Costa Rican Border Crossing Land Exit Tax

[John Clement]

On page #3 in today's A.M. Costa Rica they have an article about the border crossing land exit tax. They say it is in effect and that it is $7.  No real details given.

[Jim Tosch]

A few hundred yards before the entrance to Pasa Canoa on the left hand side is a brand new hotel with very nice accommodations for much less than fifty. It is a muti story white building that I have waited years for them to complete. I toured it a month ago and was shocked at how nice the rooms are and it is an easy walk to the border and round the clock security go your car. Having said that,we are talking about Pasa Canoa and by now it could be a disaster.

[Linda Baker]

Tim, we just got back from doing the Paso Canoas crossing.  We booked a room at Hostal La Morenita and one of Ricardo's young helpers went with us down to the border.  We checked out of Panama then walked down to the C.R. "entrada" window, got an immigration form, filled it out, presented our passports and got them stamped.  We then walked away and came back a few minutes later and stood in line at the bank right next to the C.R. windows to purchase the C.R. exit stamp for $7.  Went over to the C.R. "salida" window, filled out another immigration form and got stamped out of C.R.  Walked back down to Panama "entrada" window, paid a woman while we stood in line the $1 for Panama entry tax stamp, showed our airline reservation confirmation, passport, and $500 at window, but the money was pushed right back to me.  Stamped us in and the whole process took less than an hour.  We then went back to the hostal, spent the night, and left after breakfast this morning.

[Linda Baker]

Tim, we just got back from doing the Paso Canoas crossing.  We booked a room at Hostal La Morenita and one of Ricardo's young helpers went with us down to the border.  We checked out of Panama then walked down to the C.R. "entrada" window, got an immigration form, filled it out, presented our passports and got them stamped.  We then walked away and came back a few minutes later and stood in line at the bank right next to the C.R. windows to purchase the C.R. exit stamp for $7.  Went over to the C.R. "salida" window, filled out another immigration form and got stamped out of C.R.  Walked back down to Panama "entrada" window, paid a woman while we stood in line the $1 for Panama entry tax stamp, showed our airline reservation confirmation, passport, and $500 at window, but the money was pushed right back to me.  Stamped us in and the whole process took less than an hour.  We then went back to the hostal, spent the night, and left after breakfast this morning.

[Kevin Reilly]

Thank you Linda G. Baker for this timely update !  So, they've started backing off that silly, illegal, and all-too-random 24-hour requirement.  GREAT NEWS !

[Linda Baker]

I can't guarantee that the same will happen for the next person.  Just reporting our experience.

[Linda Baker]

The hostal is in the trade-free or free-trade zone and you can drive right to it or take a taxi or bus.

[Linda Baker]

The hostal is in the trade-free or free-trade zone and you can drive right to it or take a taxi or bus.

[Will the Web Mechanic]

There a Bancredito machine in the Aduana office where you can pay the fee with a credit card but it only works with Costa Rican passports.

Worked just fine with my U.S. passport

[Hil]

There is a passport scanner and pay machine next door to the weekday window. You can get the tax reciept on saturday and sunday at the border. Turn right at the normally manned window and take the next door to your left. Paso Canoas border.

Cheers,

Hil Jenkins

[Boquete Electrical Solutions]

I just love this forum for looking out for each other and avoiding the painful "reinventing the wheel" that .ning affords. I'm driving to CR for a vacation and this is such timely, useful information, thanks to all of you "pioneers"

[Barbara Oakley]

Rio Sereno border- You must buy your exit ticket in Sabalito which is about 5 miles down the bumpy-ass dirt road towards San Vito. It is a store on the little main street called the Cooperallianza and has a Western Union sign. Not sure if they are open on Saturday until noon. M-F ok. $7 per person. The San Vito Cooperallianza does NOT have the machine to issue the exit tax ticket. The CR immigration guy appears to delight in not being helpful so don't bother asking him questions. We ended up staying an additional night because he gave us incorrect information on Friday when we were entering Costa Rica.

Also, heads up about buying tickets in advance and using them on future border trips. A mom and her two sons were at the border on Sunday with us. She showed the CR guy her exit tax tickets and he said she couldn't use them because they were old and "not in the system anymore." She reminded him that he was the one that told her several weeks ago (when the exit tax tickets were not needed) to use them on her next border trip. He shrugged and again said they were "not in the system" so she could not cross into Panama. We and our cab drivers tried every trick in the book to get him to make an exception but it was hopeless. Highly suggest you don't leave on Sundays because you have no recourse if something is not accepted. What an adventure.

[Kevin Reilly]

Does anyone have any more recent experience at the Sixaola crossing ?

Rio Sereno is great . . . They still use carbon paper !!

[Kevin Reilly]

Does anyone have any more recent experience at the Sixaola crossing ?

Rio Sereno is great . . . They still use carbon paper !!