Costa Rica: Overland Costa Rica and the Border Crossing from Nicaragua

Border Crossing from Nicaragua to Costa Rica:

The following procedure took 4 hours.


  1. 1.Drove through LHSide gate at ALTO sign. CONTROL de AGUJA, ADUANA

  2. 2.Guy in Blue shirt and AGUJA insigna asked for Passports and Vehicle permit.

  3. 3.Duty Free shop is just to the left.






  1. 4.Turn left at ALTO BUSSES sign and 2nd left again. Park opposite Customs.

  2. 5.Met by guy in Blue Shirt who took Vehicle Registration papers. Checked Registration number.







  1. 6.Go to Pink Building (Police) and sign vehicle documents.

  2. 7.get stamp and sign for vehicle

  3. 8.Detailed are entered into computer.










  1. 9.Go to Immigration on RHS of vehicle check. Cost US$1 or C15/person

  2. 10.OFFICE de DEPARTURE window and fill in departure card. US$2/person









  1. 11.Drive back to main road and drive south past fumigation booth.

  2. 12.Hand over paperwork at Blue and White Building.

  3. 13.Immigration officer checks passports.


  1. 14.WELCOME TO COSTA RICA sign


  1. 15.Go to right through green and yellow building then through fumigation booth.












  1. 16.Turn right at immigration sign, continue down street and park on left past immigration building.


  1. 17.Join the line at immigration (toilets also here)

  2. 18.Passport is stamped with the number of days you will be in Costa Rica - always allow for a few more.





  1. 19.Insurance: 100m further on and to the right of a bent sign. At the back of a concreted parking area for trucks you will find a Grey and White building. Make sure all the details are correct - double check everything.

  2. 20.Give Registration papers and Passport and C8,365 or US$17 for 3rd Party Insurance.






  1. 21.Go to the building down the ramp and at the end  see ‘COPIAS AQUI’ and have made a photocopy of 3rd party Insurance and the immigration stamp showing days C50/copy

  2. 22.Information - ‘TIPO CASA RODANTE’ is MOTORHOME


  1. 23.Go to ADUANA -in the yellow building opposite immigration. You need copies of passport, passport stamp,Registration papers,Drivers Licence and copy of 3rd party Insurance.

  2. 24.Complete the application for “Temporary Import of Vehicle.

  3. 25.Officer will want to sight the originals then staple copies to the temporary Import docs.




  1. 26.Vehicle is inspected.

  2. 27.Then go back to Aduana in the Grey and White building opposite photo copy shop here you will get a ticket that is stamped with date and your registration number written on it.

  3. 28.As we exited the area they took the ‘ticket’ and checked the vehicle.



Travel in Costa Rica:

Costa Rica is the only country in the world that doesn't have an army. This means they have more money for such things as free medical for citizens from birth to death, also free education from kindergarten to college. The result is a very high literacy rate.


The people are friendly, and there are lots of holidaying Americans, and their associated advertising placards everywhere. Thus the country is more commercial, more westernised with hotels and resorts, however the shops aren't great.

The beaches are fabulous, here is the longest left hand surf break in the world.


Try to be in Costa Rica when the turtles arrive every month after June, this is the time when a series of arribadas (flotillas) of Olive Ridley turtles arrive. Tens of thousands of them.










Costa Rica Driving:

Road driving is very ‘westernised’ and orderly. Here the police do many road checks.


Camping:

We camp on beaches, in town squares and were even invited to camp in a church yard and had use of their toilets. The best were in the high mountains







Food:

It is expensive, expensive shopping, expensive food and even more to eat out.



Fuel:

Fuel prices are not displayed


For more informations see: http://www.drivetheamericas.com/costa-rica

For our actual Travel Diary through Costa Rica see: 2012 GoannaTracks Across Costa Rica

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