I mentioned to my wife about flying to cancun and then to costa rica. She thinks we will get kidnapeed by the mexican drug cartel while we are getting fuel in Mexico.
I know driving through mexico is not an option. I know several mexican nationals from the Houston area that would not even drive through mexico right now.
I vacation in cancun regularly. Does not seem to be a problem in the resort areas.
I'll be watching this thread as I've had some interest in doing a flight to Costa Rica. I have friends there.
I had considered launching from Key West but am a bit tentative going over water to Cozumel. I can handle the Bahamas & KeyWest as it's only 100 miles.
...I have encountered trouble contacting Cenemar (Center over the Guatemala El Salvador Honduras etc area) but they eventually hear you.
I've looked at a proposed route over the Gulf from Key West to Cancun/Cozumel and it looks a bit daunting, but certainly doable. From there I was thinking Beliz, La Mesa, Tegucigalpa, Managua, Santamaria, and on to David. From South Carolina it looks like 9 hours or so and helpfully, under two hours from Key West to Cozumel. I'm a ways away, next summer at the earliest, but I would love to hear from anyone who's made the trip.
Thanks,
Lee...
we too plan to go to panama, hopefully next year. our trip will begin in texas, and politics permitting would include stopovers in Veracruz, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Liberia, Costa Rica, and then to destination Panama City. the fewer stops the better. given the time, the flying should be a piece of cake; the paperwork and bureaucracies at each stopover are probably the biggest challenges, esp for a VFR only flight.
I know the Chartis / AIG policy territory includes "Central America" which is very handy if you plan to go to more than Mexico. The others are just Mexico and most don't want to fool with adding additional territory, but you can always ask. Adjusting claims in foreign countries is more difficult.
Those extra Mexican Insurance policies are no longer necessary as long as your Policy Territory shows Mexico (and nearly all do). You just need to document that on arrival.
My Mother retired in Costa Rica 20 years ago, but I've never flown down there myself. Bucket list item I guess.
Tj
I just checked my Chartis policy & it had a "Mexico Warning Statement".
Basically, it said explicitly that I am not covered and that my passengers & I could be jailed and my aircraft taken away. Yikes
My renewal is due 4/1/13. I will make sure that they include coverage for Mexico before I make any attempt to fly through there.
Dan,
My Chartis policy read the same way when we were getting ready to fly to Baja. Jenny at Nationair told me that Chartis was using up their old printed policies, and she sent me a new page including Mexico. She even included a page translated to Spanish for the federales.
Jim Berry
RV-10
...if you decide to do a repeat of that trip and if you want company. all i'd need to do would be get valid insurance, some vinyl larger numbers and (maybe) a 406 transponder and i'd be ready to fly your wing. i'd prefer fewer stops, but having company on the trip esp the first time would be a big plus. mine is a -9, could make some longer legs than you mention.
I just checked my Chartis policy & it had a "Mexico Warning Statement".
Basically, it said explicitly that I am not covered and that my passengers & I could be jailed and my aircraft taken away. Yikes
My renewal is due 4/1/13. I will make sure that they include coverage for Mexico before I make any attempt to fly through there.
WooHoo!! This my 1000 post.
Dan,
My Chartis policy read the same way when we were getting ready to fly to Baja. Jenny at Nationair told me that Chartis was using up their old printed policies, and she sent me a new page including Mexico. She even included a page translated to Spanish for the federales.
Jim Berry
RV-10
Mine read the same way and my broker told me the same thing about the old printed forms. He also sent me the updated pages with the correct wording. Chartis insurance will not be a problem in Mexico & Central America.
Does anyone on the forum fly to Panama on occasion? I'd like to hear what the better/best routes are; around the Caribbean or down through Mexico? Best places to stop, best time of year, concerns, bureaucratic considerations, etc...
Thanks!
Lee...
Mine read the same way and my broker told me the same thing about the old printed forms. He also sent me the updated pages with the correct wording. Chartis insurance will not be a problem in Mexico & Central America.
Thanks Jim, my wife and I would love the company. So far were thinking of leaving in either Septmber or October. We will definitely keep you posted.
Cheers,
Hi Lee, I now live in Panama (since 2009) and we are in the beautiful mountains just north of the Chame airport, about 50 miles west of Panama City. I would love to meet you and see your plane when you're down here. Also a friend of mine lives on that airport and has built an awesome NXT with a TSIO-720. He's also built several Glasairs and would likely love to see your Rocket as well.
I would gladly trade a night or two in our guest house for a ride in your plane, plus it would be nice to have someone around to talk RVs with. You can stay longer for a modest rent too if you want. You can see our place here.
This invitation extends to any RVator that flys to Panama!