El Salvador Archives - Iron Roamer

Crossing the Border From El Salvador into Honduras at El Amatillo

It was time to cross the border from El Salvador into Honduras at El Amatillo. I had actually been wrestling with the decision. Many riders cross here and some even do the border into Nicaragua on the same day. The Argentinian rider I met at the Gautemala/El Salvador border recommended this too. I knew I didn’t want to do two borders on the same day. Quite the opposite.

I was wrestling with how much time to spend in Honduras. I really wanted to see a bit of the country. Roatan was high on my list but way up north. I even had an invitation to stay at a place in Honduras.

On the other hand, I only had 30 days left on my C4 permit. On the C4 permit you have 90 days to visit Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. That wasn’t much time and I had a lot I wanted to see in Nicaragua. I could try to get an extension in country but I heard that that was a real pain to do. Or I could go into Costa Rica and then come back into Nicaragua for another C4 permit. But I wanted to go home for a couple weeks while it was still summer. Ahhhhhhhhhh …. what to do.

I decided to skip Honduras, except for a night at Choluteca. It was a hard decision in many respects. Perhaps one day I will see Roatan on a cruise.

San Miguel

The first step to crossing the border was getting close to it. I had a really relaxing ride to San Miguel, El Salvador.

Once there it was time to study the border I would be crossing around the pool with a beer :-).

I like to study so I know what to expect and can visualize the buildings and steps. Just takes the anxiety out of the crossing. I heard that this and the next border were the toughest I would experience. So I really wanted to be ready for them.

#1 Cancel El Salvador Entry Permit

After a night of study I was ready. As I got closer to the border I saw a gas station and pulled in. A man came running up to me. He introduced himself as Orlando. I thought maybe he was just a friendly local. I didn’t realize I was close to the border. He said he helped lots of Canadians cross the border. It was then I realized he had an ulterior motive. Soon another couple guys showed up. For a donation they would help me cross the border. I said no thanks and left.

It wasn’t that easy though as they followed me on a motorcycle.

Here is the overview of the border and the places I needed to stop.

#1 was a booth where they cancelled my motorcycle entry permit into El Salvador. The following border pictures I have taken from other blogs that I studied.

As soon as I stopped I was surrounded by fixers saying I needed their services as it was the hardest border to cross and I couldn’t do it on my own. Orlando was there too. He chimed in once in awhile to say that if I hired him everyone would disappear. I told everyone no and to leave me alone. They didn’t.

The Customs Officer approached me and said no I didn’t need any help. Luckily I was prepared for this onslaught and knew I didn’t need their help.

The Customs Officer checked my bike and directed me to the booth where another Officer cancelled my entry permit. I knew I needed copies and a photocopy store was right next door to the booth. I got 5 copies. Orlando was following me all the way and said I only needed 3. I knew that but like to have more just in case.

As I arrived back at my motorcycle my “groupies” were waiting for me. This time they wanted money for guarding my bike. I said no. The thought crossed my mind that maybe they did something to my bike. But it started fine and I rode off.

#2 and #3 Immigration

It is 2 and 3 because I made a mistake on the map 🙁 There is actually only one thing to do.

At the fork in the road keep left and you reach the El Salvador immigration office.

The window I had to go to was at the far end. So I rode under the canopy and parked right at the end.

I lined up, handed in my passport, the woman stamped it and that was it!

#4 El Salvador Permit Check

I left the El Salvador Immigration office and started to cross the bridge when another officer stopped me. He wanted to look at my cancelled motorcycle entry permit. I showed it to him and he waved me on.

#5 Honduras Immigration

Across the bridge was the Honduran Immigration and Customs building.

Upon entry to the building on the right is immigration. The officer took my passport, as well as my photo and fingerprints.

I then paid $3 US for a tourist permit.

That was it for that window. Now for the hard part.

#6 Honduran Customs

Across the hall is the Honduran Customs window. This is where it got frustrating. Patience is needed. I lined up and waited and waited.

While waiting I met a nice Mennonite family from Costa Rica.

I also met a family from Illinois. He was a retired US Armed Forces member. They were in a Nissan Pathfinder. He said he had been waiting 40 years to do this trip down to Argentina. We had a nice talk.

Now …. as the system works I would see these people several times during my processing.

The Customs woman was quite nice but didn’t speak any English. This presented a bit of a problem as my Spanish was ok for everyday conversations but not for this.

I handed her my passport, drivers license, registration, and cancelled El Salvador entry permit, along with a copy of each. I waited and waited as she filled out forms.

In the meantime, the Mennonite family was sent off to make photocopies and returned. She looked after them and sent them off to the bank. The Illinois family returned from being sent to the bank. She looked after them and they got their entry permit. Meanwhile, the Mennonite family returned again and were sent to the photocopy place. She continued with me until they returned with photocopies. They then got their import permit. This is what I had to look forward to.

Eventually, she got my paperwork done and directed me to get copies. The copy place is just beside the building at #7 on the map.

Back I came with my copies.

When I arrived back she informed me that my next step was to go to the bank down the street but it was now closed for lunch! Now what? Turned out this was great. She could do everything there. Why they can’t so that normally beats me.

I needed to give her $40 US and she didn’t have change. Of course I didn’t have exactly $40. Fortunately, there were lots of money changers around. She came out of her booth and found one that would change a $100 US bill at no cost.

She took the $40 and filled out a lot more paperwork.

After awhile she handed me back a bunch of paperwork including my motorcycle import permit. That is what I had been waiting for. I asked her if that was all and she said yes. As I took the paperwork, she started saying something to me that I didn’t understand. I apologized and she tried again but I still didn’t understand. Eventually she got frustrated and motioned for me to leave. I was hoping what she had to say wasn’t important.

#8 Checkpoint

A ways up the road is a Immigration checkpoint. The officer wanted a copy of my import permit. I never made a copy of it. Maybe that is what the woman was trying to tell me. But I had asked her about copies and she said no. Of course my Spanish isn’t that good.

After a few minutes I discovered that the Customs woman had made a copy of the import permit and had stapled it to another document. YAY! The officer at the checkpoint took it from me and I was off to Choluteca Honduras for the night.

My Route for July 16, 2017

My Route for July 17, 2017

San Salvador and the Lost Camera Charger

From El Tunco it was a very short ride to San Salvador, El Salvador.

Starbucks

I was surprised to learn that San Salvador had a Starbucks! Because I got to San Salvador way too early to check into my hotel, I went to Starbucks to relax for a while and do some work.

While I was there, I was approached by MT Ruiz who said he had been reading my blog! He is an avid motorcyclist from Honduras who was now working in El Salvador. So nice to meet fellow motorcyclist. It made my day to meet him 🙂

Camera Charger

You may notice in this post that there aren’t many pictures. Well, while I was in Antigua I noticed the camera charger for my Canon point and shoot was missing. In El Tunco I went through all my belongings looking for it. It wasn’t there 🙁 The last place I remember it was in Lanquin, Guatemala, when I was charging the battery. I must have left it there. That is the second time on this trip I have done that.

When I got to San Salvador the battery had finally gone dead. Since this was a major city I figured it wouldn’t be too much of a problem to find a charger. They are all over the place back home. I had one whole day in San Salvador to look for one. Np problem!?

The next day after checking into my hotel in San Salvador I started my search.

I went to Sears, two Radio Shacks, Simans, RAF photo, Sanborns, Office Depot and 3 electronic stores. None had ANY camera chargers!! The clerk at Office Depot said I would have a hard time finding one here. I can’t be the only one to ever have lost their charger.

I checked on line to see if I could get one sent to me. The online stores in El Salvador get them from the US. It would cost me $100 US to buy one and take 2 weeks to get here. Well, that wasn’t going to happen. I could buy a new camera for that price.

So without a charger my Canon point and shoot is basically worthless. This created a problem for me. I like the point and shoot because it is easy to use and it fits in my front pocket.

Luckily, I do have a Sony 6000 with me as well as a GoPro and my Samsung phone. The problem with the Sony is that it is big and I store it in my backpack. I really don’t like to have it around my neck as I just feel too conspicuous. The other thing is that I am not as comfortable using it. Lots of settings ha ha.

Oh well, at least I have a camera. It would take me a few days to get in the habit of using it. Soooooo not many pictures of San Salvador. I should have used my phone but wasn’t really thinking.

On the bright side, I did manage to find another Starbucks during my search for a charger. I took comfort there for a while before heading back to my hotel.

For the rest of the evening I drowned my sorrows in a couple of beer at a local Sports Bar.

I did get the feature photo though at Starbucks ha ha

And I got one of my hotel room.

I will make it up to you and me.

My Route for July 14, 2017

My Location for July 15, 2017

Grubby Little Hippie Surfer Town of El Tunco El Salvador

The next day after crossing the border into El Salvador, I headed to the grubby little hippie surfer town of El Tunco. Now you may think that my description of the town is derogatory, but it isn’t really. Most people who go there probably hope it never changes.

I had heard about the town through several blogs I read. It sounded nice, especially the beach and waves. It had been a long time since I was at a beach and I was looking forward to it.

My Route

I ended up taking a route to El Tunco that I didn’t intend to take. I just assumed that when I set my GPS it would take me a certain way. It didn’t. But I didn’t mind too much. My route to El Tunco was really nice. Lots of trees overhanging the road and I rode through many little villages which I enjoy doing when not in a rush. It was a short and relaxing ride.

El Sunzalito Hotel

I got to my hotel early as usual.

After unpacking I headed in the direction of the main town.

El Tunco

You can’t really miss the town as it only has 2 streets ha ha. My hotel was on one, and it leads you to a T intersection for the other.

As you would expect the streets were pretty sandy. And a lot of the driveways into the hotels were dirt.

At the T intersection I turned left as it was cobblestone and headed towards the beach. The other way was dirt.

I finally reached my main objective, the beach.

It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. As you can see there are a lot of rocks. But the surfers loved the waves.

It is pretty much a surf town. Everything is geared to surfing. And the dress for the day is surfer shorts and no shirt. I didn’t exactly fit in ha ha.

I did find a bar to hang out in and watch the waves and listen to the sounds of the ocean.

As usual the beer was cheap at $1.50 US. The food, however, was pricey for my budget – $12 US for a small plate of nachos.

Storm

As I have come to expect, the clouds rolled in by the late afternoon/evening and the rains started. What was different here though it that it was a full blown storm.

I spent the time enjoying the storms on the hotel patio which had a roof on it.

Two Days

Two days was a bit too much for me. Especially considering that I arrived early, so it was actually 3 days. If I surfed it may have been different. I could have taken surf lessons, but the heat and rocky shore didn’t make it inviting for me.

The town too was a bit on the grubby side. And after the storms it was really that way as the dirt from the driveways turned to mud and washed onto the road.

Making matters worse for me was the cold showers.

OK … I know, I am a bit of a wuss sometimes. Or maybe I have a bit of a cleanliness fetish. I enjoy things a lot more when I am clean, my bike is clean, my clothes are clean, and my surroundings are clean. Huuummmm but I’m really not that bad. I can be messy. I am not as bad as I use to be though. Traveling to and living in developing countries has helped. But still, I have that in me. I enjoyed being in El Tunco but two days was long enough. I was looking forward to a hot shower 🙂

My Route for July 11, 2017

My Location for July 12 and 13, 2017

Crossing the Border at Las Chinamas from Guatemala to El Salvador

I was feeling a bit better now, still a sore throat, but after 2 weeks in Antigua it was time to cross the border at Las Chinamas into El Salvador.

As I was getting ready to leave, I could feel some anxiety. After 2 weeks I had gotten comfortable in Antigua. My daughter said that for most it takes 2 years to get comfortable in a place. But I guess when you have been traveling for a year, hopping from place to place, 2 weeks is a long time. However, as I started to ride, the anxiety disappeared.

It was a long ride to the border at Las Chinamas from Antigua. I had thought about staying a bit closer but didn’t find anyplace I liked.

Las Chinamas Border Crossing

I spent the night before I left studying the border as I normally do. This relieves any anxiety I may have and helps me recognize where I need to go.

There were 7 steps to cross the border. The first 2 were on the Guatemalan side of hte border.

Guatemala Las Chinamas Border

I rode up to the border and went under the canopy to the middle of the building. I was immediately approached by money changers who I just ignored for the time being. At the middle of the building there are glass doors. Right inside to the right is immigration. They stamped my passport and gave me a small piece of paper that I tucked away so I didn’t lose it.

The 2nd step was to go to Customs to check my motorcycle out. I continued through the glass doors to the other side of the building. The Customs office is to the right at the end of the building. There the customs woman took my passport, drivers license, motorcycle registration and my motorcycle entry permit. After a few minutes she walked with me to my motorcycle, removed the sticker from mGy windshield, and headed back to her office. A few minutes later she handed me the cancelled entry permit and I was done!

All along a money changer had been lurking around me. When I got back to my motorcycle I pulled out the few Guatemalan money I had left and he gave me $10 US in exchange. The currency for El Salvador is US dollars.

El Salvador Las Chinamas Border

The el Salvador side of the border wasn’t quite as easy.

I crossed the bridge and on the other side was flagged down at a small building on the right.

Here I would do steps 3 and 6.

After waiting for a bit a man came out and handed me a form to fill out. It was all in Spanish. I figured out most of the stuff but left a lot blank. I then handed the form back to him with my Passport, Drivers License, and motorcycle registration with a copy of each.

After a long time, he came back with everything and checked my VIN. He had completed a new form with all the information I had given him. He kept asking “electronico” but I had no idea what he meant by it. Eventually he just stopped asking ha ha.

Another man came out and I followed him across the street to complete step 4. I didn’t have to do much for that. He sat at his computer and was entering data from my documentation. He asked if I had a copy of my cancelled Guatemalan entry form to which I said no. He made a copy for me. Like the guy before he asked “electronico.” I had no idea what he was asking for. Finally a gentleman showed up and said “e-mail.” AHHHHHHH ok … now I get it. I printed my email on a form, signed a couple of things and I was done with Customs.

Step 5 was Immigration which was pretty easy. It was just down from the Customs office.

Another Motorcyclist

As I was heading back to my motorcycle at the small building by the bridge, A young guy with a big smile came up to me and put out his hand. I was a bit taken aback until he spoke in English and said he was riding too. Turned out he was from Argentina and riding a Chinese bike to Mexico from Argentina.

We exchanged some info about my upcoming borders and road conditions. He suggeted I do the 2 borders in Honduras on the same day as they were a pain. He said it would make a long day but worth it.

It was pretty cool meeting another biker. I haven’t met as many as I thought I would. When I got back to my bike, sure enough, there was his.

Last Steps

I was almost done crossing the border. I handed the guy at the small building my stamped passport and the form completed at the Customs building. He checked it and said that was it!

I got on my bike and about 25 metres up the road I was stopped. It was hardly worth putting my helmet on. The immigration officer there looked at my passport and took that small piece of paper I received from the Guatemalan Immigration. NOW I was free to go!

Ahuachapan

I planned on stopping at Ahuachapan for the night where I had booked La Casa de Mamapan hotel. It wasn’t too far from the border.

When I booked it I said I needed secure parking for my motorcycle. The secure parking was the lobby of the hotel!

The problem was getting my motorcycle in there. There were several steps to get through the door.

The people at the hotel made a ramp, but part of the ramp was just a piece of wood the would give way every time I gave some gas to get over it.

Finally, a group a boys who were watching all this, came up and lifted the rear of my motorcycle over the piece of wood and onto the ramp made of a long piece of wood. A little gas and I was through the door and into the lobby.

For the rest of the evening people were coming by and looking at this huge motorcycle in the lobby of the hotel ha ha.

There wasn’t much to see in Achuachapan. I found a Bank of Nova Scotia to get money. And ran across a cool crepe place where I ordered a couple of strawberry smoothies. Then called it a day.