What's your worst Central American country?

cruiser_guy · 10-10-09, 05:54 AM

Please vote and post only if you personally have visited several Central American countries by personal vehicle. We want to know about YOUR visit, not what happened to a friend, relative or whatever.

Today I experienced the worst crossing I've ever had in 5 years of living in Central America going into Nicaragua.

I have crossed borders probably 50 times or more between Central American countries, primarily Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Until today the largest bribe I have ever been asked for is $1 in Mexico!

My friend from Honduras and I crossed from Penas Blancas in Costa Rica to Nicaragua at about 8:30 in the morning Friday October 9, 2009. The crossing went well until the police decided to dismantle the truck to look for drugs. Drugs that did not exist. Undoubtedly there were other vehicles crossing that likely were carrying drugs or other contraband during the five hours we spent watching 4-5 police agents dismantle my vehicle and reassemble it again all for nothing because there NEVER was anything to find, something that a dog could have indicated in 30 seconds or less. To make matters worse they drilled holes in the vehicle looking for drugs that do not exist and were extremely rude when I pointed out that they were not reassembling the vehicle correctly, to the point of threatening to throw me in jail because I did not want them to cause additional damage to my truck! No apologies were made nor was any attempt made to repair the damage caused by this pointless and unnecessary search. We did not depart the border till 3:30 in the afternoon because of this unnecessary harassment!

I will post a photo of the partly dismantled truck when I have the means to post photos.

Mxndrnks · 10-11-09, 05:27 PM

I voted for the Baja area of Mexico only because the corruption is so rampant there. However, as much as I loved Costa Rica every where I went my wife and I met people that had been robbed by some one with a machete. A guy tried to rob us on the Caribbean side our first week there. I love the country and I love Baja.... But I dont plan to go back to either for a long time.

alaska60 · 10-28-09, 09:57 AM

Next time bring lots of porn mags......I just hand them out at the check points....The boyz love them.... I would also agree with Nicaragua being the worst crossing......although I had a 8 hour ordeal in Canada once too. roosevelt montana/Canada border.

yzftaco · 10-28-09, 10:44 AM

So you're going to judge a country on their border crossings??

I've spent time in CR and Nicaragua and actually preffered the later.. The people were nicer, and MUCH less touristy...

e9999 · 10-28-09, 07:44 PM

I would not be happy about the dismantling but I sure would be pissed over the drilling. Time for major complaints to the higher ups, newspaper, tourism bureau, consulate, etc....

yoter100 · 10-31-09, 02:29 AM

Don't really have that many complaints about any. I have been to Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. If I had to choose the least liking one it would be Mexico.

Just my $.02

cc93cruiser · 11-01-09, 02:22 PM

H

Quote:

Originally Posted by yzftaco

So you're going to judge a country on their border crossings??

I've spent time in CR and Nicaragua and actually preffered the later.. The people were nicer, and MUCH less touristy...

X2.... fyi, Mexico is part of the north American continent.

cruiser_guy · 11-04-09, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yzftaco

So you're going to judge a country on their border crossings??

I've spent time in CR and Nicaragua and actually preffered the later.. The people were nicer, and MUCH less touristy...

I meant it as a poll on border crossing issues not the country in general. The other countries do not search as you leave either, only Nicaragua does that (it seems like a last attempt to try to get some cash out of you!).

How did you find the police in Nicaragua? Until we adopted the policy of following someone doing our best to keep the license plate out of view of the police at checkpoints we were pulled over and asked for bribes more in Nicaragua in three days and all the other times in Central America in five years!!

I'll agree on Nicaragua being less touristy than Costa Rica. They also have a higher per-capita number of 'Cruisers!!

stainless 40/45 · 11-04-09, 05:16 PM

I would have to say that N.Y is the worst central american country, lots of mexicans and mexican restaurants. Also lots of central americans at the 7 11 stores eating up all our buttered rolls and drinking all our fine coffee. The one good thing is at least they no how to conserve on energy there heating bills are real low. I found out how they accomplished this, it seems theres is about 10 of them per room not a bad idea even tho there is only 1 bathroom.

Sanchez · 11-05-09, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stainless 40/45

I would have to say that N.Y is the worst central american country, lots of mexicans and mexican restaurants. Also lots of central americans at the 7 11 stores eating up all our buttered rolls and drinking all our fine coffee. The one good thing is at least they no how to conserve on energy there heating bills are real low. I found out how they accomplished this, it seems theres is about 10 of them per room not a bad idea even tho there is only 1 bathroom.

Wow, this is great! it's crazy how some posts tend to fall off of their original intent. This guy seems to have issues with mexicans and mexican restaurants.

Too crazy!

cc93cruiser · 11-09-09, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stainless 40/45

I would have to say that N.Y is the worst central american country, lots of mexicans and mexican restaurants. Also lots of central americans at the 7 11 stores eating up all our buttered rolls and drinking all our fine coffee. The one good thing is at least they no how to conserve on energy there heating bills are real low. I found out how they accomplished this, it seems theres is about 10 of them per room not a bad idea even tho there is only 1 bathroom.

Hi jack on...Dude, get off the crack pipe.. What an idiot.

Hi-jack off...

alaska60 · 11-21-09, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yzftaco

So you're going to judge a country on their border crossings??

I've spent time in CR and Nicaragua and actually preffered the later.. The people were nicer, and MUCH less touristy...

Nic. was my favorite to visit...in fact we spent most of our time there! the people were great and we loved the fact that we were the only Alaskans there. The border crossing did suck though. the country was great to make up for it....

SO.............NO.......I am not judging a country on the border crossing.
If I was ........I'd have to say that Canada Sucks!!!
But I love Canada! I just dont like crossing the border.

latinoguy · 11-21-09, 04:30 PM

You are douchebag. Hope your sisters, nieces, daughters intermarry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stainless 40/45

I would have to say that N.Y is the worst central american country, lots of mexicans and mexican restaurants. Also lots of central americans at the 7 11 stores eating up all our buttered rolls and drinking all our fine coffee. The one good thing is at least they no how to conserve on energy there heating bills are real low. I found out how they accomplished this, it seems theres is about 10 of them per room not a bad idea even tho there is only 1 bathroom.

yzftaco · 11-22-09, 01:21 PM

That was intended to the OP not you.. Yeah I loved Nicaragua...

Quote:

Originally Posted by alaska60

Nic. was my favorite to visit...in fact we spent most of our time there! the people were great and we loved the fact that we were the only Alaskans there. The border crossing did suck though. the country was great to make up for it....

SO.............NO.......I am not judging a country on the border crossing.
If I was ........I'd have to say that Canada Sucks!!!
But I love Canada! I just dont like crossing the border.

LOL!!! hehe

Quote:

Originally Posted by latinoguy

You are douchebag. Hope your sisters, nieces, daughters intermarry.