How to get from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro via the Sixaola
This is a road trip report from September 2022 detailing how I travelled from Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro in Panama via the Sixaola border crossing.
The journey from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro is down in 4 stages:
- Puerto Viejo to Sixaola
- Sixaola to Changuinola
- Changuinola to Almirante
- Almirante to Bocas del Toro by boat
Puerto Viejo to Sixaola
I took the 8:20 am bus from Puerto Viejo to the border at Sixaola. 2210CRC 3.40 USD.
Here's the schedule :
1 hour brings you to the border at Sixaola.
You must pay a departure tax which is 8 USD, payable at a kiosk just before immigration. They charge you 1 USD for the privilege. So 9 USD, I paid 6000 CRC.
You must pay a departure tax which is 8 USD, payable at a kiosk just before immigration. They charge you 1 USD for the privilege. So 9 USD, I paid 6000 CRC.
I travelled on the weekend of Independence Day. Horrendous queues. On a normal day, you are done and dusted within 15 minutes apparently.
There was 1 line for entering and exiting Costa Rica. The queue moved at a snail's pace.
There are no procedures. Just the scanning of your passport and that magical sound of another stamp being applied.
There are no procedures. Just the scanning of your passport and that magical sound of another stamp being applied.
You walk across the bridge, over the Rio Sixaola, separating Costa Rica and Panama:
After the bridge, proceed to the Panamanian immigration on the left, next to the duty-free.
Entering Panama here is said to be hassle-free, that's why it's a great alternative to the main crossing on the Pacific Coast.
It seems the need to show proof of vaccination against Covid is no longer necessary (September 17 2022)
Officially you need to show proof of your intention to leave with a ticket out of Central America and possibly to your home country. I think it depends on which passport you have. And you may or may not be asked to show proof of funds to support your stay.
I had a screenshot of my bank accounts. I had a CopaAir ticket from Panama City to England. The ticket was a 'hold for free' for 24 hours.
I wasn't asked for any of the aforementioned documents.
Just fingerprints and bang! Panama, my 103rd country, 96th UN listed country. Easy Peasy.
Passport stamps: Costa Rica & Panama:
It seems the need to show proof of vaccination against Covid is no longer necessary (September 17 2022)
Officially you need to show proof of your intention to leave with a ticket out of Central America and possibly to your home country. I think it depends on which passport you have. And you may or may not be asked to show proof of funds to support your stay.
I had a screenshot of my bank accounts. I had a CopaAir ticket from Panama City to England. The ticket was a 'hold for free' for 24 hours.
I wasn't asked for any of the aforementioned documents.
Just fingerprints and bang! Panama, my 103rd country, 96th UN listed country. Easy Peasy.
Passport stamps: Costa Rica & Panama:
Panama is 1 hour ahead of Costa Rica.
They use US Dollars here.
I had managed to get some US Dollars at the BAC bank in Puerto Viejo. The BCR bank should give you Dollars too but the ATMs in Costa Rica are rarely re-stocked.
At the border on both sides, no money changes were coming to you in droves like at many borders so if you don't have US Dollars, you will have to go and look for an ATM if there is one or a money changer.
They use US Dollars here.
I had managed to get some US Dollars at the BAC bank in Puerto Viejo. The BCR bank should give you Dollars too but the ATMs in Costa Rica are rarely re-stocked.
At the border on both sides, no money changes were coming to you in droves like at many borders so if you don't have US Dollars, you will have to go and look for an ATM if there is one or a money changer.
Sixaola/Gaubito to Changuinola
There were quite a few minivans going directly to Almirante. They wanted 10 USD and the drivers are as pushy AF.
Inventing stories that if you take public transport you won't arrive at the ferry in time to get the last lancha (boat) to Bocas. Bla, bla, bla.
But under the bridge, buses go to Changuinola pretty regularly.
Here is the basic bus shelter in Guabito:
Inventing stories that if you take public transport you won't arrive at the ferry in time to get the last lancha (boat) to Bocas. Bla, bla, bla.
But under the bridge, buses go to Changuinola pretty regularly.
Here is the basic bus shelter in Guabito:
Changuinola to Almirante
You will be dropped off at the north end of the town and you have to walk a short distance to the Terminal de buses to get the next bus to Almirante:
Almirante to Bocas del Toro:
When you get to Almirante, pushy helpers will escort you to where boats depart regularly to Bocas del Toro:
Here is a sum up of my experience of crossing the border from Costa Rica to Panama, at Sixaolo:
How much does it cost to go from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro by public transport?
Puerto Viejo to Sixaola 3.40 USD
Bus to Changuinola 1 USD
Minivan to Almirante 2 USD
Boat 6 USD, (the boat to Bocas is 6 USD one way or 10 USD for an open return, valid for 1 month.
The total cost of doing things with public transport is 12.40 USD. This is compared to the 25 USD (or 33 USD) charged by the shuttle companies. Quite a nice saving.
Bus to Changuinola 1 USD
Minivan to Almirante 2 USD
Boat 6 USD, (the boat to Bocas is 6 USD one way or 10 USD for an open return, valid for 1 month.
The total cost of doing things with public transport is 12.40 USD. This is compared to the 25 USD (or 33 USD) charged by the shuttle companies. Quite a nice saving.
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