How to get from Santiago (Panama) to Quepos (Costa Rica) via the Paso Canoas Border Crossing
This is a road trip report from October 2022, on how I travelled from Santiago in Panama to Quepos in Costa Rica using the Paso Canoas Border Crossing.
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.
This journey was done in 3 stages:
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.
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
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 who were, I found out in due course, from Venezuela and all heading north, like me.
One bus was preparing to leave. I tried my luck.
I jumped the queue and asked about the next bus to Quepos. 3:30 pm
Yikes!!
The area was packed with migrants who were, I found out in due course, from Venezuela and all heading north, like me.
One bus was preparing to leave. 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.
The only downside was that I had floor space only. But it was more than OK.
Comparing my way using local buses, if the fare from the border to San Jose was indeed the 9,500 CRC, which is 14.50 USD, I paid 34.50 USD. The TicaBus is 55 USD and the ride leaves Panama City at 6 am and arrives 18 hours later. Using local buses, the journey is less than 12 hours.
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.
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.
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