Start early in Mahahual Malecon with a quick breakfast and a last walk for your pet along the beachfront before loading the car; stop at Chetumal Veterinary Office (SENASICA checkpoint area) to review your pet export paperwork and obtain any last-minute stamps. Continue inland on Federal Highway 307 toward Playa del Carmen checkpoint area (brief fuel and supplies stop) so you're timed to reach the Mexican exit formalities at Chetumal Aduana mid- to late-morning, keeping vaccine certificates, microchip info, and the veterinary health certificate easily accessible for inspection.
After clearing Mexican exit formalities, push east on Federal Highway 180 and plan a mid-afternoon break at Escárcega Service Area for fuel, a pet relief walk under shaded trees, and to double-check that the original veterinary health certificate and vaccination booklet are accessible. Continue toward Tapachula Veterinary Control Point where you'll complete Guatemalan entry paperwork-expect officers to inspect microchip details and the temporary import permit; nearby, stop at Plaza El Sol Tapachula for a quick lunch and to buy bottled water and sealed pet food bags for the border leg.
Wind down after border formalities with a relaxed stay near Tecún Umán Riverside Lodge, where you can secure a pet-friendly room under $200 and give your dog a calm riverside walk before nightfall; the lodge staff are familiar with travelers completing Central American paperwork and can point you to local notaries if any last-minute stamps are needed. For dinner and supplies, head to San Marcos Market (early evening hours) to buy sealed pet food, bottled water, and fresh provisions, then park at Hotel Pet Zone Inn for an easy next-morning departure toward inland Guatemala while keeping paperwork and vaccination records in a bedside folder for quick access.
Leave your Tecún Umán lodging after a short walk with your pet along the banks of the Río Samalá and head toward Retalhuleu Municipal Veterinary Office to have your temporary import permit photocopied and to verify the microchip scan matches the certificate; nearby, stretch legs and grab coffee at Café Central Retalhuleu while your dog relaxes in the shaded patio. Continue east with a mid-morning stop at Mirador Los Cuchumatanes rest area for a brief pet relief break and to top off fuel before the longer inland drive, then schedule a quick paperwork check at San José Notary (Retalhuleu branch) if any signatures or apostilles are required for onward crossings toward Río Dulce.
After the mid-morning checks, push east and stop for a restful break at Centro de Servicios La Democracia where you can top off fuel, buy sealed pet food, and take your dog on a shady loop trail beside the service plaza. Continue toward Río Dulce with an expected mid-afternoon paperwork checkpoint at Oficina de Control Veterinario de Puerto Barrios (plan for a microchip re-scan and a temporary permit copy) before settling into a pet-friendly riverside stay at Posada del Mono, which offers gated parking, a grassy courtyard for evening walks, and staff familiar with cross-border pet document routines.
Unwind riverside at Hotel Río Dulce Marina where gated parking and a grassy dockside stretch make a calm first evening after inland driving, and confirm tomorrow's paperwork plan with the hotel concierge who can recommend a local notary; enjoy dinner on the terrace and let your pet explore the short mangrove trail beside the property. If you prefer a quieter village vibe, head to Finca El Remate Guesthouse for a fenced yard, homemade dinner options, and an evening stroll to the nearby Isla de los Pájaros viewpoint-keep your pet on a leash while staff help you photocopy any documents needed for the next-day border checks.
Depart Río Dulce after an early leash walk and fuel stop, then plan a mid-morning paperwork checkpoint at Estación Veterinaria Chimaltenango to reconfirm your pet's microchip scan and have extra copies of the vaccination certificate notarized; nearby grab coffee and breakfast at Panadería La Cumbre where a shaded patio gives your pet a calm spot to rest. Continue along the Guatemala City bypass with a scheduled stretch and pet-relief at Área de Servicio El Cortijo (secure parking, restroom facilities, and sealed pet supply kiosks), then time your arrival to the western corridor for an early afternoon approach toward the Santa Ana border crossing while keeping all originals in a waterproof folder within reach.
After the Guatemala City bypass, plan a mid-afternoon stop at Estación de Servicio La Aurora for fuel and a shaded pet walk, then head to Clínica Veterinaria Santa Elena to request a quick microchip re-scan and to make certified photocopies of vaccination records before the border. Finish the afternoon with a relaxing stretch at Parque Central Coatepeque where you and your pet can walk the lakeside promenade and pick up sealed pet food and bottled water from Mercado Municipal Coatepeque before driving on toward the Santa Ana border approach.
After the afternoon checks, settle into the quieter highlands near Hotel Boutique La Antigua de Colomba, where gated parking, a grassy courtyard and friendly staff make evening paperwork sorting with your pet low-stress; ask the front desk to recommend a local notary if you need an extra certified copy. For dinner and a calm post-drive stroll, head to Callejón del Sabor for grilled regional dishes while your dog enjoys a leash-walk through the nearby Jardín Municipal de Colomba, and store all originals in a waterproof folder in the room so you're prepped for tomorrow's early border approach toward Santa Ana.
Start early and head for the El Salvador entry formalities at Policía Nacional Civil - Puesto Fronterizo where officers commonly request to see vaccination records and a stamped temporary import permit; keep originals and copies in a waterproof folder for quick presentation. After clearing immigration, take a restorative break at Terminal de Servicios La Montañona (fuel, sealed pet food, shaded dog-walk area) then top up paperwork at Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de El Salvador (regional desk) for a fast microchip scan and a certified photocopy before continuing east toward Metapán Service Plaza, timing departures to avoid afternoon traffic as you progress toward the central route into Honduras.
Mid-afternoon, pull into Parque Nacional Cerro Verde for a shaded dog-friendly loop and a calm break from the highway, then stop at Estación Veterinaria Regional de Ahuachapán to reconfirm your pet's microchip, secure any required El Salvadorian stamps, and obtain certified photocopies. Continue east with a fuel and supply pause at Plaza de Servicios San Miguelito, where you can buy sealed pet food, bottled water, and take a final leash walk at the adjacent greenbelt before pressing on toward the northerly route into Honduras.
After the long drive, relax at Hotel Posada El Paseo-a pet-friendly spot with gated parking and a small grassy courtyard perfect for a calm leash walk-while you sort paperwork in the room and double-check stamped copies. For dinner and a final supply run before tomorrow's Honduras crossing, stroll to Mercado La Unión to pick up sealed pet food and bottled water, then finish the night with a quiet riverside walk at Malecón El Progreso, keeping your pet on a short leash and all originals in a waterproof folder at the bedside.
Leave your evening stop with an early fuel/top-up at Estación de Servicio El Tigre (Nicaragua side), then head toward the Nicaraguan veterinary checkpoint at Oficina de Control Zoosanitario en El Rama to have your export health certificate reviewed, a microchip re-scan done, and stamped copies issued; this saves time at the international crossing later in the day. After paperwork clearance, take a restorative walk with your pet at the shaded riverside picnic area of Parque Central El Rama and stock up on sealed pet food and bottled water at Supermercado La Unión before continuing southeast toward the next border segment and your planned afternoon push toward Costa Rica/Panama approaches.
Mid-afternoon, plan a focused paperwork stop at Oficina de Sanidad Animal Managua (regional checkpoint) to obtain stamped export copies and a microchip re-scan, then stretch legs with your pet at the shaded lawns of Parque Japón Managua, a calm spot for leash-walks and quick hydration. Afterward, top off fuel and sealed supplies at Estación de Servicio El Coyol and take a relaxed lakeside break at Malecón de Masaya-perfect for a short scenic walk while you finalize copies of your pet's health certificate and confirm timing for the next international control point toward Costa Rica/Panama.
After the day's paperwork pushes, settle into a pet-friendly room under $200 at Hotel La Reserva Masaya where gated parking and a small grassy courtyard let your dog stretch while you make final export copies; the front desk can recommend a late-evening visit to Clinica Veterinaria Masaya for any last-minute stamped seals. For a relaxed dinner and an easy post-drive walk, head to the lakeside promenade at Malecón de Masaya (quiet after dusk) and pick up sealed pet food and bottled water at Supermercado Central Masaya before securing all originals in a waterproof folder for tomorrow's Costa Rica/Panama crossings.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Mahahual Malecon (beachfront walk) | Free |
| Chetumal Veterinary Office (SENASICA checkpoint area) - document review | $0 |
| Fuel & supplies stop (Playa del Carmen checkpoint area) - fuel/snacks | $10 |
| Chetumal Aduana (Mexican exit formalities) - administrative fees | $5 |
| Escárcega Service Area (fuel, pet relief) | $5 |
| Tapachula Veterinary Control Point (Guatemala entry paperwork & temporary import permit) | $20 |
| Plaza El Sol Tapachula (lunch & bottled water, sealed pet food) | $12 |
| Tecún Umán Riverside Lodge (pet-friendly hotel under $200) | $90 |
| San Marcos Market (supplies) | $8 |
| Hotel Pet Zone Inn (overnight parking/pet hotel) | $75 |
| Retalhuleu Municipal Veterinary Office (permit photocopy & microchip check) | $5 |
| Café Central Retalhuleu (coffee & snack) | $6 |
| Mirador Los Cuchumatanes rest area (pet relief) | Free |
| San José Notary (Retalhuleu branch) - notarization/certified copies | $15 |
| Centro de Servicios La Democracia (fuel & supplies) | $8 |
| Oficina de Control Veterinario de Puerto Barrios (microchip re-scan & temporary permit copy) | $10 |
| Posada del Mono (pet-friendly riverside stay) | $80 |
| Hotel Río Dulce Marina (pet-friendly riverside hotel) | $95 |
| Finca El Remate Guesthouse (pet-friendly) | $70 |
| Estación Veterinaria Chimaltenango (microchip scan & notarize copies) | $10 |
| Panadería La Cumbre (breakfast) | $6 |
| Área de Servicio El Cortijo (service area: fuel & pet relief) | $6 |
| Estación de Servicio La Aurora (fuel & pet walk) | $6 |
| Clínica Veterinaria Santa Elena (microchip re-scan & certified photocopies) | $12 |
| Parque Central Coatepeque (lakeside promenade) | Free |
| Mercado Municipal Coatepeque (sealed pet food & bottled water) | $8 |
| Hotel Boutique La Antigua de Colomba (pet-friendly highlands hotel) | $85 |
| Policía Nacional Civil - Puesto Fronterizo (El Salvador entry formalities) | $5 |
| Terminal de Servicios La Montañona (fuel & pet area) | $6 |
| Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de El Salvador (regional desk) - microchip scan | $10 |
| Metapán Service Plaza (fuel & supplies) | $6 |
| Parque Nacional Cerro Verde (dog-friendly loop) | $3 |
| Estación Veterinaria Regional de Ahuachapán (microchip reconfirmation & stamps) | $10 |
| Plaza de Servicios San Miguelito (supplies & pet walk) | $6 |
| Hotel Posada El Paseo (pet-friendly hotel) | $75 |
| Mercado La Unión (final supply run) | $8 |
| Malecón El Progreso (riverside walk) | Free |
| Estación de Servicio El Tigre (fuel) | $6 |
| Oficina de Control Zoosanitario en El Rama (export health certificate review & microchip re-scan) | $20 |
| Parque Central El Rama (riverside walk) | Free |
| Supermercado La Unión (sealed pet food & bottled water) | $10 |
| Oficina de Sanidad Animal Managua (stamped export copies & microchip re-scan) | $20 |
| Parque Japón Managua (pet walk) | Free |
| Estación de Servicio El Coyol (fuel & supplies) | $6 |
| Malecón de Masaya (lakeside break) | Free |
| Hotel La Reserva Masaya (pet-friendly hotel) | $80 |
| Clinica Veterinaria Masaya (last-minute stamped seals) | $15 |
| Supermercado Central Masaya (sealed pet food & bottled water) | $10 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $1,142 |