Uxmal Ruins - Maya Ruins
Day 07 - Uxmal Ruins - Kabah, Sayil, and Labna Mayan Ruins
Day 07 - Chichen Itza
Day 08 - Chichen Itza - Maya Ruins
Day 09 - Tulum Ruins and Chetumal
Day 10 - San Ignacio, Belize - Xuniunich Maya Ruins
Day 11 - Tikal, Guatemala
Day 12 - Tikal, Guatemala - Maya Ruins
Day 13 - Lake Isabal, Guatemala
Day 14 - Antigua, Guatemala
Day 15 - Antigua, Guatemala
Day 16 - Tonala, Mexico
Day 17 - Oaxaca
Day 18 - Oaxaca
Day 19 - Puebla
Day 20 - Puebla
Day 21 - Tamazunchale
Day 22 - Brownsville, Texas
Hotels - Most hotels were selected to be on or near the town Zocalo or Plaza.
Tampico - Hotel Inglaterra - On the Zocalo
(Plaza) at Diaz Miron Ote (South side of Zocalo)
Veracruz - Hotel Baluartes - Canal Street 265,
Corner of 16 de Septembre and near the old Fort
Villahermosa - Hotel Cencali - Calle Juarez
off Paseo Tabasco (Located near the Park de Venta)
Palenque - Hotel Calinda - Three KM South of
the town of Palenque.
Campeche - Hotel Baluartes - On the beach front
road across from historic district.
Uxmal - Hotel Villa Arqueologica (Club Med)
- Next to Uxmal ruins entrance.
Chichen Itza - Hotel Piramide - Located in
the town of Piste (two KM from the ruins)
Chetumal - Hotel Creibe Princess - Avenida
Obregon and 5 de Mayo. Try Sergios Pizza place on the corner!
San Ignacio, Belize - Hotel San Ignacio - Located
on the bluff over looking the town.
Tikal, Guatemala - At the Tikal ruins: There
are only three places to stay - first come, first serve. Get there early!
Jungle Lodge, Jaguar Inn, and Tikal Inn. If you can't find a room you will
need to travel to Flores for a hotel - About 30 miles.
Lake Izabal, Guatemala - Hotel Turismo Marimont
- South bank of Lake Izabal, just past the bridge.
Antigua, Guatemala - Hotel Convento Santa Catalina
- 5A Avenida Norte No. 28 (South of the Arch)
Oaxaca, Mexico - Hostal de la Noria - One block
North of the Zocalo - Little on the expensive side!
Puebla - Hotel Colonial - 4 Sur 105 on the
corner of 3 Oriente, one block East of the Zocalo.
Tamazunchale - Hotel Tamazunchale - Center
of town near the one way bridge (on main street of town)
Ciudad Valles - Hotel Valles - North side of
town on the main highway.
Packing list - A suggested list only - Your style will dictate what you carry! But, pack light!
Light weight pants and shirts (Be prepared to wash cloths as you travel)
Underwear and socks
Shaving kit
Medications and prescriptions
A few long sleeve shirts for higher elevations
A light jacket or fleece liner
Walking shoes
One pair of walking shorts
Sun hat
Bandanas
Water proof plastic envelopes for your maps and documents
Tools and spare parts for the bike (Each bike has different suggested spare
parts)
Extra inner tubes and patch kits
Spare master chain link kit and few extra chain links
Chain lube
Flash Light and extra batteries
Camera, extra film and batteries
Extra eye glasses
Rain gear
Dictionary, note pad and pencils
Extra bike key
Maps, resource book, and bike manual
Extra credit cards and extra ID card of some kind (Keep these separate from
other ID and credit cards)
All documents - Passport, drivers license, title, insurance for bike, Travel
Med insurance documents
Lots of money and credit cards!
Telephoning the States from Mexico and Central America
Mexico has a great phone system! Once in Mexico you should purchase a telephone card (any drug store) for a few dollars. This card will allow you to use the many long distance phones found on most street corners. The card simply allows you to get a dial tone - no charge to use the phone!
Find out from your long distance carrier the USA access phone number to call the long distance operator from Mexico. You can dial that number direct and then charge the call to a calling card, credit card, or collect. Very simple to do. Cost is around $1.50 a minute for AT&T.
If you call home from your hotel you can expect a big hotel charge and you might get a surprise on your bill when you get home! Call from the phone booths in town!
Belize and Guatemala are very expensive to call home from! At times it is difficult even to get a call through. I would recommend not calling from these countries unless it is important! There are few phones on the street to call long distance from - you are forced to use the hotels and that can be $4.00 to $5.00 per minute!
Medical Inoculations - I am not aware of any required shots to travel to Mexico and Centrals America. I do know that some people do have a number of shots prior to traveling to this region. You should consult with your doctor on any shots or preventive medicine pills he might recommend.
General Travel Tips (Lessons Learned) - Following are a number of "Lessons Learned" from previous trips. Some may apply to you and some may not! Each group has its own dynamics - based on these dynamics one should plan (or not plan) a trip to meet the needs of its' members.
Group Size - The author's opinion is that a group size of four is ideal. An even number allows for sharing hotel rooms and sitting four at tables in restaurants is the norm. A larger group begins to use more time for eating, gasing up (with gasoline - not food!) Checking out of hotels and sightseeing. Larger groups will work but just expect more time for everything.
Group Agenda - Have a plan! Each member of the group should have "bought off" on the plan. What is the focus of the trip? What are we trying to do/see? How long do we have? Where are we going? How much are we going to pay for hotels? It goes on and on but the more you have a plan the smoother the trip will be! No hidden agendas should surface. Our group had formally agreed to the route, the focus on visiting Maya ruins, price range of hotels, and time on the road. Hotels were agreed to in advance, clutch out times were known and followed.
Alone Time - Allow and understand that some people need "alone time!" Generally, in town on lay over days it is important to let group members have some time alone. Twenty five days on the road, day and night, requires that people have time to reflect and think. If a group member seems quiet and wants to walk off alone than understand that person wants to be alone - don't crowd!
The Bike - make sure your bike is in top condition before you leave. A bike that breaks down due to lack of prior maintenance is unfair to the group. Carry tools and spare parts - don't rely on the others to take care of your bike. It can be very expensive and completely destroy a trip if you break down on a dirt road in southern Guatemala!
Proper Equipment - Be prepared for the trip with proper gear and equipment. Have what you need for all conditions you are likely to encounter. Have all your documentation ready at the border and check points.
Be on Time - Be ready to leave at the agreed upon time. Gas up each night and be ready to go! Order food with the group so you aren't last to finish eating. Be aware that the group should function together, not strictly as individuals!
Your Attitude - We all have "bad days!" Be positive about everything! Find a way to make the best of a "bad day." It is natural to have a "down day" once in a while. Tell the group members you are feeling down and let others know what is bothering you. Don't hold things in about the trip you might not like - share and keep things out in the open. Four people together for 25 days can't afford to have stress and tension break up a good trip. Be sensitive to others and their feelings - support each other. Work at it!
Do Your Part - Share the load. Take your turn leading for a day. Work on the map for each day. Know where you are going. Be aware of what hotel you will stay at and figure out how to get there. Each person should share in decisions and leading. Be an active member of the group. No one likes to lead everyday - sometimes it is great if another person would lead the group into town and try and find the hotel.
Mexican Police Road Blocks-What do I do? It is not unusual to be stopped by any number of different police agencies while traveling in Mexico. This is not something you should fear-just something to become used to and deal with! There are various agencies in Mexico who put up road blocks: Their drug police, military, Federal Police, and Immigrations officers. Even local police might occasionally put up a road block. Don't be intimidated by the guns and show of force-that's just the way they are. Generally, they are polite and professional. Just get out your papers (visa and vehicle papers should be kept handy-keep your passport in a separate location) and hand them to the official talking to you. Don't be too worried about what they are trying to ask you, just say you are a tourist and say the town where you are going. They will seldom want to look in your luggage, but if they do, just do what they say with patience and a good attitude- a smile now and then helps! If you are going to be getting off your bike to open luggage I would recommend you remove sunglasses and your helmet. This action helps ease their anxiety as to who you are. Tourists are not normally bothered and once they see you are an American you will be allowed to pass. Bottom line-expect road blocks, give them your papers and cooperate.