Complete Guide to Crossing the Costa Rica-Nicaragua Border on Foot

Essential Things to Know Before Crossing the Border

Required Documents

Before crossing the border it is important to have all your required documents in place. This ensure a seamless exit of Costa Rica and entrance to Nicaragua.

• Passport (not expiring within 6 months)
• Confirmation of where you are staying
• General itinerary
• Confirmation of Costa Rica exit tax paid
• Future travel information (recommended for added ease but not required)
• Small bills in USD

Entrance and Exit Fees

• Costa Rica Exit Tax – $8 USD (you can pay online ahead of time)
• Nicaragua Entrance Fee – $12 USD (you must pay in exact change and in USD)

Step by Step Guide to Crossing the Border on Foot

1. Bus from Liberia to Border
2. Costa Rica Exit Tax
3. Exit Costa Rica
4. No Mans Land
5. Enter Nicaragua
6. Nicaragua Entrance Tax
7. Luggage Check

Liberia to the Border

La Cruz – Peñas Blancas

The first bus you will take is the La Cruz – Peñas Blancas. It takes about 2 hours and goes straight to the border. You will get off at the very last stop of the line. This bus costs ”’ Colones which is about ”’ USD. This bus comes multiple times a day but every time it gets a very long line and fills up so make sure to get in line as soon as you see one start to form. It is best to take one of the earlier ones to avoid lines once you get to customs.

Exiting Costa Rica

Costa Rica Exit Office and Tax

After getting off the bus you will head to the Costa Rica exit office. This office is right next to where the bus lets you off and you will see a bunch of orange cones. Here you will need to show that you have paid your Costa Rica exit tax. You can also go to one of the machines inside the building to pay this tax but it will be about $2 more for the service charge so it is recommended to do it before. The exit tax for Costa Rica is $8. There is also a house you can pay this tax through across the street and it will be $10 as well.

When you get to the front you will show them your passport and form that you have paid the exit tax. They will stamp your passport and you will walk outside and around the right side of the building. Here there are also bathrooms, these are the only available bathrooms available until you get to your destination.

No Mans Land

You will then walk through what is called no mans land. This area is the area between both countries and is heavily monitored. It takes about 10 minutes to walk through this area and make sure you have your passport readily available because you may be asked to show it to make sure you got it stamped exiting Costa Rica.

When the road splits into a V you will go to the left side toward the building. This is the Nicaragua Immigration office.

Entering Nicaragua

Immigration Office

You will then enter the immigration office, there is always someone trying to sell a paper by the door, you do not need it you will have to buy a real one at the counter so you can decline this.

You will then wait in line until you are called up to the counter. Here they will take your finger, sometimes take your fingerprints and you will provide all of your information. The questions can vary depending on who you are seeing buy you will need to provide your occupation, why you are there, what your plan is, where you are staying and for how long you are staying. Some of the people there speak English and others only speak Spanish. If you are wanting to do the border crossing on foot and do your future travel by public bus at least basic Spanish is recommended.

You will then need to pay the exit fees to get the passport stamp. It is $13 (USD only), make sure to have exact change because some of the people will tell you they do not have change and you will have to pay more than the $13. Also make sure you bills are all in perfect condition (no rips or markings) they will not accept damaged bills.

Luggage Check

Lastly before you leave you will need to send your luggage through the luggage scanner. Here you will send all bags through a scanner similar to what you see with TSA. Make sure you are up to date on what you can and cannot bring into Nicaragua. Nicaragua is more strict than a lot of other countries.

Restricted items

• large amounts of cash
• fresh foods
• binoculars
• photography equipment
• videography equipment
• I also saw people getting playing cards taken from them but have not seen anything online if this is restricted or not
• (this is not a full list but some of the most common prohibited items people bring)

Entering Nicaragua

When you exit the office you will walk out to the main road. You will be stopped by several officers along the way, just and them your passport and they will confirm you check out of Costa Rica and into Nicaragua correctly.

After Entering Nicaragua

Scams

Private Buses: There are private busses that will try to get you on their bus. Avoid taking them, they cost a lot more and the drivers will lie to you about the destination to get you on the bus and then drop you off in places you do not want to be.

Taxis: People will tell you that it is less than the bus or there is not a bus to your destination. There is always a bus and it is very inexpensive. A taxi can be worth it if you have a bigger group. Make sure to always get the price before you get in the taxi and that is the price for the whole group not per person.

Currency Exchange: There will be people at the border who will want to exchange currency, the will give you a very bad exchange rate. Avoid exchanging money here and go to a bank. If you do just for some money until you get to your next destination check the math and only do a little bit of money.

Carrying your Luggage: People will offer to help you with your luggage, they will then expect you to pay them, always keep your luggage on you.

Stealing: I have never had a big issue with stealing but make sure to always keep everything important on you and always have your luggage visible to you. If you do need to put large luggage separate from you, make sure to put anything you would not want to loose in a smaller bag that is next to you the entire time.

The most common time you will get scammed is when you are trying to get to a destination especially by bus. The best way to avoid scams is to do proper research on where you are going and what buses you will need to take. If someone tries to tell you something different you don’t need to listen and can tell them no. Also being able to communicate the knowledge you know in Spanish will get people to leave you alone when they know that you know what you are doing. People can be very forward in these areas and will sometimes not leave you alone, sometimes you just need to say no and walk away.

Currency

You can use both USD and the local currency Cordobas. If you use USD make sure to have small bills and they are all in perfect condition. It is best to use the local currency when you are there if you need to exchange currency you can do it at the local bank or you can get cash at an ATM. Make sure to reject the local exchange rate for the best rate.

The current exchange rate is about 36 Cordobas to $1 USD. Do not exchange with the people at the border if you do not have to, if you do just for some money until you get to your next destination check the math and only do a little bit of money.

Bus Routes

There are in-depth blogs you can find with detailed instructions on how to get to each of these locations. Just search where you are and where you want to know via chicken bus blog. The local busses in Nicaragua are refered to as chicken buses.

Granada

You will first take the bus from the border to Rivas. You can get on the bus to Managua and it will stop in Rivas but if possible I would take the bus that only goes to Rivas because it will be a calmer and simpler transition (this bus is all white and has no labels)

You will then take the bus from Rivas to Granada.

Leon

You will take the bus all the way to Managua, after you take this bus you will go to a different station and take the bus from Managua to Leon.

Managua

There is a bus that goes directly to Managua. You can take the express bus and it will take you there very quickly.

I would recommend avoiding this bus station if possible. This has been the worst bus station I have traveled to found the area very unsafe. If you are in a group you should not have problems but if it is just you I would try to avoid it.

San Juan del Sur

You will go on the bus to Managua, you will need to let the driver know you need to get off in La Virgen. This stop is pretty quickly into the ride. You will then take the bus from La Virgen to San Juan del Sur.

Ometepe Island

You will first take the bus from the border to Rivas. You can get on the bus to Managua and it will stop in Rivas but if possible I would take the bus that only goes to Rivas because it will be a calmer and simpler transition (this bus is all white and has no labels).

Once you get to Rivas you will take a taxi about 10 minutes down the road to San Jorge this taxi costs about 50 cordobas ($1.50 USD).

The taxi will take you to the ferry port and you will take the ferry to Ometepe Island.

FAQs