Guatemala Section

No issues at Zaculeu and also the road down to San Pedro is OK .
There have been a few issues between San Pedro and Santiago > just let the police know that you are headed that way and they send a patrol car there.
No need for a tip , they get paid to do the job . Back home you don't tip the police neither, don't you

If I can tip a waitress for getting me a cup of coffee, I can tip a cop for keeping me relatively safe through a known robbery point.

Last year on the ferry in Alaska I tried to tip a waitress and she told me she was not allowed to take a tip because she was working for a government agency ...

I don't know about up north , but here in Guatemala tipping a police officer is actually illegal .
So basically by tipping a police officer you are enforcing the corruption, something that everybody is always bitching about in this forum.

And don't forget , the robberies happen only, because the police is not doing their job in the first place.


Corruption would not exist,if nobody would be paying

Tipping a non government official in the food service industry can not be compared to tipping a public official who is sworn to protect you! One is customary. The other is highly illegal not only in the U.S.A. but also in Guatemala!

My wife and I traveled the road in question in 2011. It was a particularly rainy day to say the least. The "road" turned to complete shit and very difficult one up little lone two up on a GSA fully loaded. A short time after my wife got off to walk two Guatemalan Policia stopped and gave her a ride to where the road actually turned back into a road. They were happy to do it and asked nothing of us. We both gave them our gratitude via a smile, wave and a verbal gracias. They turned around to help whoever came along next and we continued on our way. If people start tipping who knows if that scenario will ever repeat. Or worse case you get an officer who is offended you tipped them and you get a ride of your own to the local cop shop.

Just my two cents.

I'm in San Pedro La Laguna now and will be here for the next week studying Spanish. Hit me up when you're in town.

No issue riding from the PanAm to San Pedro. The road turns into crappy pavement about 1/4 the way down but no issues. It's really beautiful here. I'd avoid the road South of the lake.. I'm going to look into taking a ferry or boat across the lake to Panajachel when I'm leaving.

A small show of appreciation for service above the call of duty is not bribery or corruption, in my opinion. I'm not going to argue the point, as I won't change your opinion, and I really don't give a rat's ass if I do.

Hopefully advFord found my reply to his question somewhat useful, as that is all I was trying to do.

I'm currently in Antigua with a couple of guys on KLRs and they are having some minor issues with oil drain plugs, brake rotors, and carburater jetting. Any suggestions for something local?

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

Moto Punto: (502) 2360-9522 Just ask. I think you can get anything you want for your bike or riding gear in Guatemala City

Chris left for pastures new, but pretty sure they still exist http://www.catours.co.uk/

If you get really stuck PM me, I still have a few contacts in Guate that can help.

Try Motomundo here in Antigua

I have more KLR parts than the dealer has in the city, pop by here

cheers
Taz

Sheered two bolts on my rear rack today on the ride to semuc. I'm in Coban now before I go running around the city tomorrow does anyone know a shop that could tap and dye in Coban? Semuc was worth the damage.

Thanks for the earlier advice. I avoided the road past San Pedro. for those living here - I love your country. fantastic place.

can you make it till Antigua?

cheers
Taz

I usually go with local knowledge myself. How things work where I'm from doesn't mean much when I'm traveling. Not to pick a fight with you or anything.
I often carry a catorce pack and offer smokes in this kind of situation. Shows appreciation without the money issues. And they'll think well of you for sharing a smoke with them on the road. Even if you don't smoke.

Today a law was issued, forbidding the construction of Tumulos on the national highways . According to this law , all existing Tumulos shall be removed

http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias...plenaria-caminos-carreteras_0_1087691429.html

Yay

I am no fan of topes but I don't want to think of how fast the cars will be traveling when they pass through town. I bet it will be a very steep learning curve for everyone.

Expect topes in towns but not so much on highways. That's my take, anyway.

Tumulos add character to the riding experience imo. I love the ones that surprise you in a tree shadow. I love how you get on the pegs and show them gas. I love how the village kids watch the big bikes come through over them. I loved how research from home was full of warnings about them - I anticipated them. I love how the cars, buses and trucks slow and we take the left lane around them and we make big gains. I love thinking 'oh jeez, that was big one'. I love many things about tumulus and will be sad to see them go.

Like I said in my original post, they will be outlawed on the national highways, not in towns.

Well, your sadness will be the happiness of all of us living in this country .
The life of our cars is strongly reduced by the impact of the Tumulos , our brake pads last only half the time as on roads without Tumulos, the gas consumption goes down quiet a bit , the air pollution without all the braking and reaccelerating will be reduced . We will be able to bring our agricultural products to the markets in a reasonable time, people will be able to get from A to B in 30% less time ...
Just on the 80 KM from the border of La Mesilla to Huehuetenango we have over a hundred Tumulos.

Down here, if we want to jump over obstacles we just go offroad or on a Motocross track , If we want to pass a car , a bus or a truck , we don't wait for it to stop, we just pass them