Roadtrip through Central America

Wolfe10 - Thank you! I'm new to this site and will do better next time.

On Travel Warnings - Here is a link to the full text: Travel Warning on Honduras.

"Maybe the US State Dept is being too cautious?? " I used to write Travel Warnings for a living - you are damned if you do, damned if you don't. Make the Warning too strong and travelers will discount it. Make it too mild and someone will do something silly, or careless and then complain that they were not warned. Read the whole thing carefully. It is intended to:

-- Make you aware of a danger, and,

-- Make it possible for you to take reasonable precautions so that you have a safe trip.

"Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens visit Honduras each year for study, tourism, business, and volunteer work without incident. "

This particular update was probably triggered by this incident: US Citizen Killed in Honduras

Note that is a very different profile from that of the typical overland traveling in their own car.

As always, you must be alert to your surroundings and communicate with local folk and other travelers.

Gosh, I hate to say anything negative, and I am annoyed by those folks who always post negative comments about Latin America. But this item just came out in yesterday's LA Times warning against any travel in Honduras -- I can't post a link, but you can copy and paste this address into your browser:

http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-us-travel-warning-honduras-crime-20131224,0,6904220.story#axzz2oboRWgxt

Again, I am sorry to post this. Maybe the US State Dept is being too cautious??

DiploStrat wrote:
Some links you may enjoy, all cover Central America and some include GPS of camping locations:

-- http://lifes2shortnot2.wordpress.com (Truck Campers)

-- http://www.whiteacorn.com/theamericas (Tiger owners, now in Turkey)

-- http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/Home_Page.html (Tiger owners, now in Italy.)

Clicky:

http://lifes2shortnot2.wordpress.com

http://www.whiteacorn.com/theamericas

http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/Home_Page.html

Some links you may enjoy, all cover Central America and some include GPS of camping locations:

-- http://lifes2shortnot2.wordpress.com (Truck Campers)

-- http://www.whiteacorn.com/theamericas (Tiger owners, now in Turkey)

-- http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/Home_Page.html (Tiger owners, now in Italy.)

ThreeToGo wrote:
Congratulations on your adventure. We traveled thru Central America with a Dodge PU/Truck Camper in 2010. It was a great trip. If you p.m. us, we'd be glad to share our experience/advice and direct you to our blog which describes problems we encountered and lists places where we stayed. Keep in mind, there are very few campgrounds in Central America.

If you don't mind sharing your blog, I would also appreciate the link. Post it here if you don't mind, PM if you prefer.

Thanks.

Congratulations on your adventure. We traveled thru Central America with a Dodge PU/Truck Camper in 2010. It was a great trip. If you p.m. us, we'd be glad to share our experience/advice and direct you to our blog which describes problems we encountered and lists places where we stayed. Keep in mind, there are very few campgrounds in Central America.

qtla9111 wrote:
Reynosa and Laredo are excellent crossings. Libres to Monterrey, take the scenic route down Hwy 85 to Ciudad Victoria and then down the east coast. In my personal opinion, I would avoid the northern route from Matamoros to Ciudad Victoria.

From Reynosa to Cadereyta, Allende, NL, Linares and Ciudad Victoria. Buen viaje.

Thanks!
How about crossing in Nogales, AZ and then head south next to the Sea of Cortez? Any good places to see wildlife there (crocs, whales, ...)? I heard Jan - March is prime whale season in the Sea of Cortez.

Reynosa and Laredo are excellent crossings. Libres to Monterrey, take the scenic route down Hwy 85 to Ciudad Victoria and then down the east coast. In my personal opinion, I would avoid the northern route from Matamoros to Ciudad Victoria.

From Reynosa to Cadereyta, Allende, NL, Linares and Ciudad Victoria. Buen viaje.

Get a good GPS, I recommend the new 7" Garmin's. Plan your route before hand and don't follow its suggested route without reviewing maps.
Don't listen to advise from all the persons who have never been to Mexico and Central America. Everyone has an opinion based on what they read and heard and not many have first hand knowledge.
Good maps, campground guides, read forums & blogs dedicated to travel in Mexico & Central America. Do searches on those forums and read FAQ's.
I always avoid caravanning, since we do our own thing. Been traveling in Mexico for the last 15 years. Talk to campers while in Mexico for real answers rather than opinions. Read about the places you want to visit and follow a few simple rules.
Travel during day, watch out for the tope's (speed bumps). It's easy to follow local traffic or trucks, they know where they are. A high speed encounter with one will cause serious rig damage.
Get a EMS(energy management system), the wiring and voltage varies all over from 80 to 150v and no ground wire. Bring a 1' piece of copper ground rod with a #12 wire fixed so that you can have a proper ground. Long extension cords are also useful. Make up an adapter where you can switch the polarity of a outlet. Many are wired backwards. Be sure to note that a left hand directional signal means its safe to pass. Don't turn on your left signal and turn left with anyone behind you. They will pass you.

It safer at our house, we don't have TV so Fox News can't scare us off.

Seriously we spend one long day and stop in either the Pemex north of Matehuela or go on in to Matehuela to the Midway Inn. Normally stay on the toll roads but with a dually and a towed that gets really expensive so qtla911 may have finally talked us into taking the free road to Monterrey. I'll still take the expensive bypass around Monterrey and up the hill to Saltillo toll roads.

If you don't have the Church book on Mexican Camping, get one.