rgilkey1

Looking for tips (hotels/border crossing/pets) driving Denver to Costa Rica with a great Dane and cat.
3 adults.
Thanks

suze

Have you looked at the legal requirements for bringing animals into Costa Rica?
http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/CostaRica.cfm

catspajamas

Are you moving to Costa Rica or is it just a holiday trip?

baldone

I've a friend (from New Mexico) that drives throughout Mexico but refuses to cross at El Paso/CD Juarez because of safety concerns in the area. On our final move to Mexico, I was advised by a Mexican National to not cross at Ojinaga for the same reason. We were actually driving from Fort Collins and took I-25 on into NM and drove the Roswell/Carslbad/Ft. Stockton TX route before eventually crossing at Colombia bridge just north of Laredo. It's a bit longer mile-wise, but we opted for a route we were familiar with. And I know it's safe. But the Eagle Pass crossing should be fine as well.
I've driven almost all of the route you'll likely take in Mexico, and will tell you that generally, hotels are found inside city limits, not near highway interchanges as in the states, so plan accordingly. For example, I cannot think of one hotel on the highway between Puebla and Oaxaca.
Of course, you'll need to review pet importation requirements for all the countries you'll pass through, not just Costa Rica. Our experience with bringing a cat into Mexico was that customs officials couldn't have cared less. But we had our papers anyway. I found Suze's link with pet friendly lodging to not be very accurate. A better suggestion would be to search Tripadvisor hotels and click on the Pets Allowed box under hotel amenities.

RAC

Yes, don't do it. Too dangerous in too many ways in too many places.

If you're asking for general tips instead of more specific ones, that likely means you haven't looked at a particular route (good luck finding nothing but non-dangerous parts of Mexico , Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras for your itinerary).

With due respect, a bad, foolish, dangerous idea.

cotindian51

Drive the car to Miami or Tampa and ship the car is about $ 500.00

Driving across Mexico and Central America now days is not good idea…not like used to be years ago…even that is a great ride…not worth it risking your life…

During my college days I drove from Illinois and Florida…but that was years ago…even then a good friend was killed in Mexico.