Now we know why few people bring a car into Central America. Even before we reached the border between Mexico and Guatemala we picked up a guide. He and his son directed us to follow their motorcycle then handled our exit from Mexico and the nightmare of bringing an automobile into Central America. The final cost to pass through immigration, auto registration and insurance was $200 and the process took 2 ½ hours. It is good for all of Central America except for Panama but will have to be renewed in January. Who knows what that will cost?
The roads in Guatemala are horrific ranking right alongside those in Ethiopia and averaging twenty-five miles an hour is optimistic. We spent our first night in Quetzaltenango, 7000 feet above sea level and about as far as we felt like driving.
