There are people that will beg for money and be pushy because that is all they know and how they live day to day. This is convenient if youre crossing into Nicaragua, because most of the tourist destinations are on the west / Pacific side. I found a lot of places throughout Costa Rica accepted USD or explicitly asked for this. Recommended Bus Take the bus from San Jos to Managua 6h $30 Bus via El Dorado Take the bus from San Jos to Managua 8h 44m $39 Drive Thank you for this! Really there are so many places unknown & beautiful placesand its a privilege to travel to those part of this earth. Deals of The Week:Italy vs Greece! India is a developing country with well-developed urban areas as well as developing and underdeveloped rural areas. E-Ticket. When Im not here, spilling all my gluten free travel and wellness travel tips, you can find me on the floor at parties petting the dog. Make sure to bring your passports and proof of vax, and youll need to show proof of flight/cruise out of Costa Rica. We were glad we took this tour. The grounds of this national park include the basaltic volcano itself, an interpretation museum exploring the parks natural phenomena, and the famous Santiago crater. https://www.bancobcr.com/wps/portal/bcr/bancobcr/personas/solicitudes_en_linea/pago_impuesto_salida_terrestre, whole process took us like 20 mins including waiting and walking. Our guide in Nicaragua, Gaspar, was awesome. Our travel group were the only people along the length of the beach that the eyes could behold. > make sure to ask the price before you head into the bus. drive for about 6 hours. I will keep this blog post updated so it remains useful for all of us! that the boat ride experience lacked a bit of serenity. It was a little too party-central for my taste, but its a great first stop to get your bearings as its relatively close to the border. They dont include taxes, and more importantly, the shuttle needs a minimum of four people for you to get the listed price. Once you've secured your airline tickets from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, we will help you discover the best prices and exclusive rates for cheap hotels in Nicaragua or nearby. The political conditions there may be far from perfect (hey, arent they in your country as well?). Thanks for reading. Later a different guy (in uniform!) Now, none of these are alien scenes for an Indian. To be honest, it was annoying, but worth the potential extra $3 to not have to walk there and back in the heat with our backpacks. How annoying I may tell them this and risk them accepting colones but I may not! If you are considering crossing the land border from Costa Rica, I would highly recommend doing so via this tour (and not on your own). Your email address will not be published. Actually, shuttle was our original plan but it is just way too expensive to justify, at least for our travel budget. Day Trip to Granada Nicaragua from Playa del Coco Areas - Viator This was a true highlight. Each dish would be accompanied with salad, white rice and french fries. So take quick pictures and understand they are getting you in and out for your safety. The tour is all day, but we would definitely return to Nicaragua and will reach out to Gaspar again if we do. Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica | One Day - Native's Way Tours Thankfully, a chicken bus zoomed past at about 5:20pm and we hopped on. It was a small van containing 10 passengers (including us), a driver and a guide. You could even get breakfast here if you have time. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, We ate the most delicious lunch in yet another town. We waited in a short line here, and the Costa Rican immigration officials checked our passports and stamped them no questions. by calculating the distance from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. Youll probably be visiting La Fortuna while in Costa Rica! Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experiences start time will not be accepted. So I really hope my firsthand account is useful to you if youre in the same position. 3. Found in the last 45 days. day 1 driving 5 hours. Six different lunch alternatives ranged from chicken, beef, pork, fish and vegetarian. The total journey took 15 minutes and cost 2,370 CRC (~$4 USD). Unfortunately the scamming system is very profound and he then charged us in the bus 10$/pax. For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. <> (No we did not!). and 1 more. Nicaragua to El Salvador Border Crossing Guide, Panama to Costa Rica Border Crossing Guide, El Salvador to Guatemala Border Crossing Guide, Guatemala to Honduras Border Crossing Guide, Honduras to Guatemala Border Crossing Guide, Guatemala to Belize Border Crossing Guide, Ecuador to Colombia Border Crossing Guide, Sailing the San Blas Islands to Cross From Colombia to Panama (Coming Soon!). Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border Crossing: The Complete Guide (2023) - travel By traveling with a driver and guide, first-time visitors to Nicaragua can see the country's southern highlights without the hassle of navigating the border crossing or public transportation. Good chance to see Nicaragua with a group that knows its way around and can get you through customs easily. Get the best prices and exclusive rates for hotels and car rentals in Nicaragua. Sometimes there were people lying on the top of trucks and often there were bullock carts on the roads. Its time for your onward travel to, well, wherever youre heading in Nicaragua. Our first major pain point for the Costa Rica to Nicaragua border crossing was figuring out where we needed to begin our journey. It is also strongly recommended that you fill out this pre entry immigration https://solicitudes.migob.gob.ni/Tramites/RegistroN form 7 days prior to your arrival to Nicaragua. Oh hey! Deals of The Week: UK & Ireland! Show the Costa Rica exit stamp on the passport to the police at the border on the Costa Rican side. Ive included full directions below so you can complete the same journey with a bit more confidence! There is a big parking lot with chicken buses on your left its extremely obvious and you cant miss it! Bathed in the last rays of the sun, the city glowed with a golden filter. Read the sites full affiliate disclosure and privacy policy. My husband and I were accompanied by our children (10 and 12) and my husbands parents (in their 70s, with some mobility issues). Its easier and Natives Way was very responsive via Viator/email in advance. So can you. They accept and will give you change in US if you ask for it. Youll spend a good portion of your time heading to Nicaragua, but its worth it in the end. Its easy to find this because there is a big parking lot with a big white building and a few other buildings. Get on the chicken bus to Rivas (ours left at 4:20pm they leave every 30 to 45 minutes). Boat tour on Nicaragua Lake (Granada City), What we liked about the Nicaragua day trip, What could be better about the Nicaragua day trip, Nicaragua Visa requirements for Indian passport holders, Nicaragua day trip: A well-deserved chance, Frida Kahlo Museum/ Casa Azul How it affected me, Peruvian gastronomy: 7 must-try food and beverage, Before starting, we booked the tour online and awaited the confirmation while we were already on our way to Liberia, Before starting, we booked ourselves a 2 nights stay at a budget guesthouse in Liberia, On our way from the workplace to Liberia, made a quick stop at home to pack a backpack, Get off the mini van (Costa Rica number plate), Enter Costa Rica immigration office and depart the country get the exit stamp on passport. There is a large traveler presence because this is the main border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Well, it did not. Nicaragua One Day Tour from Papagayo - Costa Rica Tours Send Natives Way the photos of your passports and vaccination cards prior to leaving home. Browse the best tours in Costa Rica and Nicaragua with 88 reviews visiting places like Granada and San Jose. In order to complete the Costa Rica to Nicaragua border crossing at Penas Blancas, youll need to follow this route: Before you complete this border crossing, you should also be prepared with some important items or details. Keep reading!) You see all the hot spots in the country If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experiences start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded. You also need to pay in USD and not CRC. Take in the views from Catarina Volcano, haggle over handicrafts at the Masaya Artisan Market and visit the active Masaya Volcano. How much of Nicaragua can you see in a day? (1 answer). Toll Free: 1 (866) 498-0824 Direct: +(506) 4052-2140 Address: Apartado 1112-2070 San Jose, Costa Rica, Central America We saw some windmills to the right and Omotepe island (that hosts the twin volcanoes) in the distant horizon. From . However it takes three different buses and basically a whole day of travel to reach Liberia from La Fortuna, so this was another no-go. You will be required to pay $14 US dollars to enter Nicaragua. However the time we were allowed there was enough to get a glimpse of the orange-red lava lake as well, when the fumes cleared for a moment. We are getting the Tica bus next week up to Granada! Offered in: English. Explore all of Nicaragua's most famous highlights all in one day on this Nicaragua tour from Costa Rica! We arrived to Upala bus station around 9:40am. If you're planning a road trip to Nicaragua, you can research locations to stop along the way. Recommendations for Spanish language school in Nicaragua. Lots of activities in or near Rincn de La Vieja, e.g., zipline, hot springs, waterfalls. This definitely looked more official, and was only $7 compared to $10 at the odd houses. Want to plan the trip back? The husband and I are from India and we live in a Central American country. Endless Distances is a participant in several affiliate programs. The lunch also included the choice of one drink non-alcoholic drinks or domestic beer. There are ways to get this officially, without spending any money. and answers related to Nicaragua. With their help, we discovered a route that would take us to Penas Blancas with (hopefully) just two buses. Once we arrived at the Penas Blancas border, the bus driver directed us to these super random houses. It is easiest to travel from Costa Rica to Nicaragua if you begin your journey in Liberia or San Jose: From Liberia: Grupo Transbasa bus line has direct routes to the Penas Blancas border every 45 minutes from 5am-6:30pm daily. Take a look at different dates and prices to find the right flight for you today. Our journey took us from La Fortuna, Costa Rica to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua in one day. The country is beautiful with its volcanos and lakes. Other options for onward travel from the Costa Rica Nicaragua border include: For more onward travel plans,Rome2Riois my go-to free tool to figure out travel routes. When he saw that we watched him to check the amount he turned his back towards us. I just crossed the border (may 10th 2023) and would like to update: Nicaragua Tours from Costa Rica - Granada & Masaya Extension 4 days My goal: to help you live well& travel widely! entry fee in Nicaragua was 13$ per person Be prepared for 8-9 hours of being cramped in a van with little-to-no A/C, depending on the time of year. Perfect view of the volcanos. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. The day Dan and I crossed the border, we waited around at the bus station and 6:30am came and went. Another way to find the bus stop is to put in Antojitos ISA into Google Maps. Yes, a monkey taking a cookie off your hand may look cute, but is that really its natural behavior? We visited Granada and visited a chocolate making place and had a tasting. It costs 350 CRC (~$.60 USD) to use the bathrooms. P.S: US$50 was the cost of single entry Visa on Arrival so we would probably have given this tour a second thought had we known about the visa costs earlier. For the uber directions, we just put in El Tanque, and then told the driver that we needed to get to the bus stop for the bus to Upala (more details below). The flight fromCosta RicatoNicaragua takes1 hour and 10 minutes on average. Masaya Volcano was the most stunning geographical feature we saw that day. Unlike some of the other South and Central American countries weve passed through, there is really only one main border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Im sure other people are reading this and wondering the same! Suggestions I would make to future travelers include: 1. There is no bus station in El Tanque, just a small shelter on the side of the road. You will also need to bring a copy of your return airline ticket to show proof of exit of Costa Rica within 90 days following the date of the tour. Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica Itinerary The Nicaragua one day tour from Guanacaste is a full day activity starting from about 5 AM to 9 PM. There is also shopping in Catarina, which seemed much nicer than the areas in Granada and Masaya, and we would have rather skipped the markets in Granada and Masaya and shopped there instead, but we were running short on time when we got there. After a delicious lunch of typical Nicaraguan cuisine, explore the colonial town of Granada, where you can marvel over the historic architecture and . Last but not the least, prior research could have been done about immigration requirements of tour participants of all countries. Search La Virgen on Google Maps and youll see. What if the eyes get tired of looking at the blue lake and need some activities? Save. Our guide was incredible and I cant recommend this trip enough. After reading the (very few) blog posts I could find outlining the logistics of how to cross, it seemed too complicated and I had given up on the prospect of going to Nicaragua at all. The viewpoint had gallery style seating with an elevated view of the lagoon. A table for 10 was laid out with a view of the lake on a pleasant January morning. How to get from San Jose, Costa Rica to Managua, Nicaragua Im so glad we did this because later on we saw a lot of people get turned away after waiting hours in line because they hadnt gotten their health documents checked first! Marvel at the natural wonders of the Masaya Volcano National Park, cruise around the islands of Nicaragua Lake, and admire the colonial landmarks of Granada. Bring packaged snacks for the drive (it is several hours before you eat breakfast). However that did not change anything in the visa requirement. Visit the active Masaya Volcano and the extinct Apoyo Volcano, cruise by boat to small islands on Lake Nicaragua, and view picturesque Spanish colonial architecture in Granada. Exactly How to Fly Over the Blue Hole in Belize, Paddle Boarding Lake Atitlan: Everything You Need to Know, How to Go Cliff Jumping in El Salvador with El Salvatours, https://www.bancobcr.com/wps/portal/bcr/bancobcr/personas/solicitudes_en_linea/pago_impuesto_salida_terrestre, Where to Find Gluten Free Key Lime Pie in Key West and the Florida Keys, Get to Penas Blancas (more instructions below), Chicken bus or taxi to onward destination (more instructions below). It was our longest and most convoluted border crossing to date. What are the best surf spots in Nicaragua? But I took notes during our border crossing so I could give you the full details! Beautiful homes and flora. This might be a suggestion for Natives Waytake people to Catarina for shopping instead of Masaya or Granada. When he saw that we watched him to check the amount he turned his back towards us. This was the first time we ever got so close to an active volcano. Cost:2,370 CRC / ~$4 USD total or ~$2 USD per person. No stops to pick up other people and were able to tailor to our specific requirements. We walked the town for a bit to see the sites. > make sure to ask the price before you head into the bus. 15 hr. Depending on your Costa Rica itinerary or Nicaragua itinerary, you can choose a border crossing that will suit your needs best.In our situation made sense to use Penas Blancas land border crossing as our first destination in Nicaragua was San Juan del Sur, a beautiful place famous for beaches and surfing.. Ours is based on traveling from La Fortuna, Costa Rica to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. In short, this was an amazing day filled with so many experiences. I share more details on onward travel for Costa Rica in this border crossing post. Easy Ways to Travel from Costa Rica to Nicaragua: 14 Steps It was a very short trip to such a beautiful country but definitely a great introduction to what Nicaragua can offer to the traveler. Our pick up from Tamarindo was at 430 am. When we crossed the road was also at a standstill with truck traffic. The Ultimate Guide to Crossing the Border Between Costa Rica and Nicaragua:Penas Blancas Border January 5, 2022 By Sammi 452 Comments **The Costa Rican government has opened the land borders to Nicaragua and Panama on April 5, 2021 for tourists. The people of Nicaragua were incredibly kind. Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation Crossing the Border Between Costa Rica and Nicaragua Guide - MytanFeet Cons: lots of driving, going through customs was a little confusing but they guides took excellent care of us. Seeing the craters and volcanos was something I had never done before either. Local Travel Experts Since 2004. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:42 pmdrive for about 2 hours, 4:51 pm El Castillo Decided to go on a solo trip to Costa Rica and thought it be great to add another stamp to my passport. The pricing ranges from $130-$150 depending on the pick-up/drop-off point. It was $15 per person and its about an hour long. The Nicaraguan Revolution concluded only about 3 decades back in 1990. Inbound direct flight with Copa departing from Managua on Fri, Aug 18, arriving in San Jose Juan Santamaria. This flight departs on theFriday, August 11, 2023. Places you visit on the Nicaragua day excursion: Lake Nicaragua (take pictures of the Ometepe volcano) Laguna de Apoyo Masaya Volcano National Park Masaya Market Granada Take a break from Costa Rica's natural history and broaden your knowledge of Central America's colonial era history and vibrant culture by hopping across the border to Nicaragua on our incredible Nicaragua One Day Tour! ESET Security Day Nicaragua 2023 ; ESET Security Day Panam 2023 ; ESET Security Day Venezuela 2023 ; ESET Security Day Chile 2023 ; PA; Acerca de ESET; Sala de prensa; ESET Security Day Costa Rica 2023; ESET. Park rangers and volcanologists constantly monitor the volcano for any potential activity. But they were completely shocking and beguiling to our fellow tour participants from the first world countries. Rio Celeste or Rincn de La Vieja Volcano National Park - Costa Rica