Crossing the border (frontera) from one country to another in Central America is relatively easy except going into Costa Rica. Long border crossings are relatively not existent when you drive the PanAmericana Highway from Guatemala to Costa Rica.
You will have to ask Costa Rica why they insist on such border crossings. Some think that…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 +…
Driving your vehicle across becomes a little more complicated. If taking another person’s vehicle your plan… It would be a lot better if you did not do that.
For those who drive their vehicle the list below will be of much use. 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. With the local Officials it could at least take from a half a day to 2 days depending on your luck. 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. Knowing how to deal with the coyotes will get you a better exchange rate then at the bank. You would have to know the exchanged rates in order to do that.
Commonly it takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour. It can take longer if the traffic at the boarder is heavier than usual. Mostly for each country there is an equal time.
Going out of Nicaragua:
First charge. The cost for 4 people to cross the boarder with a vehicle is 80 Cordobas (about $4.00). Tax for the local town. The number of people in the vehicle being the determining factor.
Once you have paid for the entrance into the border you must go to the offices where you obtain a free customs form. The building is where you see all of the buses lined up in the center. In order to register where you are from, where you have been and where you are going….
Important! Have your passport out and ready to complete the prope information out. (Generally most of the times the forms arebilingual both in English and Spanish)
As soon as you have the forms filled out you must stand in line…
…Did I mention patience?
At the time the Migrations Officials stamp your passport and sen you to your final destiny. Non-resident’s cost $5. Any time, this can changed,.
IF you are traveling with your own vehicle you must also go to another office on the Nicaragua side.
Where you get here the local inspector will provide you with an inspection form, then if you are lucky and the Policia are on sight you should have them sign off on the inspection,.
With the vehicle inspection form signed off by both the
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.
When 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 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, hand your exit ticket to the offical and proceed to the fumigation office. The cost approxmatly will be 60 Cordobas. $4.00) and this for the spraying of your vehicle to disinfect it before going into Costa Rica.
Then, 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!