Although most people wish to fly to various countries in Central America, this is a book about how to drive to any one of the countries comprising Latin America – Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and lastly, Panama. Although officially, Panama is classified as a part of South America, for most people’s conception, it is considered a part of Central America, and so is included in this book.

Use the linking index below to navigate this online version of “Driving The Pan-American Highway To Mexico And Central America.” You will find that it is a complete guidebook for do-it-yourself planning, preparing for, and driving through
Mexico and Central America. Topics covered are:


Preparing for your Latin American Trip;
Researching the Countries;
Picking Destinations;
Determining Required Documentation;
Getting Your Drive Through Trip Visas;
Preparing Your Car for the Trip;
How to Cross International Borders;
Recommended Routes to Travel;
Distances & Highway Signs
The Author’s and Other’s Travel Experiences

And, for travel safety and to get the latest entry requirements for countries along the way, check with http://travel.state.gov . Use the links below to navigate this online version. Travel carefully, and have a good time on your trip / vacation.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
FOREWORD
DISCLAIMER
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
CHAPTER I PREPARATION FOR THE TRIP
RESEARCHING THE TRIP
PICKING YOUR DESTINATION
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
FINANCES FOR THE TRIP
PREPARING YOUR CAR FOR THE TRIP
PACKING YOUR CAR FOR THE TRIP
BORDER CROSSINGS
ADDITIONAL TIPS
READY...SET...GO !
CHAPTER II RECOMMENDED ROUTES
CHAPTER III YOUR TRIP - COUNTRY BY COUNTRY
HIGHWAY SIGNS AND DIRECTIONS
CAR PARTS
TOOLS, ETC.
CAR TROUBLE
BORDER CROSSINGS INFO
POLICE
LODGING
FINDING YOUR WAY
TRAVELING TO MEXICO BY CAR
CREDIT CARD PROCEDURE
BOND PROCEDURE
PROCEDURE FOR DEPOSIT AT THE BANCO DEL EJERCITO
BOND AND DEPOSIT SCHEDULE
DEPOSITS
IMPORTANT
MEXICO
GUATEMALA
GUATEMALA - TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
GUATEMALA - ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
BELIZE
EL SALVADOR
HONDURAS
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
PANAMA
CHAPTER IV ACTUAL TRIP ALONG THE PAN-AMERICAN HIGHWAY
AUTHOR'S TRIP - CALIFORNIA TO COSTA RICA
BREAKDOWN EN ROUTE
ON TO SAN LUIS POTOSI
MEXICO CITY AND CUERNAVACA
FINDING OAXACA IN THE DARK
SOUTH TO THE BORDER
THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE TRIP
DRIVING ACROSS GUATEMALA
MORE ABOUT BORDER CROSSINGS
BACK TO GUATEMALA
INTO PEACEFUL EL SALVADOR
HONDURAS AND THE NICARAGUAN BORDER
THE NICARAGUAN BORDER CRISIS
HOME AT LAST - IN COSTA RICA
CHAPTER V OTHER PEOPLE'S TRIPS ON THE PAN-AMERICAN HIGHWAY
LAS VEGAS TO COSTA RICA
CALIFORNIA TO PANAMA VIA NOGALES
A TRIP DOWN MEXICO'S EAST COAST
TO COSTA RICA BUY BUS
COSTA RICA IN FOUR DAYS BY BUS
FROM TEXAS TO COSTA RICA WITH A 4,000 POUND TRAILER
CHAPTER VI HOTEL RATES AND FACILITIES
MEXICO HOTEL AND MOTEL RATES
GUATEMALA HOTEL AND MOTEL RATES
BELIZE HOTEL AND MOTEL RATES
EL SALVADOR HOTEL AND MOTEL RATES
HONDURAS HOTEL AND MOTEL RATES
NICARAGUA HOTEL AND MOTEL RATES
COSTA RICA HOTEL AND MOTEL RATES
PANAMA HOTEL RATES
QUESTIONNAIRE
MEXICO INFO
CENTRAL AMERICA
BELIZE INFO
GUATEMALA INFO
EL SALVADOR INFO
HONDURAS INFO