Sweet! Are you crossing on the caribbean side? Isnt your destination on the carib side of Panama?
Adventure Photographer
Sweet! Are you crossing on the caribbean side? Isnt your destination on the carib side of Panama?
Scott Brown- Overland Guide and Photographer
1995 Montero SR--1987 4Runner(sold)--1997 Honda XR650L--1988 FJ62 Landcruiser (project)
"You have to remain a bit naive, a bit risky, a bit crazy if you want to experience a real adventure. You have to push the limits."
Adventurer
RMP&O
I'd be interested in what your objectives are for your trip?
You are blowing through real estate that is rich in diversity, culture and antiquity so fast.
We took just over 2 1/2 months to drive the same trip and felt extremely deprived of time to explore and immerse ourselves in what is there.
—Fuso FM-260-based expedition camper
—Toyota Series 100
—Yamaha TW 200 [rides out from both of above]
THEN
—Jeep CJ-5 (West Africa, 1961-1965)
—EarthRoamer #004 (2004-2008)
—EarthRoamer #095 (2008-2009)
—Jeep Rubi Unlim (2008-2013)
At its core, adventure is the willingness to commit to an uncertain outcome with an open heart and an open mind. [Matt Walker]
Adventure Photographer
He has already completed this trip once. Then drove back. Now this is his second time to drive the length. Then he'll drive back again.Originally Posted by JRhetts
Scott Brown- Overland Guide and Photographer
1995 Montero SR--1987 4Runner(sold)--1997 Honda XR650L--1988 FJ62 Landcruiser (project)
"You have to remain a bit naive, a bit risky, a bit crazy if you want to experience a real adventure. You have to push the limits."
Adventurer
Hey.............can you also comment on border crossings with your dog ? Any problems this time ? Be safe..............
Expedition Leader
So.....
The road trip is complete!! I am in Santa Catalina, Panama!!
I left San Jose, Costa Rica about 7am yesterday. Picked up a backpacker at the hostel I stayed at who got a ride to David, Panama and then took a bus up to Boquete. It took me about 18hrs or so to get here, arrived at 1am this morning.
Encountered the first rains on the trip south in southern Costa Rica yesterday. Seems it has been raining a lot here in Panama too but at the same time it is very hot! The rain was really coming down hard in Costa Rica and Panama yesterday, some flooding on the roads. As others have reported who are traveling down here by vehicle, the roads ahve seen a lot of damage from this years rainy season, in Guatemala and Costa Rica I saw many many many landslides. Last night 30 minutes or so out from my destination I came across a guy off the road stuck in the ditch. So out came the recovery gear and I had him pulled back up on the road in under 15 minutes!
Scott; this is where I am at....it is on the pacific side of Panama.
http://santacatalinabeach.com/
I have already heard about some sweet 4wd trails here in Panama so I hope to explore those during my time here. Although unless things dry up a bit the trails will be to much for my Taco. Also have confirmed at least one river I was looking into running, it sounds like a good one!
JRhetts; I have plans here where I am at in Panama. Also have a house rented for 3+ months. That is why the rush to get down here. As Scott mentioned and linked, I did the drive last year when I spent much more time exploring. Yet, even that trip was a bit rushed. Mexico is LARGE, Central America is small but yes many many places to explore. I am unsure at this time but I doubt this will be my last drive down this way....
JerryYukon; no problems crossing borders with my dog. I have the right docs for him, USDA-APHIS form and rabies cert and so forth. Although I think I overpaid yesterday to come into Panama, cost me $60 to get the dog in. Yet, the bank was closed (required to make a deposit into the bank) so I suppose that is what the overpayment (bribe) was for.
It did cost me way to much at the El Amitillo border but I was expecting that, it is bribe central for borders down here. It cost us around $200 to gte across that really nasty border....my least favorite of all borders I have seen in my travels.
Any ways, that is it for now.....in the next few days I will get pics and video uploaded plus info on fuel used to get here and border crossing costs.
Expedition Leader
The internet is rather slow here in Santa Catalina and it is very hot at the cafe'. On top of that I have been trying to get my house in order here. It was very filthy when I arrived and no power.
I added up my fuel for the trip south.....330gals. to do 4600 miles. Yeah, my Taco gets bad milage but it is well over 5500lbs with gear and I have the power to pass anybody I like when I like!
Here is some more pictures from the trip south.....
In Honduras along the CA-1
A typical plate of food on our way south...
a couple of the many beautiful and wonderful children we encountered on our way south....
At the central plaza in Santa Ana, El Salvador
Getting our drink on at Playa Coco in Costa Rica
Sunset at the same beach
Only in Latin America....Antigua, Guatemala
Rock star parking in Santa Ana, El Salvador for $2 a night
Welcome to Guatemala!!
Expedition Leader
In Granada, Nicaragua having lunch & a beer....
Also in Granada....
roadside iguana for sale in Nicaragua
a boy in Nicaragua who was happy to get a coke we had bought to bribe the police with!
the Pan Am in Honduras....
El Amitillo border....looks pretty good from this angle!
Expedition Leader
more street food on our trip south....
no words for this picture...
the SUCK
a mellow and fast crossing from Guatemala into El Salvador, very cheap too
a typical sight on the roads in CA
check out the windshield....El Salvador
yeah that is a gun tower at a power station....El Salvador
in Southern Mexico
the following are in Antigua, Guatemala
Landslide in Southern Mexico
along the Pan Am in Guatemala
roadside dump near the Mexico - Guatemala border
In Comitan Mexico
Last edited by RMP&O; 04-01-2011 at 12:00 AM.
Expedition Leader
In Tuxtlan, Mexico
down the Gulf Coast in Mexico
All these recently posted pictures come from my co-pilots FB account. I am having problems uploading pictures to FB, either the connection here is to slow or I need to resize pictures. So no more pictures fro awhile until I resize and upload to FB or my website.
Yesterday was X-Mas here in SC, Panama. I was invited to go out to a small fishing village on an island. An owner of a local dive shop takes some 150 kids presents every year and hands them out X-Mas morning. It was a very awesome experience and I have tons of pictures of that plus some of around SC here where I am staying. Plus more of the road trip south....
Until then, addios from PARADISE!
Last edited by RMP&O; 03-31-2011 at 11:59 PM.
Explorer
Mmmm, Central American tacos (similar to MX taquitos, rolled and fried) with cabbage and beet salad.
Great photos, looks like a fun trip.
Toyotero
- 2003 Tacoma Dbl-cab SR5 V6 TRD 4WD........
- 1986 4Runner DLX
- 1985 Celica Supra P-type
- 1977 Celica GT Liftback
"La Vida Nica"
“If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.” -Confucius
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