Crossing the border (frontera) from one country to another in Central America is relatively easy except going into Costa Rica. Without going through long border crossings you can drive the PanAmericanana Highway from Guatemala to Costa Rica all the way.

It’s not that Costa Rica would not like the convenience. I don’t think they are ready for it.They assumed that if you are planning to travel by road into Costa Rica you needed another adventure.

This can take anywhere from a half hour to 2 hours +…

Driving your vehicle when crossing becomes a little bit more complicated. If taking another person’s vehicle it’s in your mind… It would be a lot better, if at all possible you did not do that.

For those who drive their vehicle the list below is very useful. If you are not driving then just delete those parts or items dealing with vehicles.

Items required:

• a couple of pens - in case one gives up on you
• valid passport with current stamps
• valid exit visa stamp if you are a resident of Nicaragua but not a citizen
• valid exit documentation for your Nicaraguan vehicle should you be driving.   This can take at least a half a day to 2 days depending on your luck with the local officials. The requirements are obtain from the Policia at the town where your vehicle is registered,.
• valid vehicle registration card - circulation
• proof of insurance for your vehicle
• cedula - should you be a resident
• valid drivers licence.
• 3 photocopies of your passport (main page), vehicle registration, insurance certificate, exit visa for your vehicle, cedula, (include front and back side of all documents that have printing or stamps)
• patience - generally more then usual - simply because you do not know what kind of adventure you are going to run into.
• a spare batch of patience just waiting for the real fun adventures you may have.
• a high dose of positive attitude and humor
• plenty of small denomination bills - Cordobas or dollars (US) on the Nicaraguan side and Calones or dollars (US) on the Costa Rica side. Knowing how to deal with the coyotes will get you a better exchange rate then at the bank. You would have to know the exchanged rates in order to do that.

Most of the time it takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour. it can take longer if the traffic at the boarder is heavier than the usual. Approximately equal time for each country.

Going out of Nicaragua:

First charge. For 4 people crossing the border with a vehicle it will cost 80 cordobas (about $4.00). Tax for the local town. The quantity of people in the vehicle will determine the total.

You must go to the offices to obtain a free customs form soon after you have paid for the entrance into the boarder.   This is in the building where you see all of the buses lined up in the center. To register where you are going where you have been, and where you are from….

To fill the proper information out you have to confirm that your passport is out and ready. (Generally most of the times the forms arebilingual both in English and Spanish)

Soon after you have the forms filled out you must stand in line…

…Did I mention patience?

At the time the Migrations Officials stamp your passport and sen you to your merry way. The Charged for Non-resident’s $5. At any time the prices can changed.

IF you are traveling with your own vehicle you must also go to another office on the Nicaragua side.

On the Nicaragua side you will obtain an inspection paper from the local inspector; If the Policia are near you then you are lucky to just have them sign off the inspection.

With the vehicle inspection form signed off by both the

• inspector and
• Policia

you then get to stand in line to have the migration officer check for

• properly signed vehicle inspection,
• the proper registration,
• insurance,
• exit papers for your vehicle, and
• driver’s license.

By the time they approve then you go to the next line to wait and have the Policia check for the proper registration, insurance, exit papers for your vehicle, and driver’s license.

When all is approved you will be given a vehicle exit ticket to present and the migration exit stop which is the next stop.

Then to get to the fumigation office you have to hand your exit ticket to the official at the exit post. The charged will be 60 Cordobas (approx)-. $4.00) and this for the spraying of your vehicle to disinfect it before going into Costa Rica.

Later, you drive to the Costa Rica boarder buildings and …

Join us for the rest of the adventure of crossing the border…It has literally saved hours to other motorists!

When you’re ready for a beach vacation, it can be tough to pick from among vacation or honeymoon destinations.There are many places you can go, the Caribbean, or the beaches of Hawaii.  Take a look at this top 10 list below, you’ll find some ideas that can help you decide on where to go for your next vacation.

1.  Hawaii    If you live on the mainland, you can choose to put your frequent flier miles to good use and take a beach vacation on the island of Hawaii.  You can get a vacation deals package and you can relax on the beach, swim, play golf, sail or scuba dive. The islands are great to spend a honeymoon vacation. Hawaii has great weather.This makes it a wonderful choice for your beach vacation.

2. Cape Cod    Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket are all surrounded by beautiful scenic beaches. There are beaches on the bay and ocean sides of the islands. Bayside beaches are typically much calmer than oceanside beaches. Choose from among the Cape Cod hotels available.

3.  Wildwood     Wildwood Crest is a small shore resort community located at the southern end of New Jersey.North Wildwood Crest has great beaches that are among the nicest in the United States.S. They have thousands of hotel rooms. There is a boardwalk with amusement rides. There are many other interesting attractions in southern New Jersey.

4. Myrtle Beach     Myrtle Beach is one of the top domestic tourist destinations in the continental United States. Each year they get millions of visitors a year. Its a popular vacation destinations for millions of Americans. If a Myrtle Beach vacation is what you are looking for, then Myrtle Beach has it all. Myrtle Beach has some great hotels. 

5. Florida Keys     The Florida Keys is the perfect tropical retreat with balmy weather and beautiful beaches. It has of over 1000 small islands. The Florida Keys stretch 100 miles away from the mainland and Florida Keys hotels offer new experiences for both old and young alike. Florida Keys vacations start in Key West. The natural surroundings are very tropical feeling.

6. Cocoa Beach     Cocoa Beach is an hour drive east of Orlando. Its on the Space Coast. It offers loads of recreation and relaxation. If you are planning a family beach vacation, a weekend getaway, or just a day at the beach, you’ll find everything in Cocoa Beach. One of the more affordable vacation spots in all of Florida is in and around Cocoa Beach. Besides offering the best of a beach vacation, you can go parasailing. You may also like to try a casino cruise ship, or take an eco-tour to get up close with Florida’s wildlife.

7. Costa Rica     This can be the ideal tropical paradise for your Costa Rica vacations. You can enjoy the pristine beaches. The rainforest covers the mountains. It has a huge variety of plants and animals. For an action vacation you can surf, hike, go rafting, canopying, diving, deepwater fishing and snorkeling. There are affordable options and more expensive resorts in a costa rica.

8. Bahamas    The Bahamas is a caribbean vacation choice many take each year. Kids will love the white sandy beaches. those seeking waves you will want to head to beaches on the eastern side of the island closest to the Atlantic. There are many ways to enjoy the warm waters off the shores of this beautiful island, including surfing, sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, and swimming. The tough part would be choosing from the  bahamas vacation packages available.

9. Punta Cana    Punta Cana is on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. It has 25 miles of white sand and more than 35 resorts. Tourists long ago discovered Punta Cana and Americans are now catching on. An affordable tropical getaway, most stay in all-inclusive resorts. You can find Punta Cana vacation packages perfect.

10. Cozumel     Cozumel has beautiful beaches and an exotic location. A vacation packages there would be an ideal honeymoon vacation. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets, moonlit walks on deserted beaches, and enjoy romantic candlelight dinners. Famous worldwide for its coral reefs, there are plenty of water sports such as diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and more. Cozumel Mexico is endowed with a Caribbean flair. Be sure to book your Cozumel vacation packages early to avoid disappointment.