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piazzasj

Sep 20, 2010, 9:24 AM

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La Masilla Guatemala

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Does anyone know the hours that the Guatemalan border at La Masilla is open for check in/out of Guatemala into Mexico

John Shrall

Sep 21, 2010, 11:09 AM

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Re: [piazzasj] La Masilla Guatemala

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Are you trying to cross the border early or late in the day? Crossing by car? The border and INM office would be open during daylight hours but I couldn't say for sure how early or late. The INM office is not at the border rather in a building about 10km from the actual border in the middle of town. The border itself is very small and congested. The Guatemala office is big enough for about 2 people.

We drove from Comitan first thing in the morning and drove the 80km to La Mesilla pretty quickly. At that time everything was open although we didn't see the INM building while passing through town and so were turned back when we started asking about stamping our FM2.

If you have more specific questions please ask. We drove from Ajijic to San Cristobal where we spend about 10 days and then drove from there to Antigua crossing at La Mesilla. After a couple of weeks in Antigua we returned via the coast route and crossed at Tapachula. That was exciting because we had no idea where the border was and just followed cars into town and made a hard right when we saw a Mexican flag figuring that was the correct direction. Technically we crossed at a foot bridge but they lifted the cones and let the car cross. We then had to get the car re-fumigated (Guatemala and Mexico have some sort of reciprocal fumigating scam) before heading up Hwy 200 back to Acapulco.

piazzasj

Sep 21, 2010, 11:39 AM

Post #3 of 4 (2939 views)

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Re: [piazzasj] La Masilla Guatemala

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We were hoping for an early morning crossing but have been uable to find out what time the offices open in Guatemala or Mexico.

John Shrall

Sep 21, 2010, 2:45 PM

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Re: [piazzasj] La Masilla Guatemala

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I can't remember for sure but my guess is that we left Comitan fairly early since the hotel room was clean but pretty humble so I suspect we were in Ciudad Cuantemoc by about 9am. At that time of the morning things were hopping in the small 2 lane road at the border so it looked like people had been there for quite a while. Even if there was a posted open time it really wouldn't mean much. They open when someone arrives.

We made this trip in 2008 and even with the Pan Am highway torn up for what had to be 80 or more miles, we still made it into Antigua by early afternoon. The Guatemalans had hundreds of pieces of heavy equipment that I'll bet came from the US carving out mountainside to widen the highway to 4 lanes. Once complete the trip would be a breeze as opposed to our constant tangle with suicidal chicken bus drivers. When the point man hanging at the door points at you, slow down to let the bus in. The bus is changing lanes with or without your cooperation.