iOverlander.com Update - David Harrison 30th January 2018
BEWARE Guatemala Aduana. We crossed the border at Corinto on 30 January 2018 from Honduras to Guatemala. Arrived 11:00am - Migracion (Passport Control) easy, quick and friendly - both Honduras exit and Guatemala entry straightforward - through in 15 minutes.
Vehicle TIP was a nightmare. Aduana Office for both Honduras and Guatemala is combined - separate building to Migracion - look for the row of Trucks parked across the compound. Honduras exit easy - friendly lady checked my Passport, cancelled the TIP on her computer and kept the TIP.
"Guatemala Aduana Officers not present - not here until 13:00" (it's now 11:30) - "So who is that sitting behind the 2 windows, refusing to open the hatches and speak to me?" "They are busy with Truck Paperwork, you must come back later at 13:00." "Can you give me a Form to complete?" "No." "Can you tell me what paperwork you need?" "No." "Do you need copies of Passport/Padron/Drivers Licence?" "Don't know. Come back at 13:00."
Truck Drivers arrive - they are entering Guatemala - the window hatches open - their paperwork is processed - they smile and leave.
I tap on the windows: "Come back at 13:00!"
It's 13:00 - I've waited 90 minutes - many Truck Drivers have been processed and driven into Guatemala!
The 2 men behind the windows pack up their stuff and leave.
2 new men arrive. They spend 15 minutes chatting and doing something on their computers. Eventually the window hatches open. I smile and give new man one my paperwork explaining that I am entering Guatemala with my vehicle as a Tourist and need a TIP.
All goes well. My vehicle is checked and a form completed on the computer. New man one prints the form and hands it to me advising there's a fee of Q160 for the TIP. OK - I give him the Q160. "No" he says, "you must go to the Bank and pay this - get the form stamped and bring it back here." "The Bank just over there?" (There's a bank with 2 cashiers waiting behind glass windows - plus a man with the ubiquitous Pump Action Shotgun protecting them - it's right next to the Aduana Office). "No!" Says the Aduana Officer - "you must go to the Bank inside Guatemala and pay - it is 20km in from the Border."
That doesn't make any sense. I'm not doing that!
"Or you can pay me US$40 cash and I will stamp your TIP and issue the Window Sticker." $40 is Q300 - that's an extra Q140! I'm not lining his filthy thieving pocket. I refuse. I thrust my Q160 at him and tell him that's all he's getting. He gives a couldn't care less look and starts to serve someone else.
By now I've been waiting at the Aduana Office for two and a half hours. My patience has worn thin. I have to bite my tongue not to shout.
These guys are a**holes! Picking on us Overlanders to make some extra bucks!
Amanda starts to cry - big honest tearful sobs - she's had enough too. The Truck Drivers waiting in line are sympathetic. The Aduana Officers soften and call me back to the window. Take my Q160 and stamp my TIP - give me the essential window sticker and we're through.
15 minutes for Migracion. 3 hours for Aduana. A**holes!
Watch out - up to you if you want to pay $40 when the Official Cost is $22 (Q160) - I refused - like we've refused to pay any of the 'bribes' suggested by bent Cops and Border Officials so far in our 22,000km of LatAm road!
Safe Journey!!
David H
iOverlander Update Ends
Did I mention that it's been raining non-stop for the 3 hours we spent at the Border - we're soaked to the skin! Border Officials sit behind glass windows in dry air conditioned buildings - Travellers don't!
Our Tropical Storm isn't blown through yet - it's followed us into Guatemala. At the Border the Honduras Aduana Officials (the good guys) were showing each other news photos of the coastal highway we'd driven - just 8km south of the Border the road had been completely washed away by a raging torrent and was closed to traffic in both directions! Phew! Good job we made an early start!!
Wipers on, we head into Guatemala and up the CA13 main highway for 100km to Hotel Nakun in San Luis, and check in to a local hotel in a locals' town where we decide they probably never met anyone from the UK or saw a Car with Chile number plates before! It's lovely, and helps us shake off the bad Border experience!!
