Crossing the border (frontera) from one country to another in Central America is relatively easy except going into Costa Rica. All the way from Guatemala to Costa Rica you can pretty much drive the PanAmericana Highway without going through long border crossings.
Every country likes to be unique. Costa Rica is no exception.You need another adventure! - they decided for those who plan travelling by road into Costa Rica.
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 it’s in your mind… It would be a lot better if you did not do that.
Below, the list is predominantly for those who drive their vehicle. In the case of not driving then just delelte those parts or items dealing with 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. 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. Banks may give security for rates of exchange. But you miss the adventure of bartering for a better rate from the coyotes. To do that you have to know the exchange rates.
It usually takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour. At the boarder,if the traffic is heavier it could take longer. Mostly for each country there is an equal time.
Getting out of Nicaragua:
First charge. The charged for crossing the boarder for 4 people with a vehicle is 80 Cordobas (about .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. 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….
make sure you have your Passport out and ready to fill the proper information out. (Generally the forms are bilingual both English and Spanish)
Soon after you have the forms completed you must stand in line…
…Did I mention patience?
To have the Migration officials stamp your passport and send you on your merry way. Cost for a non-resident . At any time this can changed.
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; If the Policia are near you then you are lucky to just have them sign off 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.
As soon as 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.
In order to continue to the fumigation office, hand your exit ticket to the officer at the exit post. 60 C0rdobas will be the price (approx)-. $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…It has literally saved hours to other motorists! 
