Welcome to Central America! This ultimate motorcycle travel guide offers a detailed overview on adventure motorcycle travel through Central America: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. If you’re planning an overland motorcycle trip through CA – start here…
Contents
Motorcycle Travel Guide Central America
By Redd Walitzki
Artist, explorer, visual storyteller and motorcyclist
Welcome to Central America
On the overland route from North to South America, Central America feels like a small void – often unexplored, or rushed through, sandwiched as a funnel point between its larger neighbors. It’s the spot on the map that might read “here there be dragons” – looming large in the thoughts of many as a tumultuous region of unknown safety. Yet this small geographic region is a culturally and ecologically dynamic one, and if you take the time to explore it, will offer up wonders found nowhere else on this journey through the Americas.
From climbing to the top of an erupting volcano, to wandering ancient highland markets and swimming in kaleidoscopic coral seas, Central America is a place you won’t soon forget. A pleasant side-effect of its slightly dodgy reputation is that many areas in Central America are less brimming with tourists than you’ll find in many areas around the world. This contributes to an exciting sense of discovery and immersion if you do take time to wander off the well-trodden Pan American Highway.
More on Central America
This guide’s job is to provide a packed overview for motorcycle travellers riding through Central America covering Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Once you’ve read through this guide, have a look at the landing pages for each of the above countries under North America in the Destinations section. There you’ll find more detailed and dedicated guides with additional info on every country in North and Central America.
READ MORE: North America Motorcycle Guides
Central America Border Crossings
Dealing with borders
Let’s get one thing out of the way – the border crossings in Central America, while a hassle, are nowhere near as difficult as you might be expecting. The paperwork you need is the same across all the borders from Mexico to South America, which is the legal paperwork for your vehicle, and your own passport.
There are 7 countries in Central America, and 4 of them are part of a joint border agreement (Central America 4 or C4). Each border is a little different in the way it operates, and some of this process also changes over time. During Covid there were many restrictions that now no-longer apply.
While this guide is a starting point, I recommend always checking the most recent iOverlander report of any border you are about to cross (usually the night before) to see if anything has changed recently about the process. There you can usually also find the specific information of which building you need to go to in which order, though security guards will usually also point you the right way (or border helpers do this for a fee.)
How to cross borders in Central America with a motorcycle
In general, smaller border crossings can be easier to navigate than the large border crossings on the main Pan-American Highway. This is because trucks and tour busses, as well as migrants, tend to take the major border crossings. However, if you are planning on crossing at a small border, make sure it can process foreign vehicle paperwork. Some tiny borders are set-up for pedestrians only, and if you cross here with your motorcycle, it can create big problems for you down the road.
To have a smooth Central American border crossing, the best approach is to cross early in the morning. Try to be at the border near opening time (15-20 minutes after opening can ensure everyone has showed up and started working). Sundays are often the most difficult day to cross due to many public holidays and a limited staff working to begin with.
Crossing a border around lunchtime is always going to add more time to the process, and often by later in the day, the lines have gotten much longer and everyone is less patient. To set yourself up for an easy border crossing, try to spend the night near the border the night before, and then cross early in the morning. Border towns are often the least safe places, so minimizing your time near the border and keeping a close eye on your belongings is wise.
The faster you are transiting through Central America, the more stressful the borders will feel. If you are doing them back-to-back, or even two in one day, it’s difficult to remain patient and time the crossings well. If you have a bit more time, and some weeks pass between border crossings, they will be a more relaxed and novel experience for you.
Have your paperwork gathered together in one place before the border. That means your personal paperwork (passports), your motorcycle paperwork (title, registration, etc.) and the paperwork from the country you are exiting.
Central America Paperwork
Visas and passports
For most nationalities (USA, Europe, much of Asia, etc.) the borders in Central America are all visa on arrival. Meaning you do not have to prepare in advance or apply for a visa, you will receive one at the border in the form of a stamp. If you do not have a passport from one of these regions, it’s best to check each country’s immigration/visa policy online before you set out.
Belize gives 30 days, and you can apply to extend it for up to 90 days. However, it’s quicker to simply exit to Mexico or Guatemala, and receive another 30 days (vs filing for an extension.)
Guatemala will give you 90 days on entry. This 90 days applies to all of the countries in the C4 region, and resets when you exit at either edge of the C4 region (into Mexico, Belize, or Costa Rica). Note that if you leave Guatemala, you can’t re-enter with your vehicle for 90 days (unless you suspend the TIP when you leave, vs cancelling it).
El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua all give you an amount of days based on the remaining time you had left from Guatemala. They might write that number in your passport (71 days, etc). But they also might not, just referring back to your Guatemala stamp.
Note: Honduras has recently changed their rules for British citizens and a visa is now required. Please take a look at the Motorcycle Travel Guide: Honduras for more info and recent updates.
Costa Rica gives you 90 days on entry, which can’t be extended for the vehicle unless there are extremely extenuating circumstances (proof of a major repair needed, etc.) Once you exit Costa Rica and cancel the TIP, the vehicle can’t re-enter for 90 days. However, if you ask to suspend the TIP at the border instead of cancelling, it will freeze your remaining days and then you can re-enter sooner.
Panama gives you 90 days on your visa, but only 30 days on the TIP.
Driver’s license and IDPs
Some of the countries state you need an International Driving Permit, but in reality it is not required or ever asked for if your home country’s driver’s license is in Latin Script alphabet. You do need a regular and valid driver’s license though.
Temporary Import Permits
Costs and procedure for obtaining a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) are different at each Central American border. They also change over time, so even if you have looked up the cost or process in advance, it may be a little bit different when you are actually crossing.
Belize stamps the TIP in your passport. There is a Foreign Vehicle Border Processing Fee of $15.00 BZD
Guatemala issues a TIP as a sticker, after you pay Q160.00 GTQ at a bank branch near the border. If the bank is closed, a border helper may be able to help pay this for a small cost. Motorcycles are permitted to keep the sticker with your other paperwork.
El Salvador issues a TIP paper (free) based on your cancelled Guatemalan TIP.
Honduras offers a paper TIP, and costs have been reported to vary depending on the vehicle and crossing.
Nicaragua’s TIP is a paper, and usually free however there are several other small charges at the border.
Costa Rica issues a TIP after you have obtained the necessary insurance for the vehicle.
Panama issues a TIP and also stamps your vehicle information in your passport near your entry Visa stamp.
Top tip
Most Central American borders are connected, meaning they will often look at your exit stamp from the last country, your cancelled/old TIP, and sometimes they may even re-use all the information from that TIP. Make sure everything is entered correctly each time you get a document back. Pay extra attention to the VIN being written correctly, your passport number being written correctly, and that each person gave you the correct number of days you need (on the TIP and your visa stamp).
Those are the things that create the biggest hassles if they are incorrect. If you are going to ship your motorcycle from Panama to Colombia, then take extra special care to check the TIP at the Panama border.
Border helpers and fixers
At some of the Central American borders, especially the larger crossings, you will very likely encounter “border helpers” trying to offer their services to you. This is a private person (not a government official) who would shepherd you through the steps of the border crossing for a fee. Sometimes they make themselves look sort of official, with a name tag etc. to make it seem like their help is mandatory (it is not).
In general, you do not need the help of one of these border helpers. The borders are pretty straightforward, the different official agents will usually tell you where to go next, and with patience it’s not difficult to sort the steps out. However, if your Spanish is very minimal, having a border helper can smooth the process out for you a little. Also in some cases, it might speed things up because they have relationships with the official border agents and can keep the process moving along.
The danger of using a border helper, especially if your Spanish is limited, is that they may overcharge you for their services or confuse you with a higher than expected fee. Anything more that $20 would be considered exorbitant, and generally it should be much less than this (around $5 if they helped a lot).
Motorcycle insurance
Belize requires insurance, available at the border in increments of 7, 14 or 30 days.
Guatemala insurance is not mandatory, and can’t be purchased at the border. 3rd party liability insurance may be available if you search (Todo Riesgo, Seguros G&T).
El Salvador insurance is not required. You may be required to purchase a FONAT card, “Fondo Nacional de Accidentes de Transito” for $10/30 days.
Honduras insurance is not mandatory.
Nicaragua insurance is mandatory and part of the border crossing. For a 4×4 it is $12/month.
Costa Rica insurance is mandatory and you will be asked to buy it during the border crossing. $39.00 USD for 3 months for a motorcycle.
Panama insurance is mandatory, and costs: $30 USD for motorcycles.
Fumigation
Belize: Fumigation is required and costs BZ$6.00 BZD for a motorcycle.
Guatemala: Fumigation is required and costs Q40.00 GTQ. Be sure to get a receipt.
El Salvador: No Fumigation required.
Honduras: No Fumigation required.
Nicaragua: Fumigation is required and costs $3.00 USD.
Costa Rica: Fumigation is required and is free.
Panama: Fumigation is required at some borders.
Extra info on Central America borders
Keep in mind that most Central American borders have much more of a human element to their bureaucracy than you might be used to. Regardless of what you have read that the “official” process or costs associated are, they may vary depending on the border agent that you are dealing with that day. Getting frustrated about this usually accomplishes very little.
It’s better to try to have the mindset that the border is an interesting cultural experience. If an official agent is telling you a cost for part of the border crossing that seems exorbitant or very different from your research, try to ask questions, or ask to talk to a superior. If the process is taking a while, try to stay friendly, calm and don’t become angry or emotional if you can help it. Remember that most Central American citizens would have a much harder time trying to enter the US, or European Union, than most of us motorcycle travellers have while trying to enter these countries.
Photocopies
If you have read older guides, you might be expecting to carry a giant stack of 1 million photocopies (one outdated guide recommended carrying 6 copies for each border in Central America – who has room for that?!). At this point, that information really is not true. At most borders in Central America, there will be opportunities to make any copies you need. They will generally want your new passport entry stamp on the photocopy, so preparing this ahead of time is impossible, but not much of a hassle if you are in the mindset to get it done at the border.
Some of the borders do involve getting multiple copies of certain documents. But some of these stations now have their own photocopy machine and will just make them for you. Others will direct you to a place like a shop within the border, where you can make the copies for a very small fee. The copies tend to be terrible quality but this does not matter for the process.
More info on paperwork
For specific info on each country, check the Destinations page for their travel guides. However, if you’re not used to paperwork requirements, have a read of the Paperwork Explained guides below and read through the Admin guides.
READ MORE:
Getting In and Out of Central America with a Motorcycle
Most overland travellers will enter Central America from the Mexican border in the North, or by entering Panama from the South.
Mexico has two neighboring countries you might cross through, Guatemala and Belize. Guatemala has the larger border crossings of the two, which are also on the main artery of the Pan-American Highway, Talisman/El Carmen or Ciudad Hidalgo.
Belize has a smaller border crossing at Chetumal, which is still well traveled and has all the necessary buildings for the vehicle paperwork.
Sometimes the political situation in the border area of Guatemala and Mexico can be tense. There are sometimes protests by the local populations on either side of the border. This zone is also considered risky for high levels of cartel activity, and drug traffickers moving product north to Mexico. If you are thinking of wandering rural roads in this area or taking one of the smaller Mexican/Guatemalan border crossings, use caution and read recent reports about the situation there. Some of the secondary border crossings can’t process vehicle paperwork and are not a great choice to use if you are travelling by motorcycle.
If you are entering CA from South America, most travellers will fly or ship their vehicle into Panama. As of 2024, there is no ferry or sailboat route for transporting a motorcycle between Colombia and Panama. If you are entering your motorcycle by sea, it will be by shared container ship most likely from Cartagena to Colon. Or if you have a very small motorcycle (150cc) and are very daring when it comes to personal safety, you can cross by a series of small motorboats from Turbo to Cartí. If you are shipping by airfreight, your motorcycle will land at Panama City Cargo Airport.
If you’re trying to get your head around shipping and want to look at shipping companies from around the world, check out the below section.
READ MORE: Motorcycle Shipping Guides
Flying a motorcycle from Panama
Most travellers heading South will exit Central America from Panama. Panama has the most established infrastructure for shipping or flying motorcycles, so you don’t have to work as hard on logistics to establish your own route.
As of 2024, the easiest and fastest way to ship your motorcycle from Panama is by air-freight. The main route available which most people choose to use is Panama City to Bogota. There are several companies offering this service with assistance, E-Cargo, Overland Embassy and Cargo Rider being the main options.
Here’s a dedicated guide on shipping your motorcycle from Panama.
READ MORE: How to Ship a Motorcycle Between Panama and Colombia
Reserving and other options
You generally do not need to reserve your Air Freight option very far in advance – a week can be enough of a window. In peak seasons (Nov/December) having a spot reserved can be a good idea. The process from dropping off the motorcycle to receiving it on the other side is usually 2-3 days.
Other Airfreight routes are possible, Panama-Miami being another established route. Panama-Lima or Panama-Santiago may be possible as well, though these are much more expensive ($3500+) and will usually still transit through Bogota.
Sea freight
Sea Freight is generally by shared container, and should be planned further in advance. To get the most competitive pricing, you will want to be in a full container usually with car/truck overlanders. Sea freight is generally still around $800 when you account for all the port fees, so the savings are not massive compared to air freight on this particular route. Sea freight can take several weeks, and delays are a regular occurrence. All parties must be present at the loading and unloading of the container, so this can mean waiting in either Panama or Cartagena if there is a delay.
Sailboats
Regardless of what you have read on old forums or outdated guides, as of 2024 there are no sailboats operating between Panama and Colombia that will take motorcycles. Cartagena changed its port entry rules during the pandemic, and sadly this form of transport is now no longer available. There also is no ferry between Panama and Colombia, it sank in the early 2000s.
Transporting the bike via small boats between Panama and Colombia is not advised. It’s more difficult to do this going North to South, because Colombia will not easily issue a TIP for your vehicle in Cartagena, so entering the country legally is very difficult. If you arrive on the other side of the Darien in Turbo, you will need to ride illegally to Cartagena to get your import paperwork. There have been many issues for people who have tried this, and your motorcycle may be illegal in Colombia during your stay.
Going by small motor-boats South to North does not have the same paperwork issue, however the route is still risky. You would be transporting the motorcycle via a string of small motorboats, and coming into various jungle ports along the route in a territory controlled by the drug and migrant smuggling trade. Criminal activity here is extremely high, the boats sink with some degree of frequency, and you would want to be sure you are comfortable negotiating in Spanish if the scenario suddenly changes. A few people each year seem to accomplish this route for the sake of adventure, usually on sub 150cc bikes. Pricing ranges from $500-1500 to cross the Darien by small boat, depending on how much the parties along the way have upped the price during the process.
Motorcycle storage
It’s possible to store the motorcycle long-term in Panama, and Costa Rica. Panama is the easiest, especially if you do so as you are either leaving or entering the country. The process is generally to cancel the TIP and then store the motorcycle at a bonded storage facility, often at the airport. Or keep it in such a storage before first getting the TIP if you are entering Panama.
An advantage of storing in Panama is that companies such as E-Cargo and Overland Embassy can cancel your TIP for you and then ship the motorcycle to Colombia, or wherever, when you are ready for them to do so.
In Costa Rica you can also store the motorcycle by suspending/pausing the TIP. You will need to find a registered agent who can do this, also at a cost of around $4 per day.
READ MORE: How to Store a Motorcycle in Panama
When to Ride in Central America
Given its proximity to the equator, Central America does not have 4 seasons in the familiar North American/European sense. Instead, it follows a period of wet season vs dry season. There are regional micro-climates, and in some areas the wet and dry seasons are at different times.
For example, the Caribbean region follows a slightly different weather pattern than the Pacific Coast. Generally speaking, the dry season in Central America is from mid-November through early May, and the rainy season is May through November. In the Caribbean region, there is also a short “Hurricane season” from October-November where the chance of heavy storms increases.
Rainy season
Many overland motorcycle travellers will end up in Central America at a time that is convenient for doing a longer route in either North or South America, and may end up in Central America during part of the rainy season. The good news is it’s not prohibitively rainy – throughout the day you might have sun in the morning, followed by torrential downpours in the afternoon. It is something to keep in mind though, because it will certainly include some rides in heavy rain, and the humidity also increases during the rainy season making the air often feel oppressively hot. The bright side of the rainy season is that the vegetation looks lush and green, flowers are in full bloom, and waterfalls are flowing with their full current.
Hurricane season
If you are riding during Hurricane season (Oct-Nov) keep an especially close eye on the forecast. Major storm systems take several days to form and will be announced in advance. If you have the ability to leave coastal areas or head for somewhere with better infrastructure to get out of the path of a storm, that is always advised. In the case of a major hurricane, you do not want to be on the coast, in a very rural or undeveloped area, or somewhere that will become especially hard to leave if the infrastructure is affected.
Off-road
If you are planning several months in Central America and also want to do a lot of off-road exploration, riding in the dry season is a good idea. Many of the smaller roads or tracks become extremely muddy and also are not traversed by locals during those times, increasing their danger and difficulty. In some areas, especially coastal areas, river crossings will also become high and deep with fast currents, making them incredibly dangerous. If in doubt, always try to ask the locals about the current conditions of a route you are planning. And if they say it’s not recommended, keep that in mind!
Dealing with the heat
While riding Central America, watch yourself for signs of heat-stroke and try to remain very hydrated. In a humid and hot environment, you sweat much more than you are used to, and will need to drink more fluids than you may expect. Be careful not to spend too long in the direct sun in your full gear if you are not moving (for example at construction stops etc.) as this can raise your core temperature quickly. Wearing light colours helps a bit with heat absorption, especially a light-coloured helmet can help keep you a few degrees cooler.
Accommodation and Costs in Central America
Generalizing for all of Central America is difficult because this varies from country to country. Outside special occasions like Christmas/New Years and Semana Santa (Easter) it’s usually unnecessary to book in advance. The night before is usually plenty of time for most places, or day of/morning of.
Airbnb
Usually, in larger cities or for stays over 1 week, Airbnb is an excellent option. You can find places for around/under $25 night which often include a kitchen and more private space.
Hostels and hotels
In towns along the backpacker trail, like Antigua/Leon/etc often hostels are quite affordable at around $8/night for a shared dorm. Private rooms at trendy hostels often cost more than rooms at small local hotels. Booking.com also lists many options, but in most countries reaching out on WhatsApp to a hotel in advance gives you a better rate than using the booking websites.
Just turn up
In small towns, its often possible to just show up and get a room at a very reasonable rate (under $20/night). Rooms will often have shared bathrooms, or multiple beds since most accommodations cater to larger families travelling together.
One option along the major highways is the Autohotels (love motels) which have a private garage attached directly to the room for privacy, however these types of hotels are often not in the safest areas to walk around or explore at night.
Motorcycle camping
Wild camping, and camping in general are not a cultural norm in Central America. This means it comes with a heightened degree of risk, and should only be attempted by experienced travellers comfortable with the risk level and confident in campsite finding and disguising. Most land in Central America, even if it looks undeveloped, is privately owned. This means you might set up in a remote location, only to have curious locals show up because you are technically on their land.
If possible, it’s always best to ask permission before camping somewhere if there is a farm or human habitation nearby. In other cases, there have been incidents with robberies or confrontations with cartel members, so it’s best to only camp if you have a good sense of the current situation in the area you are in. Throughout CA, lodging is generally cheap enough that the incentive to camp is not as high as in places like Europe or the US.
In some areas, rural countryside restaurants or beach side cafes may offer camping on their site for a small fee ($3-8 is normal). Others allow you to camp if you buy a meal at the restaurant. This type of camping comes with a bit of extra security because they often have someone on site overnight watching the location. Often these locations are also popular with locals, so it can be quite a party overnight which may not be the camping experience you are looking for.
Of the CA countries, Costa Rica has the most established camping culture with some beautiful campsite opportunities. Camping on isolated beaches or on farms surrounded by cloud forests can be an amazing way to experience this country in particular, and save on lodging costs. There are established campgrounds throughout Costa Rica, and some hotels with large outdoor spaces or grounds will offer camping as well.
READ MORE: Motorcycle Camping Guides
Prices and costs
While no longer as cheap as it once was, in general Central America is still an affordable region to travel in. Food, water, and lodging costs are generally low especially in comparison to Western Europe or USA/Canada.
Fuel is generally around the same price as in the US, but can fluctuate. Pricing does vary from country to country and is often influenced by current events. Lodging and food is always most expensive at the coasts (think of it as a beachside markup) or in very touristy areas.
In rural areas, prices will be 1/2 to 1/3rd as much as in touristy locations. If you are in a country where the USD is not the official currency, anytime you see prices listed in USD for restaurants or on tours/hotels you can be sure you are in an expensive area.
Note that Belize and Costa Rica are considered the most expensive countries in CA. And Nicaragua and Honduras are considerably cheaper than their neighbors, outside of the coasts or islands like Utila/Roatan.
Budget tricks for Central America
Look for street-food versus restaurants. For example, in El Salvador, Pupusas or Yucca with chicharron on the street will only cost $1-2 a serving, while a sit-down meal will easily be $5-8.
Buy fruits/vegetables and supplies at the local markets. Even with a foreigner markup rate, they will always be cheaper at markets or street side vendors than at large brand name grocery stores. Just be sure to wash or process them before eating.
In Costa Rica, look for restaurants with the word “Soda” in the name. These are the local eateries frequented by Ticos (Costa Rican locals), and are often much more affordable than other restaurants in the same areas. They may have a set Menu del Día, or only a few options to choose from.
READ MORE: How to Motorcycle Travel on the Cheap
Safety and Security for Motorcycle Travellers in Central America
Central America has had a history of political instability in the late 20th – early 21st Century. This has been marked by violence, internal conflicts, and civil wars in these countries. For many US citizens or Europeans, this has created a picture that Central America is an extremely unsafe place to travel in or explore. While nowhere in the world is entirely “safe”, Central America has become much safer than it once was and can now be easily explored if you take a little bit of caution into account.
Travelling in these countries, you will find that the local people are extremely friendly, kind, outgoing, and eager to share their cultures and history. Most of Central America is now safe to travel through. It’s good to exert a high degree of situational awareness, and use caution in certain contexts. You might be surprised while travelling Central America, just how normal almost everywhere feels, and just how beautiful it is.
Speak to locals
iOverlanders “Hazard” pins are good to glance at when you’re entering a new area, because they will include both road conditions (like a road being impassable or not existing), as well as security issues like road-blocks or previous robberies. If an area has a solid history of either, it’s a smart idea to rethink your plans. It can be a good idea to talk to locals, however you do want to take this with a grain of salt. Most locals in Central America will think their own area is safe, and all surrounding areas are dangerous. That next town, country, etc. is always something they are a bit worried about, and often they will think you’re crazy or brave for even travelling at all.
It can, however, be really helpful to listen to locals about specific concerns, like road conditions in their nearby area, specific incidents of crime in a particular region, or upcoming/ongoing political scenarios. Sometimes things like a local election might cause a few days of chaos and could mean you want to shift your plans, or a bridge might be out, etc.
Local motorcycle clubs are sometimes the best reference, either if you encounter them in person or just network online. They often travel throughout Central America too, and have more relevant information about safety and road conditions. There is a large network called “Moto Ayuda International” with sub-chapters operating in all Latin American countries, which can be found on Facebook or WhatsApp Groups (note this will be all in Spanish).
Keeping you motorcycle and gear safe
In general, overnight you will want to keep your motorcycle inside your lodging, in a secure space. This might mean parking in an inner courtyard, secure garage, or bringing it in a hallway or inside a hotel lobby. If you are leaving it in a higher trafficked area, like a busy hotel courtyard, putting a cover over it is a good idea just to keep it more out of sight.
Most hotel owners/attendants will be very concerned for the parking safety of your motorcycle, and will help you find a safe spot for it. If not, you might want to reconsider your choice of lodging. In some very small towns, or on places like farms etc, it may be ok to leave it outside but this is a rare situation in Latin America. In some historic cities with narrow streets and houses, if you can’t find a hotel with secure parking, there are separate Parqueaderos (Parking Lots) with an overnight attendant and/or cameras etc. where you should be able to park the moto for a small cost. These can also be convenient if you are planning on walking around and sightseeing while your bike is loaded up with your gear, they are much safer than just leaving it on the street.
Protests
There are occasionally waves of internal conflict, often in the form of protests by locals, which can cause some degree of inconvenience to travellers and can be wise to be aware of. Generally, if you are in an area that is experiencing something like this, locals will let you know, you’ll hear word from other travellers, or it will become obvious fairly quickly when you encounter road-blocks and long traffic jams. While these situations often end as quickly as they start, sometimes it can take a few weeks to die down which might cause you to alter travel plans. In general, these protestors have a specific grievance with the government that they are trying to address, which does not necessarily concern you. A motorcycle is also likelier to be allowed through than a car or truck. If you encounter a road-block protest, stay calm, polite, friendly and just ask to be let through. Usually, you’ll be allowed to pass eventually.
Cartels and para-military
Some remote areas of Central America are hold-outs for either para-military groups or drug cartels. This is usually deep in the jungle, or in very rural areas that take some effort to get to. Some examples of this are the Mosquito Coast between Honduras and Nicaragua, the Darien Gap in Panama, parts of rural Guatemala near the Mexican border, etc.
Before venturing into an area like this, it is a really wise idea to do more research. Talk to local motorcyclists if possible, they will be likeliest to know where you should or should not go, or might be willing to accompany you. If you find yourself in a more remote area and are stopped by someone who does not look like official military or police, try to keep the interaction brief, and don’t hand over official documents like your real driver’s license or vehicle papers. If they tell you to leave the area, then do so. You are usually not going to be on anyone’s radar, unless you give them much of a reason to be.
Cities
The largest cities have areas that are probably not a good idea for a foreigner to wander around. This is especially true for Guatemala City, Belize City, Tegucigalpa, and Managua. Generally, the big cities will be less enticing for most motorcycle travellers anyways, because they have gridlock traffic, higher rates of exhaust pollution and often not as much cultural interest as some of the smaller or medium sized historic cities.
If you are going to one of the bigger cities, try to stick to the areas with higher-end businesses/museums/public attractions and avoid the zones on the edges with lower income neighborhoods for safety. If you are in an area where children are playing outside, and women and elderly folks are freely walking at night, you’re likely in a safe area.
Experiences like “Free Walking Tours” will help orient you and probably tell you where to go and where to avoid. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity, like leaving your bike unattended, or having valuable items visible on your person (or a flashy cellphone in your hand.) Often, travellers have run into the most trouble while mixing with local nightlife, staying out late drinking, or participating in illegal activities like buying/consuming drugs. If you do not do these things, you eliminate a lot of risk.
Don’t let all of this information scare you – the reality of travelling in Central America is that you will avoid most trouble by just using common sense, keeping an eye on your possessions, and not participating in nightlife or illegal activities.
Health and vaccines
When travelling abroad, it’s important to read up on the vaccine recommendations and requirements of the countries you are travelling through.
The best website we have found, that clearly explains what is needed and required is travelhealthpro.org.uk. Simply click on each country you plan on travelling through and read through the vaccine recommendations.
Yellow Fever
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission throughout parts of Central and South America. And some countries in the Americas will require you to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate. So, we recommend getting the vaccine before travelling. You can find info on the travelhealthpro website, and the fitfortravel.nhs.uk website has additional info with a map of areas at risk of yellow fever.
READ MORE:
Laws, Police and Bribes in Central America
For the most part, the police in Central America will not be too concerned with you, a motorcycle traveler, just passing through. However police stops and military stops are fairly common, and you do want to be prepared in case something happens during one of them.
Bribes
Rarely, police will try to say you either broke a traffic law, or tell you there is something wrong with your vehicle (too many lights, too few lights, etc.), and tell you that you need to pay a “fine.” Sometimes, you may have actually broken a rule or done something wrong, sometimes you may not have. The best way to approach this kind of this situation is to be friendly, polite, and try not to hand over any of your real documents (high quality duplicates are good to have on hand for this.)
If your Spanish is (suddenly) very bad, they will occasionally get frustrated and just let you go. Sometimes if it’s too much of a hassle for the officer because you’re politely wasting their time, they may let you go. Sometimes they will say you need to pay a very large fine, and you can talk them down to a much lower amount. This may save you time and hassle. You can always ask to go to the police station and pay the fine there, and if it is not legitimate, asking for this might deter them.
Certain areas are more notorious for police stops and bribes, for example Nicaragua has frustratingly low speed limits and a zone on the Pan-American Highway with many police officers waiting to catch vehicles breaking the speed limits or passing in no-passing zones. Some of these high-frequency spots are marked on iOverlander. In Panama, there are also speed zones where many motorcyclists have been stopped. Here they may issue you a ticket, however the ticket is linked to a Panamanian document, so as a foreigner it can’t be paid or enforced (don’t worry about it).
READ MORE: How to Deal with Bribes on the Road
Drones
Nicaragua does not allow you to bring drones, or extensive professional camera equipment, into the country. The best course of action for this is to ship your equipment to bypass Nicaragua so you don’t have any issues. This is usually done by shipping from Honduras to Costa Rica via DHL. If you do this, keep the receipt and show it if you are asked about drones at the border crossing. While hiding a drone somewhere in your luggage or bike might sound tempting, it can have very serious repercussions for you if you are caught. These laws are in place in Nicaragua as anti-spying regulations, and you definitely don’t want to be apprehended as a spy in this country. You’ll find more info in the Hondruas and Nicaragua guides on how to ship your drone.
Adventure Motorcycles and Repairs in Central America
You can take any bike you wish on an adventure in Central America. In many situations you will encounter, a smaller bike may be better, and generally speaking, being on a less expensive bike will help you keep a lower profile. While throughout Central America, there are a handful of the bigger, higher-end adventure bikes floating around, this is rare in the countryside and lower economic areas where even a 300cc bike might garner a lot of attention.
In many areas, locals ride sub 200cc bikes, and they are mostly Chinese or locally built brands. Anything you bring here from the US or Europe will not blend in, and will mark you out as a foreigner. That can lead to many really wonderful encounters, but can also be uncomfortable at times.
If you’re interested in venturing off-the-beaten path and riding more dirt or more remote roads, a smaller bike will likely also be easier to manage. Think about whether your bike is easy for you to move by yourself, loaded up with luggage, and if you feel comfortable taking it on unpredictable dirt roads or squeezing it into tight hotel hallways. This may help inform your decision.
People have done this trip on everything from Honda C90s to BMW 1200s, so no matter what you choose, you will have an interesting and adventurous experience. One good piece of advice, is don’t take anything you can’t afford to walk away from/lose on a trip like this, especially given that all available insurance will only be coverage for physical injury and not for your motorcycle if it is crashed/stolen/broken.
For help choosing an adventure bike, detailed bike reviews from travellers or even just how to prep your adventure bike, check the below section.
READ MORE: Adventure Motorcycle Guides
Repairs and garages
In Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador, motorcycle parts and tyres are fairly easy to source, depending on the brand. For parts for big (200cc+) bikes, you will most likely need to hunt in a bigger city. You can usually find hole-in-the wall mechanics throughout CA to help with small repairs, especially if they can be done without needing parts or with universal solutions. Panama is the most difficult in that respect, as there are very few motos in Panama and many car mechanics don’t work on bikes.
Honduras and Nicaragua are the most difficult countries in CA to find parts in, especially for any bigger or non-Chinese brand (local bikes). It’s a smart idea to enter these 2 countries with new-ish or good-enough tyres to cross them. Plan any major repairs before entering them – if you have to tackle a big repair here its likely to cause you a pretty big inconvenience or delay.
READ MORE: Motorcycle Workshop Guides
Renting a Motorcycle vs Taking Your Own
Most people will be riding through Central America on their own bike as a way to bridge North and South America. This is a great way to explore the region, especially if you take the time to explore it more deeply. The advantage here is that you will be on your own bike, with whatever comfort customizations you like. The disadvantages are that your bike may stand out, be more difficult to find parts for, and have a time limit to be in each country.
Central America can also be a great destination on its own, and flying in and renting a motorcycle is a fun way to do so. This allows you to choose a season more specifically (avoid the rainy season), and experience the country on a more local bike. Most motorcycle rental agencies do not allow you to cross borders with their bikes. This means you are most likely limited to one country for a trip like this, but it can give you a great opportunity to really see what a smaller area is all about.
Alternate Adventures in Belize is one wonderful option, which rents small displacement bikes for local explorations. It’s also easy to rent motorcycles in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Some beach towns will offer very small motorcycles (sub 125cc) or scooters for rent by the day as well, especially at the coasts in Nicaragua/Costa-Rica/El Salvador. If you are renting a motorcycle, expect the rental company to look for proof of your motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license.
A third option is to buy a local bike, and focus on exploring just Central America. Guatemala may be the easiest country to do so, though it’s wise to make sure you know the seller well and be aware that the motorcycle doesn’t have any paperwork issues. Buying a previously stolen bike can put the new owner in a precarious position. Buying a new bike is often a safer route, and small Chinese bikes can be bought here fairly easily.
Check the rentals and tour companies finder for recommended companies throughout Central America.
Riding Conditions in Central America
Driving at night is never recommended, in small part due to security concerns. In larger part due to unsafe road conditions including: other vehicles with no lights, pedestrians or bicycles without any reflective clothing, free-roaming animals like dogs and livestock, and abrupt changes in road conditions including huge unmarked potholes. In general, the most dangerous part of travelling as a motorcyclist in CA will be the road conditions, especially if you are very accustomed to driving in places with ordered and regulated traffic.
In several of the countries like Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, traffic can be very chaotic and feel very “lawless”. Expect vehicles to pass on either direction (center or right of the lane), pass with oncoming traffic, and ignore posted signs. Keep in mind that even if everyone else is breaking the rules, you still may be pulled over by police if you do so as well.
In Nicaragua, the posted speed limits are very low, and the main roads are very well maintained. This can be a frustrating combination, because after the bad roads of Guatemala and Honduras, these roads can tempt you to go faster. But on main roads in Nicaragua, the police are very active and looking for speeding and passing violations, so keep that in mind as you pass through here.
Major roads in Central America are often in a state of poor maintenance (especially in Guatemala/Honduras/El Salvador), so drive carefully enough to be ready for abruptly changing pavement or unforeseeable hazards. Small side roads and rural roads are often not very maintained at all, and can have hazards like large landslides/mudslides, unexpected river crossings, or difficult to navigate dirt conditions. If locals are warning you that a road is “bad” due to the driving conditions, be prepared for it to get very adventurous or possibly extremely difficult.
Count on itineraries taking much longer than your navigation apps are telling you, and have a Plan B in mind in case you’re not nearing your overnight destination. Keep in mind that you are likely riding a bike with much more luggage/equipment than you would take on trails at home, so roads or trails might be more difficult than you might expect, due to the weight of your bike and unfamiliar terrains.
Fuel
Throughout Central America, fuel is readily available and generally good quality. Sometimes higher octane (premium) fuels may see less turn-over, and be of lower quality because they have been sitting for a long time. This is most likely to be a problem at smaller or more remote gas stations. Most people do not use fuel filters in Central America. Most motorcycles have a large enough fuel range (150+ miles/250+ km) to not need to carry spare gas.
Navigation
In Central America, digital maps are good, but should never be relied on 100%. Certain road situations may have changed more quickly than the maps for these countries are updated. Generally, the information for major highways and thoroughfares is fairly accurate. Smaller roads are less reliable, and if you are following a navigation app or device on small roads in the countryside, be prepared to question what it tells you and make your own adjustments as necessary. It’s not uncommon for Google/Open Maps or Garmin to recommend you take a small donkey path when a new larger road exists, or try to get you to drive down a staircase or into a lake, so use common sense.
You could easily drive through Central America with only phone maps, but if you are mapping by phone, it’s probably good to carry a spare or backup phone. Garmin satellite navigators do not come with Central American maps installed, and they do not offer an official download for these countries. To use a Garmin here you will need to install your own Open Street Maps on the device (free ones can be found here).
For the most part, detailed paper maps of Central America are not available. Nat Geo makes an adventure map series, which are good as a general overview or reference, especially for planning the broader strokes of your route. But again, the small roads they show are not always accurate and sometimes do not exist or go through. You will still want to pair these maps with a more up-to-date phone or satellite map.
In larger cities, the most reliable navigation app for Central America is Waze. This is what the locals and cab drivers use, and its algorithm is based on user reports and data. Waze seems to have the best grasp on one-way-streets and road closures and obstacles as well. However, in the countryside or for off-road trails it is not as reliable and more difficult to use since it requires cellular signal to update.
Road vs off-road
In Central America, the roads vary from good asphalt, to poorly maintained asphalt, to small rural farm roads, to difficult trails. There are not specific “Off-Road Trails” for the most part (aka recreational off-road trails or areas), rather there are just very bad or unmaintained dirt roads that may be similar to off-road or jeep trails in the US/Europe. Single-track is the most usual thing to find, because the vegetation in Central America grows very quickly, and people don’t maintain trails for recreational use. Sometimes a walking path might function as single track if you wish to try it.
As an adventure riding destination, Central America has a lot to offer because there are so many unmaintained or unexplored roads, with unpredictable and ever-changing obstacles. You can easily find creek and river crossings, small suspension bridges, terrain ranging from mud and rocks to sand and volcanic lava fields. Often a difficult off-road section might be pretty short, and then you pop back out on a larger gravel road, etc. You can string these types of off-pavement sections together to make a longer route if you desire. Some trails are available on Wikilok or by getting GPX files from local ADV riders, who also use the countryside as their off-road playground (this is especially true in Costa Rica).
In general, if you are riding the major roads between larger towns, you will be on asphalt or well-maintained gravel/dirt. The major highways may not always be in a great state of repair, but any vehicle can easily drive them. If you are making routes between smaller town, especially in the mountains, you can expect the roads to probably be unpaved. Roads between towns are generally frequented by vehicles, and while they may vary in difficulty, should usually be manageable for motorcycles.
Small side roads to off-the-beaten path attractions, like waterfalls, viewpoints, tiny villages, may be more like a Jeep trail, and may be any degree of difficulty. These types of roads can become impassable during the rainy season, or very difficult if a landslide has happened and the trail is no longer in regular use. One of the things to keep in mind is that often there is no available information about what this type of road is like. You should be prepared to turn around if you exceed your comfort zone, and to not rely on any other vehicle showing up on a road/trail like this.
Hazards
Specific terrain hazards to watch out for are landslides, since the soil in many regions of Central America is unstable and not reinforced. Much of the dirt in Central America is red clay, which can quickly become impassable when wet. If a trail you are on is clay, and heavy rain begins, you may want to turn around or be prepared to stay put until it dries out. In the rainy seasons, small creek crossings can become very high and develop a strong current. Locals often do not take these crossings during the height of the rainy season, as they can become very dangerous.
In some areas, like certain beaches with wildlife habitats or National Parks, off-road riding is prohibited. This is usually sign-posted, or you will notice that locals are also not driving in these spots.
Riding gear
Central America has a range of micro-climates, however its best to be especially prepared for hot and wet conditions. Even in the “dry” seasons, the air has an extremely high humidity content, and especially on off-road rides prepare to be hot and sweaty much of the time.
There are a few higher elevation regions of Guatemala and Costa Rica where temperatures can drop to the 50s-60s, and with the high humidity these zones can feel quite cold by comparison. If you are packing for Central America exclusively, it would be best to focus on a hot-weather riding kit, with additional rain layers and a few emergency layers for colder conditions.
A mesh jacket with integrated armor, and mesh pants with airflow vents would be ideal. Or dirt focused body armor with a jersey and summer dirt-bike pants with good ventilation. Packable external rain pants and jacket to go over your lighter gear is a must. If you are riding through Central America more rapidly on pavement, you can make a 4-season Gore-Tex Adv kit work, but be prepared to suffer the heat.
Lighter colours are advisable for riding in direct sun and hot conditions, including a lighter coloured helmet. Black clothing and a black helmet will heat up very quickly.
READ MORE: Adventure Riding Gear Guides
The Best Motorcycle Routes in Central America
Here’s a downloadable map of my personal route through Central America. There are endless interesting routes to take in Central America, and one trip will never cover them all. Here are a few that stand out as favorites for me for their spectacular views and lovely villages, which most riders will be able to ride on most motorcycles.
Costa Rica, Lake Arenal (142)
This paved road from La Forunta to Piedras in Costa Rica is spectacular, with back-to-back twisties and stunning views of the lake and Arenal Volcano. Watch out for wet corners, and for packs of Coati which may linger in the middle of a blind corner. To extend this ride and add some dirt, ride the other side of the lake from Naranjos Agrios to El Castillo. This side is mostly well-maintained gravel, with a few sections of embedded rock and a few small stream crossings. There is a large river crossing at Rio Caño Negro which may be difficult depending on the season, if so, just make it an out-and-back. Stop at “La Ventanita” a popular local motorbike cafe.
Nicaragua, Los Manos to Matagalpa (via 6 and 3)
This route through the northern coffee region of Nicaragua is spectacular and not very trafficked. It will lead you through little villages and various coffee plantations, on mostly well-maintained pavement or smooth cobblestone. If you are feeling adventurous, take some of the side roads and trails, this region has hidden waterfalls and touring the coffee plantations can be an interesting experience. Stay at the quirky eco-camp Finca Neblina del Bosque, which has cute little huts, an excellent family restaurant, and is located within a Natural Reserve. The road to this finca is also a fun dirt ride, with a river crossing and stunning views.
El Salvador, Panoramica – RN3E Lake Ilopango
A short but very fun paved ride on your way to or from San Salvador, winds along the edge of an old crater lake through lush forested farmland. There are many look-out-point restaurants, some of which allow camping, and this is a great place to watch the sunset over the lake. Other El Salvador highlights are the Ruta de Flores, and a short but spectacular day ride from El Triunfo to Berlin (this is a favorite for local motorcyclists).
Must visit places
In this Instagram and TripAdvisor age, it’s easy to fixate on the main attractions of a place, and feel like you need to check off the boxes of spectacular locations. If you have researched Central America at all, you will likely already have a lot of the major must-see places marked out, like Tikal Ruins in Guatemala, or Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua. Instead of highlighting these popular spots again here, I have selected for you some of my favorite off-the-beaten-path spots that I came across on my wanderings in Central America. Each one will take you somewhere interesting, is a bit out of the way and often in an area with beautiful motorcycle roads that are worth exploring, and some are a bit harder to find than others. Hopefully they will provide a launching off point for you to make your own discoveries!
Belize, Caracol Mayan Ruins
These ruins are tucked about 40km into the jungle down unpaved roads winding up and down through forest that transitions from tropical to pine forest (this area is known as “Pine Ridge” because of the unusual vegetation). The road to Caracol is considered best for 4x4s (for motos it’s light-intermediate level), and should never be attempted in rain as its all red-bentonite clay which turns to impassable mud. You check in with a guard at the entrance to the road, and must begin the ride before 12pm (you must exit Caracol at 2:30pm). The difficulty in access makes these some of the lesser visited Mayan Pyramids, and it’s a large complex, meaning you will have the chance to feel alone with the gravity and history of this powerful place.
El Salvador, El Espiritu de Montana Viewpoint
A short but spirited ride leads up to this spectacular viewpoint over the bay of La Union. From this vantage you can see 3 countries at once, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. It is possible to camp overnight on the deck, and experience a spectacular sunrise over the islands of the bay. Your tent must be able to attach to a wooden plank deck (it’s very windy and stakes won’t work). The ride up is extremely steep, very rough off-camber cobblestone with lots of tight switchbacks. Most bikes would be able to do it, as long as the rider is comfortable with those conditions. Be on the lookout in blind corners for the large tour-truck that comes up and down at various intervals and takes up the full width of the road.
Costa Rica, Drake Bay / Osa Peninsula
Costa Rica is often seen as the “safe” and touristic country along the Central American route. While to some extent that’s true, there are still pockets in Costa Rica that are truly wild, difficult to explore, and very rewarding. The Osa Peninsula is one such area, especially when visited overland. While there are a few routes to Drake Bay, arguably the best and most adventurous is to take the small river ferry from Sierpe, and then follow the small road through the jungle (not marked on Google or GPS, but marked by sign-posts). Depending on rainfall the conditions can vary, and there are several little stream crossings along the way, as well as one optional large river crossing that can be avoided by a bridge.
While access to Corcovado Nat. Park is expensive and can be difficult to arrange, there is plenty to explore along the edges of the park, including hiking to the Sirena Ranger Station, or staying in one of the many off-grid jungle properties ranging from rustic organic farms to luxury accommodations. The Osa still harbors illegal gold miners, tiny secret jungle airstrips for drug-runners, as well as some of the best wildlife encounters in Central America, and is worth diving into!
Guatemala, Aguas Termales “Hot Waterfall”
This unique waterfall experience is near Rio Dulce, Guatemala, on a path not many Pan-American riders take through the country. However, going this way will give you a genuine experience of the Guatemalan countryside, offer you a side of the country far from the gringo tourist track, and reward you with this fun waterfall not visited by many foreigners.
Note that it is super popular for locals, and unless you go very early in the morning it will be crowded with cheerful folks from the surrounding villages. The parking lot is usually attended by a local watcher (tip them something), and I had no issues leaving my loaded moto while swimming for an hour or two. The waterfall is heated by an underground thermal vent and is surprisingly hot! There is a series of pools to swim in as well. Camping is possible on the shores of the nearby lake, at a rustic campground with palm palapas managed by a local family (see iOverlander). You can build this into a route either going to Lanquin (Semuc Champey waterfalls) from East to West, or if you are heading to Copan Ruinas Honduras as a small detour/tangent.
Honduras, Cuevas de Talgua
This remote cave tucked into the southern mountains of Honduras is one of the oldest archeological sites in Central America, with human remains from 1000-900 BC. It was made famous when first discovered as the cave of “Glowing Crystal Skulls” because the remains discovered here had a reflective appearance due to calcite deposits. While none of the skulls or remains are currently on display, the cave itself is also fascinating and is nestled in a beautiful river valley, reached by some of the best rural gravel mountain roads in Honduras. This entire region is very rarely explored by outsiders and has a lot of potential for discovery and excellent riding.
Nicaragua, Peñas Blancas Reserve
Northern Nicaragua feels like a land lost in time, especially in contrast to its developed neighbor Costa Rica. One of the most interesting and rural regions is the area surrounding the Penas Blancas Reserve (note that this is nowhere near the Penas Blancas Border Crossing). The nearby regions of Jinotega and Matagalpa are some of Nicaragua’s main coffee-producers, and riding here you will see farmers harvesting coffee by hand or finishing it with pre-industrial machinery.
Winding roads make for an amazing loop that’s a mix of twisty pavement (often smooth cobblestone tile), or rustic farm tracks of varying quality and difficulty. At Penas Blancas Reserve itself there are a few small farm hostels to stay at, and it’s possible to venture deep into the mountains with the aid of local guides. A full day only costs around $20, takes you to a series of secret waterfalls up hand-made rope bridges and ladders, to spectacular viewpoints of the misty valleys. Don Chico is 85 now and the original guide, and hiking with him is a truly unforgettable experience. His son and other family members are now guiding as well, note that this entire experience is in Spanish and in this region few English speakers can be found. (Finca Agroturistica Don Chico).
Panama, Bonyic Tribal Village
Most people will think of Panama in terms of Panama City, a sprawling modern metropolis and the shipping center for transit between the Americas. But many populations throughout Panama belong to very isolated indigenous tribes, still trying to preserve their customs and way of life in a rapidly changing environment. Many of these tribes are difficult to access, given their locations in mangrove swamps or outer-islands.
The Bonyic are an exception, they are a river people, and due to a recent hydro-electric dam, a road now goes directly to their village. The location is very close to the Costa-Rican border crossing at Sixaola, and also very near the popular Bocas del Toro Islands.
This experience is very authentic, you can arrange with Raul (Ocen Tours) to visit the village, stay overnight at a homestay or camping, and learn about local traditional life or go on hikes in the jungle to learn about the flora and fauna. The whole thing is quite rough around the edges, and will make you truly feel like an explorer in another way of life (when I visited, the guestbook had no entries for over 2 years, and was mostly German university research groups). Good Spanish helps here, and getting in touch via WhatsApp before showing up is also advised.
Top tips
In most rural areas in Central America, you will need cash to pay for lodging, food and sometimes gas. Often people will only have change for small bills. Gas stations are a great place to break larger bills.
In urban areas, credit card use is more common, and gas stations will accept cards.
Local SIM cards are a good way to have higher speed data, and are fairly easy to get. Some SIMs will work across borders in Central America, but you will not be able to top them up in a country other than where you bought it. A few travellers have reported success topping up with the app Ding
While you can travel in Central America with very little Spanish, your experience will be much richer if you can speak some, and are more able to communicate with locals. There are great Spanish schools throughout Central America, but especially in Guatemala (Antiqua or around Lake Atitlan)
If you see a handwritten sign on a house that says “Chocobanano” definitely stop!
Whatsapp – We recommend joining the Motos in Mexico and Central America WhatsApp group.
About the author
Redd Walitzki
Weaving a dynamic tapestry of lived experience and artistic creation has always been the focus of my life. That has included many chapters, from being an internationally exhibiting gallery Artist, to co-founding a creative company (Moth & Myth). For the past several years I have also been a nomad, venturing from my beloved Pacific Northwest to more than 35 countries, finding inspiration and beauty along the way.
Since 2021, the journey has been by motorcycle through Mexico, Central and now South America. Traversing over 50,000 miles with my Royal Enfield Himalayan in jungles and mountains, learning about the rich cultures and biospheres of this dynamic continent.
Follow Redd’s awesome adventures here:
Web: reddwalitzki.com
Insta: explo.redd
Read more on motorcycle travel in Central America
Thanks for checking out the Motorcycle Travel Guide: Central America. We hope you enjoyed it! If you fancy digging deeper into these countries, have a look at our Destinations section. You’ll find dedicated and detailed guides on every country in Central America (as well as the US, Canada and Mexico) listed under North America.
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