Costa Rica Travel: Costa Rica Border Crossings

What to expect and how to be prepared when crossing the Costa Rica border into Panama 

Anywhere in the world, crossing the border between two countries comes with a bit of bothersome immigration protocol. Crossing the Costa Rica-Panama border is no different. However, Know Before You Go is our motto. If you know how to be ready for what’s ahead, your Costa Rica-Panama border crossing can be simple and painless!

Costa Rica – Panama Borders: On Costa Rica’s southern border with Panama, there are three main crossing locations; Paso Canoas, Rio Sereno & Sixaola-Guabito. We updated this post in September of 2021 to reflect current hours of operation and fees. Please note, times are listed in in Costa Rica time. Keep in mind that Panama is one hour ahead of Costa Rica!

Pacific Coast: Paso Canoas Border

Open 6am to 10pm Mon-Fri, 6am to 8pm Sat & Sun.

Located on the Pacific side of the country, Paso Canoas is actually on the Inter-American Highway section of the Pan American Highway. The Pan American highway runs from Panama City to all the way through Mexico! Needless to say, this is the busiest of the three Costa Rica borders due to commercial traffic. Actually, Paso Canoas is one of Central America’s busiest border crossings.

The Costa Rican side of the border has a lively town with small shops and restaurants. The Duty-Free stores here offer excellent pricing, sometimes nearly 50% less. So of course, it is a popular shopping spot for Costa Ricans looking for a good deal. The Panamanian side is mostly immigration offices, officials, internet & copy places and buses lined up to take you to David, the next large city about 40 minutes south. For expats living in Costa Rica needing to renew their Visa, David is a popular 72-hour destination.

The immigration buildings look very much like the rest and the signage is not great; hence it can be a bit confusing. If you get overwhelmed, there are “helpers” (known as tramitadores) around to help non-Spanish speakers through the process. However, if you have all your documentation up to date, there’s no need to hire someone to help. Most people are friendly and will help guide you in the right direction. Due to the commercial nature of the traffic however, you will probably experience the longest wait at the Paso Canoas border crossing. Morning commercial trucking traffic is the worst, so avoid it if you can. Either way, if driving or taking a bus, this is the most popular border crossing for those heading to Boquete or Panama City.

Caribbean Coast: Sixaola-Guabito Border

Open Daily 7am to 5pm

Located on the Caribbean side, this crossing station is the most interesting of the three. Most traffic here is from tourists and back-packers making their way from the sleepy Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica to the party town in Panama’s famous archipelago of Bocas Del Toro. The off the beaten path crossing at Sixaola-Guabito used to take you over the tracks and wooden planks of the original railway bridge built in 1908. Until just recently, it had not undergone renovations since its original construction. Imagine both pedestrians and motor vehicles crossing over the same rickety wooden bridge! Hopping over missing wooden planks with your luggage was an adventure in itself. Yet they seemed to think it was safe? Well, I guess the nearly 100,000 people crossing each year proved that it in fact was. Well safe enough to keep doing it anyhow.

Now, you can rest assured that the center lane is paved for cars crossing. Sadly however, you missed your chance at the awesome photo ops of crossing the border to post on your FB. At either side of this border crossing, there are times the line can take up to 3 or 4 hours during a busy tourist season, so be ready in case this happens…bring your Pura Vida.

The Road Less Traveled: Rio Sereno-San Vito Border

Open Daily 8am to 4pm (With random 1-hour lunch breaks mid-day)

Located in the mountainous range somewhat in the middle of the Pacific & Caribe borders, the Rio Sereno crossing has much less tourist traffic and no cargo crossings. Officials at this station have a diligence motto and if you comply with all entry requirements, you can have a swift border crossing (less than 1 hour). On the Panama side you will find the roads paved from Sereno to David. However, coming from San Vito on the Costa Rica side, the road is a rather rough and rocky ride. This is probably why the Rio Sereno border is still not widely used and quiet. As it is in the middle however, it is convenient to both Boquete and Bocas Del Toro as an alternative to the more crowded borders. Just beware, its remoteness means if you do not come prepared, you will not have easy access to resources.

What do I need to cross the Costa Rica Border into Panama?

To answer that question honestly, I would say it just depends on the border agent you are dealing with and which border you are crossing. I swear, things change every time I cross a border in Central & South America. Below I have listed the current requirements, however when in doubt, abide by the Panama Entry Requirements you find listed on the Panama immigration website.   

Passport: You may say, duh…but you would be surprised by how many people show up at the borders and realize they have left it behind on their last stop or somehow misplaced it. Keep it safe! More importantly, your passport MUST be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to entry.  This used to be mildly enforced, but in the past couple of years this is no joke entering ANY foreign country.  If you plan to travel for several months and your passport expires within the next year…just get a new one and don’t risk the hassle.

Aside from having your passport, you will need to carry 2 copies of your passport with you, one of which the border agent will keep. There are typically copy places nearby in case you forget, but then you will have to get out of one line, get in another, then go back and wait in line again. If you are on a bus, don’t expect the driver to wait if you are under prepared. Trust me… I learned the hard way.

Departure Tax:  Yes, Costa Rica does make you pay to leave the country…most countries do actually, it is just included in the cost of your airline ticket so you don’t realize it. As silly as that may sound, be thankful that it is currently only $9 per person if crossing on land as opposed to the $29 per person fee if departing by air. Actually, it is $8 if you pay with the bank directly, but if you pay at the border they add $1 commission.

The tricky part is that they are trying to go all digital.  Previously there was a person there to help collect the fee and provide you with the documentation.  Now they have installed automated machines, which means if the machine is out of service…you could be out of luck. They are pretty straight forward if you can follow instructions, and be aware this can only be paid using a credit card. If you are concerned or you do not have a credit card, you will want to pay this fee in advance at one of the Bancredito branches in Costa Rica.  To find the one nearest you, take a look at the Bancredito website. They of course have banking hours…so do not expect any last minute weekend assistance.

Proof of Exit: A plane or bus ticket out of Panama within 180 days. IMPORTANT!! This does not just mean you have proof of leaving Panama, this means proof that you are returning to your country of citizenship (the country of whatever passport you are using). In a pinch, you can purchase a refundable flight out of Panama, print the receipt to show immigration, then cancel the flight immediately.

Have dual citizenship? Make sure you are using the passport too that coincides. If you are a legal resident of another country and that is where your return will take you, be sure to provide proof of legal residency as well. After a countless number of times I crossed the border back and forth between Panama and Costa Rica I had never been asked for anything other than proof of leaving the country. Until that ONE dreadful day I got stuck. According to immigration this has been law since the 80’s, but it was never really enforced until recently. Trust me, you DON’T want to get stuck, it is NOT fun.

Proof of Economic Stability: The minimal requirement is $500 cash or a credit card with your name on it for a 3 month stay. Rather than carrying that much cash and flashing it at the border, I advise bringing a bank statement. If you did not bring a bank statement with you on vacation, you can get your balance printed from most cash machines in a pinch and immigration will typically accept that. In the digital age we live in now, accepting screen shots from your phone of you banking balance should pass as well.

Visa: US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter Panama (if want to check visa requirement according to your country of origin, you can visit https://www.projectvisa.com/ or contact your nearest Panama Embassy or Consulate). Note: If after your visit to Panama you’ll re-enter Costa Rica, check your visa status prior exiting Costa Rica in the first place because you will be required to remain out of the country at least 72 hours if your visa is about to expire (for more info you can visit our past blog on Costa Rica Entry Requirements). It used to be that they let you enter for a day, but recently they began enforcing overnight stays in order to return to Costa Rica.

Entry Fee: Hmmm…so if you review the government requirements, there is no “official” Panama Entry Fee really clarified by land, however I have been charged multiple times going both directions. There is a small exit tax of $1 plus a $4 customs fee depending the border in trade for a little sticker they put on your passport. I have been charged going both ways, so still not so clear on this one. I really do not know what that is all about, but after being held at the border once, I have learned to smile nicely and do whatever they ask. Note: They do not accept CRC in Panama, only dollars or balboas.

Costa Rica Borders Hours of Operation: Finally, when planning your trip across the border, take note of the hours of operation of each Costa Rica border. Also keep in mind Panama time is one hour ahead of Costa Rica time. There is so much conflicting information about the border hours of operation online! I figured just best to call the border offices directly myself. The times listed above reflect the hours of operation in Costa Rica according to the border agents I spoke on the phone with to verify the times for 2020. Everyone notes different times based on their experience though…so not sure how reliable times really are. Oh yeah, and they take a lunch break too, so just relax and get a bite to eat while you wait.

Between my border hopping experiences, I think I have compiled enough frustrating experiences (or more accurately immigration has changed their practices leaving to scramble un-expectantly) that I can help my fellow travelers avoid their own frustrating experiences. I will try to keep you all updated, but if you encounter something not listed here or anything that needs to be updated, please leave a comment and help out your fellow travelers.

For more information on how to prepare for your Panama vacation and other Panama travel tips, you can also check out our previous post, How to Prepare For My Trip to Panama.  

Post Note

In my opinion, border crossing between Costa Rica and Panama is best done by bus. Crossing into Panama by car is more of a headache than a convenience. There are too many requirements to comply with, plus rental cars are not allowed across the Costa Rica-Panama border. Car rental companies do have a service you could request to have the car picked up at the border, but for an additional charge of course.

There are plenty of direct buses to go across the border (i.e. TicaBus or Panaline). If you are more of an adventurer, and looking for means to save a bit of money, you could take a bus to the border for less than half the price, walk across and continue your way either by bus, colectivo or taxi depending your final destination. As previously mentioned, if you do not have everything prepared properly and are detained at the border, the bus WILL leave you (and your luggage) to sort it out and there is no refund for the leg of the trip you lose out on. Obviously, I learned this the hard way. If you really want to make things simple on yourself going from San Jose or Puerto Viejo to Bocas Del Toro, get a shuttle, they will walk you through the process and have teams on both sides….who WILL wait for you. I also found that when you come with Caribe Shuttle passing the Sixaola border crossing, they are not as picky about things like economic solvency. But always be prepared for the worst of course. But with the Shuttle Service, they help you along the way and can navigate around any bumps in the process.

For more information on how to prepare for your Panama vacation and other Panama travel tips, you can also check out our previous posting. Our team is always happy to help wherever they can, so feel free to contact us as well. If we do not know the answer, we will help you find it.

Want a more interactive experience? Get the tips directly from one of our Activity Specialists in this informative video about crossing the borders between Costa Rica & Panama.

Final Note About Covid 19 Protocols as of September 2021

Aside from all the regular border crossing requirements, both Panama and Costa Rica require you to fill out a health questionnaire and have a few extra requirements such as proof of vaccination, PCR testing, or quarantine.

Entering Panama from Costa Rica: As of September 1st, 2021, Panama borders are open to all vaccinated travelers barring they comply with the additional restrictions and protocols.

Panama Entry Requirements for Covid 19: Basic requirement is that you have been vaccinated and can provide proof either digitally or physically of your vaccination card. Non-Vaccinated travelers are welcome if they provide a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours prior to their arrival. There are additional restrictions however from those arriving from “high risk countries”. The United States is on that list currently and so is the UK. And the list is constantly changing, so you will want to check just prior to your arrival date.

For that and complete information on the changing Covid 19 Entry Requirements for Panama, please visit Panama’s Official Tourism Website.

At the Panama Border Crossing: You will need to comply with all the entry requirements above, plus fill out a health questionnaire.

Be prepared and fill out the health questionnaire in advance in case you do not have internet as you are crossing the border. Affidavit of Health of Passengers to Enter Panama.

Note: Panama is still requiring the use of the plastic visor masks when using public transportation. You can find them selling them at the land border crossings, however I noted they were no longer enforced. But again, better safe than sorry.

Entering Costa Rica from Panama: As of August 1st, 2021, Panama borders are open to all vaccinated travelers barring they comply with the additional restrictions and protocols.

Costa Rica Entry Requirements for Covid 19: There are 2 basic options to enter Costa Rica currently.

Option #1: You must either be vaccinated by one of the 4 approved vaccinations at least 14 days prior (AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, or Pfizer BioNtech)

Option #2: Travel insurance that covers Covid 19 medical expenses & accommodations in case of quarantine. They list the specific companies that they have made specific compliance with that you will need to book your insurance with. As the guidelines are changing constantly, it is important that you check out the current requirements on Costa Rica’s official Department of Tourism website.

At the Costa Rica Border Crossing: You will need to comply with all the entry requirements above, plus fill out a health questionnaire.

Be prepared and fill out the health questionnaire in advance in case you do not have internet as you are crossing the border. Go to Pase de Salud Costa Rica and select your language, then select fill form.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE!! Costa Rica’s app requires you to upload digital proof of either your vaccination card or insurance. Although there are people there able to assist you, they are unable to permit you unless you are able to complete the digital form and produce the QR code. The app is a bit tricky at times and the document sizes have to be small enough to upload into the app.

For a bit more help on that, read my previous blog about the trials and tribulations of traveling to Costa Rica during the pandemic.