To the Arctic Ocean via the Dalton Road

[unURBAN]

We have finally reached the border of Belize and will be crossing the border today.

What??? We must have passed each other on the road?!?!? We crossed back into Mexico on the 25th...

Okay, we'll catch up sometime late March!

E&M

 

[geovalue]

Appreciate the comments.
We are now in the southern most town of Belize Punta Gorda. Belize is such a tiny country especially after traveling across Mexico. But it still has a ton to offer from great scuba diving and to hiking in the jungles so we have been doing a lot of exploring and more off-roading than we have done in a long time. It also has some amazing Mayan ruins as well.
Here are some photos of life on the road everyday happenings

Buying Food and supplies from a local

Getting directions from a local

and more and more driving

exploring the wonders of nature

We also have updated our blog
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/belize-is-divers-heaven/

We will now be heading up north again and will be crossing into Guatemala within a week

Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

What??? We must have passed each other on the road?!?!? We crossed back into Mexico on the 25th...

Okay, we'll catch up sometime late March!

E&M

Sorry we missed you we will be in Guatemala for several weeks as we will be taking SPanish lessons in Antigua, hope to meet you soon

 

[unURBAN]

If you haven't heard already, you can camp for free at the Tourist Police compound in the city center of Antigua. It is located just south of the main market (the street is 6A Calle Poniente). Not the nicest and cleanest campground we've seen, but they have flush toilets, cold showers, and you can even use their WiFi.

E&M

 

[geovalue]

If you haven't heard already, you can camp for free at the Tourist Police compound in the city center of Antigua. It is located just south of the main market (the street is 6A Calle Poniente). Not the nicest and cleanest campground we've seen, but they have flush toilets, cold showers, and you can even use their WiFi.

E&M

Thanks we had heard you could camp there but had no other information. We are heading into Guatemala tomorrow and going to see Tikal and then heading south.

Safe travels

 

[geovalue]

"nearly 2 months when our original plan was only be in Mexico for 2 weeks"

A great example of why the best travel plans are flexible. When you don't have a fixed schedule, you can take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves.

Thanks for your great web site, http://www.adventurouspirits.com/

You are so right about the importance of being flexible when traveling. We do detail planning but always with the thought the plan serves as a guide not as the goal.

Your comment got me thinking about why we have been able to do as much overlanding and traveling as we have over the past 38 years of marriage and there are several reasons one of which is the flexibility not only to change the plan but to leap at opportunities to travel. We have been really fortunate that we both love to travel without the need for comforts and sometimes even security. I have gone 6 weeks without a shower, eaten things that are too awful to write home about. Experienced a travelers worst nightmare and had some real scary moments but we continue to keep going because in the end the rewards are worth it. And yes you can travel with kids as we did when they were young. Our youngest had his first backpack put on him when he was 3 years old to carry his own load. They learnt to sleep anywhere and eat anything.

Today we enter Guatemala our 72nd country to visit. We have traveled 36,432km (22,638 miles) since we start on this current trip and it is only just beginning.

Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

Wow what else can I say, but Tikal the mayan ruins in the jungles of Guatemala are fabulous. Crossing the border from Belize into Guatemala was one of our easiest border crossings ever. Then we headed towards Tikal and got up early and in the morning mist with the animals and birds waking up we walked around the ruins. It was really amazing and well worth a visit.

We actually met another Swiss couple also on route to Argentina and I am sure we wil meet up again, They are traveling in a Land Rover with a pop up roof.

Below Tom is looking at the Temple 1 in the grand Plaza

Temples higher than the jungle reaching up into the sky

More Tikal Ruins there are over 3000 buildings in Tikal

We are now heading south and towards Antigua to see if we can manage to learn a few more words in Spanish

Safe travels all

 

[trailsurfer]

Thanks again for the update.

 

[CanuckMariner/Nomad]

Tom/Janet and other Central American travellers: FYI

World court bars all personnel from disputed Nicaragua-Costa Rica border region
March 08, 2011 - 09:54

The Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The International Court of Justice has ordered both Costa Rica and Nicaragua to keep all military, police and civilian personnel out of a disputed border region along the San Juan river that separates them.

Costa Rica had asked the court to bar Nicaraguan troops from the disputed region and order it to halt dredging and tree felling in the region where the San Juan river emptied into the Atlantic Ocean.

Costa Rica in January appealed to the world court to order Nicaraguan troops away from the mouth of the San Juan river that runs along the countries' border and halt dredging there. Costa Rica claimed the troops illegally set up camp on its territory in October as part of a dredging project.

Instead, the court on Tuesday ordered both Costa Rican and Nicaraguan forces out, and told both countries to "refrain from any actions which might aggravate or extend the dispute."

Costa Rica went to the court last year claiming Nicaragua illegally sent troops and engineers into Costa Rican territory to dredge part of the river.
:costumed-smiley-007

 

[geovalue]

Tom/Janet and other Central American travellers: FYI

World court bars all personnel from disputed Nicaragua-Costa Rica border region
March 08, 2011 - 09:54

Thanks for the concern and yes we have been watching this for a long time. It has been an ongoing issue for several years now and we are not planning to cross anywhere near the conflict area.

 

[geovalue]

Don't you just hate it when things go on fire!! we had a little issue with lots of smoke pouring into our camper yesterday. Our battery terminals had shaken loose on the bad roads and when we plugged in the camper to external electrical power it must have caused some shorting at the loose terminals which then caused the dirt to catch fire. Fortunately we were in the camper but caused a stir because I was not fully dressed when I leaped out to unplug the camper from the external source. A reminder again we have to check everyday for loose bolts etc. Oh well things happen when on the road

We have updated our blog http://www.adventurouspirits.com/tikal-and-then-near-disaster-in-rio-dulce-guatemala/

We are in Rio Dulce camping under a bridge at the marina. Word of warning to anyone planning to do this. Bring HUGE ear plugs and perhaps a bottle of wine we never slept a wink just lay there listening to HUGE trucks all night.

But had a super time on Rio Dulce and the trip to Livingston a must do if in this vicinity

Rio Dulce

El Paraiso a HOT waterfall in Guatemala

Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

Driving in Guatemala is an experience, it seems everybody passes when there are solid lines on the road regardless of oncoming traffic. It is hairy. We arrived in Antigua a pretty little town full of gringos, us included studying Spanish. We parked our truck at the tourist police and have moved in with a Guatemala family who do not speak a word of English. So far we have met 11 overlanders in Antigua all heading south. Except for us everyone is from Europe, we are the token North Americans, where is everyone??

We visited the famous Lago De Atitlan and yes it is beautiful surrounded by several volcanoes. The market at Chichicatenango is fantastic and we have seen many markets this is the best. We were privileged to watch a Mayan ceremony there.

Sunrise over Lago De Atitlan

Sunset over Lago De Atitlan

We will be in Antigua for 2 weeks and then heading for Honduras. Still debating where to go to El Salvador. But for now our priority is to learn some more Spanish, it is very challenging.

Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

We are both sick with bronchitis and flu so are feeling quite miserable. Such is life. But I thought I would share with you some of our fellow overlanders and neighbours in Antigua

and many more are here. It seems we have all arrived here for a mini overland conference. Lots of sharing to travel tales and fun.

Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

We left Antigua but not before experiencing one of their most famous Lent celebrations and processions. For several Sundays before their ultimate Good Friday celebrations, they make decorative carpets on the roads for the processions which walk over the hand made carpets destroying them. It is a true labour of faith. The carpets are made of coloured sawdust, flowers, vegetables and other natural products. It take hours of meticulous work to create one of these carpets.
Volcan watches over the Antigua Celebrations

Sawdust Carpet

Procession late into the Night

We decided to drive through El Salvador along the Pacific coast and see where all the surfers hang out surfing the magnificent surf of the Pacific. It meant we had to face the infamous El Amatillo crossing and the notorious Honduras police road blocks driving towards Nicaragua. The El Amatillo is not our worst border crossing that honour still rests with the Sudan Egypt crossing but it is right up there that is for sure.

We have updated our blog on Guatemala a wonderful country with even more wonderful people

http://www.adventurouspirits.com/guatemala-and-a-story-of-faith/

Have fun at EXPO everyone there we will miss you all and perhaps we will make it back from South America in time for Expo 2012

Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

We drove across Honduras towards Nicaragua going through 8 police road blocks. This stretch of road is the worst we have experienced on this trip, for police harassing tourists and demanding payment for this and for that. We stood our grounds and refused to pay any money and I had to create a scene to get my drivers licence back, which I did without having to pay. It makes traveling in such countries unpleasant and certainly does not encourage tourism. It is sad that the very people who need tourism to help the country recovery try so hard to make traveling in their country difficult.

We arrived in Nicaragua and are now in Granada and are excited to be able to explore this part of the world before heading for Costa Rica.

only a mother could love this face. These are sold along the road side

Safe travels all