14.607 miles ; CUNA ISLANDS.

The Cuna islands are a group of islands between Panama and Colombia , with autonomous government and habited with the Cuna Indians . The climate is tropical and the watertemp. Is 35 dgr/celcius and it is one of the most beautiful places in the world .
The boat trip was a 5 days trip from Portobelo Panama , on a sailboat with 11 people and we got of in Cartagena ,Colombia.
Please see photos in link : more photos.

14.520 miles ; PANAMA CITY.

Lying around Panama City for 48 hours. Lined up a cargo ship for the car and a sail boat for us through the San Blas Islands and into Cartagena. Three million people here and almost as many banks, a very progressive city. Weather has been warm, not any excessive humidity. Heading to the Atlantic Coast tomorrow. Dollar beers and cheap food, but ready to sail onward into South America. Luc only spent 4 hours today being employed by the National Police. Everything moves fast!! Adios until Columbia, Luc’s traveling assistant. Mark

14.211 miles ; PANAMA.

The seventh border cross into Panama, without electricity computers don’t work ,another 2 hours stop.
First welcome with the radar gun on the Panama road , Ok with a 9 dollar bill.

13.960 miles ; DOMINICAL , COSTA RICA.

After a long drive in the beautiful mountain region of Costa Rica (3200m hi) we met Marks friend in Dominical on the Pacific Coast , he is building a substanable eco mountain village with more than hundred houses hi up in the mountains , we staid in one of the houses in the middle of the jungle , just see the photos.

13.742 miles ; VULCANO ARENAL , COSTA RICA.

The most active volcano in Costa Rica , always with lava coming out of the top.
Beautiful mountains an lakes .see photos.

13.512 miles ; SAN JUAN DEL SUR.

Marks old hometown , he lived here for 7 years and has a lot of friends and rememberies .
Nice little city , good restaurants and bars , lots of Americans.

13.423 miles ; GRANADA NICARAGUA.

A good tip from Mark , thanks Mark , nice town on the lake , not far from Managua airport . A lot of nice little hotels , a got one with a big swimming pool , wright in the center ,for 29 u$ ,Casa Vivaldi , good service .

13.237 miles ; HONDURAS.

One more border , let’s say two borders , in and out on the same day , the road was good but the police and border guys all want dollars , this is the only country I know that corruption is open , they even say how much. I had to drive trough today because Mark is coming in , on Managua airport tomorrow , so I didn’t see very much of the country.

13.112 miles ; LA UNION , EL SALVADOR.

One more border , I am getting used to borders now , this one into El Salvador was quick , only 60 minutes .
El Salvador is doing well , the roads are better than Guatemala and Mexico ,a lot of new buildings ,friendly people, not bad for a country that is coming out of a civil war 15 years ago.

12.919 miles ; ANTIGUA GUATEMALA.

The old city of Guatemala is on 30 km. from the big modern Guatemala City. Dates from 1545 and is in very good conservation , just like it was .

12.845 miles ; LAKE ATITLAN.

After a 2 hours stop on the border , finally on the bad roads of Guatemala . After a long drive In the green mountains, cold weather 3000m hi , finally the Lake Atitlan and tourist city Panajachel , all difficult names , rsss.

12,620 miles ; TAPACHULOS.

Tapachula last city in mexico , just 30 miles from Guatemala , lots of police controles , here the Mexicans do not wont to let the Guatemalans enter in North America .

12580 miles ; CHIAPAS.

The black beaches of Chiapas , this is clean sand , just volcanic sand. I have to say that the people of Chiapas are cleaner than the other Mexicans , no garbage on the road or beaches . First rain in 2 weeks , everything is green and beautiful , see the photos in link.

12453 miles ; TEHUANTEPEC.

700 Miles driving on the N200 Pacific Coast Road , this is the road of the thousand curves and the 10.000 stops and moles , lots of mountains ,lots of little villages .
The pavement is good but very small , attention with the truck drivers , they don’t have very much place to go.
With time to stop in the villages and the beaches , it can be a pleasant drive .

11734 miles ; ACAPULCO.

This is the biggest beach town in Mexico built by Americans and for Americans , but with the dollar down almost no American tourists , good that the situation of the Mexican tourist is bether , so that someone uses the big hotels.

11589 MILES ; ZEHUATENEJO.

Last beers together with Fred ,he is staying for three months in Zihuatenejo, he was a very good travel partner , thank you very much Fred , we will do it again.

11589 MILES ; ZEHUATENEJO.

Finely after a 1000 miles drive , Zehuatenejo , beautiful town ,warm water beaches, lots of restaurants and bars. We will stay here for the weekend in freds friends house.

11036 miles , PACIFIC HIGHWAY.

1000 miles driving the pacific highway , beaches ,mountains, cities , some good roads , a lot of bad roads. I made a selection of photos , to see them click in link ; MORE PHOTOS.

10598 miles ; MAZETLAN BEACH.

Walking by the beach , Fred met on old friend , Pancho , who has a nice restaurant on the beach .
He knew him 20 years ago , and pancho did remember him like it was yesterday . We had some beers and a meal in his restaurant.

10569 miles ; MAZETLAN

On the ship from Baja California to Mazetlan , big city , long beach , lots of bars and restaurants , almost no tourists . this town has a problem , it depends totally on the Americans and they are not coming because of the bad economic situation and rumors of violence in Mexico.

10211 miles ; CABO DE SAN LUCAS.

Cabo de San Lucas is a vacation place for American and Mexican tourists , lots of bars ,restaurants, big hotels ,beaches , good after 3 days driving on roads without decent restaurants.