ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
I’m NOT an expert (an "expert" 2 ME knows 101%-NOT me). I believe in sharin info•helping where I can! And with over 2,200 entries, so some things might be out of date, so if you find old info PLEASE help each other by getting the updated info & sharing it with me to revise. At least you have some basic info to get you started.
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Better yet - do you have extra time on your hands & looking for a volunteer project? Since this blog is a labor of love & RARELY does anyone share a donation (even though MANY have said how much it's helped them), I could REALLY use help updating info. Spanish speakers ESPECIALLY welcome since my VicLish can be somewhat limited at times!!

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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Costa Rica-Peñas Blancas - Nicaragua-Frontiera Border Crossing during the Christmas 2013-2014 Break - Open 24 hours on some days!!



The Christmas holiday mass exodus of OVER 150,000 people - mainly Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica returning home to spend with their family -
the Costa Rica - Nicaragua border crossing through Immigrations on both sides can take 3-6 HOURS starting around December 19 with the return days between January 1-5 or 6, 2014.

After MUCH SUCCESS last year, the Costa Rica-Peñas Blancas - Nicaragua Border will be open 24 hours a day on Sunday and Monday December 22 and December 23 (vs their regular 6am-12am/midnight) per the Dirección General de Migración (director of Immigrations). 

Not sure what they're going to be doing extended hours on the returning to Costa Rica dates as that is a MEGA NIGHTMARE though this year - January 2014 should be more spread out with New Years Day - January 1 being on a Wednesday (no way in HELL would you catch me near the border between December 19, 2013 and January 6, 2014!!!!)


WHAT ABOUT THE NEW $5 LAND TAX + $2 ADUANA TAX?
As of this posting, it's still on hold and so far EVERYONE (including the Ministerio de Hacienda who instigated it) is STILL mum on it if they're going to reinstate it on time to - NO COMMENTS (and this blessed event of OVER 100,000 people crossing over this border in this 2 week period is just DAYS away!!  Hope they don't miss out on this opportunity to bring in LOTS of $$ to help the government!!). More details at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/11/New5ExitTaxCR.html


WHAT ABOUT CHRISTMAS DAY AND NEW YEARS DAY?
Christmas and New Year's Day the border will only be open from 6am-6PM.


WARNING - IMMIGRATION POLICE
(which includes back up in traffic probably!!)
To help "speed things up", Immigration Police are going to be conducting inspections in Liberia of the buses going across the border since it seemed to help in the past. 

Now I don't know what that means for anyone that is OVER THEIR VISA so if you are and are trying to get in integrity with updating your visa, you might want to take the slow•cheap (withOUT air-conditioning or a bathroom and tighter seats) Deldu bus TO the Costa Rica border at Peñas Blanca, walk over, and catch whatever bus you need to get to go where you're going.  OR, if you're REALLY over, take a Liberia bus and catch a bus in Liberia taking you to the border to avoid the potential of getting thrown into Immigration Jail (luckily that's nowhere near as bad as regular jails in Costa Rica [I've visited/helped a few people that have been there]).
(I have some bus info on how to get to the Costa Rica - Nicaragua border on my site [that needs to get updated SOON!]):
 SanJuanDelSurNI.com/GETTING_THERE.html
which will soon be updated at:
CRNIBorderCrossing.com


DO NOT NOT NOT BRING ANY DRUGS INTO EITHER BORDERS!!!!
On that note, having done border crossings a couple times in the past few months, I've noted that the DEA (drug enforcement police) seem to REALLY be doing inspections of LOTS of the buses - either along the road or at the border so do NOT be stupid and have any drugs on you as I'm sure you wouldn't want to be spending any time in a Tico jail would you??


BE PREPARED FOR THE 3-6 HOUR WAIT AT THE BORDER!!
This time of year it can be REALLY HOT so bring plenty of water and at least some snacks and maybe some portable chair to sit it!!
Your Costa Rica cell phone should work even at the Nicaraguan border and they sell SIM cards for Nicaragua over on that side.
There is NO WiFi at the border!


ARE YOU A SENIOR CITIZEN?
At least on the Costa Rican side, Seniors (I THINK it's 65+) can just walk up to the front of the line - no wait (their family and friends WILL still have to wait!).


ENSURE YOU GETTING A 90 DAYS STAMP
Not everyone is getting a 90 day stamp when they enter/re-enter Costa Rica. 
Costa Rica has some specific things they're requiring from you now!!
Read about why SOME people have received Visa Stamps of LESS than 90 days at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2011/12/people-not-getting-90-day-visa-stamps.html


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Share this link with EVERYONE you know considering crossing the Costa Rica border between December 19, 2013 and January 6, 2014!
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/12/CRNIBorderCrossingChristmas13.html
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