Just the two nights in Jaco, Costa Rica, saw me swiftly on my way to David, Panama to get to Panama City on the 18th. A riding day that started out just fine, that is, until I reached the Panama border and consistent torrential rain.
Traveling just under 200 miles (316 kilometers) a trip which took me all up – over eight hours. Ouch!
Even though I was early approaching the border at Paso Canoas, which is an international city shared between Puntarenas Province in Costa Rica and Chiriquí Province in the west of Panama.
I encountered only a bit of traffic, but there were many people at the border, due to many refugees from poor old Haiti at the border.
No helpers this time around, but painful waiting periods. However, I was getting a lot more comfortable now, and it was the first time I met a bug named Eric Bernath – an American Adventure Rider who takes amazing photography and is traveling the world (now in Africa), pretty inspiring!
The rain started as I approached and would not stop until midday the following day. Luckily it was warm, but my first real soaking and a welcome to Panama!
Getting to David, Panama was going to be a struggle in this weather, but the ride must go on!
The border crossing occurred in mid-November 2016 on a KTM 1290 Super Adventure Motorbike. I headed for the Peñas Blancas crossing and got there around 10 am.
Leaving Costa Rica
- Make your way past all the traffic and drive up keeping to the left lane. You will see a big building to the left.
- You will need to pay departure tax first. There is a $7 USD departure tax and you pay it at the Banco Credito building, which is easy to see. Pay and get a receipt!
- Next, you go to the Salida window and fill out a small form (painful with wet hands) then give it the official with your passport to exit. Next to submit your Import Permit.
- Go around to the left around to the Aduana office. It’s pretty easy to see in a hallway.
- Here at Aduana, you have to complete a form and wait in line. There was only one guy there and he kept disappearing This took 45 minutes, painful! Once the form is completed and stamped you are free to exit Costa Rica!
- Once we left we had to show paperwork to border guy and continue on.
- Total Time was 60 minutes and $7 USD Departure Tax
Entering Panama
- As you approach the Panama side you will see a big building to left, park under cover inside right along the long concrete steps.
- Eric and I did this together and we had some guy following us around ‘helping us”. We ended up ditching him when another adventure rider named Onur chatted to us and the ‘helper’ told Onur to go away because he was with us, hilarious! So he was gone.
- Go to the end of the building first. You will need to get a ticket for $1 USD first to give to immigration with your passport. Get ticket then join line (there were different lines for people with vehicles and normal entrants.
- Get passport stamped in and the head directly across the road to get your insurance. It costs $15 for insurance and you need copies of all your documents. You will get two copies of insurance.
- You then have to go back to original building around the back and get your Aduana. They will provide you with a copy of your documents, take them with you (you need to show them a little further down the road.
- Then you go to fumigation (you cannot miss it and will be stopped), which costs $1 USD, We also got our bike checked here as well with paperwork.
- Total time was 1.5 hours on Panama side and $1 USD for Ticket. $15 for Insurance $1 USD for Fumigation
- Now to get to David, Panama!
David, Panama
San José de David, or David, is the capital of Chiriquí Province, in western Panama. In leafy Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Park, vendors sell ice cream and crafts. Barrio Bolívar is dotted with colonial buildings. The José de Obaldía Museum of History and Culture displays archaeological artifacts. In the southwest is the mangrove-rich Playa Barqueta Wildlife Refuge, where beaches are nesting grounds for sea turtles. From Wikipedia
Bambu Hostel, David, Panama
Basic, but cutesy Hostel, with great budget restaurant across the street. The Bambu Hostel in David, Panama has a swimming pool is small, and it has a cool bar out back, and a fun dining area! Basic drinks available, beer, cola etc.
Private rooms are very basic and are dated, showers very average (and crazy wires on shower head) and Wi-Fi below average!
The beds were just ok. Was able to park my moto inside!
The manager was a pretty cool dude and everyone was nice! Hard to really judge as it poured with rain all night. But a decent hostel nonetheless, just need better WiFI!
- I have a USA Registered Motorcycle
- 100% Owned by Myself (No Loan)
- 3 Copies Australian Passport (+Original)
- 3 Copies Title (+Original – If you do not own, get letter from owner)
- 3 Copies Registration (+Original)
- 3 Copies Drivers Licence (+Original)
- Vehicle Import Permit + Copy
Leaving Costa Rica
- Make your way past all the traffic and drive up keeping to the left lane. You will see a big building to the left.
- You will need to pay departure tax first. There is a $7 USD departure tax and you pay it at the Banco Credito building, which is easy to see. Pay and get a receipt!
- Next, you go to the Salida window and fill out a small form (painful with wet hands) then give it the official with your passport to exit. Next to submit your Import Permit.
- Go around to the left around to the Aduana office. It’s pretty easy to see in a hallway.
- Here at Aduana, you have to complete a form and wait in line. There was only one guy there and he kept disappearing This took 45 minutes, painful! Once the form is completed and stamped you are free to exit Costa Rica!
- Once we left we had to show paperwork to border guy and continue on.
- Total Time was 60 minutes and $7 USD Departure Tax
Entering Panama
- As you approach the Panama side you will see a big building to left, park under cover inside right along the long concrete steps.
- Eric and I did this together and we had some guy following us around ‘helping us”. We ended up ditching him when another adventure rider named Onur chatted to us and the ‘helper’ told Onur to go away because he was with us, hilarious! So he was gone.
- Go to the end of the building first. You will need to get a ticket for $1 USD first to give to immigration with your passport. Get ticket then join line (there were different lines for people with vehicles and normal entrants.
- Get passport stamped in and the head directly across the road to get your insurance. It costs $15 for insurance and you need copies of all your documents. You will get two copies of insurance.
- You then have to go back to original building around the back and get your Aduana. They will provide you with a copy of your documents, take them with you (you need to show them a little further down the road.
- Then you go to fumigation (you cannot miss it and will be stopped), which costs $1 USD, We also got our bike checked here as well with paperwork.
- Total time was 1.5 hours on Panama side and $1 USD for Ticket. $15 for Insurance $1 USD for Fumigation
- Now to get to David, Panama!
Notes:
Make sure you have multiple copies of all documents for all border crossings. Also, keep USD with you and try to change money with money exchanges at the border if you do not have local currency for the country you are entering.
Just get enough local currency for fees, fuel, and food!
Know the total cost You and bike both sides before you enter any border. Helpers in many cases will try to scam you.
Total Cost Both Borders: $24 USD
