Crossing the Costa Rica Nicaragua Border Like a Pro

Central America offers a wealth of natural and historical attractions, which means that independent travelers will, at some point, need to cross borders to visit them all. Crossing the Costa Rica – Nicaragua border is a rite of passage and much less scary than some might think.

In this article, we’ll review what you need to know and bring for a hassle-free crossing between these two beautiful Central American countries. Read on for a rundown of the official process.

Important Disclaimer: Though every effort has been made to provide the most current and up-to-date information, please keep in mind that international border crossings and their entry and exit requirements are very much subject to change. Political factors, natural disasters and global influences can affect a nation’s borders with little warning. Be sure to check with your country’s embassy—and that of your destination country before you leave for your trip.

Crossing the Costa Rica – Nicaragua Border

If you’re crossing the land border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, you’re most likely going to come through the town of Penas Blancas, in the far northwest of Costa Rica. This is where the famed Pan-America Highway (Interamericana) makes its way from the isthmus of Panama into Central America and beyond.

There is another official crossing site between Los Chiles, Costa Rica and San Carlos, Nicaragua. However, this is much farther inland and quite far from established tourist routes and places of interest.

Important Note: Rental car companies do not allow you to take their vehicles across the border, which means Penas Blancas is the proverbial end of the road. You will need to make arrangements to leave your car in Penas Blancas or, more practically, in Liberia—the largest city in the region—and make your way to Penas Blancas by shuttle or bus.

Crossing from Penas Blancas, Costa Rica, into Nicaragua

Step 1: Get to Penas Blancas

The first step is to get to the border, which can be reached by car, shuttle or bus. 

There are connections from all over Costa Rica to Liberia. From there, you’ll find frequent service to “la frontera” (the border) at Penas Blancas. The trip should take about 1.5 hours.

The immigration office’s open hours/availability is from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.

Step 2: Pay your exit fees

To leave Costa Rica, you’ll have to pay an exit tax. The official rate is $8, which can be paid online at the Banco de Costa Rica website. Print your receipt to present to officials. Or, if you don’t mind spending the extra two dollars, it can be purchased—cash only—for $10 ($8 for the exit tax, plus a $2 convenience fee) in a little hut with a misspelled sign indicating that you can pay your departure tax there.

Step 3: Get your Costa Rican exit stamp

Next, with your receipt and passport in hand, enter the immigration office and present your items to the guard, who will probably just stamp your documents and move you along. 

While the process depends on the officers involved and the number of people ahead of you, wait times generally range between fifteen and twenty minutes.

After exiting the office, walk 300 meters through the no man’s land between the countries until you come to the Nicaraguan immigration office decked out in white and blue with a small health office in the same parking lot. 

Some earnest vendors might try to sell you an oversized tricycle ride between offices. This isn’t necessary if you can walk on flat ground for a few minutes—regardless of their insistence!

Step 4: Go to the health office

Go to the health office first! 

To enter Nicaragua, vaccinated travelers must show proof. Unvaccinated travelers must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test (no antigens) from within the last 72 hours. 

Don’t get in line at the immigration office without sorting out your health status first—otherwise, you’ll be sent back to the health office and have to wait in line again.

If you have recently traveled to any countries on the CDC yellow fever list, you will be required to present a Yellow Fever Certificate.

Step 5: Pay the entry fees and get stamped into Nicaragua

After you’ve gotten a small slip of paper from the health office, it’s time to get in line at the immigration office. Here, it’s possible to encounter varying wait times, some as little as 15 minutes and others of over an hour—or even two—depending on traffic.

You’ll be charged an entry tax of $14, payable in cash, and at some point, might be asked (not by immigration officials) for a $1 “municipal entrance fee” by a confident stranger. Most travelers just fork it over, but if you say you’ll pay at the office counter, you’re unlikely to get asked for this “fee.”

At the immigration counter, you may be asked where you’re staying in Nicaragua, so it’s a good idea to have at least your first night’s hotel arranged. 

You also might be asked your occupation. It’s best to be low-key here. Don’t tell them you are a journalist or work in media. Or that you are travelers. They want to know you’re not going to cause trouble and that you are going to leave the country.

Your passport will then be stamped and given a Nicaragua entry card. Do not lose this! You must present this upon leaving the country or face a fine of $20 or more. It’s just a little slip of paper, so be sure to put it somewhere safe.

Step 6: Scan your bags 

The last step in gaining entry into Nicaragua is to scan your bags. This is a requirement, but note that there are no fees. There have been reports of official-looking individuals indicating a $10+ fee for this service, but this is not the case. 

It is a good idea to always deal with official personnel at the counters rather than random individuals that may approach you.

Step 7: You did it!

Now it’s time to move on to your next destination. 

While many going through the process are on a visa run to renew their tourist status in Costa Rica, others make their way to the abundant attractions of Lake Nicaragua, the capital of Managua, colonial Granada, or the beach town of San Juan del Sur. 

Crossing the Nicaragua – Costa Rica Border

If your point of departure originates in Nicaragua, your first step would be to make it to the border just outside Rivas since the vast majority of travelers will enter Costa Rica through this point. 

There are many buses and shuttles that can get you from your starting point in Nicaragua right to the threshold of Costa Rica, particularly from popular spots such as Managua and San Juan del Sur.

Rivas, Nicaragua to Penas Blancas, Costa Rica

Crossings from the Nicaraguan to the Costa Rican side are only slightly different than the other way around, as your bags aren’t required to be scanned. 

The immigration office is open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. There is no daily limit to the number of people entering/exiting.

Step 1: Get to the border from Rivas

You can reach the border from the transportation hub of Rivas either by chicken bus for about $1 or by private taxi, which is reasonably priced. 

Some taxi drivers might tell you there are no buses to the border—dont fall for it.

Step 2: Pay your exit fees

You will depart Nicaragua from the other side of the building where people come into the country. At this point, you’ll have to pay a $4 departure tax in cash. Be sure to have small bills available—they will claim they don’t have change anyway. 

Then you must present your receipt, entry card and passport to the official to get your stamp.

Step 3: Cross no man’s land

Next, you must traverse the no man’s land between the countries along with your bags. You may also have your passport checked here by officials patrolling the area.

Step 4: Go through customs and get stamped

When you arrive at the Costa Rica immigration office, have your passport ready. You must also provide proof of onward travel out of Costa Rica within 90 days. The officials are rather consistent on this point. While some have been able to get in with merely a bus ticket receipt, in most cases, you’ll have to present proof of an air ticket out of the country.

Note that proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is no longer required to enter Costa Rica.

You may also be asked where you’re going and your occupation, but this is much less sensitive than on the Nicaraguan side of the border. 

If all is in place, you’ll get your passport stamped with a tourist visa, and the number of days of validity (usually 90) will be written in.

Step 5: Be on your merry way

From here, you can exit the immigration office and begin your wanderings throughout the country. This could be by bus to Liberia or points throughout the country.

What Do You Need to Cross the Border?

Though the details may differ, for the most part, you’ll need the same documentation and information on both sides of the border.

Passport 

No matter which side of the border you’re coming from, each will want to see your passport. Therefore, it is always a good idea, if not mandatory, to have at least six months of validity to your passport when traveling internationally.

Visa

Whether or not a visa is required to enter either country will depend on your nationality, so check with your government before leaving home. That said, international travelers from the US, UK and European Union will not need to apply for a visa. 

In Costa Rica, a standard tourist visa is good for 90 days. Just be prepared to show proof that you plan on moving on.

Departure Tax

On the Costa Rican side, the departure tax is technically $8. However, if you don’t purchase this in advance online, you’ll be charged an additional $2 for a convenience fee.

On the Nicaragua side, you’ll pay $4 at the immigration office to leave the country.

Proof of Exit

Before you can leave Costa Rica, you’ll have to provide a receipt either from Banco de Costa Rica or from the little hut on the side of the road indicating that you have paid your departure tax. You’ll need to present this to the customs official along with your passport.

At border control in Nicaragua, you’ll also need to present a receipt for the departure tax along with your passport to continue your journey.

Cash

Note that Costa Rican Colones are not accepted in Nicaragua, nor can you use Nicaraguan Cordobas in Costa Rica. Cash in small denominations is an absolute must, regardless of which crossing you want to undertake. 

For the sake of simplicity, you are best off having small bills of US dollars with you, as this is accepted on both sides.

The reason for having dollars in small denominations is that you’ll often be told that they can’t make change for larger bills and would therefore need to keep the entire larger bill. So to avoid awkward situations, having small bills—preferably $1 bills—on hand will be very convenient.

Entry Fee

To enter Nicaragua by land from Costa Rica should cost $14—which should not be confused with the exit fee you’ll pay to leave Costa Rica.

There is no entry fee when entering Costa Rica from Nicaragua by land. However, you will have to pay a departure tax when leaving Nicaragua.

Proof of Onward Travel

To enter Nicaragua, you technically will need to show proof of onward travel, preferably in the form of a return air ticket, though many report not being asked.

Similarly, the rules state that all travelers must show proof of onward travel when visiting Costa Rica. And they do ask for it.

Proof of Economic Stability

According to the US State Department, American travelers should be prepared to show evidence of economic stability when entering Nicaragua. However, this is not consistently enforced at the border. 

Customs agents might ask about your occupation and where you’ll be staying. You shouldn’t be asked anything beyond that since you are a tourist. 

The same is technically true of Costa Rica, though you’ll unlikely be asked. Having a credit card should be insurance enough if they do.

COVID-19 Restrictions

At the time of writing, there are no vaccination or COVID-19 requirements to enter Costa Rica. 

When entering Nicaragua, you must provide either proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test from within the last 72 hours.

Safety Tips at the Costa Rica – Nicaragua border

Physical safety is not a big issue with so many people passing through the border. There are border guards all around, so violent crime is not a real threat while transiting from one border to another.

As usual, it is wise to be alert to pickpockets or petty thieves who would be happy to relieve you of any items left unattended. And though this may seem like a no-brainer, never give your passport to anyone besides a government official.

The greatest threat to your safety by far will be economical—usually in the form of scammers and unscrupulous individuals who seek to deceive unwary travelers in various ways. However, there’s no need to fear. Some common sense and a confident bearing will dissuade would-be scammers.

For instance, if someone approaches you and offers to help for free, don’t fall for it. At some point, a fee will be solicited. Anyone looking to charge you for customs forms or scanning fees can be thwarted by waiting to speak to the official representatives, who will not charge you for any of these things.

One last note is to be wary of claims from taxi drivers that there are no buses to take you from the border to your intended destination and that you have no alternative but to use their services. This is false; plenty of public and private transportation options are available.

Map of Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Take a look at this interactive map. It will assist you in visualizing the locations involved and beyond. 

Popular Routes Between Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Nobody comes to Costa Rica or Nicaragua to visit the border towns, so you’ll want to know which routes work best for your particular destinations ahead of time. Below are a few of the more popular ones.

Getting around Costa Rica or Nicaragua over land can be done by public bus routes or private/shared shuttles with varying levels of comfort.

Buses are the cheapest options with the least amount of comfort and flexibility—you are tied to their timetables which can be fluid, to say the least. However, for dedicated budget travelers, buses will help you stretch your funds to the greatest degree and give you the most authentic of experiences.

You can arrange shuttle transfers from Costa Rica to all the popular destinations in Nicaragua, such as San Jose to Managua, San Jose to Jinotepe, San Jose to San Juan del Sur and San Jose to Chinandega.

If you’re staying in the Guanacaste region, you can also book travel from Liberia to San Juan del Sur or San Jorge. Or travel right from the border to San Juan del Sur.

Conversely, you can also arrange transport from Managua to San Jose or other Costa Rican destinations. As you can see, you’ve got options. 

Reputable operators include Caribe Shuttle and Nica Espresso.

Last Words About the Costa Rica-Nicaragua Border

Though it might seem daunting, crossing the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is relatively straightforward. By following these steps and using a reasonable amount of caution and common sense, you should be able to cross this border without any issues.

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