Comments on: Problems At The Paso Canoas Border http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/ "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." - James Dean Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:35:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » Problems At The Paso Canoas Border – Follow Up http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-40518 Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » Problems At The Paso Canoas Border – Follow Up Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:39:41 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-40518 [...] I went to the Immigration office in David this morning to see if I could get more information on the problem, I described HERE. [...] [...] I went to the Immigration office in David this morning to see if I could get more information on the problem, I described HERE. [...]

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33702 Don Ray Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:18:59 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33702 KK. I stand corrected. I just checked and we also paid for that insurance. Since I didn't pay it, I didn't know it was paid. However, $15 is cheap. Thanks for making me check and understand that I was wrong. We also paid for fumigating the car. KK. I stand corrected. I just checked and we also paid for that insurance. Since I didn’t pay it, I didn’t know it was paid. However, $15 is cheap. Thanks for making me check and understand that I was wrong. We also paid for fumigating the car.

]]> By: KK http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33700 KK Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:58:49 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33700 Don, There's an insurance (Seguro) window just to the right of the CR immigration windows as you face them. You'll see the little sign above it..We were told by a pretty well informed Gringo acquaintance of ours, who crosses with his vehicle very frequently, that the insurance has to be purchased (cost $15). Last time we crossed from Panama to CR with the truck, we paid it even though we carried supplemental coverage through our Panama insurance outfit. Also, there's the spray booth just before CR immigration on the right hand side. You're supposed to go pay the guy in the little adjacent 'office' with the tinted windows something akin to $5 to have your vehicle sprayed with a foul smelling anti-something agent. We've learned to drive right past the spray booth and nobody seems to care or notice! I mean, it's pretty ridiculous to think that these same 'pathogens' cannot cross borders all by themselves!! Don,
There’s an insurance (Seguro) window just to the right of the CR immigration windows as you face them. You’ll see the little sign above it..We were told by a pretty well informed Gringo acquaintance of ours, who crosses with his vehicle very frequently, that the insurance has to be purchased (cost $15). Last time we crossed from Panama to CR with the truck, we paid it even though we carried supplemental coverage through our Panama insurance outfit. Also, there’s the spray booth just before CR immigration on the right hand side. You’re supposed to go pay the guy in the little adjacent ‘office’ with the tinted windows something akin to $5 to have your vehicle sprayed with a foul smelling anti-something agent. We’ve learned to drive right past the spray booth and nobody seems to care or notice! I mean, it’s pretty ridiculous to think that these same ‘pathogens’ cannot cross borders all by themselves!!

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33333 Don Ray Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:23:27 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33333 Yes DSD. I has appended his email to the bottom of the post. KK, I never had to pay any of those fees in CR that I can remember on the last time I drove in CR. Yes DSD. I has appended his email to the bottom of the post.

KK, I never had to pay any of those fees in CR that I can remember on the last time I drove in CR.

]]> By: DSD http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33298 DSD Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:00:06 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33298 Hi Don Ray - Did you ever hear back from this individual that had problems at the frontera? I've been asking around and no-one has had this happen to them or heard of it before this past week. Curious as to when this happened to him. Hi Don Ray - Did you ever hear back from this individual that had problems at the frontera? I’ve been asking around and no-one has had this happen to them or heard of it before this past week. Curious as to when this happened to him.

]]> By: KK http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33295 KK Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:29:22 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33295 sunshine: Ok. If you are taking a bus etc.. just bring what you are going to spend at your destination. Some items are more expensive in CR than Panama. Bring greenbacks and change them at a regular bank in CR, there are lots. You'll get a better exchange rate this way. At the border, in this case (without a vehicle), you're good to go. A simple crossing is just a matter of checking out of Panama first and then checking into CR. Both simple stamps in your passport. Then you're on your way..Reverse process on the way back. IF you care to cross from Panama to CR with your vehicle, it's a little more involved. Well, A LOT more involved and will require about 4-5 hours of horsing around (including actual time at the border). There are a number of steps to this process. If you want 'exact' details let me know or provide an email address as I do not want to fill this page with garbage that is off-topic. Anyhow, I can tell you that the vehicle crossing with run about $30 or so (mandatory insurance on CR side [$15], car sprayed with insecticide or whatever it is [$5] and a few other small items that escape me..and the time factor.. but it's a heck of alot cheaper to bring your ride than renting a vehicle in CR which runs $40-60/day.. BTW, when we drive our car from CR [car obviously registered here, in CR] to Panama, it's MUCH easier than the other way around. Almost a joke, really....! sunshine:
Ok. If you are taking a bus etc.. just bring what you are going to spend at your destination. Some items are more expensive in CR than Panama. Bring greenbacks and change them at a regular bank in CR, there are lots. You’ll get a better exchange rate this way. At the border, in this case (without a vehicle), you’re good to go. A simple crossing is just a matter of checking out of Panama first and then checking into CR. Both simple stamps in your passport. Then you’re on your way..Reverse process on the way back.
IF you care to cross from Panama to CR with your vehicle, it’s a little more involved. Well, A LOT more involved and will require about 4-5 hours of horsing around (including actual time at the border).
There are a number of steps to this process. If you want ‘exact’ details let me know or provide an email address as I do not want to fill this page with garbage that is off-topic. Anyhow, I can tell you that the vehicle crossing with run about $30 or so (mandatory insurance on CR side [$15], car sprayed with insecticide or whatever it is [$5] and a few other small items that escape me..and the time factor.. but it’s a heck of alot cheaper to bring your ride than renting a vehicle in CR which runs $40-60/day..
BTW, when we drive our car from CR [car obviously registered here, in CR] to Panama, it’s MUCH easier than the other way around. Almost a joke, really….!

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33255 Don Ray Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:02:51 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33255 To this point, I have never paid anything, except to make copies of documents for driving a car and those were 10 cens per page. I have only heard of people coming from CR being asked to buy a return bus ticket, but that wasn't a given either. There should be no charge. There will be tons of people at both CR and Panama boarder stations, wanting to help and hoping you are give them money. These people are just standing around looking for people they know don't speak Spanish. I just ignore them. To this point, I have never paid anything, except to make copies of documents for driving a car and those were 10 cens per page. I have only heard of people coming from CR being asked to buy a return bus ticket, but that wasn’t a given either. There should be no charge.

There will be tons of people at both CR and Panama boarder stations, wanting to help and hoping you are give them money. These people are just standing around looking for people they know don’t speak Spanish. I just ignore them.

]]> By: sunshine http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33203 sunshine Sun, 13 Jan 2008 04:02:40 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33203 Thanks Don and KK for the responses. So in theory there should be no charge when crossing the border; but in practice there tends to be some cost. May I ask what sum of money I should be thinking of taking with me for the crossing... Both say for taking a car; and alternatively for going over on a bus/coach? Thanks Don and KK for the responses. So in theory there should be no charge when crossing the border; but in practice there tends to be some cost.

May I ask what sum of money I should be thinking of taking with me for the crossing… Both say for taking a car; and alternatively for going over on a bus/coach?

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33163 Don Ray Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:50:10 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33163 In the right country setting, things can be pretty good. In the right country setting, things can be pretty good.

]]> By: KK http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33116 KK Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:42:39 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2008/01/10/problems-at-the-paso-canoas-border/#comment-33116 Don, & I'm not even with the Ministry of Tourism!! Imagine that! I should reiterate for the readers that we *do* live out in the 'country' about 35 minutes from the small City of San Isidro de El General in a small farming/coffee growing community where everybody seems to know each other by way of genetics or marriage. We have made friends with some longtime locals and everybody is pretty darn friendly. While I do miss the quick access to services that you enjoy in David, for example, or even Volcan where I could easily walk to about 20 restaurants etc.. Being away has definite advantages for some, among whom we count ourselves! PURA VIDA :) KK Don,
& I’m not even with the Ministry of Tourism!! Imagine that! I should reiterate for the readers that we *do* live out in the ‘country’ about 35 minutes from the small City of San Isidro de El General in a small farming/coffee growing community where everybody seems to know each other by way of genetics or marriage. We have made friends with some longtime locals and everybody is pretty darn friendly. While I do miss the quick access to services that you enjoy in David, for example, or even Volcan where I could easily walk to about 20 restaurants etc.. Being away has definite advantages for some, among whom we count ourselves!
PURA VIDA :)
KK

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