Tapachula and Guatamala

When I arrived in México, I was granted 180 days until my passport expired.  Reed and I talked to several people about whether or not I really needed to renew my passport.  Some said that I wouldn't have any problem if I didn't renew it and some said that I need to renew it or I might face penalties (monetary) when I crossed the border back to the US.  The size of the penalty depended on the custom agents at the US border, how nice they were and how kind they felt like being on that particular day.  We decided that being safe and getting it renewed might be the best thing to do.

A colleague of Reed's, Derrick, is teaching in Tapachula, Chiapas right on the border of Guatemala.  We decided that it would be a great opportunity to visit Derrick and then cross the border to renew my passport.  We took a plane to Tapachula (pop. 198,000, elev. 326 ft.) in early February.  Being in the south of México, Tapachula is very hot and humid all year round.   We arrived on Friday and took a taxi to the border of Guatemala.  We crossed (walking) into Guatemala, looked in some of the shops, and then ate lunch.  Derrick didn't feel it was the safest area so we didn't spend too much time there.  

On the way back, we stopped at the custom's office to get a stamp from Guatemala to prove that I had actually been out of México.  The customs agent said that I had to pay $400 pesos in order to get a stamp.  Derrick and Reed were kind enough to try to negotiate the price down because we had heard that we shouldn't have to pay anything.  Well it didn't work, so I paid the $400 pesos and got my stamp.  After we crossed back into México we had to stop at the customs office to get another stamp from México.  Of course, the customs agent said that we shouldn't have had to pay in Guatemala!  Oh well, sometimes you just have to play the game...

In addition, he gave me an official paper that I am suppose to present to the customs agent when I return to the US.  At that time, I am suppose to pay an additional $297 pesos!  As they say in México, "vale la pena" (it's worth it)!

With business being done, we were able to enjoy the rest of our trip.  The next day, we went to the beach and spent the day lounging under a palapa, eating, and drinking beer.  On Sunday, we took a taxi up to Unión Juárez which is a small pueblo below the dormant volcano, Tacaná.  The ride was a little crazy, the road was very curvy and on many occasions the taxi driver's wheels were screeching around the corners!  You have to trust these guys!  We ate breakfast, walked around the town, shopped and enjoyed the beautiful view.  Later we took a van, packed with about 20 people, back to Tapachula and later left on a 6pm flight.

For pictures, click on this link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/regnor11/TapachulaAndGuatemala#

Coming next:  Angangueo and the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary