Planning Drive to Costa Rica in Late 2008

I'm planning a trip from US to Panama in the next few months and found some practical advice/experience on the net.

"a basic understanding of the border crossing process. The process is easy. You should start by getting your Mexican exit visa, before you cross the river into Guatemala (Q5.00 toll for the bridge), next move on to get the entrance visa for Guatemala (Q10.00 per person), located on the left-hand side of the road, in the official government office. Then you will need to pay for your car to be fumigated (Q42.00 for a large vehicle). Finally, take your receipt from the car fumigation, along with your vehicle title and registration, into the immigration office. You will need to make a request for a car permit at one counter, and then go to another to pay for it (Q41.75). After this, they will do a quick visual inspection of your car, and place a translucent vehicle permit on your driver side window. The process is quick, painless, and cheap if you simply follow these steps." Haase, Jason. "The Guatemalan Border Scam - Mexico/Guatemalan Border" from the BootsnAll site.

Google the article for a detailed description of the scam that gets most travelers.

I made the trip to Panama and back at the end of last year. The only border crossing we had trouble with was El Salvador to Honduras (Honduran side). It's a chaotic border and all the border "helpers" want to do is rip you off. All the travelers we met along the way had the same bad experience so just be prepared.

Note my response to Mexico to Nicaragua above. To make trip enjoyable plan on taking minimum of 3 to 4 weeks to get to Costa Rica. Be sure you want to do it for the adventure of the road trip as it is expensive. Motels which have secure parking cost more and the price of gas is higher than US. You can get insurance for the whole trip via Sanborn's in Brownville, but for the Central America portion you need to request a month in advance. Sanborn's issues Mexican Insurance same day it only takes 20 minutes or so. Unless you use Mexican toll roads (Mexican toll roads although fast do not have any shoulder and have about a 1 foot drop at the edge of the road. If you have problems staying in your lane this is very dangerious) , the best average speed you will be able to get is about 35 mph on regular surface roads. Expect for first day which you can drive Brownsville to Tampico in one long day, limit planned daily driving to 150 miles or under. Remember that you are only doing this for the adventure which is great. If the object is low cost and you want your vehicle and other household goods in Costa Rica, place all in a container in Houston, Fly to Costa Rica, take the bus to Lemon and pick everything up there. It is cheaper and much easier.