Crossing the Panama-Costa Rica Border at Paso Canoas

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This is a road trip report from October 2022, on how I travelled from Santiago to Quepos, crossing the Paso Canoas border from Panama to Costa Rica.

The details for the Costa Rican immigration is now somewhat different… check the comments section below for updates:

Paso Canoas Panama Immigration office

2 weeks ago, I crossed in the other direction at Sixaola on the Caribbean coast, and as I head back north, I use the Paso Canoas border crossing. I could have opted for the much easier option, such as the Tica Bus, but where is the fun in that?

This journey was done in 3 stages:

  • Santiago to David
  • David to Paso Canoas
  • Paso Canoas to Quepos

Santiago to David

My day began at 5 am in Santiago. I took the 6 am combi-van to David, 2 hours 52 mins, 9 USD.

David to Paso Canoas

I used the baño, bought some water and took another combi-van to Frontera, as it’s known in Panama. 1 hr 10 minutes, 2 USD.

Minivan from David to Paso Canoas in Panama

Trucks were backed up a mile or so. There were no long-distance buses. This is the main issue when you take the TicaBus. The border crossing can take 2 hours.

I walked on the right side and suddenly I saw billboards for Imperial Beer and the Banco Nacional which offers free ATM withdrawals, Shit, I had just walked into Costa Rica. Backtracking, I found the Panamanian immigration, got stamped out and then searched out the Costa Rican immigration. It’s never as straightforward as you imagine it would be.

I could have quite easily jumped on the bus, and no one would have seen.

Paso Canoas border crossing from Panama to Costa Rica
Panama and Costa Rica passport stamps

Panamania exit and Costa Rican entry stamps:

Paso Canoas to Quepos

Just across the border on the right side, I spied the Tracopa bus to San Jose. And the ticket office.

​I jumped the queue and asked about the next bus to Quepos. 3:30 pm

Yikes!!

The area was packed with migrants from Venezuela, all heading north, like me.

One bus was preparing to leave, so I tried my luck

Nomadic Backpacker on a bus from Paso Canoas to Quepos

I blagged my way onto the bus and within 10 minutes we were on our way. I think I was charged all the way to San José as 9,500 was a tad expensive just to Quepos but, it beat waiting 5 hours for the next free seat and arriving at 7 pm and having to look for a room in the dark.

​The only downside was that I had floor space only. But it was more than OK.

Nomadic Backpacker on a bus from Paso Canoas to Quepos

I got to Quepos around 2 pm after hitching the final 5km from the highway into town.

Another day at the office for a seasoned traveller like myself.

Nomadic Backpacker in Quepos, Costa Rica with the Letras de Quepos

2 thoughts on “Crossing the Panama-Costa Rica Border at Paso Canoas”

  1. Excellent guide here as always. As of 2024, you need to take a taxi cab for a number of miles to the new immigration building in Costa Rica when crossing over from Panama through Pasa Canoas. This modernized, *big* building is different than the little, old building you need to visit on the way *out* of Costa Rica. Have your dollars ready to pay the taxi driver. When they drop you off you need to walk a couple hundred more yards to the back of the immigration building to check in.

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