Expeditions

Overland Expeditions

Mexico & Central America

Highlights

Stage 2 of the Trans Americas and the colours, noise and chaos of Mexico & Central America will certainly challenge your senses and riding skills! The incredible highlands of Guatemala, the Mayan ruins in Mexico, the tropical jungles and the smoking volcanoes in Costa Rica means that this part of the world will be rattling your senses along time after you have left.

Route Map

View Mexico & Central America in a larger map

Is it for me?

Number of Days/Duration	34 days (5 weeks)
Approx total miles	5,500
Accommodation	100% Hotel Bed & Breakfast
Meals Included	All Breakfasts and 5 Group Evening Meals
Culture Shock Rating	Moderate
Riding Difficulty	Moderate

Riding Conditions

This ride covers around 5% of dirt and gravel roads, although as the infrastructure develops, this may reduce in future years. It is about being a confident and competent road rider.

What's Included?

Pre-Expedition:

One Days advanced rider course
One Days preparatory briefing meeting
GlobeBusters guidance handbook
Access to the GlobeBusters forum
One Days FBOS first aid course (Optional)

On the Road:

All accomodation as described
All breakfasts
One group dinner per week
Motorcycle Guide
2nd Motorcycle Guide if group is over 12 riders
Support Vehicle
Detailed daily route notes with GPS information
Freight of your motorcycle from UK to Tucson (UK/EU Price Only)*
Sea freight of your motorcycle from Panama to UK (UK/EU Price Only)*

*For a price including bespoke freight requirements please contact us.

Detailed Itinerary

Weeks 1 & 2 MEXICO

Enter Latin America through a small border post and spend our first night at Nuevo Casa Grandes, over 100 miles south of the border. Copper Canyon is larger than the Grand Canyon and we follow the narrow road that winds its way through the lush and spectacular scenery to Batopilas. Head for the colonial heartland of Zacatecas, the centre of silver mining production and the tiny cobbled streets and pink cathedral of San Miguel de Allende.

Climb high into the steamy cloud forests and tiny mountain villages, before descending to the Caribbean coast and endless miles of deserted beaches. Take a plunge in the ocean for the first time since Alaska! Enter Chiapas Province, once the stronghold of the Zapatista rebels, and visit the breathtaking Mayan ruins of Palenque, before spending our final night in Mexico in another colonial gem, San Cristobal.

Week 3 - GUATEMALA

Head into steamy Guatemala and ride to the small town of Panajachel on the edge of Lake Atitlan, with its stunning volcanic backdrop. Then it’s a short ride into the highlands to visit the famous Indian market at Chichicastenango. Relax for a few nights at the exquisite colonial town of Antigua Guatemala. Dodge the old smoking colourful buses in a hectic ride around Guatemala City to head to the border with Honduras.

Week 4 - HONDURAS & NICARAGUA

Visit the most southern Mayan ruins at Copan. The ride across Honduras takes only a day, but we go off the main Pan American to see local life in smaller villages. In Nicaragua, our first stop is on the main plaza in Granada, where we can sit on the veranda and watch life go by or go boating on Lake Nicaragua. We head to the coast to get our first taste of Pacific beach life and enjoy the best sunsets and fresh lobster.

Week 5 – COSTA RICA & PANAMA

Our penultimate Central American country is Costa Rica. Ride from the palm fringed beaches of the Pacific, past Arenal Volcano to the Caribbean coast for a cocktail on the beach. Stop along the way in the jungle with a chance to walk, raft or zip line through the jungle canopy. Down the coast we cross into Panama on a route used by banana traders since the 1900’s.

Ride over the Bridge of the Americas into our first real city since Tucson and prepare the bikes for freight back home but not before exploring the old city and seeing the huge container ships pass through the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal.

Dates & Prices

	2013 (UK / EU) Includes Freight	2013 (Rest of World) Excludes Freight
Start Date	29 August 2013	29 August 2013
End Date	01 October 2013	01 October 2013
Rider Price	£8,995	$12,295
Pillion Price	£4,495	$7,295
Specific Prices	Single Room £2,500	Single Room $4,100
Availability	Available to book now	Available to book now
	Book Now	Book Now

Useful Information

Country/Region Information

The cultures and vibrancy of Central America will excite and delight you. Indigenous mountain peoples, sophisicated city living, tropical beach life. Ths trip gives you an amazing flavour of the rich diversity of Mexico and Central America.

Weather Information

We travel through Central America in their rainy season, which does mean a high chance of torrential tropical rain somewhere along this route. It also means many warm sunny and balmy days. The bottom line is that on this trip, it is possible to experience a broad range of weather conditions - from the chill of mountain air in the Sierra Madre (Mexico) to 100% humidity along the Pan American Highway and flooded Panamanian streets. So be prepared! The best thing about travelling at this time of year is other tourists are at a minimum, so you have the place to yourself!

Visas Information

UK Citizens will require a USA visa in advance unless they purchase a return or onward ticket flying out of the USA beyond Mexico or Canada. No other visas are needed in advance of travel. Other nationalities should check their own requirements, which may be different.

Travel Health Information

You must visit your GP or a specialised travel clinic to get advice on the recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures needed for the countries on this trip. As background, the websites listed below may prove useful.

Foreign Exchange Information

The base currency for this trip is the US Dollar. The US Dollar is readily exchangeable for the local currencies. The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.

USA - US Dollar
Mexico - Mexican Peso
Guatemala - Quetzales
Honduras - Lempiras
Nicaragua - Cordobas
Costa Rica - Colones
Panama - US Dollar