Crossing the Border – How To – Nicaragua a Costa Rica
Crossing the border (frontera) from one country to another in Central America is relatively easy except going into Costa Rica. From Guatemala to Costa Rica you can pretty much drive the PanAmericana Highway all the way without going through long border crossings.
Costa Rica wanted to add to the uniqueness of their country not convenience.They assumed that if you are planning to travel by road into Costa Rica you needed another adventure.
This can take anywhere from a half hour to 2 hours +…
When crossing, driving your vehicle becomes a little more complicated. Thinking about taking abother person’s vehicle… It would be a lot better, if at all possible you did not do that.
The list below is more helpful for those who drive their vehicle. Not driving then just delete those parts or items pertaining to vehicles.
Items required:
- a couple of pens – in case one gives up on you
- valid passport with current stamps
- valid exit visa stamp if you are a resident of Nicaragua but not a citizen
- valid exit documentation for your Nicaraguan vehicle should you be driving. This can take at least a half a day to 2 days depending on your luck with the local officials. This is obtained from the local Policia in the town where your vehicle is registered.
- valid vehicle registration card – circulation
- proof of insurance for your vehicle
- cedula – should you be a resident
- valid drivers licence.
- 3 photocopies of your passport (main page), vehicle registration, insurance certificate, exit visa for your vehicle, cedula, (include front and back side of all documents that have printing or stamps)
- patience – generally more then usual – simply because you do not know what kind of adventure you are going to run into.
- a spare batch of patience just waiting for the real fun adventures you may have.
- a high dose of positive attitude and humor
- plenty of small denomination bills – Cordobas or dollars (US) on the Nicaraguan side and Calones or dollars (US) on the Costa Rica side. Knowing how to deal with the coyotes will get you a better exchange rate then at the bank. You would have to know the exchange rates in that case.
It usually takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour. it can take longer if the traffic at the boarder is heavier than the usual. For each country there is approximately an equal time.
Leaving Nicaragua:
First charge. The cost for 4 people crossing the boarder with a vehicle is 80 Cordobas (about .00). Tax for the local town. Depending on the quantity of people in the vehicle.
When you have paid for the entrance into the boarder you must go to the offices where you obtain a free customs form. Where you see all of the buses lined up in the center – That is where the building is located. In order to register where you are from, where you have been and where you are going….
It is necessary for you passport to be out and ready to fill the proper information out. (Generally most of the times the forms arebilingual both in English and Spanish)
As soon as you have the forms completed you must stand in line…
…Did i say patience?
When the Migration officials stamp your passport and send you on your merry way. Non-resident’s cost . The prices can changed at any time.
IF you are traveling with your own vehicle you must also go to another office on the Nicaragua side.
Once you are on the Nicaraguan side, you will obtain an inspection paper from the local inspector then if you are lucky and the Policia are close by you should have them sign off on the inspection. l.
With the vehicle inspection form signed off by both the
- inspector and
- Policia
you then get to stand in line to have the migration officer check for
- properly signed vehicle inspection,
- the proper registration,
- insurance,
- exit papers for your vehicle, and
- driver’s license.
By the time they certify then you go to the next line to wait and have the Policia check for the proper registration, insurance, exit papers for your vehicle, and driver’s license.
To be able to proceed to the next stop- the migration exit post, everything has to be approved beforehand for you to received a vehicle exit ticket.
At the exit, you can hand in your exit ticket to the official and proceed to the fumigation office. The cost will be 60 Cordobas (approx). $4.00) and this for the spraying of your vehicle to disinfect it before going into Costa Rica.
Later, you drive to the Costa Rica boarder buildings and …
Join us for the rest of the adventure of crossing the border…Literally, it has saved hours to other motorists! 