Panama to Costa Rica Borders Crossing via Paso Canoas
Are you backpacking through Central America and planning on crossing borders from Panama to Costa Rica or vice versa? Border crossing can be often stressful; that's why we've put together this travel guide for independent travelers who want to cross the borders from Panama to Costa Rica via Paso Canoas.
Crossing borders between two countries is often inevitable when traveling long term and moving around on land, but nowadays, even many people on a regular vacation want to explore more places in a limited time, so searching for tips on how to cross borders independently is more and more common.
We've crossed borders numerous times during our long-year trip around South America and Central America using public transport, and there was no exception when leaving Panama and entering Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is among travelers known as a country with more strict rules than its neighbors, so before our trip, we've tried to learn as much information as possible.
Although we know that the personal experience is non-transferable, we still think, in this case, it is better to be well-prepared and know what to expect. There are more border crossings between Panama and Costa Rica, but because of our planned itinerary, we chose Paso Canoas.
If you are interested in our travels a bit more, check out Panama 2-Week Itinerary and Costa Rica 2-Week Itinerary.
Paso Canoas is a small bland town on the borders between Panama and Costa Rica, and it's popular among backpackers for land borders crossing between these two Central American countries.
As we know that leaving and entering a foreign country can be often stressful, we've put together this travel guide where we share our personal experience and advice on how you should proceed on the journey between Panama and Costa Rica (you can use this travel guide even when traveling in the opposite direction).
We've also included some useful tips to make your trip as smooth as possible.
PASO CANOAS
Paso Canoas is by far not the most confusing border crossing we've ever visited, but on the other hand, we've seen much more organized ones.
On the other hand, for travelers who had never experienced a border crossing on foot in this part of the world, the first impression can be complete chaos. This is why we would like to guide you through.
Paso Canoas is mostly used by people who want to explore the Pacific Coast of either Costa Rica or Panama (the border crossing lies on the most southwestern respectively most northwestern part), or by expats who live nearby and need to renew visas.
We traveled from Panama to Costa Rica and the night before stayed in the city of David, which is a traditional base for travelers leaving or entering this Central American country.
On the Costa Rican side, you'll most likely base yourself or change buses to the border in Ciudad Neily.
HOW TO CROSS THE BORDERS BETWEEN PANAMA AND COSTA RICA
If possible, we always recommend arriving at the borders as soon as possible to avoid queues. The atmosphere is often a bit calmer as vendors slowly prepare their stalls.
Personally, we are not into shopping and want to have the whole process behind us as quickly as possible, but we know many travelers feel a different way and cannot wait to explore duty-free zone in every country.
If you are into shopping, then arrive around 10 AM when most shopping malls are open.
STAYING OVERNIGHT IN DAVID
And how our day of crossing borders between Panama and Costa Rica looked like? We left early in the morning from the hostel in David, which is the nearest transportation hub to the borders.
Although we really enjoyed our time in Panama and visited many awesome places, a short exploration of David gave us an insight into this city, which is better to skip in case your itinerary is really packed.
That's why we only bought lunch in a local eatery and spent the rest of the day in a hostel that conveniently had a pool as the weather in the area was insanely hot and humid. In the morning, we headed to the main bus terminal.
It's the same terminal from where you can get the bus to Boquete, Bocas del Toro, Santiago or Panama City.
There is an ATM if you need to withdraw some cash, but you might have a different problem as you are leaving the country.
TAKING A BUS FROM DAVID TO PASO CANOAS
Once we arrived at the bus terminal in David, we found a van with the sign on the top of its front windshield saying Frontera - Paso Canoas.
If you aren't able to find it, ask around (say you need to get to Frontera, which means border in Spanish); bus conductors or money collectors are willing to help foreigners get on the right van.
The terminal itself is well-organized, we felt pretty safe there, at least during the day, and there is a buffet canteen where you can grab cheap local food if you're hungry.
The first van to the borders leaves David at 5:30 AM and, from this time, goes quite frequently, approximately every 30 minutes.
t costs $3 per person, and the ride takes more or less one hour as the colectivo picks up passengers along the way and stops frequently.
ARRIVING AT THE BORDERS
Before you arrive, it is necessary to set your expectations right. Although Costa Rica is known as one of the most developed countries on the continent, the border crossing is quite disorganized, and you will have to cover some distance on foot.
Once the bus stopped at Frontera, we got off the bus and walked right away towards the immigration building on our left.
THE PANAMANIAN BORDERS
Then we followed the immigration signs 'Salida Costa Rica', got the stamp in the passport, and walked to the other side of the borders.
Getting the exit stamp is very important, so don't forget to check the passport if you've really gotten it, and do not miss this stop in the first place.
Otherwise, if you fail to go through this step, they will turn you back at the Costa Rican borders.
THE COSTA RICAN BORDERS
We put our heavy backpacks back on and continued to Costa Rican side, where it was immediately our turn as there were no foreigners present at the moment.
There are more counters, so make sure you are standing in the right line designated for foreigners, do not wait behind locals.
This was probably the fastest immigration control check from all our previous border crossings as the officer behind the counter quickly checked our passports, wanted to see proof of onward travels, asked us briefly about our travel plans for the next couple of days, and then stamped our passport and let us go.
Costa Rica is known for really checking the proof of onward travels when entering the country, so make sure you do not underestimate this requirement.
PROOF OF ONWARD TRAVELS
We had our flight tickets saved on a phone (we purchased the refundable tickets the evening before as we did not intend to fly out from the country but planned to carry on by bus), and when the officer asked to present them, we showed him the phone, and he only took a quick glance at it.
He also didn't ask any questions, and we didn't have to fill out any forms. Later in the evening, we canceled flight tickets and received money back in a few days.
HOW TO GET FROM PASO CANOAS BORDERS
When we were done with immigration, a guy approached us and asked us where we need to go. We told him that we wanted to get to Uvita, a small village on the Pacific coast and home to the Marina Ballena National Park, and asked him how to get there by public transport.
It was around 9 AM, and he replied that the next bus would leave at 1 PM directly from borders, but he also mentioned there was a bus leaving from Ciudad Neily (the closest larger town in Costa Rica, 18 kilometers away from borders) at 10 AM.
He told us we might catch it when we take an official taxi for $20, but he could take us there for $15.
It looked pretty suspicious as it was way too expensive, so we turned down his offer and walked away. I must admit that we hadn't done much research before, so he caught us unprepared.
I rechecked my map and found out that there should be a small bus terminal.
So we walked a little bit back toward the Panama borders and found it on the other side of the road where the bus was about to depart to Ciudad Neily.
The bus runs quite frequently, approximately every 30 minutes, and is super cheap compared to the taxi ride, as we paid only 500 colones (less than $1). If you travel on a budget, there is no need to pay extra for the taxi.
Once you get to Ciudad Neily, you can catch a bus to your preferred destination, or if you're tired, stay there overnight.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
COSTA RICA TO PANAMA
If you're crossing the borders in the opposite way, from Costa Rica to Panama, the process and the requirements should be very similar.
Make sure you get the exit stamp, have your passport ready with expiration at least six months after arrival, have a rough itinerary in your head, and make sure to keep handy proof of onward travels.
There's only one exception when crossing borders from Costa Rica to Panama - you have to pay a departure tax of approximately 8 USD.
This $8 Costa Rica exit tax for land border crossing can now be paid online at Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) if you prefer to arrive prepared at the borders.
And from the Panamanian side, you can catch a microbus going to David, the province's capital city.
In comparison, Costa Rica's exit tax by air is $29.
COSTA RICA ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
There are a few things you need to have to enter the country legally. Keep in mind that the requirements may change from time to time, so always check up-to-date information before the crossing, especially rules that apply to your nationality.
First, you need the original passport (valid at least six months after entering the country) in good condition.
Then you need onward proof of travels either to your home country or to another country showing your intentions to leave Costa Rica. I heard from someone that it has to be only a return ticket to the country of origin, but this information proved to be incorrect.
You will also need proof of economic solvency meaning $100 with you in cash for each month you plan to travel in Costa Rica, or you can have a recent print screen of your bank account.
And lastly, you are required to have a valid visa.
Most countries do not need visas to enter Costa Rica, and citizens of other nations can usually stay up to 90 days, but check your requirements specifically!
WHERE TO STAY IN DAVID
David, located on the Panamanian side, is not an attractive city and usually serves as a transport hub for those traveling to Boquete in Panama or Costa Rica.
Here are some tips on where to stay before your onward travels. Make sure you find a place close to the bus station, which saves you time and money for transport.
Budget | Bambu Hostel - A quite cheap and friendly hostel with private rooms and dormitories has a fully equipped kitchen and swimming pool.
Mid-range | Hotel Alcala - This well-located hotel is reasonable-priced, and rooms come with free and fast wifi.
Luxury | Hotel Ciudad de David - A spacious and modern hotel is a good choice if you are looking for a nice and clean room, sauna, swimming pool, and fitness center.
On the other side of the borders, you can book a room in Ciudad Neily and take a rest, but as we still had a long day ahead of us, we continued to Uvita.
In Ciudad Neily, we only bought a bag of fruits at a local market, which we later forgot on the bus. But anyway.
Uvita is one of the top Costa Rican destinations, so make sure to book a room in Uvita in advance.
If you are heading to Corcovado National Park, then you should reserve a room in Puerto Jimenez
TRAVEL TIP
Panama is one hour ahead of Costa Rica, so make sure you turn your clock back one hour after crossing the border to Costa Rica. If you're entering Panama from Costa Rica, do the opposite thing.
If you want to learn more, read our useful guide on Things to Know Before Visiting Costa Rica.
And if you are looking for some inspiration, check out our blog posts on Fun Things to Do in Costa Rica and Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica.
WHAT SHOULD YOU HAVE READY FOR BORDER CROSSING
Crossing borders is not a normal travel day, and that's why you should pack accordingly and think carefully about what you are really going to need. First of all, we recommend dressing comfortably as you never know how long will the process take.
Secondly, make sure that you have all the necessary documents handy in your daypack.
Last but not least, we felt quite safe when crossing the borders, but you must know that these areas with a lot of traffic, noise, and chaos often attract shady characters, and you should always be aware of your surroundings.
To stay organized, bring a passport holder.
For staying safe, not only for border crossing but overall for traveling, we think it is worth investing in a anti-theft daypack, moneybelt and luggage lock.
Most importantly, never leave your luggage unattended.
Also, as you never know how long you will spend between two countries, pack your trusty water bottle and a snack.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
