SOUTHBOUND HOUND
almost EVERYTHING you need to know when driving through Mexico and Central America with your dog.
By: J. Sarmento
Actual cover image coming soon.
Unlike other books on this subject in which the author(s) chronicles their journey and inject bits of practical advice and information leaving the reader to discern what is relevant and useful to them, I have chosen to focus primarily on presenting the reader with valuable advice and information while injecting my own relevant experiences. The result is a book that gets right down to the business of educating and informing the reader while being entertaining at the same time. You’ll find most of the information in this book is relevant to you whether traveling with or without your pet and regardless of much time you’re planning on driving in Mexico and Central America either in your own vehicle or a rental.
The title was chosen simply because there’s no way to tell everybody everything they will need to know. You won’t find detailed information about specific fees, forms or maps. The reason for this is that most of this information is useless. There are plenty of other resources for finding this information and little of it will be accurate. Fees change, border officials often try to cheat you and roads close for a variety of reasons so detours are a common thing. There are certain things that are always in flux and what you actually end up paying to cross a border is what ever it is and the route you take will likely not be the exact one you had planned.
There’s a common saying south of the border; “what’s true today may not be true tomorrow and what’s true for me may not be true for you”. As I once told somebody in Panama, “one thing that I learned on this trip was that if you want to soar in life, you have to be prepared to wing it”. But it’s still important to be as prepared as possible before you take off.
So if you’re planning on spending just a few weeks or even several months driving in Mexico and/or Central America, especially with your four legged companion, this book should be of great assistance in helping you successfully and safely complete your travels.
Right now it's a work in progress and hope to have it completed towards the end of this year. Once finished, if I haven't found a publishing house to take it on then I will be self-publishing and making it available in paperback and in .pdf format. As far as pricing goes, that depends on whether I self-publish or not. Either way it will be both affordable and well worth the cost.
Below you'll find the current Table of Contents.
Please note that since this is a work in progress, it will be changing as I move things around, add chapters and expand on others.
The title was chosen simply because there’s no way to tell everybody everything they will need to know. You won’t find detailed information about specific fees, forms or maps. The reason for this is that most of this information is useless. There are plenty of other resources for finding this information and little of it will be accurate. Fees change, border officials often try to cheat you and roads close for a variety of reasons so detours are a common thing. There are certain things that are always in flux and what you actually end up paying to cross a border is what ever it is and the route you take will likely not be the exact one you had planned.
There’s a common saying south of the border; “what’s true today may not be true tomorrow and what’s true for me may not be true for you”. As I once told somebody in Panama, “one thing that I learned on this trip was that if you want to soar in life, you have to be prepared to wing it”. But it’s still important to be as prepared as possible before you take off.
So if you’re planning on spending just a few weeks or even several months driving in Mexico and/or Central America, especially with your four legged companion, this book should be of great assistance in helping you successfully and safely complete your travels.
Right now it's a work in progress and hope to have it completed towards the end of this year. Once finished, if I haven't found a publishing house to take it on then I will be self-publishing and making it available in paperback and in .pdf format. As far as pricing goes, that depends on whether I self-publish or not. Either way it will be both affordable and well worth the cost.
Below you'll find the current Table of Contents.
Please note that since this is a work in progress, it will be changing as I move things around, add chapters and expand on others.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Passports, documents and insurance For yourself For your dog For the vehicle Keeping your documents safe Chapter 2 Your Vehicle 4wd –vs- 2wd Older –vs- Newer Gas –vs- Diesel Necessary items for the vehicle Suggested modifications Chapter 3 Finances How much should you budget Banks and ATM’s Money Changers Debit and Credit Cards Chapter 4 Packing for the trip Camping equipment Clothing Other useful items Suggested items to buy along the way Chapter 5 How to act while on the road The importance of being humble Police and Military checkpoints Dealing with other drivers Buying gas Chapter 6 Staying alive on the road General driving practices Free Roads –vs- Toll Roads How to avoid driving through large cities The myth about dirty cars Chapter 7 Mechanical issues General maintenance practices What to do if you breakdown. Being prepared to fix small problems yourself Finding a good mechanic Figuring the real cost of repairs Chapter 8 Your health and safety Watch your step First Aid Kit: What to add Preparing to deal with emergencies Doctors, clinics and pharmacies General practices to avoid getting sick Chapter 9: The health and safety of your dog Finding a vet Fleas (pulgas) and ticks (garrapatas) Heart-worm prevention Other parasites and infections Food for your dog Finding places to exercise your dog Leash laws Keeping your dog from getting stolen Chapter 10 Food What to bring with you. Yogurt, the ultimate travel food Restaurants and roadside vendors: Are they safe? How to avoid paying Gringo prices | Chapter 11 Water Where to buy it Is it safe to drink? Ice: The other water What to do in emergencies Chapter 12 Hotels, campgrounds and more Roadside hotels and getting a good price Campgrounds and beaches Alternative overnight spots General advice for staying safe overnight Chapter 13 Banditos, beggars and hustlers Tips for avoiding thieves Dealing with beggars Hustlers and hustles Chapter 14 Border Crossings Tramitadores (border helpers) What to expect at the borders. What to do with your dog at the borders. What I experienced at the borders. U.S. – Mexico Mexico – Guatemala Guatemala – El Salvador El Salvador – Honduras Honduras – Nicaragua Nicaragua – Costa Rica Costa Rica – Panama Chapter 15 Selling your vehicle down south. Finding a buyer Negotiating the sale Importing the vehicle Clearing your passport Chapter 16 Flying you and your dog back home Airline options Kennel requirements Exit requirements for your dog Getting around with your dog after selling your vehicle Chapter 17 Environmental issues Waste disposal When to avoid the ocean Toxins Chapter 18 Misc. Tips and Info Chapter 19 Other useful information Units of conversion Numbers Words and phrases Helpful tips for learning the language Acknowledgments Notes |
© Copyright 2010 by Jeff Sarmento. All Rights Reserved.
