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.
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 at 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
