The Costa Rica and Panama Border There are three border crossings between Costa Rica and Panama: Paso Canoas and Rio Sereno on the Pacific side, and Sixaola/Guabito on the Caribbean side. The closest major town on the Costa Rica side is San Vito, a rural community with a small-town feel that is best known for hosting the Wilson Botanical Gardens. Crossing international borders in Latin America is rarely easy or pleasant (why do they always smell like pee and desperation?). The border facilities on the Panamanian side are larger and newer than those on the Costa Rican side. Sheesh. Travelers venturing from San Jose to Panama City will likely use Paso Canoas (the busiest crossing), while travelers heading to or from Bocas del Toro will use Sixaola/Guabito. And if you have some shopping to do, it is actually a great spot to find good deals. If you want to learn more, read our useful guide on Things to Know Before Visiting Costa Rica. The closest major town on the Costa Rica side is Ciudad Neily, a small city with some shops, banks, and restaurants. Well try to update this post if they do, but as of October 2022, this is what is required to the best of our knowledge. If you aren't able to find it, ask around (say you need to get to Frontera, which means border in Spanish); bus conductors or money collectors are willing to help foreigners get on the right van. Hola! Private, secure parking. Its a blue and white concrete structure with an overhang for buses and a big open area for people to form a line. The first thing youll notice about the Rio Sereno border is how quiet it is. All About Crossing The Panama-Costa Rica Border By Car Its basically a grocery, pharmacy, appliance, electronic and clothing store all in one. Leave a comment below with your experience to help other travelers know what to expect. Lancaster Crossing, also known as Indian Ford, Pecos Crossing, Solomon's Ford, Crossing of the Pecos, Crossing Rio Pecos, Ferry of the Pecos, and Ford Canyon Crossing, is an historic ford and ferry on the Pecos River, between Crockett County and Pecos County just southeast of Sheffield, Texas. We werent asked to show $500 but its best to be ready to do so. Usually the agent doesnt ask too many questions but weve been asked where were traveling, for how long, and if were going by car. Its one of the first buildings on the left as you come into the border area. There are only three buildings that you will need to visit (marked in red). We will never sell your information or send SPAM. We were on a Tica Bus and they charged us $8 each to take care of this when we boarded in San Jose. Thats what we did with our Costa Rican truck paperwork since we knew wed be returning to the country. Of the many small, Our favorite restaurant at the border (it looks nicer once you get inside!). This department store is kind of the equivalent of a Walmart. If there is a big line at the window (common), first you will have to cut to the front to get the required form to fill out. They have a wide variety of selections. Another gal who hopped on along the way paid at the border, $8 again but it was after hours and someone outside was taking care of this. Paso Canoas, South Pacific - Costa Rica 2023 Travel Guide | Anywhere There are several entrances. **If you are entering Panama, they are going to ask you proof of departure of the country. Email: ssalas@iom.int. Thank you for subscribing. The first thing youll need to do is get your, Once in the office, the immigration agent will take your passport. Not far away are the towns of Golfito and Pavones, which draw some tourists. Highway 2 dead ends at the border crossing. In this post, we will tell you what to expect and give you some details to help make the process as smooth as possible. That all changed this past year after the coup. On the Costa Rican side, you'll most likely base yourself or change buses to the border in Ciudad Neily. EL PASO, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers working at the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing intercepted an estimated $555,000 worth of cocaine and marijuana on three separate failed smuggling attempts. "These seizures demonstrate the vigilance of our CBP Officers, and their excellence in detecting individuals attempting to introduce drugs into our communities," said CBP El . We met people who did land runs for over 19 months! This sign on the Costa Rican side of the border says Road in bad condition and that pretty much goes for most of the roads in the country. Your Temporary Importation Permit is handled at the border and we always carry copies of vehicle documents including title and registration in addition to the original documents. Panama Border run to renew Visa & get Passport stamped- Perpetual If you are interested in our travels a bit more, check out Panama 2-Week Itinerary and Costa Rica 2-Week Itinerary. In this post, well share what you need to know to get ready to cross this little-known border. Crossing borders between two countries is often inevitable when traveling long term and moving around on land, but nowadays, even many people on a regular vacation want to explore more places in a limited time, so searching for tips on how to cross borders independently is more and more common. In this post, well share what you need to know to get ready to cross this little-known border. Come along with us as we cross the Paso Canoas border to Panam, the last country we drive in Central America! Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. The closest major town on the Costa Rica side is Ciudad Neily, a small city with some shops, banks, and restaurants. Private parking, A/C, hot water, and cable TV. If youre looking for a place to stay on the Costa Rica side of Paso Canoas, there are many choices, but they are all very simple budget options. And if you are looking for some inspiration, check out our blog posts on Fun Things to Do in Costa Rica and Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica. If there is a line, wait on the right side of the entranceway under the sign entrada/salida. The line on the left is for grupos originarios or indigenous travelers, which require different paperwork. CA trip soon, but were gearing more toward the northern half of the region. For information on the Paso Canoas border, read our post Crossing the Paso Canoas Border: Costa Rica and Panamas Biggest Border Crossing. Vendors are set up outside the front of the buildings, making it hard to find where to go in. This requirement has changed over the years and even differs by border. This includes Tamarindo, Jaco, Monteverde, La Fortuna, and Manuel Antonio to name a few of the most popular tourist towns. Even they seemed annoyed by the ineptitude of the PC staff. Having your own car means you can bring whatever you want; no need to worry about airline bag restrictions or limited bus space. We avoided them. Paso Canoas is mostly used by people who want to explore the Pacific Coast of either Costa Rica or Panama (the border crossing lies on the most southwestern respectively most northwestern part), or by expats who live nearby and need to renew visas. For cross border travel impacts due to COVID-19, please visit the DHS website and USA.gov website. Print a hotel reservation to show them. 2 weeks ago, I crossed in the other direction at Sixaola on the Caribbean coast and as I head back north I use the Paso Canoas border crossing. Although we know that the personal experience is non-transferable, we still think, in this case, it is better to be well-prepared and know what to expect. Once we paid by credit card in a machine, $7 each which was fine until I checked my credit care statement and realized we had been charged $10 each for the opportunity to use that machine. Border Wait Times Big crackdown, and now everything has to be on the up and up. Once you have your exit stamp, walk south along the road to the Panama Migration office. Were Matt & Jenn, a couple who left Boston to pursue a dream of traveling, living, and starting a family in Costa Rica. The form asks for basic information like your name, passport number, destination, etc. Lay of the land: Exiting Costa Rica was a swift process that took less than 15 minutes and involved no exit fees. Help with crossing the border in paso Canoas and Visa We have crossed the border multiple times, the last one being in June of 2014, and there is now a $20 exit fee for Costa Rica. Please check your email and confirm your subscription. The second - in Guabito/Sixaola - is around four hours travel from . We like to shop City Mall the best because it is the most organized and has great air conditioning! Things are even more complicated when you're driving across borders in your own vehicle as part of an overland road trip. Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more. When we visited in early December, there were lines of traffic everywhere and all the hotels were completely sold out with holiday shoppers staying overnight. Border Crossing - Paso Canoas- Whats UP - Panama Forum It was around 9 AM, and he replied that the next bus would leave at 1 PM directly from borders, but he also mentioned there was a bus leaving from Ciudad Neily (the closest larger town in Costa Rica, 18 kilometers away from borders) at 10 AM. +506 2212-5304. Hotel Cascata del Boscoand Casa Botaniaare two charming B&Bs that are just a short drive from the Wilson Botanical Gardens. Most importantly, never leave your luggage unattended. It is very noisy as well, with tractor-trailer brakes sounding, music blaring, and the occasional random firework, making you jump. From the big intersection, follow the road (on the Costa Rica side) to the left for about 0.75 km and look for the big red building on the right with McDonalds, shortly after Dollar Mall. This is about 100 meters after you take a left at the intersection. The border crossing is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, 7 days a week. They have cheap prices and great deals on everything. Hi Kelly we are not residents of Panama so Im afraid we dont know anything about border crossing rules for residents. #1 bus from david to changuinola . We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip. The bus runs quite frequently, approximately every 30 minutes, and is super cheap compared to the taxi ride, as we paid only 500 colones (less than $1). I know without a car there are rules about proof of solvency and tickets out of Panama, etc. Payable in Costa Rican colones as well. Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. There are several duty free liquor stores to the right of the big intersection. Neat round up. During the pandemic were publishing even more inspiring posts about travel in the Americas. We left early in the morning from the hostel in David, which is the nearest transportation hub to the borders. From: Paso Canoas, Panama To: Paso Canoas, Costa Rica Goodbye Panama (for now). You mean US$20? This means that once you use up or cancel your temporary vehicle importation permit you cant get a new one for 90 days. In the morning, we headed to the main bus terminal. Duty free finds: There are two large Mall Libre facilities on the Panama side of this border but they were pretty shabby when we were there. In addition to providing essential information, the hubs will also flag the risks associated with illegal migration and its relationship with organized crime, including human trafficking and smuggling, kidnapping and labor exploitation. Secondly, make sure that you have all the necessary documents handy in your daypack. Entering Costa Rica was equally painless. Listings - Bocas del Toro Realty We were given 180 days at this border. Costa Rica has several borders or. This can be paid online in advance through the, You can pay this at certain banks in Costa Rica ahead of time and, Once youve paid the exit tax, head across the street to the Costa Rica Migration office. My day began at 5 am in Santiago. If you do find bargains, remember that youre allowed to bring US$200 worth of alcohol per person into Panama with you. Anyone crossing by foot, car, or bus has to pay it. Help others by sharing your experience below. Central America Border Crossings Just an air deal between CR and El Salvador. There isnt a form to fill out for Panama, but the agent likely will ask where youre traveling to and for how long. Paso Canoas - Wikipedia To stay organized, bring a passport holder. Cheers guys! If you're entering Panama from Costa Rica, do the opposite thing. It all started about 10 years ago with an amazing two-week vacation . Costa Rica is known for really checking the proof of onward travels when entering the country, so make sure you do not underestimate this requirement. Paso Canoas is by far not the most confusing border crossing we've ever visited, but on the other hand, we've seen much more organized ones. Sometimes the agent will ask for your occupation. On both sides of the intersection, there are a lot of smaller stores filling up every imaginable space. 2023 Pavones, Costa Rica | Powered by. To get to one of the biggest entrances, take the road to the left (Costa Rica side), walk about 0.5 km, and look for the large glass building with a sign for Jerusalem Duty Free. Panamania exit and Costa Rican entry stamps: I spied the Tracopa bus to San Jose. You wont find the traffic, lines of tractor trailers, and crowds of people here that you see every day at the busy Paso Canoas border, one of Costa Ricas other border crossings with Panama. This is usually a very straightforward process, but they might check to see if you have stayed in the country for the amount of time required. There is an exit fee from Costa Rica $7 if the office is open. Its free. Instead, were using our time to tell even more of our most inspiring travel stories here on our blog. Wow. We then connected to the Costa Rican Costanera Sur which takes you along the pacific ocean. Coming to Costa Rica border crossing to Panama2022 . This border crossing tip is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE DRIVING ACROSS: While Costa Rica will renew a tourist visa if you spend 72 hours outside of the country (and that rule is often not enforced) but foreign vehicles are only allowed to be in Costa Rica for90 days out of every 180. The first thing youll need to do is get your exit stamp from Costa Rica. Some of the rooms have A/C and cable TV and some do not. The agent will direct you to place your thumbs and fingers on a digital pad to record your prints into their computer system. The authorities have also detected a growing number of women, unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, indigenous and people from other contents transiting through the region, who are vulnerable to trafficking, labor exploitation, sexual violence, extortion, kidnapping and other crime. Port of El Paso CBP officers seize cocaine and marijuana We extended in both locations and highly recommend doing it at the Divisa office if you can. Has most of the same things as City Mall, but everything is divided among the different buildings. Where to fill up: Fuel was cheaper in Panama than it was in Costa Rica when we crossed the border, so we filled up before leaving Panama. The Paso Canoas border is located in the southwestern-most part of Costa Rica at the end of Route 2 (the Inter-Americana Highway). Highway 2 from Costa Rica will end right at the border crossing in Paso Canoas. You can reach out to Tico Rides through their website or on Facebook. On the other hand, for travelers who had never experienced a border crossing on foot in this part of the world, the first impression can be complete chaos. Then you need onward proof of travels either to your home country or to another country showing your intentions to leave Costa Rica. The Costa Rican/Panamanian border (the border is alsoreferredto frontera inSpanish) in Paso Canoas is only about a 1.5 hour drive to Pavones (see Driving Directions from Paso Canoas to Pavones). They will need your passport and will give you a receipt to present to Migration when you check out of Costa Rica. Heres how to do that: Costa Rica has a tax (impuesto) that must be paid before you can exit the country by land. If you are from Panama, the reverse should be similar and most things will apply. The TicaBus is 55 USD and the ride leaves Panama City at 6 am and arrives 18 hours later. Hotel Reservation for Panama As of 2022, Panama is now requiring most visitors to stay in Panama for at least one night (some travelers have been reporting that immigration wants them to stay for 3 nights). Costa Rica is among travelers known as a country with more strict rules than its neighbors, so before our trip, we've tried to learn as much information as possible. The atmosphere is often a bit calmer as vendors slowly prepare their stalls. Border Crossing: Panama Costa Rica Border at Paso Canoas Fifty two (052) kilometers form Paso Canoas Costa Rica Panama Border Crossing. . Border Crossing Paso Canoas, Panam by SLOWverlanders in Central America, Panama on February 5, 2023 The Costa Rica-Panama border at Paso Canoas was pretty easy. Theseborder crossing 101 travel tipswill help you travel from Paso Canoas, Costa Rica to Paso Canoas, Panama smoothly with or without a vehicle. They will probably also ask for a. Liquor stores There are a handful of liquor stores in Paso Canoas (take a right at the intersection and go about 150 meters down the road, they will be on the left hand side) that you can stop in at a see a wide range of beer, wine and liquor. Paso Canoas is a small bland town on the borders between Panama and Costa Rica, and it's popular among backpackers for land borders crossing between these two Central American countries. It has several local restaurants (and some good Italian ones), grocery stores, and shops in the busy downtown. Of the many small sodas (locally run restaurants serving typical food), our favorite is Inter-Americano Bar and Restaurant. Crossing the border from Panama to Costa Rica at Paso Canoas, the main border on the Pacific Coast (28 September 2022). Panama Entry Requirements for Visitors - Anywhere These assistance hubs will address a need in terms of risk prevention, assistance and information for migrants of different nationalities, said Panamanian Migration Delegate Celmira Nuez. The Paso Canoas border crossing can be quite intimidating if you have never been. Panama Borders: What You Need To Know Before You Go - The Real Deal Tours We traveled from Panama to Costa Rica and the night before stayed in the city of David, which is a traditional base for travelers leaving or entering this Central American country. Emergency Appeal Operations Update Costa Rica and Panama - IFRC It is located in the southwestern corner of Costa Rica, about 300 kilometers from San Jos. They also will probably require proof of $500 (usually can be satisfied by showing 3 months of bank statements or a valid credit card if you dont want to carry cash). Welcome to Panama. Fill out one form for each person and get back in line. If you are heading to Corcovado National Park, then you should reserve a room in Puerto Jimenez. If you need a pharmacy or an ATM you can find both here. Many people do this just to explore another part of Central America, while others need to leave the country they are living in (. They sell everything from brake pads to tires, roof racks to rims. This is a more scattered, less organized version of City Mall. Weve crossed several of these borders during our time in Costa Rica. Another great alternative is Viator. $8 to pay Costa Ricas exit tax. Once you get to Ciudad Neily, you can catch a bus to your preferred destination, or if you're tired, stay there overnight. Approximately 172 kilometers or some one hundred seven (107) miles from port town Almirante in Bocas de Toro. They have consistently good casados (traditional plates with rice, beans, salads, and choice of meat/fish), and the service is always decent. Otherwise, if you fail to go through this step, they will turn you back at the Costa Rican borders. Lay of the land: It took about 15 minutes to exit Panama at well-manned offices with no hassles and no exit fees. Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa RicaRio Celeste Travel GuideA Guide to Manuel Antonio National ParkCanyoning Tour in Jaco. Chaos is one way you could describe it. Standard visas are for 180 days. Did your car was from panama or an American one? Duty free finds: We crossed near Christmas so the duty free shops were scenes of shopping chaos. The Paso Canoas border can be intimidating if you have never been. It is bigger and in better condition than the offshoots. Getting from Costa Rica to Panama: the complete guide | Selina Costa Rica, Panama Open Information Hubs for Migrants at Paso Canoas Border For information on the Paso Canoas border, read our post Crossing the Paso Canoas Border: Costa Rica and Panama's Biggest Border Crossing. .Read More, Copyright 2012-2023 Two Weeks in Costa Rica, Inc. They take you in their van to Paso Canoas and help with the process. It has the feel of a ranch with nice landscaping and open lawns. For staying safe, not only for border crossing but overall for traveling, we think it is worth investing in a anti-theft daypack, moneybelt and luggage lock. This was probably the fastest immigration control check from all our previous border crossings as the officer behind the counter quickly checked our passports, wanted to see proof of onward travels, asked us briefly about our travel plans for the next couple of days, and then stamped our passport and let us go. Payable in Colones as well. Receive our newest articles by email. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Subscribe to our mailing list and receive occasional newsletters from the road straight to your inbox. The two-story hotel has 39 simple rooms (not much nicer than Cabinas Romy) with different bed setups. When you enter the building, go to the office on the left. 1. Standard visas are for 180 days. We're not traveling during the pandemic. FULL-TIME TRAVEL FOR MORE THAN 16 YEARS AND COUNTING.