Video: How To Cross The Border From Panama to Costa Rica

This short video shows how to cross the border from Panama to Costa Rica in Paso Canoas.

Some things to keep in mind.

• If you get behind a big tour bus, it’s going to take you a while, so you may want to go shopping. Jerusalem Mall isn’t bad.
• The agents leave for lunch randomly around mid day. If you’re unlucky enough to be coming through then, you’ll have to wait until they return. I usually try to avoid mid day.

So, the steps are as follows:

1. Buy a stamp for $1 (random people will fine you and sell it to you).
2. Get in line and give the agent your passport & tourist card. He will stamp it and keep the card
3. Go to the Costa Rica side.
4. Cut to the front of the line and ask for the “papeles”, they will know what you mean.
5. Go to the back of the line and give the agent your passport to be stamped and the papers that you just filled out.
6. Head to the beach and buy an Imperial. Pura Vida!

Going from Costa to Panama

There are two extra steps once you get ready to check into Panama.

1. Get the piece of paper from the Passport agent.
2. Take that piece of paper to buy your tourist card.

Unless you are bringing your own car across, the crossing can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.