Latin America Collection

At this point we would like to interrupt our trip to add a little more
about the border crossings we mention in Chapter 1.

As you approach a border, you will come to the money changers. As
you leave one country to enter the next one, you may have currency left
over from the country you are leaving, and will need local currency (about
$50.00 worth) to get through the new country border. Unless you are
returning soon, change the unneeded local money and buy additional
currency with some of the U.S. dollars you have stashed away for this
purpose. There are no banks at the crossings so that is your best bet,
unless you have previously purchased your $50.00 minimum for each
country in advance. Karl Mallden has no arrangements for you to cash
travellers checks at the borders.A tollbooth on the Pan-American Highway.
As soon as you get through the money changers, you will be hit by a
bunch of youths who will run alongside of your car talking in Spanish. Some
enterprising ones speak English. They are trying to get you to hire them
to guide you through the border check points. There are usually about six
stations at each border check, and not necessarily in any logical order. I
really think they have so many check points so you can "pay off" each one,
which would help their economy. At some borders they have posted the
fee of only $1.50, but don't you believe it. The kids are worth the little tip
that you give them for guiding you through.



Your guide will ask you for certain papers, which he takes to the various
stations, and he will tell you how much you are to pay the guard. Grin,
bear it and pay! When you are through all of your check points, tip your
guide. I suppose a couple of dollars is all right. I seem to always overtip
and give my guide up to $5.00 in local currency if he has done a good fast
job. Let him know in advance that you will pay more for a fast check-out
job. As we have alluded to several times, these helpers are indispensable
at border crossings. They will save you a lot of time and grief.