You can find a video of our experience getting a Covid test in San Jose Costa Rica here.Getting the Covid Antigen Test. And, if youre traveling more in Nicaragua, check out all of our Nicaragua blogs including some of our favorites below: Things to do in Leon (other than volcano boarding! There are ferries from Granada to San Carlos via Ometepe Island. For the uber directions, we just put in El Tanque, and then told the driver that we needed to get to the bus stop for the bus to Upala (more details below). We hailed it and got on. Bus from Rivas to Peas Blancas this costs 40 cordobas (as at 2022) and takes less than an hour. However, all of that changes with the reopening of the border. Pretty crazy, huh?! came around and charged all the locals a different amount. We walked along route 16 for about 10 minutes staying on the right-hand side of the road (the direction for travel to San Juan del Sur). At the kiosk, you have to pay $10 USD for a tourist card (tarjeta de turismo) and $3 USD for the Immigration Office - these fees are mandatory, cash only, and helpfully listed on torn pieces of A4 on each booth. Another way to find the bus stop is to put in Antojitos ISA into Google Maps. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Costa Rica has kept its doors open for those seeking international protection. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Las Isletas Boat Tour: Best Thing To Do in Granada Nicaragua, Leon Nicaragua Destination Guide (2023): What You Need to Know. Theres an additional $1 USD building fee at the Peas Blancas border. Google Translate helped us a lot in navigating this process. The bus station in Liberia that you need to be at is located at Calle 12 and Avenida 7. Nicaraguas rejects that, though its arguments are not yet known. Hand in your paperwork and answer any questions that they have, Go back to window 21 to pay the $25 USD for the visa extension. There are two official border crossings between Nicaragua and Costa Rica at Peas Blancas as well as at San Pancho Nicaragua / Los Chiles Costa Rica. So, if youre reading this, remember you can pay in advance online here. There was only one person in the queue ahead of us. From Granada you can also get to San Carlos by taking a few local buses. Tourists on the CA4-90 day visa are permitted entry to the CA4 countries for a period of 90 days. Thanks! They will show you the stamp with your new exit date. * From or to Nuevo Colon rather than Playa Matapalo. on the Nicaraguan side we unfortunately followed a guy from the bus and said we only pay in the bus. When we crossed the border that was what the charges were officially, however, they may have changed now so thanks so much for the update! Thankfully, a chicken bus zoomed past at about 5:20pm and we hopped on. Lots of travellers question the fee but end up handing over whatever combination of USD, cordobas, or clones they have in their pockets (according to the woman, 2,000 colones was our fee in place of $1, which was actually around 600 colones). You can check your visa requirements for Costa Rica here. Everyones border crossing experience will be a little bit different. [2] There are also no Covid requirements for travel within the country. He goes above and beyond to ensure that you reach your destination safely. Most countries do not require a visa when visiting Nicaragua and will receive 90 days on arrival. The situation is constantly evolving, so be sure to look up the current requirements if you are planning this trip yourself. Endless Distances is a participant in several affiliate programs. b) Arrange Transport to the SPACE - we can make your trip as painless as possible. A Complete Guide to Hiking Concepcion Volcano, The Ometepe Ferry | Schedules, Tickets & Travel Tips, 13 Wonderful Things to Do in Nicaragua (published soon), 23 Things to Know Before You Visit Nicaragua (published soon). No antigens. The bus stop was just across the road from the Costa Rica border control building. San Jos, Jul 5 (Prensa Latina) The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Ministries of Health of Costa Rica and Nicaragua on Wednesday joined efforts to conduct cross-border . You will be in San Juan del Sur ready to surf in no time! I share more details on onward travel for Costa Rica in this border crossing post. -no atm around, bring cash also for the bus and food you want to buy The Rivas bus terminal looks like an overcrowded parking lot as well as a marketplace. Monteverde to San Juan del Sur online in advance here. Bus tickets can be bought directly from the driver that morning but there is no guaranteed seat and you could find yourself standing for what was a 2-hour journey on a gravel road. However the screen was black and Im unsure it was operable. Rooms are comfortable and reasonably priced. My goal: to help you live well& travel widely! Hi, I did this trip today. This adds to the need for support from UNHCR and its partners. How to Get From Costa Rica to Nicaragua. There are a couple more lanchas on weekdays. Is Costa Rica calling your name in 2022? It cost us only 20 NIO (~$.55 USD). Anything additional will be subject to taxation. Ours is based on traveling from La Fortuna, Costa Rica to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. The Costa Rica to Nicaragua border is no different and can be confusing to say to least. The bus costs $1 USD or 37 Cordobas. There is always a bus! Costa Rica-Nicaragua Border Dispute - COHA To help, see this location pin on Google Maps. Nicaragua to Costa Rica | Crossing Borders - ALONG DUSTY ROADS You will also need to pay an extra 50 cordobas for postage. Also do Not pay anyone without uniform. Official address for immigration head office in Managua Nicaragua: Semforos de la Tender 300 metros al lago. In 2010 Costa Rican Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Roverssi complained that the map published by Google Maps did not correctly display the border between the two states. The total journey took 15 minutes and cost 2,370 CRC (~$4 USD). The CA4 countries are Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Saying that, you still need to have your wits about you. The malecon area is a beautiful place to watch the sun set and see views of Ometepe Island. There are guys who target this bus route and sit behind you from the border to steal stuff, so keep your daypack on your knees or beside you at all TIMES! The Hague (Reuters) - Costa Rica asked the highest U.N. court on Monday to establish its maritime boundaries with Nicaragua once and for all to end repeated border disputes with its Central. If you want a unique island experience, come to Ometepe Island Nicaragua. We were also given our Nicaragua entry cards at this point. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. DO NOT LOSE THIS!! When he saw that we watched him to check the amount he turned his back towards us. This is a very unassuming piece of paper that theyll probably tuck in your passport. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Allow Necessary Cookies & Continue According to Costa Rica, Nicaraguas new military camp is on territory designated as belonging to Costa Rica under a December 2015 decision by the ICJ. We were not asked for any proof of onward travel at the border. Doubling in number over the last eight months, the agency now estimates that there are more than 150,000 Nicaraguans who have crossed over the southern border, seeking refuge in Costa Rica. This was our longest no mans land so far on our travels! We were not asked for this when we entered Costa Rica. I recommend you use it as the next few steps take a long time. You also need to pay in USD and not CRC. So trust me KEEP THIS CARD SAFE. You walk on the gap between Costa Rica side and Nicaragua Side (pave road), show your Passports and Luggage at officers in both sides, and then on Nicaragua side walk through the Trucks Parking Area or hire a tricycle and take your right, look for the new biulding with white with Bars in the outside, here again ask for your migrations form or . on the Nicaraguan side we unfortunately followed a guy from the bus and said we only pay in the bus. Its conveniently located a short walk from the bus terminal and from the main part of the town. In the heart of Central America, Costa Rica is flanked by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Cheers and happy travels, This decision was a response to a procedure implemented by Costa Rican authorities on May 5th that . The capital of Nicaragua is an often overlooked destination. To be sure, check with your country's foreign department prior to departure. Within about five minutes we paid our $3 USD exit fee each, our passports were processed and it was time to leave Nicaragua. The road leading up to it was yet to be constructed and was a muddy dirt path. Have some extra USD or CRC on hand to exchange into NIO at the border. You will spend on average $5-10 to exit Costa Rica or Nicaragua and $10-15 to enter Costa . Remember, they wont give you the pure exchange rate you see on XE or other sites, and they need to make money on every transaction to make a living, so anything within 5-10% of the interbank exchange rate is a good deal. They sent us back to the head office in Managua. Ive also written a play-by-play of what to expect at the border itself, because there are a lot of steps at this one. @destinationlesstravel, hey, we're in costa rica planning to travel to Nicaragua with our drone. Nicaragua Costa Rica Border Crossing: Complete Travel Guide Essential border crossing information: Nicaragua entry requirements To enter Nicaragua you must have at least 6 months validity on your passport. This aims to boost tourism while still maintaining strict security protocols. Strangely enough, this isnt done in the immigration office, you must go to what looks like a small shop around the corner from the immigration office and pay $8 USD to get the exit ticket. Costa Rica Maps & Facts - World Atlas The bus tickets cost 2,900 CRC (~$4.88 USD) per person and there was plenty of room to sit. It is reasonably common for perpetual tourists to do border runs between Nicaragua and Costa Rica every 90 days in order to reset their 90 day visas. Update | A reader recently let us know that this scam now has more official-looking accoutrements, but is still not asked for at the border desk. There is a large traveler presence because this is the main border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We reboarded our bus at 10am and paid the driver for our bus ticket from Upala to Penas Blancas. There are a number of pick-up and drop-off points to choose from in both countries. and even have coverage in case you get that dreaded c-word. Nicarauga is a member of the CA-4 group of countries - alongside Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala - and the visa/stamp you receive gives you 90 days which applies to all four of those countries in total. 5.45, 6.30, 7.15, 8am etc etc). If youre up for a bit of adventure, I recommend doing this border crossing by public transport rather than an expensive private shuttle. Undoubtedly, a private shuttle would be a LOT easier than the combination of chicken buses, public buses, and ubers we took during our border crossing adventure. Get on the chicken bus to Rivas (ours left at 4:20pm they leave every 30 to 45 minutes). The southern bank of the River San Juan lies on the border for much of its length. Note that you dont have to wait in a single queue outside the main entrance - simply go in and join the shortest queue (some people dont realise this and stand outside for longer than necessary). After an additional 60m we had to show our passports again to another police guy (Im assuming Nicaraguan). Keep your passport and vaccine card accessible during this walk. The chicken bus should be waiting just outside of the immigration gates, and if it is not there, it should arrive in a couple of minutes. This is reflected in the map of the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (INETER) which coincides with the National Geographic Institute of Costa Rica.[1]. The countries have a handful of claims and counter-claims before the ICJ mostly centering on the mouth of the San Juan river and the Isla Calero, a virtually uninhabited area claimed by both states. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. So we ordered an uber. entry fee in Nicaragua was 13$ per person Needs must at 7am, lol. However, these shuttles usually come at a hefty price (especially when they include a border crossing. In Managua there are a few different queues you need to line up in. Flag. However, their economic security could be compromised once the harvest is over, increasing the pressure on response institutions and UNHCR programmes, warned the UNHCR spokesperson. Get off the bus at the intersection of the main highway. We have successfully renewed our visas in the immigration offices at Granada, Rivas, Estel as well as the head office in Managua. They want about $2 USD for the ride, but it is only a 5-minute walk if you are up to it. There are no limitations in terms of the year the vaccinations were received. Right at 7:10am, a double decker blue Transpisa bus arrived. Youll be dropped off on the right hand side of the road, and need to cross over to this point (Google Maps) where the buses pass by on their way from Rivas to San Juan - a bus kindly waited a couple of minutes for us to get off and get over, but note that you may face a wait of 30-45 minutes by the side of the road. He said we must go back and put our bags through the scanner and pay $10 USD. Youll probably be visiting La Fortuna while in Costa Rica! We hope that you found this blog useful and cannot wait to host you at the SPACE. Alternatively, it costs $45 per person (if the shuttle is full) from Liberia to San Juan del Sur. At time of writing, there are also additional covid-related conditions of entry. If you are traveling in the opposite direction, from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, then you WILL need proof of onward travel. dansoldit@gmail.com, Hey Chase, I can't comment on the Covid situation. On August 22, 2021 we finally crossed the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. The bus from Rivas to San Juan Del Sur is only 30 Cordoba( not 40 at you state) This is not always asked for, but is technically a requirement. Contact the S. Embassy in Managua, located at Km 5 C. Sur Managua, Nicaragua, by calling +505-2252-7104, 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Fridays. This process can take up to 2 weeks but is typically 5-6 business days. I said wed pay it at the official desk, and she moved on, coming up to us later then remembering we had already said no, and didnt ask for the fee again. Just use my instructions above for onward travel to San Juan del Sur! HOWEVER! If you have a Costa Rican temporary or permanent residency you will also need the following: A valid passport with at least one blank page and at least 6 months validity from the date of entry into Nicaragua. The land border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is also known as Frontera Nicaragua Costa Rica. Editorial credit: Wollertz / Shutterstock.com. And that was that! Once in SJDS, it was easy to walk to Saltwater Hostel, where we stayed and where I recommend! We took the iconic, cheap, and chaotic chicken buses all the way to San Juan del Sur (#ForTheBlog #ForTheBudget). You can get to San Carlos from Managua by bus. Luckily, Dan and I found a couple other travelers doing the same route and we banded together. As at 2022 a 30 day visa extension costs $25 US plus 5 cordobas for the form. These were not working in 2022 however, and cant be relied upon. Border Crossing Costa Rica to Nicaragua by Boat - Most tourists who are traveling in Costa Rica also want to visit other Central American countries. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-jjbucketlisttravellers_com-leader-2-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'jjbucketlisttravellers_com-leader-2','ezslot_4',172,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-jjbucketlisttravellers_com-leader-2-0'); A few minutes passed, and we decided to check with a border official to make sure we were in the right line. If you cant be bothered with the hassle or dont speak Spanish, then feel free to pay it if youve got a dollar bill. I took the bus from Liberia in Costa Rica to Penas Blancas - the bus says 'Frontera' (the border) on the outside. Get out of the immigration area right after you are done, pass through the gates, and get on a big chicken bus to Rivas. Hi, thanks for the info! Around three per cent of Costa Rica's population is now made up of Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. Traveling in a couple, we also get the benefit of splitting the uber cost. Print outs are preferred. Around three per cent of Costa Ricas population is now made up of Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. The American Citizen Services unit is also available by email during regular business hours at ACSManagua@state.gov. Google maps name for immigration head office in Managua Nicaragua: Directorate General of Immigration and Nationality. Actually, shuttle was our original plan but it is just way too expensive to justify, at least for our travel budget. Time:10 minutes waiting, 2.5 hours to Upala. Luckily, we got through without a hitch and are now able to help others make the same journey we did. Costa Rican ambassador Sergio Ugalde told the court on Monday that Nicaragua was seeking to justify the location of the camp with unrealistic and exaggerated claims that would re-draw Costa Ricas sea and land borders.