Sixaola, Costa Rica to Guabito, Panama | Customs and Immigration

We crossed from Costa Rica to Panama at Sixaola with two motorcycles on 23 Feb 24.  Here's how we did it.

1.  Head toward Sixaola on Hwy 36.  At 9.506051, -82.615865, exit the highway to the left, immediately turning right to continue in the same direction on the side road that runs parallel to the highway.  Ride to the absolute very end, right where the pedestrian ramp takes people up onto the bridge.  Ignore the people waving for you to park where they want you to (if you're not riding a motorcycle, you may want to park where you can find space).  Park on the right; there is a cop stationed on the left, so someone has eyes on your bike.  Be prepared for fixers.  As you'll see, you won't need one!

2.  Across the street and back one building is migracion - look for the big blue sign and the windows.  Go to the windows there.  They will ask for, scan and stamp your passport.  If you've already paid your US$8 exit tax online they will know (you would have entered your passport number; link is https://www.bancobcr.com/wps/portal/bcr/bancobcr/personas/solicitudes_en_linea/pago_impuesto_salida_terrestre/).  Otherwise, it's US$9.  Time:  <5 min.

3.  The set of windows at the next building (just turn left if your back is to the street, or turn around if the street is to your right) is aduana, where you will suspend your TIP.  Yes, consider suspending instead of cancelling.  No cost, just as quick, and it keeps your options open.  You will provide them your Costa Rican insurance paperwork and the small slip of paper with a handwritten 5 digit code that you received at Costa Rican aduana to access your TIP electronically.  It will all be stapled together, stamped and returned to you.  Time:  <5 min.

4.  Hop back on your bike, ride back to where you left the highway (9.506051, -82.615865), turn left back on the highway.  Ride across the bridge; Panamanian officials will stop you on the far end.  One will want to briefly see your passport.  A second will want to see your passport and the documents demonstrating you cancelled/suspended your TIP.  He will walk away with them, and return about 5 min later, and return the paperwork to you. Then he will record your licence plate and bike description in a paper logbook. Time:  10 min.

5.  Roll forward 20m into the fumigation booth, get off your bike and watch it get sprayed.  We took our luggage etc off the bike first, because the spray goes everywhere, not just underneath.  Time:  1 min (plus time to remove and reattach luggage).

6.  Ride to the end of the bridge.  Your goal will be to turn left and return along the road that parallels the bridge.  You can do this by either continuing to the proper turnaround point, or by cutting across to the left at the earliest opportunity.  Coming back parallel to the bridge, ride until you see the gravel incline (9.498238, -82.613115), then ride up that and park. (If you're not on a motorcycle, there may still be room here, otherwise park where you find space.)  This puts you central to everything you need.  Be prepared for fixers, kids who will volunteer to watch your bike for money, and for kids begging.  No fixers or guards required.

7.  First step is migracion.  It is to the southeast if you've parked at the top of the gravel incline (at 9.498265, -82.612771).  There is a sign, and it's hard to miss.  If you parked at the top of the gravel incline, it's on the far side of the two small side-by-side containers serving as offices (one is darker grey, the other is off-white).  At migracion you will get your passport stamped; they will also take your picture and your fingerprints.  The passport stamp won't say how long your visa is for, so know what Panama allows for your citizenship.  Time:  <5 min.

8.  Return to the dark grey office container.  Here you will pay US$4 tourist tax and receive a very small square piece of paper.  No one ever asked to see this paper.  Time:  1 min.

9.  Next to the dark grey office container is an off-white office container.  This is where you get your insurance.  They are open 8am-5pm seven days a week.  Except, they tend to close early Sundays if it's a quiet day, and as there's only one employee there they also close for 45 min for lunch.  Here you will show your passport and vehicle registration paperwork.  Insurance cost us US$25 for 30 days.  I believe you can purchase up to 90 days; read the rest of these instructions before buying more than 30 days' worth.  You will get two copies of your Panamanian insurance.  At this point, ask nicely for a photocopy of the cancelled/suspended TIP paperwork you received exiting Costa Rica (you only need a copy of the small slip with the stamp on it), your passport photo page, and your vehicle registration (unless you're prepared and already have these!).  Time:  10 min.

10.  Once you exit the off-white office container, with your back to the door there will be a building between you and the road at about your 10 o'clock.  Go to the road side of this building.  Here, you will pay the guy in the window US$3 for your fumigation certificate, and the guy sitting at the desk outside the window US$10 for some tax related to bringing your vehicle into the country; he will give you a handwritten receipt.  The fumigation guy types stuff into a computer; although no one ever asked to see either of these two pieces of paper, the fumigation info may be tracked somewhere.  Time:  5 min.

11.  With your back to the road and still facing the fumigation receipt-giving guy, turn left, and walk around that building until you see an area behind a chain link fence/gate.  Go in here and look for "Ventanilla 1", about the second or third window in on the left.  Slide the window open like you own it.  The person behind the window will want your passport, a copy of your passport photo page, a copy of your vehicle registration, a copy of your new Panamanian insurance and a copy of your cancelled/suspended Costa Rican TIP.  (Don't ask them for a TIP - they guy we spoke to wasn't familiar with this term and thought we wanted something else; "permiso temporal de importación de vehículos" is what it is in Spanish).  It'll take about 15 min, then you'll get your passport back with a big ol' stamp in it and today's date handwritten over it, and your TIP.  Be aware, we were only given a 30 day TIP.  We were told that's how it works.  Before the 30 days expires, go to any aduana office in the country and ask for an extension, which will be for another 30 days.  You can do this exactly twice, for a total of 90 days.  We specifically asked whether the process would be different if we had purchased a 90 day insurance policy and were told no, we would still only get a 30 day TIP.  Time:  15 min.

12.  You're done (almost).  Hop on your bike and take off.  However, about 5-10 km down the road there will be a formal checkpoint, where one person will inspect your passport and a second will inspect your TIP.  Time:  2 min.

13.  That's it - now you're done!  Enjoy Pamana.

Note we did not see any money changers on either side of this border crossing.  We changed all our colones to USD at a bank in Costa Rica, which was easy.  We paid everything at the border in cash; I don't know whether any of them would take plastic.

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MiroAndVal’s comment below is accurate. The ‘friendly unofficial officials’ are super friendly UNTIL you return to your car and they then say that they charge $4 USD. Gave her $2 (all the coins in colones that we had left) and she was not happy.

This border was not as smooth and friendly for us. Creepy police abusing their power.

ENTERING PANAMA (INFO FOR DOG OWNERS)… lots of details because we wish we had them.

-drove across bridge to orange cones
-main police guy in charge stopped us
-LOCK YOUR DOORS - main police guy went over to the passenger door where my girlfriend sits (after talking to me with the window open on the driver side) and just tried to open the door physically without asking or saying he needed to come in. My girlfriend wasn’t talking with the officer. He just stopped talking to me and rushed to the other side all of a sudden to pull the door handle. We haven’t ever had this happen and we have had some shifty border crossing experiences (Nicaragua lol). Made my girlfriend really on edge after that.
-I told him he could open the side door if he needs to open a door
-he walked inside vehicle (inspection?) and took a picture of our registration and bank loan (we don’t have a title as car us financed… got through OK)
-he kept asking for drinks, we offered water or a beer, then told us no and asked for money to buy his own. we didn’t give any money
-told us that our dog normally isn’t allowed but that he’a doing us a favor and will let him through
-i told him we have the paperwork needed (even though we dont have the “official” export papers from costa rica that cost $150+)
-he directed me through fumigation then to u-turn left back near the ‘duty free’ buildings
-since it’s sunday, the insurance people are closed, so the main police guy told us he would set us up with the guy to buy insurance for one month (for $30 instead of $25)
-turns out this guy was an assigned helper for the whole process, and he wasn’t the guy we bought insurance from. I didn’t want a helper and kept asking if he was the one I buy insurance from bc I don’t need help. He was nice but wouldn’t leave. I caved at the end and gave $3 and he was not pleased
-first go around duty free buildings to the right to get entry stamps on passports. No fee. Have an address ready
-paid $10 and $5 for car registration things
-paid $25 for our dog. NOTE: we went on Sunday specifically to avoid the vet that works during the week because we did not have the official costa rica senana/casa amarilla paperwork. It’s way too expensive and takes 7-10 days to get. We had a valid certificado de salud from a costa rican vet, stamped with their seal and signed (plus all of our vax records for the dog). That was enough. No physical inspection. They just needed to see our dog
-the officials kicked and slapped the stray dogs nearby who weren’t doing anything. Please say something if you see them do this. We did.
-they gave us a paper for the dog and told us tmrw morning another document would be emailed. Update: i received the document the following morning via email from [email protected]
-all of the officials behind the windows were extremely helpful and nice
-the police and others who are walking around are extremely blatant about wanting bribes. The main guy kept telling us how we was doing us such a favor, that it’s impossible to cross on Sunday because of the insurance, etc, etc. i ended up paying for the insurance at the booth, like I imagine you would any day of the week.

Cash only. They had trouble with giving change for $20 bills.

If you have a dog and want to avoid the costa rica export papers, go on a Sunday. Note: the main police guy didn’t seem to care if we got dog import papers or not. If you want to bring your dog in illegally, you should be able to.

There are signs and things. It’s somewhat organized. Feel free to reach out on instagram with questions. Cheers!

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Costa Rica to Panama:

1. Park on the bridge (don't worry about keeping left), there are some friendly unofficial attendants who show you where to park.

2. Pay $9 exit tax at the shop with a big Claro sign on it. Cash only (in dollars or colons). Alternatively, you can pay this online in advance, it is $1 less.

3. Walk near the bridge, to immigration and get stamped out.

4. On the opposite side of the immigration office is the cancel your TIP.

5. Go back to the vehicle and cross into Panama.

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DOG OWNERS: easy crossing and way cheaper than the traditional Pan Am highway crossing. the guards were great and gave us a bunch of places to visit in Panama. what they didn't give us is the proper receipt for our dog 🙄 you are not only supposed to get the receipt of Payment $30 but also an official looking form with a QR code on the top of it. Difficult trying to get back to Costa Rica.

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Want to add info about crossing with a dog.

We had “original” vax records and a recent (90 day) health certificate in Spanish. We hired a fixer as we’d heard crossing with a pet was problematic. The fixer cost 20 bucks and we thought it was worth it.

Nobody ever saw the dog and we paid $30. Your mileage may vary but this crossing was super easy with a dog. Don’t stress…..

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No issues with any of the bridges, the damaged one is under repairs but won’t slow you down!
Fumigation machine wasn’t working so skipped that (of course still had to pay the $1) stop before he cones or you’ll have a discussion with the army guy! Quick check of the bike and then we parked next to the bridge (down the road, make U turn and come back on the east side) the rest of the story on the next spot on the map…

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We crossed on a friday morning on bicycles from CR to Pa. Very smooth crossing.

Be sure to cross before 11AM because the lunch break at the Panama side starts at 12AM and there is an hour time. difference.

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We entered from Panama. Nobody asked for copy of any document, and nobody asked us to pay the fumigation. The insurance is now 49 dollars. Everything was easy, took us 1 hour.

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The person processing the TIP required the title and passport photocopy on a full page. As they are half page at original size I handed half page, but they refused to accept it. Interestingly they accepted it when I taped a blank half page to it!

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Easiest border of the trip. Costa Rican Side was easy and straight forward. Everyone on the Panamanian side was super friendly and really helpful. We crossed with our dog and it cost us $16 for him. Get dog paperwork started early, as it takes them a while to print everything off. We left our documents with them and went back in 20 mins after doing our TIP and everything was ready to go. Very good experience at a border for once.

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Was first to cross when they opened. 7am Costa Rica is 8 am Panama. This is an easy relaxed border with very helpful border officers. Paid the $10 (I think it's a road tax) and $3 fumagation. Parked on the side out of the way. Did Immigration, insurance and Aduana. Also went for pet import papers. I had already applied for Panama papers through the vet. Was charged at that time the $136 per pet. I did it to stop any problems flying to Columbia. I really don't know if it was necessary, and if I had to do it again...I wouldn't. Still had to pay a licence fee for my dog and 2 cats.

Be sure to turn left maybe 800 after leaving the border. I was warned by border officials not to go straight, it was dangerous and too narrow a road.

At the police checkpoint they took the Aduana papers and and phoned back to the border...no idea why. They alot inspected the inside of the rv. But no problems.

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Very organized and efficient. First proceed to fumigation. Pay $10 municipal tax. Get your vehicle searched for fruit and vegetables. 2nd go through fumigation. Pull up 100m and park on right side of side street near tienda. Go back to fumigation and pay $1 and retain receipt. Next go around the corner to immigration and get passport stamped. Easy no line agent wanted to see fumigation receipt or proof of onward travel. Next, if you have animals go back to office next to fumigation. I don’t know what is going on here but this gentleman charged us $16 for all 3 dogs and only gave us one entrance paper. He seems very friendly but incompetent and totally unable to see, hear, or type. Next, walk around back of fumigation building and buy vehicle insurance. $25 for one month, show passport and copy for all drivers and original and copy of title. Then go to aduana and present them with all aforementioned documents plus props of newly acquired insurance. You are now finished. There is a checkpoint about 20 minutes further down the road checking passports and TIPs. Very easy. No lines. Very professional. Dog guy took a super long time to type form.

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DOG OWNERS: Cross here from Costa Rica to Panama! We didn’t do the Senasa export papers like the other border requires, neither the quarantine fees.

We had a certificado de salud, his vaccinations paper and that is all. We paid 36$USD, not 136$USD like at the other border. Easy, no questions asked. We played it safe and paid the 10$ scam fee, we didn’t want to cause any trouble. The process for the dog took about an hour, the guy on the computer was soooo slow.

We also crossed on a Sunday. You can buy insurance on the Costa Rica side, across the road (to the right) from where you paid your exit fee. We paid 18 000 pesos for our 1977 VW bus.

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Wow. So we had read the scam comments, and we decided to try and not pay. But as soon as we crossed the bridge, one of the customs guys told us that after paying the fumigation fee $3 we had to go to the other man sitting near the fumigation window, and he would explain something to us (that’s all he said, he didn’t even explain when I asked for what?). I assumed it was the scam thing, so I tried to walk away after paying the fumigation fee, but the guy called me over and said we had to pay a $10 municipal fee for “rodaje”. I asked why, if at other borders you’re not asked to pay this and he said it was because they were in different municipalities, and since less cars pass through this border they have that fee... I told him we didn’t have cash, and he said we needed to either withdraw or exchange and come back & pay. We moved on to immigration (hoping that after we could leave w/o paying). We asked about the fee, they had no idea what it was. Moved on to buy insurance $25 (where I also asked the lady, she rolled her eyes and told me that they were doing that now and that they call the checkpoint to let them know if you pay and they’ll send you back if you didn’t). Her eye rolling convinced me it was a scam lol.
So went along to customs, gave them our paperwork, and then one of them came out and started yelling at us saying we needed to pay the rodaje fee, told him we’d go after getting our TIP, but he said that they wouldn’t give us our TIP until we had the receipt showing that we had paid.
So, sadly we went back and paid the $10 fee. The guy “assured us it was legal”... Went back to customs, they didn’t even ask for the receipt (maybe we could’ve pretended to just go and come back w/o paying, or maybe they called each other, who knows). Got our TIP, and finally left.
We were not stopped at the police check point, so didn’t even need to show the receipt.
Adding a picture on here of the receipt.

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You can ask for panama insurance where you pay the exit tax on CR side even if It s sunday

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Just following my previous comment, after 10 km there’s a police checkpoint, officers didn’t request to see the “municipality fee”. DO NOT PAY! It’s a scam well manufactured by the people at the border. When I asked to the captain and explained the situation, he didn’t know about this.

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Everything as stated previously but they insisted to make us pay the $10 aduana fee, this time: immigration, aduana and seguro said it was mandatory otherwise they won’t let us pass. We didn’t pay at first but after confirming with all these offices we didn’t want the hassle to stay blocked. It seems that they just made it up and as a coordinate scam (mafia) they will share amongst them. Frustrating border pass just for this reason.

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New scam alert?!
going from CR to Panama, beside the fumigation booth, there will be a guy asking for 10$ a vehicle as "municipality tax". We said we didn't know anything about it and he said it was mandatory and he called the aduana officer patrolling the bridge to confirm it.
We said we would go to check it out and in case come back to pay. Both Aduana and Immigration didn't know anything about it.
unfortunately we had to go back to them because the insurance closes at 12pm on Saturday (and it's closed on Sunday) so they had the possibility to call a tramidores, a guy from another insurance. We argued a lot and they threatened us first to call the aduana office and to not issue us the tvip, second he said that after 10km there is a police check point where they will ask for the receipt and they will make us turn back.
Both the aduana office and the seguro guy were like "we want to help you, just make your docs and leave".
We were fine not paying. Tvip done without problems, police check ahead only asked to see the tvip.
Not sure if this was an official tax but I doubt it.

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Straight forward border from Panama to Costa Rica. Around 10 am several buses with backpackers caused waiting on Costa Rican side for approx. one hour. SOAT Costa Rica USD 34 for a motocycle. Copies needed on Costa Rica side: driving license, passport photo page and entry stamp, registration doc and SOAT.

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Leaving Costa Rica -
Park after the fumigation booth,
go get the tax paid at the Claro shop down the street on the other side.
The exit tax was 7$/person.
Then go back to the building where you park, you get your passeport stamp by showing the receipt and then next to the right is to cancel the TIP - I could get a suspension for the TIP in costa rica because I was returning in a week (i think you have up to 3 months to come back by the same port).

Enter Panama -
A bit confusing because the building are not announced properly. So you stop before fumigation booth (pay 3 dollars and sign the receipt). Then go down the street and park next to the grocery store. **The ATM was not in function so be prepare! **
They take only cash everywhere.

So 1st- go to Migracion at the end of the left street you just passed. Get stamp. free
2nd- go back and on the right, up the little hill - get your insurance (seguro) 25$.
3th- Then go next door at aduana and they will make your importation vehicule paper which takes time but free! They come check your car (they saw we had bicycle and had to remake the paper - another 15 minutes).
4- If you have animals you want to go to the quarentena (we paid 26$ for 2 cats...) (at first they though we had one cat it was 16$).. Took some time there too and they wanted us to bring the cats there but argued it
would be easier if they could come
to the car down the street and they never came to check.

We arrived around 8 costa rica time and realised we lost one hour on panama side. If you are planning on crossing on the ferry at noon, don’t count on it. Even though we were 2 people running - literally running - around to make all the paper faster it won’t happen and they don’t care
It could happen if you don’t have pets but even then..

Then when you are done everything drive away and take the left street after the police aduana place, if you continue it is not the good way, it is a gravel road and got turned around.

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Super tranquila a aduana, eles trabalham até as 17h. Fizemos a saída em Panamá, passamos a ponte e fizemos a entrada em Costa Rica. Para o documento do carro, precisa de fotocópias e de seguro, que pode ser feito tudo ali perto mesmo. Seguro do carro somente para 3 meses, menos que isso não fazem e custa $45,00 dólares. Não revisaram nosso carro e não pediram papéis para o cachorro. Super gente boa as pessoas da aduana.

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Notre expérience:

Sortie du Costa Rica: un coup de tampon sur les passeports et 8$ de taxe par personne, annulation du permis d’importation du véhicule au guichet d’à coté, très rapide.

Entrée au Panama: fumigation du véhicule 3$, assurance du véhicule 25$ pour le mois, permis d’importation du véhicule gratuit valable 1 mois, permis d’importation de notre chienne 36$ et non 136$ (pas de visite de contrôle, ils ne regardent même pas les papiers, ni les vaccins, mais soyez à jour on sait jamais).

*Tous les paiements se font uniquement en cash et en dollars, à part la taxe de sortie du Costa Rica qui accepte aussi les colons. Un ATM se trouve à 1km avant la sortie du Costa Rica collé à la station de police. Un autre se trouve côté Panama à moins de 5 minutes à pieds après le poste frontière devant le supermarché « La Paz ». Les photocopies sont à 0,25$ les 2.

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Be aware of time zones. Open at 7 am CR; 8 am panama time. Closes at 5;6. We were able to sleep by the police on the CR side and do the paper work in the morning. Quiet and safe at night. Toilets inside immigration otherwise by the bus station. Small supermarket and soda.

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DOG OWNERS- we paid the $136 when we crossed at Paso Canoas in May (no one later asked for proof of papers, even wayyyy later when preparing to fly to Colombia). Then we went back to Costa Rica for business. A few weeks later we returned to Panama and crossed at Sixaola. At this crossing we paid only $36 and they had a hearty laugh about the additional $100 fee!!!! If your route is flexible, the Sixaola border is easier, calmer and apparently cheaper with dogs!
INSURANCE NOTE: the office next to aduana is slow and filled with errors and if your plate has more than 6 digits it cannot be processed. Walk to the office a little further down the street and save the hassle. Ask if there are other offices nearby. Or get it later (no one ever asked for proof of insurance incl aduana checkpoints)

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Everything mentioned blow is correct. BUT don't try to cross this border during public holidays. We tried and got stuck on the parking lot of the panama migracion for one rainy day because the insurance isn't open during public holidays and without insurance they do not let you enter the country with your car.

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We crossed the border on Sunday.
It was pretty easy and well explain we accurate informations in the comment below.
Be careful because the insurance is closed between 12 and 2 pm.
People were really friendly but it took us a while to make the TIP for Panama because on Sunday there is only one operator !

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same as cosmosia describes below except we were not able to add two drivers to insurance without some sort of legal document. we used insurance next to supermarket on main road. $25 (for one driver). insurance offices closed for lunch 12-2 so plan accordingly. otherwise straightforward and friendly.

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Very mellow border but it still took us four hours as insurance offices in panama were closed.
Exiting Costa Rica:
As previously described pay $8 exit tax at tiny window at the bottom of the small hill before the bridge
Get immigration exit stamp
Get TIP canceled in same immigration bldg

drive across bridge stop at cones and get out to pay fumigation fee for us it was $3 as we have a larger van

While still parked on the bridge customs guy perks inside since we had a dog he directed us to pull forward and park (on left after Bridge in small lot) and then go to small animal control office for vet inspection. They were all super nice and we paid $36 for dog to be checked they gave us a paper

Then to immigration for passport stamps they didn't care that we didn't have onward flights but wanted to see car paperwork to verify that we were driving

Then to anduana for car import we didn't have insurance so they directed us down the small road to get some but it was closed then we were sent walking back to costa rica side where there was a small shop selling insurance

After that TIP took 15 minutes

Small checkpoint a few minutes down the road wanted passports and TIP they also looking inside briefly

Overall it took four hours but a lot of that was the dog and searching for insurance

I uploaded a picture of the insurance office on costa rica side its just before immigration on right as you exit costa rica sign doesn't mention insurance ($25)

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Crossed the border from Costa Rica to Panama (French couple, canadian plated car), description from Cosmosian.co.kr still accurate.
Only thing is, when you leave Costa Rica, customs are in the same building as migration, and you have to suspend or cancel your TIP there (whether you'll be back in CR or not).
And by the way we didn't pay the municipal tax on the Panama side because we completely forgot to look where to pay it, and nobody bothered us with that so far.

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We cross the border in Sixaola on sunday on a new bridge. No problem with immigration and duanas . The insurance was open : 42 usd for 3 months . No taxes if you come from Panama and go to Costa Rica.

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Crossed border Costa Rica to Panama

step : Costa Rica side
1. Pay exit fee 8$ pp at small store where left side of immigration office, under the slope.
2. With receipt of exit fee, get stamp

step : Panama side
1. Small inspection on the bridge.
2. Fumigation. 1$.
3. Go immigration office next to 'Duty Free' shop.
Officer needed flight ticket. I explained that travel by car and gonna ship car from Colon to Cartagena. Then he just wanted fumigation receipt.
4. Get insurance. Office is 20m away from bridge. 15$ in insurance paper, but guy want 25$. 10$ is commission I think. Original office next to TIP office was closed. nobody know why.
5. Get TIP with copy of passport, vehicle title, insurance. Office is left side just after bridge. No fee for TIP, but took an hour.
6. Pay tax for vehicle 10$. It called 'Corregiduria'. Hard to fine for us. GPS is 9.493458, -82.611189. I asked about this tax to couple of government officer, It's mandatory. But in the inspection, 7km away from border, they didn't want receipt of that tax.

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No one asked for the municipal tax so we did not pay but they made us turn around at the 7km check point. $10/car and $4/person. We also paid $8 CR exit tax, $25 for insurance for 30 Days for a truck camper but no fees for TIP (30 days) or immigration (180 days). Straight forward crossing and not busy when we crossed on a Monday 10:30amCR/11:30amPanama. Everything was open during lunch time. Took us about 2 hours total.

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Paid $8usd exit tax.
Sloooooooow border on the costa rican side (to exit). No one seems to want to be at work on a Friday morning.

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We entered Panama on a Tuesday morning & other than the insurance lady making an error 3 times on our paperwork, it really was an easy & straightforward crossing. Everything is close by so not a lot of running around. NO banks though so get enough cash out before you get to the border. We crossed back into Costa Rica on a Saturday 1230PM & it was the smoothest & quickest border crossing yet!

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This was definitely our slowest border crossing so far (driving from North to South from Canada). And one of the more difficult crossings. Took us over 4 hours. Process is the same as described below. But no longer a quite crossing. Main gateway for tours to Bocas del Toro. We arrived at 9am and did not get out till 2pm in Panama (note there is a one hour time difference in there too). We also had two people, which was useful to have one to wait while the other runs around to do car and exit process / payment things. Give yourself more time than you think you will need. We got to the 7km checkpoint and they were closed for a 2 hour lunch. Gard on road took photo of documents instead. Paid $4 per person but did not have to pay the $10 and no one seemed to care.

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When checking the TIP in Panama found VIN number to be incorrect so that one had to be cancelled and a new one issued. Could of caused major problems when clearing customs in Colon before shipping to Colombia. They were super friendly and thorough! Also insurance in Panama was very dodgy as the paper work said the policy(for my motorcycle)was $15usd but she said it cost $25 and played dumb when I questioned her but she would not stamp it as being paid until she got the $25.

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UPDATE 7th September 2016 - Crossing from Costa Rica, Sixaola to Panama, Guabito with a motorcycle. I've published a full account including process, costs, photos and GPS coordinates of our experience in crossing this border on 7th September 2016. Full details can be found at http://www.tiger800rtw.com/?p=1719

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Costa Rica to Panama: leaving Costa Rica: exit fee 8$ Paid at the parmacy (7$ if you pay in Limon or at the machine on the immigration office with a credit card). Entering Panama: fumigation 1$, no fees at immigration and Aduana (quick as no one was in front of us). Insurance Panama is 25$. Someone we met at the Aduana bought the panama insurance on the Costa Rica side and paid 15$. A guy from the border followed us and wanted to make us pay the municipal tax 10$ Vehicle + 4$ Per person right away but we didn't know what it was so we did all the immigration and insurance stuff first. During that we noticed the guy was calling someone else and letting them know we didn't pay. We seen all the tourist paying the fee so we paid it as well and the guy made another phone call letting whoever know we did pay. After about 7km you reach a check point where they wanna see your passport. No one wanted to see the receipts for the 10$ and 4$.

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Entered at 11:15 left at 2:00 pm. The dog permit was what took the longest $16 for the dog. They will ask for the certificado de Salud, rabies, last vaccination. $1 for the fumigation , $25 for insurance

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panama to costa rica:
Panama side - 1. stamp out of immigration. 2. go to front trailer. turn in orginal tip and give passport. they will cancel the tip in passport. cross bridge. show cancelled stamp to official.

Costa Rica side - *there are helpers* 1. at immigration, fill in entry document. 2. provide doc and passport to immigration. 3. dont go to aduana (next window). go straight and left at the sketchy building on stilts. get copy of entry stamp. get insurance at same building (38 usd for 3 months no less). get copy of insurance. 4. go to aduana. provide copy of passport entry stamp , copy of pic paige, drivers license, insurance, title. wait. 5. they will give you the orginal tip. go back to sketchy building and get a front/back copy of tip. 6. give back to aduana guy. 6. free to go.

if w/dog : make sure you have copy of cert de salud, shots, abd exit doc from panama. go to the agr. building next to immigration. provide original export doc from panama, copy of shots, copy of cert de salud. they will stamp the copy of the export permit. when you drive through, he will glance at the dog and let you go.

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Panama insurance $25. Also we were told to pay $10 vehicle + $4/person municipality tax but nobody checks for it and you can get passport stamped and all paperwork without it.

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Costa Rica Entry, quick as its in one building and you make copies next door. Vehicle permit is also in the same building as the Aduana so you don't have to wander around desolate land trying to find anything. we were in and our in 40mins.

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quick and easy exit from panama into costa rica. quiet border not too busy and no helpers.
exit took 10 mins.

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A good boarder to cross. It was not very busy when we crossed from panama to costa rica. No helpers around:)

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This is guest post from Sellheim (Dom), originally posted on  Horizons Unlimited [LINK: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/central-america-and-mexico/complete-central-america-mexico-colombia-71892] .
Panama-Costa Rica, Sixaola Border: Border crossed 24/9/12
No gas stations on the Costa Rica side. Note: this border isn't a 24hr job. It closes around 6pm, so get there early. I nearly didn't make it, getting there at 430pm and just finishing at 6pm and there was only 2 people in line ahead of me. The Panamanian dollar had the same exchange rate as the USD so everyone pretty much uses the currency which the ATM's distribute. 

Exit Costa Rica:
Immigration and aduana in same small building. Immigration gave exit stamp (no charge). Vehicle permit was taken and cancelled (no charge), nothing stamped in passport. 

Enter Panama: 
Cross over bridge. Paid kid USD$0.50c to watch bike as it was out of sight. Get insurance first (was told it was necessary by some police, but they were a little unsure) upstairs at the nearby building in the shop, cost USD$15. Then up the stairs to a small combined aduana and immigration building. Got stamped in to Panama (no charge), then 2 doors down to aduana #1 to get a little sticker in my passport for vehicle. Paid USD$3 then the guys joked and said no its $5 for a moto, seemed pretty dodgy guys. I paid the $3 and they handed back my passport. I asked for a receipt but they wouldn't give me one. Then next door to aduana #2, where the guy took forever and eventually handed me the temporary vehicle import paper (no charge). There's not really any hotels, gas stations or ATM's until around Changinola. Whole process took 2 hrs. 

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