Moved from Nevada to Costa Rica in a Base Bronco 2.3L 🗺️ 🚚

[Mustmoto]

Long story short: we bought a used 2022 Base 2.3L with 217 miles on it, and 10 days later we drove it to Costa Rica with our 4 dogs, cat, and some home stuff. We have moved to CR permanently and this was the big move.

I bought Black Diamond take off wheels and tires, added a bunch on IAG goodies (rear soft lift assist is worth 5 times what they are charging for it, best everyday addition for sure), tinted the windows, and a put on a RC bull bar and light pods.

We've been home just 9 days now and I'm settled in enough to take the time to write this up.

Basic route:
Boulder City, NV to Las Cruces, NM
to Corpus Christi, TX to Tampico, MX
to Heroica Veracruz
to Pelenque.
Then to Rio Dulce, Guatemala.
Then to Choluteca, Honduras.
And then a final blast the length of Nicaragua to our house in Tronadora, Costa Rica.

Total miles driven: 3399.1
Total days on the road: 9
Total Fuel cost: approx $800
Average MPG: 19.5 (speeds are 55-60 max in Central America)

Ok. Photo dump. We made in 9 days with a 2 days stop in Guatemala at an amazing airbnb that we just wanted to stay longer at.

Las Vegas to Texas:

Snow in TX - last time we will need to use the heater.

Parked in Tampico - we did mucho driving and not much stopping for sightseeing or photos...

Similar situation in Heroica Veracruz: Even after 7 or 8 hours in the car, Gracie was ready for more miles.

TACOS!

Friend outside or hotel room in Pelenque:

Testing the new lights going into the AirBnb in Rio Dulce, Guatemala:

Morning in Rio Dulce:

Wife in the immigration line (checking out of Guatemala and into Honduras), lines were short and the crossing took about 2 hours.

Nicaragua Volcanos!

Got home to Costa Rica at 10pm, next morning:

Basic dog demeanor for the entire trip:

Enjoying our new country and meeting the local rides:

Thanks for reading this far. We will have a youtube video in a couple of weeks and then will be posting on a regular basis on YT and Instagram. Follow if you're interested:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/puravidabronco/

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[Newbie]

Nice long trip to Costa Rica!

 

[Mustmoto]

Nice long trip to Costa Rica!

They live in the trees around our house! Along with my new alarm clock: Howler Monkeys

 

[BlueBronco]

Looks like that was a beautiful trip and glad to hear it was with out complications. Going to be visiting CR in about a month for our yearly fishing trip and can't wait to get back there. Beautiful country and great people down that way!

 

[shieldsy]

Nice long trip to Costa Rica!

Nice picture of the Ford C-Suite springing into action!

 

[Tricky Dick]

Great story.

 

[mcinfantry]

Long story short: we bought a used 2022 Base 2.3L with 217 miles on it, and 10 days later we drove it to Costa Rica with our 4 dogs, cat, and some home stuff. We have moved to CR permanently and this was the big move.

I bought Black Diamond take off wheels and tires, added a bunch on IAG goodies (rear soft lift assist is worth 5 times what they are charging for it, best everyday addition for sure), tinted the windows, and a put on a RC bull bar and light pods.

We've been home just 9 days now and I'm settled in enough to take the time to write this up.

Basic route:
Boulder City, NV to Las Cruces, NM
to Corpus Christi, TX to Tampico, MX
to Heroica Veracruz
to Pelenque.
Then to Rio Dulce, Guatemala.
Then to Choluteca, Honduras.
And then a final blast the length of Nicaragua to our house in Tronadora, Costa Rica.

Total miles driven: 3399.1
Total days on the road: 9
Total Fuel cost: approx $800
Average MPG: 19.5 (speeds are 55-60 max in Central America)

Ok. Photo dump. We made in 9 days with a 2 days stop in Guatemala at an amazing airbnb that we just wanted to stay longer at.

Las Vegas to Texas:

Snow in TX - last time we will need to use the heater.

Parked in Tampico - we did mucho driving and not much stopping for sightseeing or photos...

Similar situation in Heroica Veracruz: Even after 7 or 8 hours in the car, Gracie was ready for more miles.

TACOS!

Friend outside or hotel room in Pelenque:

Testing the new lights going into the AirBnb in Rio Dulce, Guatemala:

Morning in Rio Dulce:

Wife in the immigration line (checking out of Guatemala and into Honduras), lines were short and the crossing took about 2 hours.

Nicaragua Volcanos!

Got home to Costa Rica at 10pm, next morning:

Basic dog demeanor for the entire trip:

Enjoying our new country and meeting the local rides:

Thanks for reading this far. We will have a youtube video in a couple of weeks and then will be posting on a regular basis on YT and Instagram. Follow if you're interested:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/puravidabronco/

Headed there in jan for vacation!

 

[mcinfantry]

Looks like that was a beautiful trip and glad to hear it was with out complications. Going to be visiting CR in about a month for our yearly fishing trip and can't wait to get back there. Beautiful country and great people down that way!

Headed there as well in Jan

 

[UtahBrandon]

I'm envious. Most of the vehicles I've seen in and around Tamarindo have been pretty beat up and made me question what it would be like to have a nice vehicle down there. Any concerns with petty crime against the "rich dude in the Bronco"?

 

[Mustmoto]

Headed there in jan for vacation!

If you need any recommendations let me know. Rental cars are the biggest tourist tax you'll encounter. I recommend Adobe if you are renting a car, no surprises like all of the big brands.

 

[Mustmoto]

Headed there as well in Jan

If you need any help or recommendations message me.

 

[JBlanco]

Very nice! We are planning our early retirement in South America (Ecuador and Peru are our top choices).
Ecuador doesn't allow importing vehicles after the tourist visa expires.
Are you able to legally keep your US purchased vehicle in CR?
Also, how hard do you think getting parts for the Bronco will be there? If I move to a country that allows their federalization of an US purchased vehicle, I think I would bring something like a RAV4 that is serviceable by anyone in the country. Congratulations on the bravery.

 

[Mustmoto]

I'm envious. Most of the vehicles I've seen in and around Tamarindo have been pretty beat up and made me question what it would be like to have a nice vehicle down there. Any concerns with petty crime against the "rich dude in the Bronco"?

We live in a much sleepier town than the beach towns. Surrounded by Tico cattle farmers that have nicer rigs than my Bronco. F350s, Cummins Rams, Rover Defenders. I'm poor compared to them.

There is always petty crime wherever you go, but we are careful. Our house has a big locked gate, cameras and set back far from the road. In town, we park right in front of the stores and if the top is down, one person stays in the Bronco.

 

[Mustmoto]

Very nice! We are planning our early retirement in South America (Ecuador and Peru are our top choices).
Ecuador doesn't allow importing vehicles after the tourist visa expires.
Are you able to legally keep your US purchased vehicle in CR?
Also, how hard do you think getting parts for the Bronco will be there? If I move to a country that allows their federalization of an US purchased vehicle, I think I would bring something like a RAV4 that is serviceable by anyone in the country. Congratulations on the bravery.

Costa Rica allows vehicle form the US, but the Tariff is high. but we are willing to pay it.

They sell Broncos here (Big Bned, Outer Banks, and Wildtrack) so parts are "available." I confirmed my Ford Warranty would be honored here as well.

 

[BlueBronco]

Headed there in jan for vacation!

Awesome. We arrive on the 13th and will be fishing from the Abra-Ca-Dabra in Los Suenos.

We live in a much sleepier town than the beach towns. Surrounded by Tico cattle farmers that have nicer rigs than my Bronco. F350s, Cummins Rams, Rover Defenders. I'm poor compared to them.

One thing I stay away from down there are the local steaks. It is some sad looking beef on those farms compared to what we are used to seeing in TX. Most restaurants have an imported steak from the US but I didn't travel all the way down there to eat a USDA prime steak. Best is when we catch some Dorado or Tuna and have a local restaurant prepare it. That is some of the best food you will ever eat.

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