ferry
She may mean the ferry from La Paz to the mainland.
My experience is that the more you can make your rig blend in, the better. The less attention you can bring upon yourself the easier your trip will be. Already you are doing something unheard of by most of the local nationals. They just can't afford travel and/or a pleasure vehicle for the most part. You will get attention no matter what you do.
An interesting note: the German travelers have "Alemania" plastered across the front of their rigs since someone told them that they will get different treatment at the borders if they are thought to be US citizens. This was not our experience at all. We were welcomed and had no problems at Belize and Guatemalan borders. It could be a problem in maybe Nicaragua or El Salvador where we have been involved so much in their national strife (you would think Guatemala would be in that bracket as well) but Costa Rica and Panama are what they are due to American investment and the people likely know this even though we did invade Panama over Noriega.
We found that Mexico, Belize and Costa Rica are quite expensive now. Mostly because of the influx of US and Canadian expats and their buying land and building but also, in Mexico's case, the NAFTA influence. The numbers are huge..(Mexico alone has 500,000 US citizens and 500,000 Canadians living there at least part of the year if not all year). The middle class in Mexico is expanding at amazing rates. I am interested in reports from Panama and Honduras as they are reported as becoming expensive as well.
We have relatives who recently moved to Belize with a business and are building a house in the north near Corazol town. They report that the income required to become a pensianado has gone from $1200 per month to $2000 in a years time. Part of the draw to some other counties in CA was the low income needed for pensianado status....my relative tells me the internet is way behind on the reports and they have risen as well. Let us know.
Something I was unaware of although we try to pay attention to these things, is that most countries in Central America are banding together economically much in the same way as the European Union has done. This should raise their standard of living greatly. I wish them the best. That is the kind of thing that might ease the illegal immigration to the US.
Things like vanity plates can even be a problem when dealing with the authorities. They really like to see a normal number plate. The only times we were stopped by the police in Belize or Guatemala were because the plate we had on the front is a plate with our towns name on it and not a number plate (Truth or Consequences).....my state, NM, only requires one rear plate....I will have a plate made, probably some combination of letters and numbers that will end in the same number as my rear plate. That, because of the number system in Mexico, DF where there are certain days you cannot drive, depending on the last number of your plates. There is a $200US fine if you are caught, I am told.
Sorry about the long post...I am passionate about Latin America....I truly love it down there and look forward to our next trip south.
Brian