Posts Tagged ‘Crossing the border’

Crossing the border (frontera) from one country to another in Central America is relatively easy except going into Costa Rica. Without going through long border crossings you can drive the PanAmericanana Highway from Guatemala to Costa Rica all the way.

Every country likes to be unique. Costa Rica is no exception.They decided for you another adventure if you are planning to travel by road.

This can take anywhere from a half hour to 2 hours +…

Driving your vehicle when crossing becomes a little bit more complicated. If you are planning to take another’s person vehicle… It is prefarable if you do not try doing that.

The list below is more helpful for those who drive their vehicle. Not thinking of driving? Then just delete those parts ot 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. At least, depending on your luck with the local officials this can take a half a day or two days. At the town where your vehicle is registered, this is given from a local Policia-.
• 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. Contrary to what some believe the adventure of dealing with the coyotes can leave with a better exchange rate. If you plan to do that you would have to know the exchange rates.

Most of the time it takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour. it can take longer if the traffic at the boarder is heavier than the usual. Equal time for each country.

Leaving Nicaragua:

First charge. The charged for 4 people to cross the boarder with a vehicle is 80 Cordobas (about $4.00). Tax for the local town. Depending on the quantity of people in the vehicle.

After you have paid for the entrance into the boarder you must go to the offices where you obtain a free customs form. When you get to see all the buses lined up in the center that is where the building is. To register where you are from where you have been, and .where you are going….

Have your Passport out and ready to fill the proper information out. (Both in English and Spanish the forms are generally bilingual most of the times)

As soon as you have the forms completed you must stand in line…

…  Did I mention patience?

While the Migrations Officials stamp your passport and send you to your merry way. Non-resident’s charged $5. 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.

On the Nicaragua 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.

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.

Once they approve 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 continue to the next stop- the migration exit post, everything has to be certified previously so that you received a vehicle exit ticket.

At the exit before proceeding to the fumigation office; hand your exit ticket to the official at the exit post. 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 saving hours to other motorists!