Boarder Run
We realized last week that our 90 day tourist VISA’s had expired. The penalty is only $2 per day, but with a family of 4, that can start adding up quickly. We decided the best thing to do was to go early on Monday morning and get Azalea to school a little late. Sunday was Mother’s Day, so I didn’t want to go over the weekend.
We left the house around 6:20am on Monday. The kids usually wake up around 5:30am anyway, so it wasn’t like we were getting up early to go. We were ready to pay the penalty with extra cash and photo copies of passports and stamped slip.
We parked the car in a dirt lot close to the boarder where we weren’t harassed to pay for someone to “watch” our car. In the past I haven’t had much luck with these people.
I usually come back to find someone else is “watching” my car and that person wanting to get paid a disproportionate amount to their services. I also find parking closer to the boarder there are less people pestering you to hire them to fill out the paper work and walk you through the process.
These men also have been known to demand a $40 tip after services rendered. I did use them once when it was just me & the kids. I paid them the equivalent of $4 and was yelled at while shuffling my kids in my car.
Once at the counter we were quickly told that the copies we made were incorrect and were pointed to a building where we could pay to have correct copies made.
This was surprisingly easy and we were soon able to reenter.
Entering the boarder. The first place your passports are checked.
First stop is a small window to pay the $1 per person tax to the Nicaraguan exit city.
The first building has the best "ice skating rink" my kids have ever seen.
Kharron patiently waiting in line
The offical was not very happy to fill out this extra paperwork for us being delinquent on our VISA exit.
Both direction you have to walk through this building to have your passport checked.
After the long walk in between the two countries or what most call “no man’s land” we finally reached Costa Rica’s customs.
The walk between countries
The line outside Costa Rica's customs was empty!
Kharron in line at Costa Rica's customs
This building also has a bathroom and somehow Azalea always needs to go here.
Walking around the Costa Rica customs building on our way back to Nicaragua
If you can only use cash, either this building or the one next to it is where you pay your Costa Rica exit tax.
Paid a $7 tax each to exit Costa Rica
With a credit card (make sure your bank knows you are going to Costa Rica) you can save $2 per person on your Costa Rica exit tax.
Each side requires custom forms to be filled out. Bring your pen & your patience.
Another line - the Costa Rican boarder.
Back through this passport checkpoint
At this building they ask you how many people
Then give you this piece of paper with number of people listed on it.
Another passport check.
The Nicaraguan customs building
Window to pay the Nicaraguan government tax
$1 each tax to the Nicaraguan government
Last line - Nicaraguan customs.
Local artist's creations
A quick walk back to our car and then to drop Azalea off at school at 10:00am!
Our car still in the dirt lot safe & sound.
Titus thought the boarder run was exhausting too