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Costa Rica Travel Information

The Ultimate Guide to Crossing the Border Between Costa Rica and Nicaragua:Penas Blancas Border

January 5, 2022 By Sammi 461 Comments

In this guide, I’ll take you through the entire process of crossing the border from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, Penas Blancas border by foot. You will find everything you need to know about exiting Costa Rica, entering Nicaragua, exiting Nicaragua and entering Costa Rica at the Penas Blancas border.

Costa Rica Nicaragua Penas Blancas Border Crossing Guide

Click on the section to skip to it.

• What You Need (Required documents, taxes, etc.)
• Getting to the Border

Leaving Costa Rica

Entering nicaragua, leaving nicaragua, entering costa rica.

• Safety Tips

What You Need for Crossing the Border Between Costa Rica and Nicaragua

• A valid passport that is not within 6 months of expiring (Nicaragua is strict about this)
• Costa Rica Exit Tax Receipt (if you are leaving Costa Rica)
• You must not have overstayed your tourist visa for either Costa Rica and Nicaragua
• Check if you need a visa to enter Nicaragua. (USA and Canada does not)
• A printed plane ticket out of Costa Rica if you are entering Costa Rica
• Small USD bills. All taxes are paid in USD.

How to get to the Penas Blancas Border Crossing in Costa Rica

• Car – You can drive your car to the border but that is as far as you can go as Costa Rican rental cars are not allowed to cross land borders. In this case, you will need to leave it at the house in the front. The family that lives there will watch it for you for a ~$5 USD a day. Do not leave any valuables inside! You’ll start seeing a huge line of trucks when you get close to the border. Don’t stay in this line. Keep going and you’ll be able to cross the over and park by the Costa Rica exit office.
• Private shuttle or taxi – You can book a private shuttle in Costa Rica to take you to the border. Depending on where you are traveling from, this private transfer (~$180 USD from the Guanacaste beaches). The shuttle will drop you off right at the border which then you will cross on your own by foot.
• Bus – You can take the public bus to the Penas Blancas border from Liberia (5 AM – 6:30 PM every 45 minutes with Grupo Transbasa) or San Jose (3:20 AM – 7 PM every hour with Caribenos), get off and cross the border by foot. You can also take a bus like Ticabus that goes from San Jose to Managua and to the rest of Central America. You will do the border crossing with Ticabus.
• Visa Run – If you are crossing the border purely for a visa run and don’t have your own transportation, check with Native’s Way (Tamarindo) as they offer visa runs (transportation only).

To leave Costa Rica, you first need to pay the exit tax which you can pay at the border directly.

Costa Rica Exit Tax

Costa Rica charges an exit tax for all land crossings. There are buildings right when you enter at the border to pay your exit tax with lots of signs. With the Costa Rica exit office ahead of you, all the exit tax offices are to the right.

You must pay this exit tax before you exit Costa Rica which can be paid at one of these offices pictured above. They charge a little more for a “convenience fee” so the total will be $10 USD. You can also pay this online on the Banco de Costa Rica website for $8 USD. Print out your receipt and bring it with you.

Costa Rican Exit Office

As you walk towards the border, you’ll see lots of trucks. Costa Rica is the only country who didn’t sign the Central America  Marchamo so you will see tons of big rig trucks waiting in line to cross. If you’re driving, you can go around them. Every time I’ve been to the Costa Rican exit office, it’s fairly empty with no line.

Go inside with your passport and exit tax receipt and hand your passport to the officer who will check it. They didn’t ask me any questions but they asked the lady in front of me where in Costa Rica they were staying before they left.

There is a bathroom outside to the left of the exit office (free).

Now, walk outside and follow the buses and groups of people towards Nicaragua.

After a few hundred meters, you’ll reach the office to enter Nicaragua. You’ll go through one main check point at the border where they will check for your Costa Rican exit stamp. However, any officer can stop you on the road to check your stamp and your negative COVID test result.

Sometimes the officers will ask questions, sometimes not. They’re pretty friendly in all my experiences and don’t worry if you don’t know Spanish. Just show them your passport if they ask for it.

Nicaragua Entrance Office

Continue after this checkpoint and follow the signs to the Nicaraguan immigration office. You’ll see lots of people selling souvenirs, clothes, food and asking if you need change.

The Nicaragua immigration office is quite new and very nice with air conditioning. When you get inside (look for Entrada), get in line.

Then, you will get in the entrance line and pay a $12 USD tax to the immigration officer who takes your passport. When he has stamped it, he will write out a large receipt which you can keep. He will normally ask you where you are going in Nicaragua. Let him know the city and if you booked a hotel, tell him the first hotel you’re staying at in Nicaragua. Sometimes the officer doesn’t ask anything at all.

After you’re done, put any luggage or belongings through the luggage scanner for customs. After that, you are now officially in Nicaragua!

There there is a lady who will ask for a $1 USD municipality entrance fee.

If you continue walking outside, there are some restaurants and taxis if you need one. It’s about a thirty minute taxi ride to San Juan del Sur which costs around $30 USD. Also just in case, here is the bus schedule to Rivas and Managua below.

Leaving Nicaragua is about the same process. The exit office is the same office as the entrance, just on the other side.

When you get inside, you have to pay another $1 USD municipality tax (to the small booth to the right) and $3 USD to exit to the officer who takes your passport. Put the location as your first hotel/hostel and town in Costa Rica. If you need the bathroom, it is to the left of the immigration office building and costs $1 USD.

After you get your Nicaraguan exit stamp, walk back on the main road towards the Costa Rican side. Like before, you’ll be stopped a couple times by officers to check your passport. Once you reach the Costa Rican side, head to the right side of the building to go through immigration to enter Costa Rica.

You’ll see a bunch of orange blocks making a line for the entrance. Try to get in line as fast as you can and while you are in line, get all your documents ready to present to the officer.

The next part is very important for foreigners when it comes to Costa Rica land entry requirements.

C osta Rica Entry Requirements

You will need to present to the immigration officer your flight out of Costa Rica if you’re a tourist. Tourist visas last 90 days for Group 1 countries and you must show proof you are leaving the country before your visa expires.

*IMPORTANT AS OF SEPTEMBER 2023. Costa Rica has now extended tourist visas for Group 1 countries from 90 days to 180 days. The officer will now probably ask you for a ticket out of 180 days. Group 1 countries are USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Chile… if you are not sure what group your passport is, please check with the Costa Rican embassy/consulate in your passport country.*

Proof of Onward Travel Out of Costa Rica

To emphasis this point, every foreigner must present a return flight ticket home or a ticket out of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is fairly strict about this in all of my experiences. Of all the times I have crossed the border, I’ve been asked for my flight out every single time.

There is a possibility that you can use a bus ticket, instead of a flight. However, this is not guaranteed to be accepted. I’ve known people who were denied entry with a bus ticket and the officer made them purchase a flight. So even though sometimes a bus or shuttle ticket may work, it honestly depends on the immigration officer you get. Some are super strict, some are more lenient.

Now with COVID, they are more strict about perpetual tourists (people who “live” in Costa Rica as a tourist and do a border run to renew their tourist visa) so it is best to present a flight itinerary confirmation.

I never want to run into any hassles or problems at the border so I always present a printed confirmed flight ticket. If I’m not actually flying out, I’ll purchase a refundable ticket or many airlines have a 24 hour window where you can cancel without penalty regardless the fare type (like American Airlines). A lot of people use Onward Ticket to rent a ticket.

Getting Your New Costa Rica Stamp

Go up to the window and give the officer your passport first. He will probably ask you where you’re going, your occupation, and how long you are in Costa Rica for. Then when asked, show him your proof out of Costa Rica within 90 days.

Once approved, they will stamp your passport with your tourist stamp and write in how many days your tourist visa is valid for (normally 90).

And there you go! Exit the building, put your luggage or backpack if you have any through the machine and you are good to go! That is the complete guide to crossing the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua at Penas Blancas.

Peñas Blancas Border Crossing Fees

To sum up, here are all the fees you need to pay when you are crossing the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. These prices are quoted in USD so pay in dollars but bring small bills because most of the time, they will not have any change.

Please note that Costa Rican currency is not accepted in Nicaragua and Nicaraguan currency is not accepted in Costa Rica. USD works in both countries and since prices are quoted in USD, pay in USD. Small bills only!

• $8 or 10 Costa Rica exit tax (price depends on where you pay for it)
• $12 Nicaragua (to the entrance immigration official)
• $1 Nicaragua entrance municipality tax
• $1 Nicaragua exit municipality tax (in the small booth of the exit office)
• $3 Nicaragua exit tax (to the exit immigration official)

Safety Tips for Crossing the Penas Blancas Border

I’ve heard about some people having trouble or being scared at the border but luckily I, a Asian-American female have never had a major problem and I have crossed alone and with other people. However, there are always people who will target tourists and try to scam you. Here are our tips and things to watch out for.

Do not accept any offers from people trying to help you

These people will pretend to help you for free and then try to charge you something ridiculous when you’ve crossed over. They are persistent and will follow you too.

Also do not accept any offers from someone claiming they can do the border crossing for you. It’s tempting but never let anyone walk away with your passport. Never. You don’t know what condition it will be when it comes back or what they did with it meanwhile.

If you have questions or are lost, ask the Costa Rican immigration officers or the police.

If you’re a solo traveler, look for other travelers and talk to them to see if you can cross together. You may need to write down some Spanish phrases because not all the officers speak English, especially on the Nicaraguan side. Check our Costa Rican Spanish guide for travelers to learn them.

No more custom forms

Some people might try to sell you these so walk away and find an immigration officer. I stopped a woman once who was about to pay $20 for a form! That is one of the common Costa Rica tourist scams .

Bring small USD bills

The immigration officers usually do not give change so make sure you pay in small bills for the taxes and fees. ($1 and $5). Never pull out a huge wad of cash either.

Do not leave your passport hanging out of your backpack or leave any belongings unattended

You do need to show it several times when crossing to the officers, but always put it away in a safe secure spot each time.

If you’re a solo traveler, try to find another group of travelers to join

Usually officers will bother you less if you’re in a group. If you go by yourself, they tend to bother the solo travelers more.

What to do if you overstay your visa

If you overstay, your passport will be marked and you will need to talk to your country’s embassy to figure out what to do. Usually if this is a one time occurrence and the overstayed time wasn’t very long, they can help you sort things out and it’s not a big deal.

However, if you overstay for a long time or multiple times, don’t think you will go undiscovered. Immigration will probably find out at some point, especially as they’re trying to crack down more on perpetual tourists. Once immigration finds out, you will be kicked out of the country and be denied entry for an undisclosed period of time (depends on your situation). We recommend to contact your country’s embassy/consulate in Costa Rica ASAP.

Do not overstay your visa, Costa Rica and Nicaragua do take this seriously. Nicaragua especially is very strict.

Read more Costa Rica travel tips below!

Driving in Costa Rica : In depth guide with tips and advice for driving in Costa Rica. Includes safety tips, information about how Costa Ricans drive, road sides, and more.

Renting a car in Costa Rica : Tips for renting a car in Costa Rica. What you need to know about car rental insurance, reputable companies, recommendations if you should or shouldn’t rent a car and more. You can also get our Costa Rica car rental discount .

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Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border Crossing: The Complete Guide (2024)

The Costa Rica to Nicaragua border crossing at Penas Blancas was the longest and most confusing of all the border crossings I’ve completed in South and Central America. That’s why I’m sharing a full guide below!

We crossed the border by foot, and this guide is geared toward other travelers doing the same. Our journey took us from La Fortuna, Costa Rica to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua in one day. You can also start your journey in Liberia or San Jose, Costa Rica.

In this Costa Rica Nicaragua border crossing guide, I’m including instructions for all of the above. Let’s get to it!

NOTE |   I completed this border crossing in 2023, and have updated this post for 2024. I’m doing my best to keep this article updated. If you find this guide helpful, please comment below with any changes or updates! Together, we can help future travelers navigate the Costa Rica Nicaragua border safely.

Check out my other border crossing guides…

Nicaragua to El Salvador Border Crossing Guide

Panama to Costa Rica Border Crossing Guide

El Salvador to Guatemala Border Crossing Guide

Guatemala to Honduras Border Crossing Guide

Honduras to Guatemala Border Crossing Guide

Guatemala to Belize Border Crossing Guide

Belize to Mexico Border Crossing Guide

Ecuador to Colombia Border Crossing Guide

Peru to Ecuador Border Crossing Guide

Sailing the San Blas Islands to Cross From Colombia to Panama (Coming Soon!)

Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border Crossing Locations

Unlike some of the other South and Central American countries we’ve passed through, there is really only one main border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It is called Penas Blancas , and it is on the west side of each country.

This is convenient if you’re crossing into Nicaragua, because most of the tourist destinations are on the west / Pacific side.

Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border Crossing: The Complete Guide

Not only is the Penas Blancas border itself more confusing than other ones I’ve come across in the region, but the process of actually getting to the border and then onto your final destination is also confusing.

That’s why I’m sharing ALL the information below on how to get to/from the border from various locations in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I’ve also written a play-by-play of what to expect at the border itself, because there are a lot of steps at this one.

How the Penas Blancas Border Crossing Works

Here is a very quick overview of what to expect at the Penas Blancas border crossing. Don’t worry, you can scroll further down to read my in-depth account of our experience at this border.

In order to complete the Costa Rica to Nicaragua border crossing at Penas Blancas, you’ll need to follow this route:

• Get to Penas Blancas (more instructions below)
• Pay Costa Rica exit tax
• Exit Costa Rica
• Walk 300m across no man’s land
• Get vaccine card checked twice
• Enter Nicaragua and pay entry tax
• Chicken bus or taxi to onward destination (more instructions below)

Travel Requirements for the Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border

Before you complete this border crossing, you should also be prepared with some important items or details.

These travel requirements include:

• Pre-booked accommodation in Nicaragua: Immigration officials will ask for your address in Nicaragua so it’s good to have at least your first night booked. We stayed at Saltwater Hostel in San Juan del Sur. It had great chilled vibes and was only $10/night for a dorm bed!
• USD cash: There is an exit tax and an entry tax at this border, and it’s required to pay in USD cash. So definitely be sure to have this on hand before you get to the border!
• Six-months passport validity:  It’s always recommended to have a minimum of six months of passport validity and at least two empty passport pages before you cross any international border. Some countries turn you away without this.
• Check entry requirements:  It’s different for every nationality, so check on your government website. Currently, USA and UK citizens can enter Nicaragua for 90 days. Note that Nicaragua is part of the CA-4 visa agreement , meaning your 90 days are spread across the four member countries (Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala). This is something to consider if you’re backpacking Central America.
• Yellow fever vaccine: You may be required to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’ve traveled in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Panama, Venezuela, Paraguay or Peru. However it’s a bit unclear if that’s only for when you enter Nica directly from those countries. We’d recently been in four of those countries but weren’t asked to show our certificates.
• Check health requirements:  I’m sure you know that things are constantly changing regarding COVID-19 travel rules and you shouldn’t trust travel blogs regarding this – go to the official embassy website. Currently to enter Nicaragua, we needed to show our vaccination cards. If you’re unvaccinated you need a negative COVID test.

Is Proof of Onward Travel Required?

From our research, proof of onward travel was NOT required to enter Nicaragua. We were not asked for any proof of onward travel at the border.

If you are traveling in the opposite direction, from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, then you WILL need proof of onward travel. There are ways to get this officially, without spending any money. I share more details on onward travel for Costa Rica in this border crossing post .

Where to Begin Your Journey in Costa Rica

Our first major pain point for the Costa Rica to Nicaragua border crossing was figuring out where we needed to begin our journey.

It is easiest to travel from Costa Rica to Nicaragua if you begin your journey in Liberia or San Jose:

From Liberia: Grupo Transbasa bus line has direct routes to the Penas Blancas border every 45 minutes from 5am-6:30pm daily. There is a link to their current schedules on their website.

From San Jose: Ticabus is an international bus line that can take you directly from San Jose, Costa Rica to Managua, Nicaragua. You will get off the bus at the border and then get back on the same bus. You can view schedules and purchase tickets online – although be warned their website is a bit wonky.

However, both Liberia and San Jose are big cities that we weren’t nearby or really desired to spend any time in. We also had no desire to end up all the way in Managua, Nicaragua – which is the least safe city in the country.

What We Did Instead: La Fortuna to Penas Blancas

Personally, we were in La Fortuna , which is a wonderful little town surrounded by hot springs, waterfalls, the Arenal Volcano, and adventure sports. You’ll probably be visiting La Fortuna while in Costa Rica!

Rather than take a terrible and convoluted route from La Fortuna to Liberia (or spend a lot of $$$ on a shuttle), we decided instead to attempt the border crossing directly from La Fortuna. We found ZERO information on this route online, but luckily we got by with the help of some friendly Costa Ricans and probably some luck, too.

Ultimately the journey from La Fortuna to Penas Blancas was not difficult at all – it was just a bit unnerving since we were winging it. I’ve included full directions below so you can complete the same journey with a bit more confidence!

Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border Crossing at Penas Blancas: The Complete Guide

Okay, this is a long and confusing one, folks. But I took notes during our border crossing so I could give you the full details!

Our full journey went a little like this: La Fortuna > El Tanque > Upala > Penas Blancas > Border Crossing > La Virgen > San Juan del Sur.

PHEW! Read on for the full directions.

1. Get to El Tanque from La Fortuna, Costa Rica

A few days before our border crossing, Dan and I lurked around the La Fortuna bus station and spoke to some locals about the best way to attempt this border crossing. With their help, we discovered a route that would take us to Penas Blancas with (hopefully) just two buses.

Our first step was to get from La Fortuna to El Tanque, a very small town just about 15 minutes away by car.

La Fortuna to El Tanque by Bus

It is possible to take the public bus from La Fortuna to El Tanque (but I don’t recommend it – read on). The bus leaves at 6:30am, but it’s recommended to get to the bus station for 6:15am. It costs 750 CRC (~$1.25 USD) and takes 15 minutes.

HOWEVER! The day Dan and I crossed the border, we waited around at the bus station and 6:30am came and went. The bus was late! We started getting anxious because we were told we needed to be in El Tanque by 7am-7:20am to catch our next bus. If we missed that bus, our entire border crossing day was screwed.

La Fortuna to El Tanque by Taxi/Uber

So… we ordered an uber. Luckily, the uber came in about one minute to pick us up at the bus station. The total journey took 15 minutes and cost 2,370 CRC (~$4 USD).

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). Luckily he knew where that was.

Ultimately, I definitely recommend just taking an uber to El Tanque and don’t screw around waiting for the bus. It’s not worth it if you miss it!

Cost:  2,370 CRC / ~$4 USD total or ~$2 USD per person

Time:  30 minutes

2. Bus El Tanque – Upala

There is no bus station in El Tanque, just a small shelter on the side of the road. The bus stop is located as you turn left off El Colono / 142 onto another road that’s also called 142 (at this intersection, the original 142 coming from La Fortuna changes into 141). To help, see this location pin on Google Maps .

Another way to find the bus stop is to put in “Antojitos ISA” into Google Maps. This is a small soda located right next to the bus stop. You could even get breakfast here if you have time. I got a to-go coffee with milk for 1,000 CRC. Needs must at 7am, lol.

The next bus you need to get is from El Tanque to Upala (the same bus will continue on to Penas Blancas after a break in Upala).

This bus originates elsewhere but is supposed to pass through El Tanque around 7am-7:20am daily. You can check at the tourist kiosk near La Fortuna bus station to confirm the timing, which is what we did.

Right at 7:10am, a double decker blue Transpisa bus arrived. It said Upala on the front windshield, not Penas Blancas. We hailed it and got on.

The bus tickets cost 2,900 CRC (~$4.88 USD) per person and there was plenty of room to sit. We stored our big backpacks in the under hold.

As a side note, the bus we were originally supposed to take from La Fortuna never passed through El Tanque! So we were really glad we took an uber, to say the least.

Cost:  2,900 CRC / $4.88 USD per person

Time:  10 minutes waiting, 2.5 hours to Upala

3. 20 Minute Break at Upala Bus Terminal

We arrived to Upala bus station around 9:40am. Keep in mind that lots of people get on and off at various stops, and there are about three previous stops in Upala before you get to the main bus terminal (it is obvious when you are there).

Once at Upala, we all had to get off the bus, but our big backpacks remained in the hold. This is a relatively small bus station with a few sodas, benches, and bathrooms. It costs 350 CRC (~$.60 USD) to use the bathrooms.

Cost: –

Time:  20 minutes

4. Bus Upala – Penas Blancas

We reboarded our bus at 10am and paid the driver for our bus ticket from Upala to Penas Blancas. This cost 4,500 CRC ($7.58 USD) for two people. We were told only 4,200 CRC (so, 2,100 CRC per person), however the driver only had change for 4,500 CRC…. this happens a lot in Costa Rica.

Next, our bus traveled onward from Upala to Penas Blancas. This part of the journey went really smoothly and took about three hours. We arrived to the border around 1pm, so yes, it was a long morning!

Cost:  2,250 CRC / $3.78 USD per person

Time:  3 hours

5. Pay Costa Rica Exit Tax

Once we arrived at the Penas Blancas border, the bus driver directed us to these super random houses. If you face away from border they’re on your left (see the photo below). Here, we had to pay the Costa Rica exit tax (“impuesto de salida”).

Weirdly, there are two competing houses here. You’ll probably see a couple people yelling you over, urging you to go into their house and not their neighbor’s. Yes, these look like houses people live in. And yes, they’re actually official (somewhat).

We went to the house on the left. There is a sign saying $8 exit tax with a $2 service charge. That service charge was annoying but we just showed our passports, paid, and got our receipts (that said $8…). Please note that NO cards are accepted and they don’t always give you change, according to reports. You also need to pay in USD and not CRC.

Note: Later in the Costa Rica immigration building we did see a console / ATM-thing that said “impuesto de salida” and it only charged $5 exit tax and a $2 “luggage fee”, and you could also pay with card. This definitely looked more official, and was only $7 compared to $10 at the odd houses. However the screen was black and I’m unsure it was operable. To be honest, it was annoying, but worth the potential extra $3 to not have to walk there and back in the heat with our backpacks…

UPDATE 2024 | According to traveler Vincent who commented below, it is now possible to pay the exit fee via credit card with a QR code provided at the customs building itself. Here is a link to the payment page in case the QR code does not work. This cost him $8.

Cost:  $10 USD per person

Time:  15 minutes

6. Exit Costa Rica

From the strange exit tax houses, we walked right toward the Costa Rica immigration building. It is on your left hand side and the door says “salida”.

We waited in a short line here, and the Costa Rican immigration officials checked our passports and stamped them – no questions. They did look at the exit tax receipt and approve it, so it’s not a complete scam.

Outside this building there is a free toilet. I recommend you use it as the next few steps take a long time.

Cost:  –

7. Cross No Man’s Land

Next, you have to walk across no man’s land between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. This no man’s land is no joke – it’s about 300 meters along a very hot paved road. This was our longest no man’s land so far on our travels!

I did not find the area sketchy or concerning at all. There is a police presence, as well as other travelers crossing on foot. When we crossed the road was also at a standstill with truck traffic.

Keep your passport and vaccine card accessible during this walk. After about 120m we had to show our passports to a Costa Rican border patrol, who checked that we had our exit stamp.

After an additional 60m we had to show our passports again to another police guy (I’m assuming Nicaraguan). Here, we also had to show our vaccine cards to a health official.

Then, we walked another around 60-80m before we had to cross the road when we saw a sign for Nicaraguan immigration. It’s easy to find this because there is a big parking lot with a big white building and a few other buildings.

8. Show Vaccine Card

Once in the big parking lot, there is a smaller building for health requirement checks, and a larger main immigration building. We decided to go to small building first because the line was short, and we figured it would be awful to wait in long line at the main building only to find out we had to get health stuff sorted first.

I’m so glad we did this because later on we saw a lot of people get turned away after waiting hours in line because they hadn’t gotten their health documents checked first!

After waiting in line, we showed our vaccine cards again and got a tiny piece of paper handwritten with our initials and the date. That was it!

Note: Don’t lose this paper! It looks unassuming but it’s very important later.

9. Enter Nicaragua

Next, we walked over to the main immigration building where we got in line. And what a line it was. We arrived around 1:30pm and waited in line until 3:15pm.

While waiting in line an immigration official came by and took a $1 USD per person “municipality tax.”

Once we got up to the main border agent we had to pay another tax. The Nicaragua entry tax was $14 USD per person . We were expecting it to be $13, but it was $14 so either we got scammed or inflation has made itself known here as well. (I’d be interested if you comment below what you get charged!)

The official asked us a few questions at this point – including our occupations. I recommend stating your occupation at home and not just saying you’re “traveling” because that can raise red flags about whether you’ll leave the country. I’ve also been told to avoid mentioning if you’re a journalist.

We were also given our Nicaragua entry cards at this point. DO NOT LOSE THIS!! This is a very unassuming piece of paper that they’ll probably tuck in your passport. You need to show it when you leave Nicaragua , or you could be fined $20+. Nobody tells you this at the border; most people learn it the hard way. So trust me – KEEP THIS CARD SAFE.

After getting our passport stamps, we walked past immigration and put our luggage through the scanners. And that was that!

Cost:  $15 USD per person

Time:  2 hours

10. Chicken Bus to Penas Blancas – La Virgen via Rivas

At last! It’s time for your onward travel to, well, wherever you’re heading in Nicaragua. I discuss the various options more in depth in the next section. Personally, though, we were heading to San Juan del Sur, a beachy backpacker surf town on the Pacific Coast (for the record, this is where every other traveler was heading, too).

We took the iconic, cheap, and chaotic chicken buses all the way to San Juan del Sur (#ForTheBlog #ForTheBudget). However, I will say that as soon as you walk past the border grounds you’ll be bombarded by taxi drivers. They’ll offer $25 USD to San Juan del Sur, which you can barter down to $22 USD pretty easily. If you split this with other travelers, it’s a great deal.

To get to where the chicken buses leave, you need to walk through the mob of taxi drivers about 100m. There is a big parking lot with chicken buses on your left – it’s extremely obvious and you can’t miss it!

Once in the parking lot, we spoke to some locals who told us where to wait for the bus to Rivas. There are also buses leaving express to Managua, and you want to avoid these. Each bus has a big sign where it’s heading.

Get on the chicken bus to Rivas (ours left at 4:20pm – they leave every 30 to 45 minutes). For the most direct route to San Juan del Sur, sit near the front (if you can) and tell the driver you want to get off at “La Virgen” (pronounced “la beer-hen”). It cost us only 20 NIO (~$.55 USD). The journey took about 35 minutes and we got off the bus at 4:55pm.

Cost:  20 NIO / $.55 USD per person

Time:  1 hour

11. Chicken Bus to La Virgen – San Juan del Sur

After getting off the chicken bus in La Virgen, you are literally on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere (for this reason, you really do need to tell the driver where you want to get off, otherwise you’ll never see it and they’ll drive straight past).

Luckily, Dan and I found a couple other travelers doing the same route and we banded together. To get to where the next chicken bus leaves, you cross the main road (route 1) and turn onto the intersecting road (route 16). Search “La Virgen” on Google Maps and you’ll see.

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). There is no bus stop or station for chicken buses, so we just kept our eyes out for it! Thankfully, a chicken bus zoomed past at about 5:20pm and we hopped on. It cost 30 NIO (~$.82 USD) and took about 20 minutes driving to reach San Juan del Sur. Once in SJDS, it was easy to walk to Saltwater Hostel , where we stayed and where I recommend!

Cost:  30 NIO / $.82 USD per person

Time:  45 minutes

Onward Travel From the Costa Rica Nicaragua Border

Chances are, you’re probably heading to San Juan del Sur, too. It’s an incredibly popular backpacker location. It was a little too party-central for my taste, but it’s a great first stop to get your bearings as it’s relatively close to the border. Just use my instructions above for onward travel to San Juan del Sur!

Other options for onward travel from the Costa Rica – Nicaragua border include:

• Ometepe:  This double volcano island is a backpacker must-visit while in Nicaragua. It would be a rush to get here in one day from the border. You’d have to take the chicken bus to Rivas, a taxi or bus to San Jorge ferry terminal, and then a ferry to Ometepe. It’s achievable if you cross the border really early in the morning, though.
• Granada:  The colorful colonial city I fell in love with in Nicaragua! Take the chicken bus to Rivas, and then another chicken bus to Granada. Again, it’s a long journey for one day especially if you’re coming from further afield in Costa Rica.
• Managua: Nicaragua’s capital city is not really a travel destination in itself, and it’s a bit seedy and unsafe. However it’s a good jumping off point for flights to the Corn Islands, or onward travel to Leon. The most direct route is the TransNica bus from San Jose, Costa Rica all the way through to Managua, Nicaragua.

For more onward travel plans,  Rome2Rio  is my go-to free tool to figure out travel routes. I will say that I found it pretty inaccurate for bus travel in Costa Rica to the border, and it doesn’t include any data on chicken buses. So, it’s a less reliable tool in this region than elsewhere.

Shuttle vs. Public Transport

At this point you may be wondering, why not just take a 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.

Actually, shuttle was our original plan – but it is just way too expensive to justify, at least for our travel budget.

Caribe Shuttle seems to be the highest recommended border crossing shuttle, but take the prices on their website with a grain of salt. They don’t include taxes, and more importantly, the shuttle needs a minimum of four people for you to get the listed price.

We contacted them about travel from La Fortuna to San Juan del Sur, but unfortunately the price we were quoted was $150 per person (whereas it says $66 per person on their website). We actually contacted them with two weeks’ notice, but unfortunately no other travelers joined to cut down the price.

Alternatively, it costs $45 per person (if the shuttle is full) from Liberia to San Juan del Sur. However it takes three different buses and basically a whole day of travel to reach Liberia from La Fortuna, so this was another no-go.

Note that those prices don’t include the $25 USD worth of exit and entry taxes at the border.

If you’re up for a bit of adventure, I recommend doing this border crossing by public transport rather than an expensive private shuttle. It’s a long day but not that difficult in the end, and you’ll save a ton of money.

Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border Crossing Overview

Everyone’s border crossing experience will be a little bit different. Ours is based on traveling from La Fortuna, Costa Rica to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Traveling in a couple, we also get the benefit of splitting the uber cost. We also had a long two hour wait at this border, which I think is pretty normal and something you should consider in your plans.

Total time:  12 hours

Total cost:  $37.03 USD per person

Safety Tips for the Costa Rica Nicaragua Border

Generally, I felt pretty safe at this border. There is a large traveler presence because this is the main border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Many “expats” (I hate that term) do border runs here so it is heavily trafficked and there is usually an English-speaking person around somewhere to help.

Saying that, you still need to have your wits about you.

In order to remain safe at the Costa Rica – Nicaragua border, here are a few tips:

• Have a secure zip pocket or fanny pack for your passport and vaccine cards. I found myself taking my passport out a LOT at this border. It would be easy to lose it in the hustle so I was really glad I had a fanny pack for this one. This is the passport case I use, and this is the travel fanny pack I use.
• Begin your day as early as possible, to give yourself plenty of daylight to complete the border crossing.
• Don’t cross the border at night.
• Try to join up with other travelers at the Nicaraguan border if you’re attempting the chicken buses. It can be hectic and confusing and I wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing this on my own (not due to anything sinister, but because it would be easy to get lost at La Virgen).
• Have USD cash with you, including exact change for a $10, $1, and $14 entry/exit taxes.
• Have some extra USD or CRC on hand to exchange into NIO at the border. This is what we did and although we lost a little bit in the exchange, we thought it was fair and worth it in order to enter a new country with a little cash on hand!
• Use your valuables (camera, phone, jewelry, wallet) discreetly.

Final Thoughts on the Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border Crossing

I really hope this guide was helpful to any fellow travelers attempting the Costa Rica to Nicaragua border crossing! It was our longest and most convoluted border crossing to date.

This is also the first article to detail the journey directly from La Fortuna – which was shocking to me as that’s such a popular tourist destination! So I really hope my firsthand account is useful to you if you’re in the same position.

If you find this guide helpful for your own border crossing journey, I’d really appreciate it if you leave a comment below. Let me know how your trip went, how much your entry/exit taxes were, and how long the line was (did we just get unlucky?!). I will keep this blog post updated so it remains useful for all of us!

Pin it for later…

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Thank you for this super helpful post!

My boyfriend and I are are thinking about attempting this in a couple weeks but in reverse – Leaving Nicaragua and crossing over to Costa Rica in the hope of making it to La Fortuna in one day.

You may not know as you were travelling in the opposite direction but do you know how frequent the buses leave Penas Blanca in Costa Rica?

Many Thanks & Happy Travels!

Hi! Thanks for reading. Unfortunately I’m not sure how frequently the bus goes from Penas Blancas to Upala. Sorry I can’t be more help. It may be worth asking in the Backpacking Central America FB group. If you do find out when you do your border crossing, would you mind leaving a comment here with the info? I’m sure other people are reading this and wondering the same!

Thank you for this! We are getting the Tica bus next week up to Granada! We are not US citizens, so I am baffled why they don’t take anything other than US dollars! How annoying – I may tell them this and risk them accepting colones… but I may not!

Good luck! I found a lot of places throughout Costa Rica accepted USD or explicitly asked for this. To the point that almost every ATM in Costa Rica will also give you USD if you select it. To be on the safe side, I’d try to get some USD out of an ATM before your border crossing, personally!

I just crossed the border (may 10th 2023) and would like to update: – you can pay the Costa Rica exit fee via qr code at the customs building itself with credit card. They raised it to 8$. Here is the link: https://www.bancobcr.com/wps/portal/bcr/bancobcr/personas/solicitudes_en_linea/pago_impuesto_salida_terrestre

– whole process took us like 20 mins including waiting and walking. – entry fee in Nicaragua was 13$ per person -no atm around, bring cash also for the bus and food you want to buy – on the Nicaraguan side we unfortunately followed a guy from the bus and said we only pay in the bus. Unfortunately the scamming system is very profound and he then charged us in the bus 10$/pax. Later a different guy (in uniform!) came around and charged all the locals a different amount. When he saw that we watched him to check the amount he turned his back towards us. The locals watched the scam and were laughing, not the best welcome —> make sure to ask the price before you head into the bus. Peñas to Managua should not be 10$/person but I do not know the correct price. Also do Not pay anyone without uniform

The guide above helped us quite a lot and I would like to thank you for your work!

– whole process took us like 20 mins including waiting and walking. – entry fee in Nicaragua was 13$ per person -no atm around, bring cash also for the bus and food you want to buy – on the Nicaraguan side we unfortunately followed a guy from the bus and said we only pay in the bus. Unfortunately the scamming system is very profound and he then charged us in the bus 10$/pax. Later a different guy (in uniform!) came around and charged all the locals a different amount. When he saw that we watched him to check the amount he turned his back towards us. The locals watched the scam and were laughing, not the best welcome —> make sure to ask the price before you head into the bus. Peñas to Managua should not be 10$/person but I do not know the correct price.

Anyway the guide above helped us quite a lot. Thank you for that effort!

Two hours in line sounds like a breeze to me!

I have spent literal hours at this border every time I crossed it. I have crossed this border to both directions in 2010, 2012 and 2015. The first time we were stuck at the Costa Rican side alone for about 6hours. Every single time the actual time spent from arriving at the border to leaving it has been 6+ hours. A lot of the time it was just random waiting around or waiting for the bus to be checked.

My favorite memory is from 2010 when me and a friend accidentally walked across the no man’s land (wasn’t this fancy looking back then) as we lost our TicaBus. So once we were at the Nicaraguan side and finally found the bus, the driver told us to go to this random building at the side of the complex, ask for Fernando and give him our passports. So that’s what we did and luckily it all turned out fine in the end.

So interesting to see from your pictures how much the Nicaraguan side has developed! It used to be sketchy af, and with minimal shade from the sun.

Hi, thanks for this! We are planning to cross the border later in the day, by the time we are ready to catch our bus to Rivas it may be 6/7pm or even later if there are delays. Do you know when is the latest bus going from the border to Rivas? Cant find any bus schedules anywhere online

Personally I wouldn’t recommend crossing any border at night due to safety concerns, better to wait until the next morning if possible!

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Step by step guide to crossing the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica

Anne 09/30/2023 Central America , Costa Rica , Nicaragua Leave a comment 3,844 Views

Table of Contents

If like us you speak only basic Spanish, the prospect of the Penas Blancas border crossing can be a little daunting. It can be confusing trying to understand exactly what is happening and what you should do. This step-by-step guide to crossing the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica explains exactly what happens and key things you need to be aware of. That way, you can sit back and enjoy the journey.

Tica Bus travel

The only bus company that does the entire route on one bus seems to be Ticabus (please let us know if you managed to find any other company). Our Ticabus from Granada was basic with no wifi or seat back TVs, however the bus from Rivas was pure luxury. It had seatback TVs, USB ports supposedly (although I could not find one) and functioning (albeit not well) wifi.

Step one – buy your tickets

The Managua to San Jose Ticabus route starts in Managua then picks up in Granada and Rivas before it heads to the border. When you book tickets online the website is really confusing. You first have to select the full route and then indicate where you wish to start and end your journey. The initial filter is the route rather than your boarding point.

You can buy tickets directly through Tica Bus but we found the Marvelus site  easier to use because of the aforementioned confusion.

Step two – head to your pick up location

Managua tica bus pick up.

We only took buses from Granada and Rivas. In Managua the departure point for the Ticabus is near to the shopping center Plaza Inter  and  Hotel Crowne Plaza Managua . You can find the exact departure point here .

Granada Tica Bus pick up

In Granada, the bus picks up outside the Ticabus office next to the old hospital on Calle Elena Arellano. You need to arrive 30-45 minutes in advance as you will need to check in and get your luggage tags. These tickets are split into two halves. One half attaches to your hold luggage and you keep the other half as proof of ownership. When you reach your final destination, you need your half to retrieve your bag.

Rivas Tica Bus pick up

In Rivas, the pick up is at the bus stop opposite Maxi Pali on NIC-2. It is not easy to establish the pick up point unless you already took a bus that dropped you at this location. We could not find anything to indicate it was the Ticabus stop but any taxi driver will know where to drop you for the Costa Rica bus. Failing that, it is essentially a bus stop directly opposite Maxi Pali so if you wait there you will not miss the boat.

In Rivas, you do not need to arrive as early as there is no office to check into. We left Rivas on the bus which departed Managua at 6 and arrived in Rivas around 8.30. I would recommend no later than 815 for the 830 pick up as the bus does not hang around and can be early. The bus driver will give you the baggage tags and indicate where to place your bags in the hold.

Nicaraguan exit form

As you board the bus, the driver hands you the Nicaragua exit form to complete for your party. You can complete this during the journey to the border but do not dally. It is only 35km from Rivas to the border and a member of staff takes it off you before the border. We never saw this piece of paper again and have no idea what happened to it.

Incidentally, I recommend travelling earlier rather than later (there is a bus an hour later). By the time we had cleared Costa Rican entry requirements the line for immigration was three times as long.

Step three – exit the Nicaraguan border

The first stop is about 40 minutes into the journey at the bathrooms (cost C$ 20 each) and is also your last chance to spend any remaining C$ at the row of souvenir stalls. As you descend from the bus you will be accosted by a swarm of people who want to sell you Sim cards, drinks and other items. There is also a gaggle of people who will change your cash from C$.

Note, there is no need to get off the bus here as there are bathrooms to the right of the entrance to the Nicaraguan migration building. Unless you are desperate, I recommend that you wait the ten minutes or so until you get to the immigration building. That way, you do not need to pay for the bathroom.

Nicaraguan immigration

The Nicaraguan immigration building looks new and modern in a bright whitewashed building. Unlike the ramshackle corrugated hut that is the immigration building at Potosi , this is efficient and orderly. You must take all your bags with you to pass through customs and foreigners have to pay US $1 to enter the building. You can also pay this in Cordobas at $C36 (correct at the time of writing).

At the immigration desk, you have to pay a further US $3 exit fee which CANNOT be paid in Cordoba. Contrary to reports I heard about staff refusing to give change, we received change from a US $20 note with no argument.

As an aside, if you use US$ in Nicaragua, any change will be in Cordoba so it is difficult to come by small USD notes.

Once you have paid your fee, the official stamps your passport and sends you on your way with a receipt.

Luggage checks

Unlike in Potosi, the building has x-ray machines and luggage checks are quick and efficient. Amazingly we make it through the Nicaraguan border in less than an hour.

Step four – enter no man’s land

The bus moves to the other side of the Nicaraguan immigration building while you complete formalities. When you exit the Nicaraguan baggage check area, you are officially in no man’s land, as is your Ticabus. When you head out of the exit you will see it waiting for you. Pop your bags back in the hold and board the bus.

Once everyone is back on board, the bus drives the short distance (500m approximately) through no man’s land to the rather less modern immigration building where you complete the formalities for entry to Costa Rica. Donald Trump may have wasted a lot of hot air talking about building a wall but Nicaragua and Costa Rica have a pretty impressive series of walls separating the two countries as you pass through no man’s land!

Step five – Costa Rica entry requirements

Costa rica immigration.

When your bus pulls up outside Costa Rican immigration, you must disembark and take all your bags with you through immigration.

Note, do NOT enter the first queue as you enter the building. There are maybe 6 desks in the immigration hall so head to any but the first. This is because there seems to be a priority system whereby the elderly or people with children queue jump but only to the first desk as you enter! It can be pretty annoying and causes some consternation for waiting passengers. Steer clear of this line and you can avoid this!

I am not going to emphasize this enough. You MUST check entry requirements thoroughly before travelling. On both our inbound and outbound Nicaraguan border experiences, other passengers highlighted the perils of not doing sufficient research.

Perils of not doing your research

At Potosi , one couple failed to have money for the entry fee which must be paid in US $. Customs officials lack any semblance of concern for unprepared arrivals and refuse to accept payment by card. Our fellow passengers had to borrow from other passengers. Another group failed to bring the relevant passport copies required by Nicaraguan authorities on entry to the country. Customs officials showed equally little tolerance for this and hence a motorbike was despatched with their passports and a few dollars to make the required passport copies in a nearby village. Frankly the thought of sending my passport off with a stranger would terrify me!

At the Costa Rica border one couple almost missed the onward bus due to a lack of awareness of Costa Rican immigration requirements, namely the need to show proof of departure from Costa Rica.

Costa Rican immigration requirements

For clarity, at the time of writing (August 2023) there is no need to show any Covid vaccination proof to enter Costa Rica, nor is it required to have any PCR testing.

However, you need to be able to tell immigration officials the following (and provide proof if asked);

• your immediate destination in Costa Rica
• where you will be staying at that destination
• when and how you will leave Costa Rica

Proof of onward travel

If you have yet to book onward travel, it pays to attempt to find an international bus ticket that you can cancel free of charge. This is often not possible as most tickets are non-refundable. The other option is to commit to your departure date before your arrival. The couple above were refused entry until they purchased an international bus ticket! It also meant they almost missed the onward connection in Costa Rica and I suspect their blood pressure was somewhat elevated.

Luggage check

Once you have your Costa Rican stamp (note there is no entry form to complete for Costa Rica) take your bags and put them through the x-ray machines. Then you can exit the building.

You are no longer an illegal immigrant and have officially entered Costa Rica.

Costa Rica border facilities

There is an ATM at the immigration office. There are also free bathrooms and stalls selling drinks and refreshments.

Costa Rican currency

Note once you are in Costa Rica, the currency switches from Nicaraguan Cordoba to Costa Rican colon. Whilst there is about 47 Cordoba to the £ there are about 680 Colons. Don’t get these currencies mixed up unless you wish to be seriously out of pocket.

Although, you can use dollars in many places in both countries, the exchange rate is unlikely to be favourable so I recommend you travel with plenty of local currency. Credit cards are widely accepted in Costa Rica but less so in Nicaragua.

Or you could use the Currensea card which is one of our favourite modes of payment when travelling.

Step six – reboard the bus

You now take all your luggage back to the bus and tell the driver your final destination. He puts the bag in the relevant compartment for that destination.

Step seven – arrive at your onward destination

We disembarked in Liberia which is the first stop after the border, only 90 minutes away at most. The stop is under the highway in the middle of the road. If you need to stay overnight in Liberia and do not wish to travel far Hotel Boyeros is ideal as it is literally across the road.

However, this hotel cost £78 for our stay on the 27 th August and is absolutely not worth it. Although there is access to a pool and garden, both are in desperate need of some serious maintenance. Whilst the rooms are a decent size, it is a little like a decaying communist hotel that would have been luxurious in the 1970s but now is a dated and lacking some TLC.

Resources for immigration requirements

Note, the Foreign Office have an excellent resource that highlights entry requirements for every country around the world. This is a must check resource before you travel to Costa Rica or any other country.

The US government offers something similar so I assume this will be the case for travellers from most countries. You can access the US and UK sites here.

UK website – entry requirements for Costa Rica

US website – advice for travel to Costa Rica

The total time for our journey from Rivas to Liberia was 4 hours. Of that, we spent two hours passing through the borders but it felt pretty painless compared to our Potosi crossing. Whilst I read a number of blogs that proved really useful before we travelled, I would have liked a step by step breakdown of each stage like this one. I hope therefore that this step by step guide to crossing the Penas Blancas border helps you have a relaxing and enjoyable journey.

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Nicaragua Costa Rica Border Crossing: Complete Travel Guide

Land border crossings can be stressful experiences if you don’t know what to expect, but fortunately you’ve come to the right place! Read on to find out everything you need to know about crossing the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica from start to end. This information is particularly useful for people travelling overland across Central America as well as people doing border runs between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Specifically, we will be covering:

• Entry requirements for Costa Rica
• Entry requirements for Nicaragua
• Exit fees and entry fees for Nicaragua and Costa Rica
• Locations of Nicaragua / Costa Rica land border crossings
• How to get to the Nicaragua/Costa Rica land border crossing points
• Our experience of crossing the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica
• Nicaragua visas – the CA4-90 day visa for Nicaragua as well as getting visa extensions in Nicaragua

Plan your trip:  Here are our Nicaragua and Costa Rica top recommendations: Activities : book your Tours with  Get Your Guide . Accommodation : we use  Booking.com  to find the best hotels. Private Transfers : Pacific Tours , Flights : find cheapest flights with cashback on  WayAway . Airport Lounge Access : start your holiday the right way with  Priority Pass . Travel Medical Insurance :  SafetyWing Nomad Insurance  is the ideal choice for long-term travellers and digital nomads. Travel Banking: Wise makes global travel banking seamless and affordable.

Why do the Nicaragua to Costa Rica land border crossing

There are a number of reasons why people choose to cross the land border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The main reasons are as follows:

• Travelling overland across Central America – Central America is a great budget destination, especially if you travel overland. If you are planning to embark on this adventure, you will need to cross the land border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica during your trip.
• Border runs between Nicaragua and Costa Rica to renew visas – this is a common tactic of longterm visitors to Nicaragua as well as to Costa Rica. Another option is to get a visa extension if you can. We will outline how to get visa extensions in Nicaragua later on in this post.
• Flying in or out of Liberia Airport Costa Rica to go to Nicaragua – many people use Liberia Airport in Costa Rica when they want to go to Nicaragua. Liberia Airport is around 1.5 hours drive from the Nicaragua Costa Rica border.

Why we did the Nicaragua to Costa Rica border crossing

We came to Nicaragua in March 2020 as part of a year long trip around the world. Our plan was to travel overland from Mexico all the way through Central America to Panama. As part of this trip we planned to cross the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. We had originally planned to stay in Nicaragua for 3 weeks, but the world had other plans. When borders shut due to the Covid pandemic we found ourselves stuck in Nicaragua . We subsequently lived in Nicaragua for 18 months. During this time we immersed ourselves in this beautiful country.

We were on the CA4-90 day visa . During 2020 there were limited flights out of the country. Additionally, the land border to Costa Rica was closed between March 2020 and April 2021. As such the Nicaraguan government allowed us to keep extending our visas every 30 days. However in July 2021 we were given our final visa extension and told to leave the country in the next 30 days. We waited until the last possible day to leave Nicaragua . On August 22, 2021 we finally crossed the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica .

Nicaragua Costa Rica land borders

Where are the land border crossings between nicaragua and costa rica.

The land border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is also known as Frontera Nicaragua Costa Rica.

There are 2 main land border crossings between Nicaragua and Costa Rica:

• Peñas Blancas – the most popular border crossing is at Peñas Blancas on the Pacific side of Nicaragua. This border crossing is around 1.5 hours from Liberia Airport in Costa Rica. It is also the closest border crossing to the main tourist destinations in Nicaragua.
• San Pancho-Los Chiles – we did the crossing on the Caribbean side at San Pancho. This is a great option if you want to discover more off the beaten path destinations in Nicaragua such as the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve. It is also a convenient entry point for onward travel to La Fortuna in Costa Rica. In our experience, it was a fairly quick process when going from Nicaragua to Costa Rica at the San Pancho-Los Chiles border crossing. However if you are going from Costa Rica to Nicaragua the queues are very long.

Is the Costa Rica Nicaragua land border open?

Yes. The land border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is currently open. The land borders between Nicaragua and Costa Rica were closed from March 2020 to April 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. Since April 2021 the land borders are now open.

Preparing for the land border crossing between Nicaragua and Costa Rica

When preparing for the border crossing it is important to understand the entry and exit requirements for each country. The information provided on our website is believed to be accurate and up-to-date as of June 2024. We have made every effort to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the content. However, we strongly recommend that you verify the information independently. We cannot guarantee that all data is free from errors or omissions, and we assume no liability for any inaccuracies. Always consult the relevant sources or professionals for the most current and precise information.

Costa Rica Entry Requirements

As at June 2024 the Entry Requirements for Costa Rica are as follows:

Costa Rica Entry Requirement 1: Proof of onward journey

Proof of onward journey is a requirement for entry into Costa Rica . This can be in the form of a plane ticket or a bus ticket. This is not always asked for, but is technically a requirement. We were not asked for this when we entered Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Entry Requirement 2: Proof of finances

Costa Rica requires visitors to be able to demonstrate that they have funds of at least $100 USD per person per month or partial month of stay. We were not asked for this when we entered Costa Rica .

Costa Rica Entry Requirement 3: Valid passport

To enter Costa Rica , you will need to ensure you have your passport with at least 3 months validity beyond the date you enter Costa Rica .

Costa Rica Entry Requirement 4: Check whether you require a Costa Rica visa or need to pay an entry fee

Costa Rica visa requirements vary by country. You can check your visa requirements for Costa Rica here . We have heard of Nicaraguan nationals not being granted access when flying in from the USA as they did not have a green card for the US.

As Australians we did not have to pay an entry fee for Costa Rica .

Costa Rica Entry Requirement 5 (only for temporary or permanent residents): valid DIMEX and up to date caja payments

If you have a Costa Rican temporary or permanent residency you will also need the following:

• A valid DIMEX (Costa Rican residency card)
• Evidence that your Caja payments are up to date. If your Caja payments are not up to date you will still be able to enter. However, you will have 22 days to pay.

Nicaragua Entry Requirements

Nicaragua entry requirement 1: proof of onward journey.

Proof of onward journey is a requirement for entry into Nicaragua . This can be in the form of a plane ticket or a bus ticket. This is not always asked for, but is technically a requirement.

Nicaragua Entry Requirement 2: Proof of finances

Nicaragua requires visitors to be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay. We were not asked for this when we entered Nicaragua.

Nicaragua Entry Requirement 3: Valid passport

A valid passport with at least one blank page and at least 6 months validity from the date of entry into Nicaragua .

Nicaragua Entry Requirement 4: CA-4 tourist card

Tourists must purchase a tourist card at entry to any countries that are part of the Central America-4 Border Control Agreement ( Nicaragua , Guatemala , Honduras and El Salvador ). This card costs $10 USD (as at 2024) and is valid for up to a total of 90 days in any member countries of the CA-4 agreement.

Nicaragua Entry Requirement 5: Proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination (where applicable)

Travellers entering from countries at risk of yellow fever transmission must show proof of yellow fever vaccination administered at least 10 days before travel.

Nicaragua exit fee

We paid $3 USD per person for the exit at San Pancho. There’s an additional $1 USD building fee at the Peñas Blancas exit.

Costa Rica exit fee

The Costa Rica exit fee is $10 USD if exiting overland.

Nicaragua entry fee

There is a $13 USD entry fee to enter Nicaragua. There’s an additional $1 USD building fee at the Peñas Blancas border.

Costa Rica entry fee

There is no entry fee for Costa Rica.

How to get to the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border crossing

There are two official border crossings between Nicaragua and Costa Rica – at Peñas Blancas as well as at San Pancho Nicaragua / Los Chiles Costa Rica. Below are some options for how to get to both border crossings.

How cross land border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica by private transfer

For a completely hassle free experience, you can use a private transport company to drive you between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Alex Ruiz of Pacific Tours (WhatsApp +505 8918 1935) has an excellent reputation for providing private transport between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. He goes above and beyond to ensure that you reach your destination safely. A number of people in the Nicaragua expat community have said that Alex has also assisted them in dealing with airlines when there has been a problem with their flights. Private transfer is more expensive than other options, but you get full door-to-door service.

How cross land border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica by coach

One of the easiest ways to cross the land border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica is by coach. There are two coach companies that operate in Nicaragua – Nicabus and Tica Bus.

Nicabus  operates buses between Nicaragua and Costa Rica:

• Managua (Nicaragua)-San Jose (Costa Rica) – fares are US$30 one way or US$60 return (prices as at June 2024)
• Chinandega (Nicaragua)-San Jose (Costa Rica) – fares are US$40 one way or US$80 return (prices as at June 2024)

Tica Bus  operates buses throughout Central America as well as Mexico.

• Managua (Nicaragua)-San Jose (Costa Rica) – fares are US$33 one way or US$66 return (prices as at June 2024). There are a number of pick-up and drop-off points to choose from in both countries

How cross land border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica at Peñas Blancas border crossing by public transport

How to get from nicaragua to peñas blancas border crossing by public transport.

The Peñas Blancas Border Crossing is in the south west of Nicaragua in the department of Rivas. The cheapest way to get to Peñas Blancas is by local bus. The bus to Peñas Blancas goes from Rivas, which is a major bus terminal in Nicaragua. You can get buses to Rivas from Managua, Granada , San Juan del Sur, Ometepe Island, Popoyo and many other popular destinations in Nicaragua. As an example, here is what you need to do to get a local bus from Granada to Peñas Blancas:

• Bus from Granada to Rivas – this costs 50 cordobas (as at 2022) and takes about 2 hours. The location of the bus stop in Granada is listed at “Nueva terminal de buses a Rivas” in Google maps.
• Bus from Rivas to Peñas Blancas – this costs 40 cordobas (as at 2022) and takes less than an hour.

How to get from the Peñas Blancas border crossing to Liberia Airport Costa Rica by public transport

Liberia Guanacaste Airport (airport code LIR) is an airport in Costa Rica which is close to the Nicaraguan border at Peñas Blancas.

From Liberia Guanacaste Airport, these are the buses you need to take:

• 521 bus from Peñas Blancas to Liberia. The travel time is approximately 1.5 hours and there’s a bus every 45 minutes from 5am until 6:30pm. Bus fare is 1750 colones (approximately US$3) per person (as at 2022).
• 513 bus from Liberia to Liberia Guanacaste Airport. The travel time is approximately 18 minutes and buses run every 1-2 hours. Bus fare is approximately 500-600 colones (around US$1). Alternatively a taxi takes around 16 minutes and costs US$16-20 and Uber costs around US$7.50 (as at 2022).

Bus timetable – 521 bus Liberia to Peñas Blancas Costa Rica

Note – this bus also stops at Santa Rosa National Park turnoff, Cuajiniquil turnoff and La Cruz. La Cruz is 1 hour by bus from Liberia and around 30 minutes by bus from Peñas Blancas.

For more information, see this website: https://grupotranbasa.com/

Bus timetable – 513 bus Liberia to Playa Matapalo via Liberia Guanacaste Airport Costa Rica

* From or to Nuevo Colon rather than Playa Matapalo.

Note – Liberia Guanacaste Airport is 18 minutes by bus from Liberia and around 45 minutes – 1 hour by bus from Playa Matapalo.

For more information, see this website .

How cross land border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica at San Pancho-Los Chiles border crossing by public transport

How to get from nicaragua to san pancho-los chiles border crossing by public transport.

The San Pancho-Los Chiles Border Crossing is in the south east of Nicaragua in the department of Rio San Juan. In order to get to the San Pancho border crossing you will first need to get to San Carlos. The town of San Carlos is the gateway to San Pancho.

How to get to San Carlos Nicaragua by public transport

San Carlos is located on Lake Nicaragua and is also on the banks of the San Juan River. As such, it can be reached by land or by water.

Getting to San Carlos from Managua by bus

You can get to San Carlos from Managua by bus. This journey is around 280km and will take around 8 hours.

Getting to San Carlos from Granada by ferry

There are ferries from Granada to San Carlos via Ometepe Island . These ferries recommenced in October 2021 after being suspended for several years due to low water levels in Lake Nicaragua. The ferry between Granada and San Carlos runs once a week in each direction.

Getting to San Carlos from Granada by bus

From Granada you can also get to San Carlos by taking a few local buses. The buses you will need are:

• Granada to Masaya
• Masaya to Tipitapa
• Tipitapa to San Carlos

We slowly travelled along this journey by bus over the space of 2 weeks stopping at Boaco, Camoapa and Juigalpa along the way. Each leg of the journey took between 1-4 hours. This is a less visited part of the country but there are some lovely spots along the way. To see a different side of Nicaragua , we highly recommend taking some time to explore this part of the country.

How to get from San Carlos to the San Pancho border crossing

To get to the border from San Carlos, there are a number of different options:

• Bus to San Pancho
• Take a boat down the Rio Frio to San Pancho
• Catch a lancha boats to Santa Fe bridge and then catch a micro bus to San Pancho

How to get from the San Pancho border crossing to Los Chiles Costa Rica by bus

Once you cross the border into Costa Rica at San Pancho there is a bus stop just across the road from border control. Buses to the nearby border town of Los Chiles leave from this bus stop. The bus ride takes about 10 minutes and costs 275 colones per person. There are people that will exchange money for you at the border. We asked the bus driver and he pointed us to a person that was able to exchange money for us.

How to get from the San Pancho border crossing to other parts of Costa Rica

The bus from the border at San Pacho also goes to Ciudad Quesada. This is a major major city in Costa Rica and from here you can get buses to La Fortuna, San Jose and other parts of Costa Rica.

Our experience: San Pancho-Los Chiles border crossing from El Castillo

We decided to spend a few days at El Castillo on Rio San Juan before doing the border crossing. El Castillo is a 2-3 hour lancha boat ride from San Carlos along Rio San Juan.

Lancha from El Castillo to Sante Fe bridge and microbus to San Pancho

From El Castillo we took the 5am lancha to the Sante Fe bridge and a microbus from there to the border crossing at San Pancho. We did the border crossing on a Sunday and the other lancha times from El Castillo that day were at 9am and 1pm. Only slow lanchas operate on weekends, which means more stops along Rio San Juan. The full trip from El Castillo to the port at San Carlos takes 3 hours rather than 2 hours. Santa Fe is around half an hour before San Carlos if you are coming from El Castillo . There are a couple more lanchas on weekdays.

The ferry from El Castillo to Puente Santa Fe cost 100 cordobas each and the microbus from Santa Fe to San Pancho cost 50 cordobas each (prices as at August 2021).

Police checkpoint at Santa Fe bridge

There is a police check point just after the Santa Fe bridge. As such, once the microbus crosses the bridge everyone has to get out of the microbus and walk over to a tent to go through the police check point. For us this took around 10 minutes. The police asked us to show us the contents of some of our bags, they looked through our passport and asked us a few questions about where we were from and where we were going. If you are catching the microbus from Puente Sante Fe it might be easier to just walk over the bridge and go through the police checkpoint before catching the microbus.

Arriving at San Pancho Nicaragua

As the microsbus approaches the San Pancho border, they will make 2 stops. The first stop is for people crossing the border illegally and the second stop is for people crossing the border legally.

Exiting Nicaragua overland

After getting out of the microbus at San Pancho, we were greeted with hundreds of people waiting to get in at the border. The border control building was a large white building that appeared to be newly built. The road leading up to it was yet to be constructed and was a muddy dirt path. We joined the queue outside border control, anticipating that the next few hours would be a long wait.

A few minutes passed, and we decided to check with a border official to make sure we were in the right line. Fortunately for us, he lead us to a much shorter line which only had a few people in it. Even better, we were able to get into the air-conditioned building rather than standing outside in the heat of the day. Within about five minutes we paid our $3 USD exit fee each, our passports were processed and it was time to leave Nicaragua.

Entering Costa Rica overland

After exiting Nicaragua, we moved on to no mans land in between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. From there it was a short walk to the Costa Rica border control buidling. There was only one person in the queue ahead of us. Once we got to the front of the queue we handed over our passports, showed our QR codes and answered a few questions about our travel plans. Our passports got stamped and we were officially in Costa Rica.

Bus to Los Chiles Costa Rica from the Costa Rica border

Our first stop in Costa Rica was Los Chiles. The bus stop was just across the road from the Costa Rica border control building. We walked over to the bus stop and there was a bus there waiting for us. We had to pay the bus fare in the local currency colones and the bus driver pointed us to a man nearby who was able to exchange our remaining Nicaragua cordobas for colones. It was a very comfortable ride to Los Chiles and we were impressed with the condition of the buses in Costa Rica. The bus took about 10 minutes to reach Los Chiles and we paid 275 colones per person for the bus fare. The same bus continued on to Ciudad Quesada, which is a major transport hub with buses to La Fortuna, San Jose and other parts of Costa Rica.

Where to stay when doing the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border crossing at San Pancho-Los Chiles

We recommend the following low to mid budget accommodation near the San Pancho border crossing:

Where to stay in San Carlos Nicaragua

San Carlos is a vibrant lakeside town on the banks of Lake Nicaragua. The malecon area is a beautiful place to watch the sun set and see views of Ometepe Island .

For comfortable low budget accommodation, we recommend Hotel Gran Lago. Expect to pay around 700 cordobas per room for a couple.

Where to stay in El Castillo Nicaragua

El Castillo is a sleepy riverside town with plenty of history and natural beauty. An impressive fort towers over the town and has a lot of interesting history. The all day boat tour of the nature reserve Indio Maiz was one of the best tours we did in Nicaragua .

For a comfortable mid budget accommodation we recommend Hotel Victoria. Expect to pay between $40-$60 per night per couple including breakfast.

Where to stay in Los Chiles Costa Rica

Los Chiles is the border town in Costa Rica . There are a few nice restaurants and accommodation options in town. The main attraction is the nature reserve Caño Negro. You can hire a boat to take you down the river on a wildlife spotting tour for around $100 for 2 hours. This will cover the cost of the boat and the captain. We saw plenty of wildlife on this tour including 3 toed sloths, birds, an alligator and various types of monkeys.

While staying in Los Chiles we recommend staying at Hotel Heliconia. It’s conveniently located a short walk from the bus terminal and from the main part of the town. Rooms are comfortable and reasonably priced. Expect to pay around 25,000 colones for a room for a couple including breakfast or 18,000 colones excluding breakfast.

Is the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border crossing safe?

General safety considerations for travel near the Nicaragua-Costa Rica Border:

• Drinking water – The tap water on the Nicaragua side of the Border Crossing is not safe to drink. Hotels may provide bottled water for guests to use. The taps water on the Costa Rica side of the border is safe to drink
• Mosquitoes – we did not have an issue with mosquitoes in the area around the border crossing. Nevertheless, we recommend bringing insect repellent with you on your trip
• Road safety – We often travelled standing up in the back of vans or in vehicles without helmets or seat belts. Be aware that this does come with an element of risk
• Water safety – If you visit any of the coastal areas or lakes, take care when swimming as currents and waves may be stronger than you expect. On lanchas and boats life vests are provided
• Sun safety – The UV Index is very high in Central America . Sun protection such as sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses is very important to ensure you don’t get burnt.
• Dogs – In many countries in Central America , stray dogs are common. For more on dog safety while travelling, check out this video .

As with any destination, take all of your normal safety precautions.

Visas in Nicaragua: The CA4-90 day visa

If you’re visiting Nicaragua, you will probably be on a CA-90 day visa. Tourists on the CA4-90 day visa are permitted entry to the CA4 countries for a period of 90 days. The CA4 countries are Nicaragua , Honduras , El Salvador and Guatemala . After the initial 90 days, 30 day visa extensions may be granted up to a maximum of 90 additional days. We have also heard of some people being granted getting 60 day or 90 day visa extensions, which means less trips back to the immigration office for renewals. This is not standard practice at the moment, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

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. Technically you are supposed to leave Nicaragua for at least 3 days in order to get another 90 day visa. However we have heard of people crossing the border and then returning in the same day.

How to get visa extensions in Nicaragua

Rather than doing a time consuming visa run, it may be possible to get a visa extension in Nicaragua. Visa extensions can be done at the immigration office in most major cities in Nicaragua . As at 2022 a 30 day visa extension costs $25 US plus 5 cordobas for the form. We have successfully renewed our visas in the immigration offices at Granada , Rivas, Estelí as well as the head office in Managua. Additionally, we tried to renew our visas in Ocotal, but they would not renew our visas at that office and instead sent us to Managua.

Same day visa renewals at Managua Nicaragua

Visa extension applications submitted at the head office in Managua are processed on the same day. The visa renewal application and approval process usually takes 1-2 hours.

Visa renewals in cities outside Managua Nicaragua

Regardless of where you submit your application for a visa renewal, all Nicaragua visa renewals are processed in the head office in Managua. You can apply for a visa extension in other cities in Nicaragua , however your passport will still need to be sent to the head office in Managua for processing. This process can take up to 2 weeks but is typically 5-6 business days. While your visa is being processed you will not have possession of your passport. You will also need to pay an extra 50 cordobas for postage.

Where are the immigration offices in Nicaragua?

An interactive map with the addresses and opening hours of immigration offices in Nicaragua can be found on this website . Most tourists get visa extensions in Managua head office, Granada or Rivas. One complicating factor is that addresses in Nicaragua can be difficult to understand. They are expressed not with street numbers but in relation to major landmarks. Below are the official address, our translation, the Google maps name of the location and the Plus code you can use in Google maps for the exact location.

Location of Managua Nicaragua immigration head office

Official address for immigration head office in Managua Nicaragua: Semáforos de la Tenderí 300 metros al lago. (This means it’s at the traffic lights 300 metres from the lake).

Google maps name for immigration head office in Managua Nicaragua: Directorate General of Immigration and Nationality.

Plus code for Google maps location of immigration head office in Managua Nicaragua: 4PXX+6PP, Avenida Xolotlan, Managua, Nicaragua.

Location of Granada Nicaragua immigration office

Official address for immigration office in Granada Nicaragua : De la capilla María Auxiliadora media Cuadra abajo Calle Real Xalteva. (This means it’s half a block below the Maria Auxiliador church on Calle Real Xalteva).

Google maps name for immigration office in Granada Nicaragua: Ministerio de Migración.

Plus code for Google maps location of immigration office in Granada Nicaragua: W2QV+4QR, Calle Atravesada, Granada, Nicaragua.

Location of Rivas Nicaragua immigration office

Official address for immigration office in Rivas Nicaragua: De la rotonda Jesús del Rescate 1/2 cuadra al sur. (This means it’s half a block south of the Jesús del Rescate roundabout).

Google maps name for immigration office in Rivas Nicaragua: Migration Nicaragua.

Plus code for Google maps location of immigration office in Rivas Nicaragua: C5VF+CH8, Rivas, Nicaragua.

What are the opening hours of immigration office in Nicaragua?

Most immigration offices in Nicaragua open from 8am-5pm Monday to Saturday. The immigration offices in Managua also open on Sundays from 10am-1pm.

Requirements for visa extensions in Nicaragua

We have applied for visa extensions in Granada , Rivas, Managua, Esteli and Ocotal. The requirements for getting a visa extension can vary depending on the immigration officer that processes your application.

The Ocotal office did not process our visa extension application. They sent us back to the head office in Managua. We have heard of someone having a similar experience in Matagalpa.

Requirements for visa renewals in Nicaragua

From our experience you need to provide the following in order to get a visa extension in Nicaragua :

• Your passport
• A photocopy of the front page of your passport. This is the page with your photo and personal details
• A photocopy of the most recent visa stamp for Nicaragua . This is either the most recent visa extension stamp or the entry stamp if this is your first visa extension in Nicaragua
• Some offices may also require a photocopy of your initial entry stamp for the CA4-90 day visa
• Some offices may also require proof of accommodation. Proof may be in the form of a photocopy of the receipt from your accommodation. It should include the cedula number of the owner of the accommodation. If you are in a couple or family you may need a separate photocopy of your receipt for each person applying for a visa extension
• Some offices may question you about your income, your travel plans and how much you pay for your accommodation

A basic level of Spanish will be very helpful in going through this process. The immigration officers may only speak Spanish and all of the forms are in Spanish. Google Translate helped us a lot in navigating this process.

Applying for a visa extension in Managua Nicaragua

For most immigration offices in Nicaragua , the one immigration officer will process your visa extension application from start to finish. However the process is different in Managua. In Managua there are a few different queues you need to line up in. This is because different people process different parts of the application. This process is a bit more complicated, but the steps are:

• Buy the form for 5 cordobas. This is from one of the windows in the middle of the room. Window 21 if memory serves me correctly
• Fill out the form
• Go to the front desk so that they can check your forms and give you a number
• Sit in the waiting area just in front of the front desk and wait for your number to be called. This will be in Spanish, but sometimes there is a television screen at the front displaying the ticket number and the window where that ticket is currently being processed
• Once your number is called, go to the relevant window. 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. You will get 2 receipts – one for you and one that you need to hand in
• Go back to the window that processed you and hand in the receipt for them
• Go and sit back down and wait for your visa extension to be processed
• Once they call your name, go back to the window that processed your visa application. They will show you the stamp with your new exit date. You will need to either apply for a visa extension on that date or leave Nicaragua by that date

Final thoughts on the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border crossing

If you want to learn more about the Nicaragua-Costa Rica Border Crossing, check out our Nicaragua-Costa Rica Border Crossing video .

Costa Rica Blogs

You can find out Costa Rica travel blogs below.

Nicaragua Blogs

You can find our Nicaragua blogs below.

Esteli Nicaragua Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Ometepe Island Nicaragua Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Masaya Nicaragua Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

San Juan del Sur Nicaragua Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Managua Nicaragua Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Leon Nicaragua Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Granada Nicaragua Destination Guide (2024): What You Need to Know

Transport in Nicaragua – Complete Guide to Nicaragua Transportation (2024)

Where should I live in Nicaragua?

Top 5 Things to do in Managua Nicaragua (2024)

Granada Ferry: How to get to Ometepe Island

Home Invasion in Granada Nicaragua

Ojo de Agua: Paradise in Nicaragua!

How Good is the Internet in Nicaragua?

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$190 Find Cheap Flights from Nicaragua to Costa Rica

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from nicaragua to costa rica departing on 11/1. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to costa rica, big names, great deals, filter for what you want, track prices, more than flights, good to know, faqs for booking flights from nicaragua to costa rica, how does kayak find such low prices on flights from nicaragua to costa rica.

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Nicaragua to Costa Rica.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Nicaragua to Costa Rica?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Costa Rica from Nicaragua is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Nicaragua to Costa Rica?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Costa Rica with an airline and back to Nicaragua with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Nicaragua to Costa Rica?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Costa Rica from Nicaragua up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top airlines flying from Nicaragua to Costa Rica

The personnel at the counter was very helpful. Everything ran on time.

Captain and Crew were excellent. The Boeing 737-800 was showing its age. In flight entertainment system was sluggish and my Business Class seat on the outbound flight had some mechanical issues. Only real problem was the location of the Gate in Panama PTY. It was a 40 minute hike from Security to the Gate. There should have been some sort of warning about the distance.

This was my first time flying Copa but I'll definitely be back! Great service, professional agents, and delicious food for a fair price. Thanks for a great trip!

Copa performed as expected for the amount of money I was willing to spend for the flight; it wasn’t exceptional but it was not bad in any way either. The crew was good; friendly and straightforward. The food was airplane food, so no expectations there and the entertainment was lacking but that was my fault for owning an IPhone with a charging port that’s not compatible with the rest of the world. I’d fly Copa again.

Horrible experience from start to end. Copa costumer service is non existent. They treat you bad. Everybody tells you different information. We didn’t received our luggage in the 1 day stop we did even we they said if was not going to be a problem. They didn’t respect the seats that we had and spread our family leaving in between of two big people who didn’t leave any space for me and crush me from side to side. I’ll never recommend Copa to anybody.

the planes are not modern there are no phone chargers

As usual, the flight with normal legroom was not very comfortable, but the second flight was much better because we had paid for extra legroom. It was very nice to check our bags without an extra fee.

other than a slight delay in takeoff from Panama , the flights were excellent ..... we will continue to use Copa whenever possible for flights to and from Central and South America ....

LOCKED MY BAG WITHOUT CONSENT. Had to have my zippers cut upon arrival in Costa Rica.

Same experience, very poor food, drinks or entertainment while flying. There are some products offered to buy but only using debit or credit cards . No friendly for seniors or people without cards.

Old planes rude workers no tvs seats don’t go back and overpriced

The fees for baggage were outrageous. $130 for carry on and $150 for check in for an international flight. The seats did not recline. We were not even offered water. Had we known all of this, we would not have booked Avianca at all.

My fly was cancelled so i run to the airport and fight for my fly Thank god at the end was good

Terrible. Flight was delayed without explanation, airplane was in poor condition (old, dirty) and crew was not in a good mood.

I was shocked flying to El Salvador that they only give you water. Everything else you have to pay for. There is no wifi or entertainment and it’s an international flight. At least back in the day they had tvs on the plane and everyone watched the same movie. Also seats do not recline, even comfort or plus.

i was charged $140.00usd for my backpack the only luggage i had was my backpack

The good thing is the flight was on time and the crew was really nice. They can work better the arriving with staff

GOL made the flight experience a true delight. Everything was smooth, from the check in process, to the disembarking moment.

The inflight entertainment did not work on a 6 hour flight The cel phone chargers did not work There was a 45 minute wait for the luggage to get off the plane.

Book cheap flights from Nicaragua to Costa Rica

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How to Cross the Costa Rica Nicaragua Border

In July we went from Costa Rica to Nicaragua for seven nights. It turned out to be amazing, but we were super nervous about crossing the Costa Rica Nicaragua border.

After a nightmarish experience crossing from Costa Rica into Panama , we were dreading the whole thing. Instead, it turned out to be surprisingly easy, mostly because we did A LOT of research ahead of time.

We created this guide to crossing the Costa Rica Nicaragua border to help you all be fully prepared so you can cross with ease.

Getting to the Costa Rica Nicaragua Border

There are a few different ways of getting to the border. Let’s start with if you are heading up from Costa Rica into Nicaragua.

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Costa Rica to Nicaragua:  If you are already in the northern Guanacaste region your best option is to take the public bus from Liberia up to the border town of Penas Blancas. This will cost you only a few dollars. The bus leaves from the central bus terminal in Liberia to Penas Blancas every 45 minutes between 5am and 6:30pm.

It can be difficult to find the right bus so don’t be shy about asking someone where you should be waiting for the Penas Blancas bus. The ride from Liberia to the border takes about 1.5 hours. Just be warned that once the bus fills up you will be left standing for the ride, so get there early to ensure you get a seat.

If you are coming from San Jose the easiest option is to take TicaBus . It will cost about $30 for a one-way ticket into Nicaragua, but it is a comfortable bus with a bathroom and assigned seats.

I also like TicaBus because they handle some parts of the border crossing for you. I’m not sure which parts they handle on this route (we took TicaBus from Nicaragua into Costa Rica), but when going from Nicaragua in Costa Rica they handled everything for exiting Nicaragua into Costa Rica for us.

TicaBus stops in Rivas, Granada, and Managua. It also stops in Liberia on the way up from San Jose, so it is possible to hop on TicaBus there if you do not want to take the public bus.

You can now buy TicaBus tickets online , so you’ll be all set for your trip ahead of time.

There is also a company called NicaBus which does this same route, but I have no experience using this company.

Nicaragua into Costa Rica:

Just as going from Costa Rica into Nicaragua, you can travel by either public bus or Tica Bus.

If you opt to travel by public bus, there is a bus from Rivas in Nicaragua (about 45 minutes from the border) to the border. This bus runs to the border about once every 45 minutes and costs about $1.

  Granada was the cutest buttttt pro tip: in a country where you cant drink the water dont get ice in your drink. I think thats what made us both sick with stomach problems for two days ???? A post shared by Costa Rica Vibes ???? (@costaricavibe) on Aug 13, 2017 at 8:10am PDT

Another option is to take a taxi . When we were in Ometepe we took a taxi from the harbor to the border for $20.

The Costa Rica Side of the Border Crossing

Exiting Costa Rica-  We were a bit overwhelmed in Panas Blancas on the Costa Rica side. We wanted to switch money from colones (Costa Rican currency) into cordobas (the Nicaraguan currency). There were plenty of people standing at the border with their official papers saying they were licensed to exchange money. We talked with a guy and got his offer. I had downloaded the app XE Currency Exchange ahead of time so I could double check the rate myself.

The rate he stated was accurate and we gave him the colones to exchange. He then gave us about $20 less than he should have in cordobas. I’m pretty sure he was thinking, “stupid foreigners will never realize this,” but luckily our friend with us speaks fluent Spanish and pointed out his “mistake”. He apologized and said he didn’t realize his error. I don’t believe him.

Anyway, the lesson is that if you need to exchange money when crossing the Costa Rica Nicaragua border, make sure you are getting the correct exchange rate and count the money after you receive it.

After we dealt with that we received forms from one of the many people working on the border. Just note, I thought these people walking around handing out forms were trying to get something from us, that is not true. They actually work on the border handing out forms.

You will have to fill out the form they give you (don’t forget a pen) and pay the $8 exit tax per person from a small stand.

It is then time to head to the building to exit Costa Rica. This process was nothing more than handing the customs officer the filled in paperwork, passport, and receipt from paying our exit tax. We were then on our way to Nicaragua!

Entering Costa Rica:

Entering Costa Rica was easy. You will have to fill out a few forms ahead of time. You also need to have proof that you will be leaving Costa Rica within 90 days. If you do not have a flight to prove that you can buy a ticket from TicaBus online to show as proof.

You will then wait in a line on the border until it is your turn to speak with an immigration officer. You just need to give them your passport, filled out form, and show them proof that you will be leaving within 90 days if they ask for it.

After this, you will put your bags through a CT scanner and you’ll be good to go!

If you travel by TicaBus the bus will be waiting for you after you exit this immigration building. If you plan on catching the public bus to Liberia you just need to walk to the parking lot where the buses stop.

The Nicaragua Side of the Border Crossing

Exiting Nicaragua:

I can’t give you a whole lot of info on exiting Nicaragua because we did this by TicaBus. The bus driver handed out exit forms which we all filled out on the bus. At the border we were instructed to get off of the bus with all of our stuff and to wait in the large parking lot. The bus driver collected our passport with our filled out form in them. The bus returned 30 minutes later and we all got our passports back, got back on the bus, and drove to where we could enter Costa Rica.

Entering Nicaragua:

After exiting Costa Rica, if going by foot you will walk about ten minutes down a street lined with trucks and other people crossing the border. You will then come to the Nicaragua border. I was totally impressed with the entry process. The building was modern, everything was completely organized, and the people working were so nice and helpful!

Our first experience was when some guy approached us asking if we needed help. I thought he just wanted money from us but he actually worked for Nicaragua immigration. He directed us where to go and asked where we were heading next. We told him we were heading to Ometepe and he told us our options for getting there. We told him we were most likely going to take a taxi to make our lives as easy as possible.

We then entered the nice immigration building, paid an entry fee (I think it was pretty high, like $20 per person), filled out some forms, and waited until it as our turn to speak with an immigration officer. We gave him our forms, he stamped our passports and we the entered the next part of the building.

In this part of the building we had our bags scanned by CT scanners and then we exited the building.

Upon exiting we were greeted by the nice guy from earlier who told us how we could get to the bus if we wanted. We told him we were going to take a taxi and he called a taxi driver over and explained to him where we wanted to go. We gave him a $2 tip as a thank you.

Helpful Costa Rica Nicaragua Border Crossing Tips

• Download the free app  XE Currency Exchange . XE Currency will help you to make sure you are getting the correct exchange rate.
• Make sure you have proof that you are leaving whichever country you are entering within 90 days. You need this proof so you won’t have any problems on the border.

• Keep all valuables with you at your seat on the bus. We have heard of people putting their stuff on the overhead shelf, falling asleep, and waking up to find all of their valuables gone.
• If waiting for the bus in Rivas to the border, don’t listen to the taxi drivers if they say the bus is not running and you need to take a taxi. They say this to try and manipulate tourists.
• When crossing the Costa Rica Nicaragua border, double check the money you receive if you exchange currencies.
• Don’t forget to pack a pen which is easily accessible to fill out all the forms on the border.

If you have any questions about the Costa Rica Nicaragua border crossing please leave them in the comment section below and we’ll help you out!

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🚗 Should I rent a car in Costa Rica?

Having a rental car will give you the most flexibility when traveling in Costa Rica. This will also allow you to take fun day trips on your own.

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🏄🏽 How can I book things to do?

We find that Viator tends to have the most comprehensive selection of activities with secure booking and good cancellation policies.

🍍 I’m overwhelmed with planning. Can you help?

Of course! I suggest joining our Facebook group for specific questions and head to our Start Here Page to get started planning.

✈️ What is the best way to book a flight?

Usually, we have the best luck finding great prices with Skyscanner . Check for flights to both San Jose Airport (SJO) and Liberia Airport (LIR).

🛏️ What is the best way to book my Costa Rica hotels?

We highly suggest Booking.com for hotel bookings and typically use VRBO for Costa Rica vacation rentals.

🗣️ What is the main language in Costa Rica?

The main language in Costa Rica is Spanish. Most people working in tourism speak at least some English.

💰 What is the currency in Costa Rica?

The currency used in Costa Rica is the Costa Rican colón (CRC). However, the US dollar is widely accepted in most tourist areas

📞 What is the best way to stay connected?

An eSIM from Airalo is the easiest way to get 4G data while traveling in Costa Rica.

🌴 Is Costa Rica safe?

Generally, Costa Rica is considered safe for tourists. However, like any travel destination, it’s best to use caution and be aware of your surroundings.

🛂 Do you need a passport to go to Costa Rica?

Yes, Costa Rica is its own country. You will need a passport to visit.

Hi! We’re Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er)

We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and since 2016 we have lived in sunny Costa Rica. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! Now we spend our days roaming the country to bring you the very best in Costa Rica travel here on Costa Rica Vibes. Sarah is the writer. Thomas is the one keeping it all together. Want the whole crazy story?

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Sarah McArthur is the co-founder and main writer of Costa Rica Vibes. She is originally from the United States but has lived in sunny San Jose, Costa Rica since 2016.  She has traveled all over the country and now considers herself a self-proclaimed Costa Rica travel expert.  Want the whole crazy story?

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16 Comments

Hello, Im planning to cross the border from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. I don’t have any vehicle, so, someone will drop me off up to Costa Rica side. My question is how long it takes to get from immigration offices in Costa Rica to get up to immigration offices in Nicaragua Side. Can I do it by foot? Are there taxis working there that i can take. My concern is because I will be travelling with my 2 kids and 3 suitcases. I would appreciate your help.

Hi Maria. you can definitely do it by foot. It is at most a five minute walk. Good luck!!!

Do you know the times of the border how late they are open until!?? Costa Rica going into Nicaragua

Hi Arlene, I am not positive. I just searched online and found different answers from 7pm until midnight haha. I would suggest doing it before dark (so before 6pm) if possible. It can be a bit sketchy.

Hi, i am confused with the cost of crossing borders ? i read in another blog it cost 3$ you mentione it was 8$ and another fee of 20$

A Complete Guide to the Bus from Nicaragua to Costa Rica

Last month my lovely travel companion and long time friend, Ellie, and I, took the Transnica international coach from Rivas, Nicaragua , to San Jose, Costa Rica. Here is everything you need to know about the route including pick-up and drop off points, stops along the way, how to cross the border and how to change your money.

We took the Transnica bus, but this line is also serviced at similar bus stops at a similar time by Tica Bus (…we watched that one go past).

I’d say that, of all the options we explored, this is the most convenient way to cross the land border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica . Although our ride didn’t officially come with border assistance, everyone on our bus was in the same queue, which was reassuring. 

Useful Information for the Bus Route from Nicaragua to Costa Rica

This bus makes several stops in Nicaragua before it reaches Rivas, including in Managua and Granada. However, Rivas is the last stop on this route before it reaches Costa Rica, so if you’re coming from any of the southern beach towns (like San Juan del Sur or Popoyo), you’ll first need to take the bus from there up to Rivas and make a connection onto this Transnica route.

This bus crosses the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica in the border town of Penas Blancas.

You will need proof of accommodation and proof of onward travel to enter Costa Rica (if you get a nice immigration officer they might not ask you for it, but make sure you have it to hand anyway!)

There is a small exit tax from Nicaragua of 4 USD, but there is no entry fee to Costa Rica (you will need to pay an exit fee, if you exit by land, but if you exit by plane this tax will be included in the price of your ticket).

The bus doesn’t make any other stops in Costa Rica – it heads straight to San Jose and terminates there.

Anyway, now we’ve covered the essentials, let’s get down to it…

A Step-by-Step Guide to Buying Your Ticket

If you’re already in Rivas or any of the other pick-up destinations, you can buy your ticket at the ticket office. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d recommend doing this. I always recommend booking in person, because you have someone to physically go to if you need help. Ellie and I booked our bus whilst on Ometepe Island, so we didn’t have this luxury.

The main thing to know when you’re booking online is that, no matter where you get on the bus, you have to select and pay for the whole line . So, the only option available is the “Nicaragua to San Jose” line at 9am. When you select your date and click continue, it specifies Managua to San Jose, but don’t worry! Later in the process, before you pay, you can specify that you want to board at another destination (this is important, otherwise they may not stop to pick you up). This does not update the time on your ticket .

So, our ticket technically said that our bus was at 9am, but we knew from reading online that this meant 9am in Managua. A quick search on Google Maps lets you know that it takes two hours to get from Managua to Rivas, so we estimated that we needed to be there at 11am. (I know this sounds a bit nuts, but you quickly get used to these things after a few Central American buses).

Going to Costa Rica ? What’s it like to Travel in Costa Rica in January and February ?

Where You Get Picked Up in Rivas

The main problem by far that you’ll encounter on this bus route is Where Is The Effing Bus Stop in Rivas? Don’t worry, I got you. If you’ve googled this in a hurry, here are the google maps locations to the bus stops in Rivas:

If you booked in person, they’ll pick you up where you bought your ticket ( around here )

If you booked online, they’ll pick you up here

(Don’t ask me why they are different cause I can’t tell ya.) 

We came straight from Isla Ometepe , which if you don’t know is a magical island in Lake Nicaragua that you should put at the top of your bucket list if you’re heading to Central America. We stepped off the ferry (which had temporarily broken down half way across the lake, but that’s another story) and hopped into a taxi. The taxi driver, of course trying to be helpful, took us to the Transnica ‘bus station’ on the Panamerican Highway (more like a small shop front), which is where you’d imagine the Transnica goes from. Well, you’d be wrong. 

Due to the unpredictable nature of travelling Ellie and I had set off unreasonably early, meaning we had 2 hours to kill before we’d estimated the bus would pick us up. We asked the helpful men at the Transnica office where and when we’d take the bus, and they helpfully confirmed “here, at 11am”, so we hobbled down off the road with our backpacks and sat down for our 100th helping of rice, beans and eggs for breakfast. 

At around 10.30am we walked back, and spoke to somebody different at the Transnica bus station. They told us we were in the wrong place. (Wait, what?)

We asked him three times if he was sure, and he even phoned “the guy who sells the tickets” to confirm. He said yes, walk ten minutes that way and find the bus stop across the road from the Maxi Palí. When I questioned him one final time, he told me that if you buy your tickets here in the office, they pick you up here in the office. If you buy your tickets online, they pick you up from the bus stop down the road. 

This kicked off an hour of bus-waiting-panic for Ellie and I who re-convinced ourselves about every ten minutes that we were in the wrong place. (Important, because Ellie had a flight to catch from San Jose early the next morning).

Nevertheless we made it down the road, and stopped across the road from the Maxi Palí. I had been expecting a real bus station, to be honest, but what we found was a small, nondescript wooden bus shelter with literally zero information on it. Luckily there was a guy in a Tica Bus uniform. I asked him if this was also where the Transnica bus would pass, and he said yes, so we sat down. But something just seemed off. Why would this tiny wooden bench be serving long, international bus lines?

Eventually more people turned up at the bus stop, and we asked each one what they were waiting for. There was one other woman waiting for our bus, as well as another woman who was not getting on our bus but seemed to know for certain that it would come. She told us it usually arrives around 12 noon.

It was a Trust the Process kind of situation, but sure enough the bus arrived and pulled over to collect us at the most non-bus bus stop I have ever seen. This spot is now marked on Google Maps as the “ Parada de Bus Central Line “, but at the time there was nothing there. 

Read More About Costa Rica: How to Plan a 10 Day Costa Rica Itinerary

What is the Bus Like from Nicaragua to Costa Rica?

This was the first time throughout all of our Central American bus travels that we’d gotten on a proper coach with comfortable material and reclining seats. But, really, the best part was the suspension, which we’d not felt in a vehicle in quite some time.

The bus was quiet and felt safe, and the people around us seemed nice and were helpful to their fellow travellers.

How Many Stops Do You Make?

On this one, I’m not sure. I think the bus was supposed to make more, but because we got stuck in bad traffic from a crash up ahead, I think we skipped a stop to save on time.

1 – We made one quick stop between Rivas and the Nicaraguan border to use the bathroom. At this stop we were literally hounded as we got off the bus by people trying to sell us things and by people trying to exchange our money to Costa Rican Colones. We’d also caught up with the Tica Bus that services the same route, so the small rest stop was chaos with two buses full of people. 

2 – Of course, we also stopped to cross the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica at Peñas Blancas, which took a total of around 2 hours. There is somewhere to use the bathroom at the border, but not much else.

3 – Somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Guanacaste we stopped at a service station that sold snacks, hot food, and had a bathroom. Ellie and I decided against hot food and stocked up on snacks here. This was around 8pm, the time we were supposed to arrive in San José, but it was in fact another three hours before we reached our final destination. If your bus is running on time, I’m not sure what time you’ll make this stop!

What Was it Like Crossing the Costa Rica Nicaragua Border at Peñas Blancas?

For us, crossing the border went very smoothly, the only problem was the incredibly long queue. 

Before we got off the bus at Peñas Blancas, our passports and 4$ fees were collected by the bus driver, taken to the Nicaraguan immigration office, and returned to us with exit stamps. We then drove a short way down the road and piled off the bus at the entry point into Costa Rica. We took our hold luggage from underneath the bus and then queued up with several other busloads of travellers. The system was well-organised, they just seemed to have picked up a bit of a backlog. After waiting for around an hour, we were ushered into the immigration building where we showed all of the entry requirements for Costa Rica:

– Passport with 6 months validity

– Proof of accommodation

– Proof of exit from Costa Rica

With no intention of overstaying my visa, I showed the border official a ticket for a short bus ride from Cahuita (Costa Rica) to Changuinola (Panama) that I cancelled later that day. I saw one guy who didn’t have his proof of exit, but they let him step to one side and make a reservation (and didn’t make him go to the back of the queue!). They also scanned all of our bags and belongings, but it didn’t seem like anyone was paying much attention to what was in them.

At the border, we noted how easy it could have been to make this crossing using public transport and Nicaragua’s chicken buses. There were people being dropped off all the time by all manner of bus companies, private shuttles, chicken buses and taxis. As you crossed the border, you were inundated with options for your onward journey including chicken buses and private shuttles offering their services to various destinations in Costa Rica, mostly in the north including various locations in Guanacaste, San Carlos and La Fortuna. 

Ellie and I were amongst the first to get back on the bus, but don’t worry – the bus driver did a full head count before we set off again!

Changing Currency on the Border

Something else to think about when you get on this bus is changing your cash from Cordobas (Nicaraguan currency) to Colones (Costa Rican currency ). Everywhere we stopped, including both rest stops and the border, people were coming around with handfuls of money offering to change your cash. I said in my article about currencies in Central America that these guys can be useful for getting a little change in your pocket, but don’t use them for large amounts of cash! They have to make a living, after all, so their exchange rate won’t be the best. It’s also worth noting that almost everywhere in Costa Rica will accept card, free of charge, and US Dollars, too. So it may not be essential to get your hands on Costa Rican colones right away.

Accessibility at the Peñas Blancas Border

It was hot at the border, and we had to stand up for a long time whilst we were waiting in the queue. We may have been unlucky with the time of day (and time of year) that we made this crossing, but it’s still worth noting that if you struggle with long periods without rest, you may need water, snacks, and have to sit on the ground. The way that the line is arranged may be a bit difficult to access with a buggy or wheelchair, but it seemed that they were helpful to people with disabilities and children.

There are a small number of steps as you come in and out of the immigration building (I’m talking 3-5 steps, not a whole flight!).

If you have any more specific questions about this bus route, let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer you!

Where You Get Dropped Off in San Jose

There are several bus stations all within a certain area in the north-west of San Jose. This is not a safe area to be in, especially at night time. You should wait inside the bus terminal (that will likely still be busy with people from your bus, or waiting for the night bus), and either order an Uber or take a taxi. Remember that Uber is technically illegal in Costa Rica (but everyone uses it anyway), so drivers like you to sit in the front seat so they look less like a taxi driver.

Our Uber turned up in a small beat-up Chevrolet with one light out and no seatbelts. Usually Ubers in Costa Rica are nicer than this, but you take what you get and the Uber driver’s charm more than made up for his lack of headlights. (Mostly). He drove us to our hostel in Costa Rica, where Ellie and I spent our last night together eating pizza by the pool. Early the next morning Ellie left to go back to the UK. I was planning to head straight south to Panama (I already spent some time in Costa Rica a few years ago), but the universe had other plans for me and I got stuck in San Jose for over a week… but more on that later 😉

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• Travel Tips

Costa Rica To Nicaragua – Crossing Borders

Published: September 13, 2023

Modified: January 3, 2024

by Bunny Heffner

• Central & South America
• Plan Your Trip
• Travel Destinations
• Travel Guide

Introduction

Traveling from Costa Rica to Nicaragua provides an incredible opportunity to explore two stunning countries in Central America. Costa Rica is known for its diverse wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant culture, while Nicaragua boasts beautiful colonial cities, pristine beaches, and the breathtaking Lake Nicaragua. However, before you embark on your journey, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the border crossing requirements and ensure a smooth transition from one country to another.

Regardless of whether you are traveling for leisure or business purposes, crossing the border can be a time-consuming and potentially stressful process if you are unprepared. By understanding the necessary documentation, procedures, and some valuable tips, you can make your journey hassle-free and enjoy the best of both Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

In this guide, we will provide you with essential information on the border crossing requirements and provide practical tips to facilitate a smooth transition from Costa Rica to Nicaragua and back. Whether you are traveling by land or air, these tips will help you navigate the border crossing process with ease.

Now, let’s dive into the details of what you need to know before crossing the border from Costa Rica to Nicaragua and vice versa.

Border Crossing Requirements

Before traveling from Costa Rica to Nicaragua or vice versa, it is crucial to ensure that you have all the necessary documentation to enter and exit both countries legally. Here are the primary documents and requirements you need to have in order:

• Valid Passport: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in both countries. Check the expiration date in advance and renew if necessary.
• Visas: Most nationalities do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica or Nicaragua as a tourist. You can typically stay for up to 90 days in each country. However, it’s always a good idea to check your specific visa requirements based on your nationality.
• Proof of Departure: Both Costa Rica and Nicaragua may request proof of onward or return travel. This can be in the form of a confirmed flight ticket or bus reservation out of the country. Make sure you have documentation readily available to avoid any complications at the border.
• Yellow Fever Vaccination: If you have recently traveled to a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, you may be required to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination. Check if this applies to you and obtain the necessary documentation.
• Entry and Exit Fees: Costa Rica charges an entry fee called the Tourism Tax or Departure Tax, which is approximately $29 USD. This fee is usually included in your airline ticket, but it’s essential to double-check. Nicaragua also has an entry fee of $12 USD, which may be subject to change. Make sure you have the necessary cash in either US dollars or local currency.

It’s worth noting that border crossing requirements can change, so it’s always a good idea to check the latest information from official government websites or consult with your embassy or consulate before traveling.

Now that you have an understanding of the necessary documentation, let’s delve into the process of crossing from Costa Rica to Nicaragua and vice versa.

Crossing from Costa Rica to Nicaragua

The border crossing from Costa Rica to Nicaragua can be done by land or air. The most common route is by land, particularly through the Peñas Blancas border crossing. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cross from Costa Rica to Nicaragua:

• Arrive at the Peñas Blancas border: Located around 30 kilometers north of Liberia, the Peñas Blancas border is the main crossing point between the two countries. If you are traveling by bus, most international buses will drop you off at this border crossing.
• Migrate out of Costa Rica: Head to the Costa Rican migration office to exit the country. Present your passport, completed immigration form, and any necessary exit fees. The process is relatively straightforward, but be prepared for some waiting time, especially during peak travel seasons.
• Cross the border: After leaving the Costa Rican migration office, you will need to walk across the border bridge to reach the Nicaraguan side. Follow the signs and stay on the designated path. There may be touts or unofficial helpers offering assistance, but it’s advisable to decline and proceed on your own.
• Migrate into Nicaragua: Once you reach the Nicaraguan side, head to the Nicaraguan migration office. Present your passport, completed immigration form, and any required entry fees. The officials may also ask you for proof of onward or return travel, so ensure you have the necessary documentation ready.
• Customs declaration: Depending on your mode of transportation and the items you are carrying, you may need to fill out a customs declaration form. Declare any items that are required and be honest with your declaration.
• Final checks and exit: After completing the immigration and customs process, you are officially in Nicaragua! Collect your passport with the entry stamp and proceed to your next destination within the country.

It’s important to note that the process may vary slightly depending on the day, time, and specific border regulations. Stay patient, follow the instructions of the officials, and ensure you have all required documentation readily available for a smooth crossing experience.

Now that you know how to cross from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, let’s explore the process of crossing from Nicaragua to Costa Rica.

Crossing from Nicaragua to Costa Rica

When crossing the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, there are a few key steps to follow to ensure a smooth transition. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cross from Nicaragua to Costa Rica:

• Arrive at the border crossing: The primary border crossing point from Nicaragua to Costa Rica is Peñas Blancas. Make your way to this border crossing by bus or other means of transportation.
• Migrate out of Nicaragua: Head to the Nicaraguan migration office at the border and present your passport, completed immigration form, and any necessary exit fees. Be prepared for some waiting time, especially during peak travel periods.
• Exit Nicaragua and enter Costa Rica: After leaving the Nicaraguan migration office, you will need to walk across the border bridge to reach the Costa Rican side. Follow the signs and stay on the designated path. Similar to the Costa Rican side, there may be unofficial helpers offering assistance, but it’s recommended to proceed on your own.
• Migrate into Costa Rica: Once you reach the Costa Rican side, head to the migration office and present your passport, completed immigration form, and any required entry fees. Officials may also ask for proof of onward or return travel, so have the necessary documentation ready.
• Customs declaration: Depending on what you are carrying and the mode of transportation, you may need to fill out a customs declaration form. Declare any items as required and be honest in your declaration.
• Final checks and entry into Costa Rica: After completing the immigration and customs process, collect your passport with the entry stamp, and you are officially in Costa Rica! Proceed to your next destination within the country.

Similar to the previous section, it’s important to note that border regulations may vary, and it’s crucial to be prepared by having all necessary documentation readily available. Patience and following instructions from officials will contribute to a smooth crossing experience.

Now that we have covered the border crossing processes for both directions, let’s explore some valuable tips to make your journey even smoother.

Tips for a Smooth Border Crossing

Crossing the border can sometimes be a daunting process, but with a little preparation and knowledge, you can make it a smooth experience. Here are some essential tips to ensure a hassle-free border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua:

• Research border crossing times: Border crossings can get busy, especially during peak travel seasons. Research the best time to cross and try to avoid peak hours if possible.
• Carry local and US currency: Having the local currency of both countries, as well as US dollars, can be advantageous for paying any required fees, transportation, or incidentals at the border.
• Be patient and respectful: Border officials can be strict and meticulous in their procedures. Remain calm, patient, and respectful throughout the process. Keep in mind that attitude and behavior can greatly influence how smoothly the crossing goes.
• Keep important documents organized: Ensure that all necessary documents, such as passports, visa copies, and proof of onward travel, are easily accessible in a separate folder or pouch. This will save you time and prevent any unnecessary stress during the crossing.
• Follow instructions and ask questions if needed: Pay attention to signs and follow any instructions given by officials. If you are unsure about anything, do not hesitate to ask for clarification. It’s better to ask than to make a mistake that could cause delays or complications.
• Stay vigilant and secure your belongings: Border crossings can be chaotic, so it’s important to keep an eye on your belongings at all times. Use locks for your bags, avoid displaying valuable items, and be cautious of potential scams or pickpockets.
• Plan transportation ahead: If you are traveling by bus, it’s advisable to book your ticket in advance to secure your seat and avoid any last-minute availability issues. If you have a rental car, ensure that you have the necessary paperwork and insurance coverage to cross the border.
• Be aware of quarantine regulations: During certain periods, there may be restrictions or quarantine measures in place due to health emergencies. Stay updated on any health-related requirements and abide by them to ensure a smooth crossing.

By keeping these tips in mind and being prepared, you can navigate the border crossing process efficiently and make the most of your journey between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Crossing the border from Costa Rica to Nicaragua or vice versa can be an exciting adventure that allows you to explore the beauty and culture of both countries. However, it’s crucial to be well-prepared and familiarize yourself with the border crossing requirements and procedures to ensure a smooth transition.

In this guide, we have outlined the essential documents needed, such as a valid passport, visas (if required), proof of onward travel, and any necessary entry or exit fees. We have also provided step-by-step instructions on how to cross from Costa Rica to Nicaragua and vice versa, emphasizing the importance of patience, following instructions, and keeping important documents organized.

Additionally, we shared valuable tips to make your border crossing experience even smoother, such as researching border crossing times, carrying local and US currency, being patient and respectful with officials, keeping belongings secure, and planning transportation ahead.

Remember that border crossing requirements and procedures can change, so it’s always advisable to stay updated with the latest information from official sources or consult your embassy. By being well-prepared and informed, you can minimize any potential complications and focus on enjoying the best of these two captivating countries.

So pack your bags, prepare your documents, and get ready to embark on a memorable journey from Costa Rica to Nicaragua or from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. Wishing you safe travels and incredible experiences!

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How to Travel from Costa Rica to Nicaragua

Last Updated: December 16, 2020 References

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden . Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 3,086 times.

Nicaragua is a beautiful country in Central America that borders Costa Rica. If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica or live there already, getting to Nicaragua is fairly easy. Make sure your passport is valid and that you keep all of the receipts for your entrance and exit taxes to enjoy both of these dazzling countries one after the other.

Getting to the Border at Penas Blancas

• If you do plan on leaving your car at the border, take all of your valuables with you before you go.

• The taxi cannot drive you across the border, they can only drop you off.
• If you are coming from the Guanacaste beaches, the fee for a taxi can cost as much as $150 to get to the border.

• Buses will drop you off at the border so that you can cross on foot.

Tip: These buses get packed and can turn into standing room only. Get to your bus stop early to ensure you get a seat.

• You can purchase TicaBus tickets ahead of time by visiting https://www.ticabus.com/Reservation
• TicaBuses stop in Rivas, Granada, Managua, and San Jose.

• Check flights from the San Jose airport by visiting https://sjoairport.com/en

Exiting Costa Rica

• Always count your money after you exchange it to make sure you have been given the full amount.

Tip: Download the app XE Currency Exchange for current exchange rates to make sure you are getting the right amount of money back.

• It may be helpful to carry a pen with you to fill out this form.

• Look for a sign that says “Departure Taxes Here” to find the Exit Office.
• If you are crossing the border by foot, there is usually little to no line.
• There is a public restroom outside of the Exit Office that you can use for free.

• If you plan on staying longer than 90 days in Nicaragua, contact your embassy to find out how you can get a visa.

Entering Nicaragua

Tip: Don’t worry if you aren’t fluent in Spanish. The most important part is to show them your passport.

• The immigration office is air-conditioned and can be a nice reprieve from the hot weather.

• The restrictions vary year by year and you may have to ask the border patrol guard if you can bring a certain food item in with you.

Expert Q&A

• Most border patrol officers are very friendly, especially on the Nicaraguan side. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Border patrol officers are used to tourists who don’t speak fluent Spanish. Try to have your passport and paperwork out and ready to avoid confusion. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/north-america/nicaragua/travel-by/
• ↑ https://www.ticabus.com/Reservation
• ↑ https://sjoairport.com/en
• ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html
• ↑ https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/north-america/nicaragua/passport-visa/
• ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Nicaragua.html
• ↑ https://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica/transport/getting-there-away/land

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How To Get From Costa Rica To Nicaragua In 2024: Answered!

• Post author: Nicoletta
• Reading time: 22 mins read
• Post last modified: February 10, 2024
• Post comments: 0 Comments

Getting around Central America is fun. Flights are slightly more expensive, yet some buses take you almost everywhere . You can book bus tickets online, too. Today, I’ll tell you how to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua and save time.

This article will be for those planning on traveling from Costa Rica to Nicaragua by bus . It’ll explain the entire process step-by-step , from booking your tickets to crossing the borders, the documents you need, and where the bus stations are located.

I traveled from Costa Rica to Nicaragua and made the entire journey on my own. So here is all the information from my experience.

✈ Travel Resources For Your Trip ✈

Here are some of my favorite travel resources I use for my travel adventures.

How To Get From Costa Rica To Nicaragua

The best way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is by Tica Bus . Another option is to fly from San Jose (Costa Rica) to Managua (Nicaragua).

Flying To Nicaragua

You can fly from San Jose (Costa Rica) to Managua (Nicaragua). It’s the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to get to Nicaragua. Once you land, get a taxi to your hotel. However, flights to Managua are quite expensive . But if you don’t mind, you’re good to take a flight.

➡ Get the best flight deals to Nicaragua (Managua) by clicking this link.

Getting To Nicaragua By Bus

Tica Bus is an official company operating in the entire Central America. No matter where you are, you can travel from Panama to Costa Rica or Nicaragua via El Salvador and Guatemala to Mexico. Tica Bus will take you to every country .

Three different bus companies are operating the route from Costa Rica To Nicaragua:

➡ Tica Bus ➡ Central Line ➡ Nica Expresso

Tica Bus is the biggest one with the most buses and schedules. I traveled from Costa Rica to Nicaragua with  Tica Bus . Even though you’ll find many bad reviews online, I didn’t have any single issue. The bus was clean, departed, and arrived on time. The border passing went smoothly, stopped on the way, and everything went well.

Costa Rica to Nicaragua Bus Time: about 10 hours . It departs from San Jose from this location:  Tica Bus, Transversal 26, Pitahaya, San Jose .

Is It Safe To Travel From Costa Rica To Nicaragua?

Yes, it’s very safe to travel from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. I made this journey on my own and didn’t have any problems. People are friendly ; they advise you on what you need to bring, take care of your luggage, the bus stops on the way, and everything runs smoothly. There is nothing to be afraid of.

Getting To Nicaragua By Boat

The last option is to take a boat from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. It’s one of the most adventurous yet longest ways to get to the country.

You can take a boat from San Carlos port in Costa Rica and travel to Granada, Nicaragua . The entire journey takes 16 hours because the boat stops on many islands along the way. It costs around $10 for the entire ride.

I haven’t made this journey as we took the bus, but I’ve heard from other travelers that it’s possible.

Shuttles From Costa Rica To Nicaragua

There are also shuttles that will take you from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. It’s one of the most convenient ways because it’s easier and faster than taking a bus . You’ll be directly in contact with the shuttle company, and it’ll answer all your questions and doubts.

So, if you prefer taking a small shuttle to Nicaragua, check out  Caribe Shuttle  and request a ride.

Travel Itinerary Planning Services

How to book tickets to get from costa rica to nicaragua.

Assumming, you’ll take a bus, you can book tickets directly at the  company office  or  on the  Tica Bus website . I suggest buying tickets online. Because until you get to Costa Rica to their office, tickets might be sold out. As I have experienced,  they sell out quickly . So, it’s better to  secure your spot before  buying it online.

When buying tickets online, you’ll have to fill out the form they ask you for (name, occupation, passport number, etc.). There are  different departure times  throughout the day (usually 3 connections in the morning), so select one,  pay for the ticket online , and you’re good to go.

I recommend  printing your ticket  and showing it to them once you board the bus.

Documents You Need To Travel From Costa Rica To Nicaragua

To get from Costa Rica To Nicaragua, you’ll need the following documents:

✅ Passport ✅ Visa ✅ Fill out the entry form online ✅ Printed bus ticket ✅ Confirmation of your hotel/hostel in Nicaragua (printed)

I recommend you  have all documents in the printed version . You never know; sometimes, they don’t accept it from your phone, or it may die. Just be prepared.

Check if you need  a Visa to Nicaragua  online.

Before traveling, you must also fill out  an   official form  on the Nicaraguan government website. You can do so at  this website . After you fill it out, it’ll  generate a code  for you. I recommend  printing this paper with the code  on it. You’ll also get a  confirmation email . They didn’t ask me for this code anytime when crossing the border.

They’ll ask you where you’ll be accommodated in Nicaragua. Some might want a printed confirmation. So be sure you also  print your hotel or hostel booking .

➡ Check if you need Visa for Nicaragua by clicking this link.

Border Crossing Between Costa Rica & Nicaragua

The border crossing went pretty smoothly. Yet it takes more than 2 hours to finally get through. Because there are few people at the border control, it takes ages to get to the counter.

Here is how the border crossing works step-by-step:

• Costa Rican border  – pay $8 to leave Costa Rica & get a stamp (no need to carry your luggage from the bus), + there are toilets at the border.
• Nicaraguan border  – pay $14 to enter the country, take everything from the bus with you (luggage, carry-on, nothing stays on the bus), wait until you get to the counter inside the Terminal, get your passport stamped, go through security check (luggage scan), go back to the bus.

Costa Rican Border Information

Before boarding a bus in Costa Rica, they usually check all your documents at the office (passport and Covid documents). To leave Costa Rica, you have to  pay a fee of $8 . Before boarding the bus, I  paid for this at the Tica Bus office  in San Jose.

Just know that you must pay this fee, so  have US dollars . They may ask for it at the office (and give you a confirmation). Or you’ll pay it directly at the Costa Rican border. So  keep the confirmation that you’ve paid  with you.

Otherwise, it’s straightforward. You go to the border counter, the  police stamp your passport , ask you if you’ve paid the fee of $8, and you’re good to go.

Then you’ll  hop on the bus again , and once everyone is done at the border, you’ll  drive to the Nicaraguan border .

Nicaraguan Border Information

The process at the Nicaraguan border is slightly longer.

Once you arrive, you’ll have to  take all your stuff from the bus . Don’t leave anything inside. Take your backpack, luggage, carry-on, and everything you have. Then you’ll  walk towards the Terminal . Wait there until you get to the counter.

To enter Nicaragua, you’ll have to  pay a fee of $14 . While standing in front of the Terminal in line, a  random guy was collecting $1  from everyone in the line. Don’t worry, he’ll give you a small  paper confirmation  that you paid it. You’ll  pay the rest,   $13, directly at the border counter  inside the Terminal.

What To Do At The Nicaraguan Border Counter

Once you reach the  border   counter , they’ll ask you for your passport, occupation, and where you’ll stay in Nicaragua. Afterward, they’ll  give you stamps  with  paper confirmations  (keep them in your passport) and ask you to  pay the fee of $13 .

Once you have your passport back, you can  proceed to security . It’s right in front of you. They’ll  scan all your luggage . After, you can leave the Terminal and  go to the bus .

There’ll be one more  policeman in front of the bus , who will control your passports with the paper confirmations you obtained at the border counter. He’s just checking if you went through the border.

Then wait until everyone is on the bus, and…  welcome to Nicaragua  :). The border passing is done.

The bus will  arrive in Nicaragua  at the Tica Bus station. You’ll see the location when you type Tica Bus Managua into Google Maps. There will be  many taxis , so you can ask one to drive you to your hotel.  Negotiate the price . They almost always tell you more if you’re not local.

👉 READ ALSO: Best Of Nicaragua Itinerary: 7 Days With Map & Tips

I’ve also answered some of the most frequently asked questions to help you prepare for your journey from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. Check them out below.

What Is The Best Way To Get To Nicaragua?

The best way to get to Nicaragua is to fly or take a bus.

Flights to Managua, Nicaragua, are pretty expensive, but it’s the fastest and easiest way to get to Nicaragua. It only takes about an hour by plane. You can also take the Tica Bus , which takes over 10 hours. It’s the cheapest and most secure option.

Can You Take A Bus From Costa Rica To Nicaragua?

Yes , you can take Tica Bus from San Jose (Costa Rica) to Managua (Nicaragua). The entire bus journey takes 10 hours . Make sure you have all the necessary documents for the border crossing to Nicaragua.

Can I Cross From Costa Rica To Nicaragua?

Yes , you can cross from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. Whether you’re walking, taking a bus, or driving a car, it’s possible. Just follow the steps on each border. If you’re walking, once you get out of the Nicaraguan border, there are even some people or shuttles that will take you to your destination in Nicaragua.

Can You Take A Boat From Costa Rica To Nicaragua?

Yes , you can take a boat from San Carlos (Costa Rica) to Granada (Nicaragua). The entire boat ride takes about 16 hours and costs approx. $10 and leaves every Tuesday and Friday. The boat stops on several islands, so it takes such a long time.

WRAP-UP: How To Get From Costa Rica To Nicaragua

This is how to get to Nicaragua from Costa Rica. It’s a pretty nice journey and isn’t stressful at all, even if it looks like it. As long as you have all the documents prepared, you’ll be fine. Also, the companies you’ll travel with are super helpful . So they’ll also make sure you have everything to enter Nicaragua.

If you have any questions or need a customized travel itinerary, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com . I’ll gladly help you.

Happy Travels!

More Tips For Nicaragua Travel

Looking to visit more places in Nicaragua? Check out my related articles:

Best Of Nicaragua Itinerary: 7 Days With Map & Tips

Is Nicaragua Safe To Travel To? Safery Tips For Travelers

11 Unique Things To Do On Ometepe Island

How To Get To Ometepe Island

Where To Stay In Ometepe Island

Where To Stay In Granada Nicaragua

Where To Stay In Leon Nicaragua

Where To Stay In Popoyo Nicaragua

Is It Safe To Fly From Lima To Cusco? Revealed!

About the author: Nicoletta  is a travel enthusiast and passionate language learner. While traveling, she loves to connect with locals using her language skills to learn about new cultures. Look for her skiing, hiking in the mountains, or exploring new destinations as she designs travel itineraries for her clients.

NICARAGUA : Interested in more articles for Nicaragua? Check out my Nicaragua Travel Page .

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7 Reasons Why a Costa Rica Honeymoon is Perfect for Couples

I ’ve been to Costa Rica a couple of times, and I can confidently say it’s a top destination for honeymooners. Whether you’re zip-lining through the jungle or soaking in natural hot springs, Costa Rica offers the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, making it a dream destination for newlyweds. So if you are planning a Costa Rica honeymoon, we say yes!

Costa Rica is located in Central America sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama. A tropical honeymoon paradise.  Costa Rica is a bucket list location that offers a honeymoon experience of adventure and romance like no other place on earth.

1. Stunning Scenery in Every Direction

Costa Rica is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. The lush rainforests, incredible waterfalls, and pristine beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts make it an ideal destination for romantic couples. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant landscapes or just relaxing, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a paradise (cue the Jurassic Park theme song).

By the way, Jurrasic Park wasn’t filmed there, I learned that after my last trip, and I felt violated!

2. An Adventure Seeker’s Paradise

If you’re an active and adventurous couple, Costa Rica is your playground. This country encourages eco-tourism with activities like hiking, zip-lining, white-water rafting, and snorkeling. You can even dive into vibrant coral reefs.

Also, if you want more adventurous activities these are the ones we recommend!

3. Romantic Accommodations

If you are looking for the all-inclusive resort vibe, there are only a hand-full. As a result, most of the hotels are smaller boutique hotels that are designed to blend in with nature. Besides, you will only find the all-inclusive options in select parts of the country and they are pricey.

However, there are a variety of romantic hotels, from premium resorts with every conceivable luxury to boutique hotels and secluded eco-lodges ready to serve your every need. Imagine relaxing with a private beach picnic, enjoying a candlelit dinner, or taking a sunset cruise. Overall, the mix of adventure, relaxation, natural beauty, and cultural experiences makes Costa Rica an excellent choice for a memorable honeymoon.

Top Areas to Explore While Planning Your Costa Rica Honeymoon

4. la fortuna.

La Fortuna is one of the prime honeymoon destinations in Costa Rica. It even caught the eye of Eugene Levy in “The Reluctant Traveler.” This area is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, adventure activities, relaxing hot springs, and unique accommodations like the Nayara Tented Camp where Eugene stayed. Plus, it takes glamping to another level!

Here’s what you can look forward to in La Fortuna:

• Breathtaking natural beauty
• Adventure activities
• Relaxing hot springs
• Unique accommodations

First, enjoy hikes around the volcano. Then soak in hot springs, and witness mesmerizing lava flows (when active). Finally, go zip-lining through the rainforest, rappelling down waterfalls, or take a canopy tour. La Fortuna provides a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty for an unforgettable honeymoon experience .

5. Guanacaste

Located in northwestern Costa Rica, Guanacaste is another excellent choice for a honeymoon destination. It stands out for its beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, and various outdoor activities for couples. Best of all, this is where you’ll find most of the all-inclusive resorts.

Top attractions in Guanacaste include:

• Tamarindo Beach
• Palo Verde National Park
• Rincon de la Vieja National Park
• Papagayo Peninsula
• Playa Flamingo
• Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

You can go on a sunset catamaran cruise along the Guanacaste coastline, enjoy stunning views. Additionally, try a gourmet dinner, and then go snorkeling or kayaking together. The best time to visit Guanacaste is from December to April for its sunny and warm weather.

6. Monteverde

Nestled in the lush cloud forests of Costa Rica, Monteverde is a fantastic choice for a honeymoon destination . It’s known for its breathtaking natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and reputation as a biodiversity hotspot.

Why Monteverde is perfect for a honeymoon:

• Cloud forests filled with mist, towering trees, and incredible plant and animal life
• Adventurous activities like zip-lining, guided hikes, horseback riding, and romantic strolls along hanging bridges
• Commitment to sustainability and eco-tourism with minimal environmental impact

Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve or the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve for its natural beauty. You can also immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting the Monteverde Cheese Factory, exploring the charming town of Santa Elena, and interacting with the friendly locals.

7. More Reasons to Choose Costa Rica for Your Honeymoon

Happy and healthy lifestyle.

Costa Rica is recognized as one of the happiest countries in the world. The country’s high levels of joy, health, and longevity are closely tied to the concept of wellness, which plays a significant role in happiness. You’ll find wellness activities abound here.

Animal Sightings

True happiness can be experienced in the Monteverde cloud forest, where you can embark on canopy bridge tours and enjoy a breathtaking aerial view of the national park. The rainforests are home to over 900 bird species and diverse monkeys and sloths, making animal sightings an assured and relaxing experience.

Wellness Through Yoga and Meditation

Finding wellness through yoga is popular in Costa Rica. Relax your mind and body with yoga sessions in Puerto Viejo’s Caribbean surroundings. Rustic, open-air studios in Playa Cocles integrate into the Zen experience, offering a relaxing time for vacationing yoga enthusiasts.

The Southern Pacific region promotes wellness activities like surf camps and yoga teaching centers. Enjoy guided meditations near waterfalls in Bajos del Toro, soothing massages at luxurious resorts, and snorkeling alongside diverse marine life in Cahuita National Park’s coral reef.

Wellness Through Food

Food plays an integral part in the wellness journey. Costa Ricans are experts in creating delectable meals using the freshest ingredients, adhering to the farm-to-table trend. Connect with the earth at the local Central Market in San José or at weekend farmers’ markets throughout the country. Enjoy daily menus at local sodas (small takeout stands) that showcase distinct regional flavors.

Is A Costa Rica Honeymoon Right For You?

Costa Rica is filled with natural beauty, romance warmth and hospitality. Its people know how to make a honeymoon couple feel welcome. And when you choose  Costa Rica for your honeymoon, your honeymoon will truly be unforgettable. 

If you’re trying to figure out your own bucket list honeymoon, but are struggling and on information overload, feel free to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me today, and let’s get your honeymoon on the “done” list.