halloranc

Has anyone on this forum driven from Costa Rica to Panama? I'm considering doing it in December and would appreciate feedback from anyone who has made the trip.

Thanks,

Casey

Jeff_Costa_Rica

It's been a few years since I've done it, but for me, the only area of concern is the Cerro de la Muerte in Costa Rica between Cartago and San Isidro de El General. It's the highest section (over 10,000 feet) of the Inter-American Highway in Central America, and can begin to fog over by late morning. I'd make sure to get an early morning start (by 8 a.m.) from San Jose. Once you get to San Isidro, is lowland travel the rest of the way.

elcolibri

Hello Casey,

You can go for Panama in two different ways for the Caribean side and Ciudad Neilly on the other side. The only problem is you cann't do this by car, unless you are the owner of the car and you have a special insurance.
If you rent a car it isn't possible.
Have a nice time in Costa Rica!!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Very good point, elcolibri. Costa Rican rental vehicles can't leave the country. (I did my trip in a private car.)

Jessie_

Private car is definitely the way to go although you could take a flight to Panama from San Jose and rent a car. This would obviously add a whole lot of $$$ to the trip! We are planning that for this years trip ourselves and have a private driver/car arranged.

Sansa was talking about adding a flight to Bocas del Toro. Don't know if they have or not. Haven't seen any info on it yet.

elcolibri

Jessie, it's not Sansa but Nature Air (it's more or less the same) who has a flight to Bocas del Toro in Panama. We just heard that in this time of the year they don't make this flights. Check it out at their website.
Have a nice time in Costa Rica!!

Jessie_

Thanks hummingbird! Heard it was one of them, just assumed it was the bigger operation of the two.

As far as enjoying my trip.......always!!!!!!!

Pura Vida

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Nature Air lists Bocas del Toro on its website, but hasn't begun service yet. The people I've talked to there told me that it's projected for "sometime in the future," but no specific date has been set yet. Their flights to Granada, Nicaragua have been very successful, so I hope it's soon that they begin their Panama service.

Jessie_

Thanks Jeff. I had origionally heard it was scheduled to start in 2005. Hopefully.

AndrewGW

Just to clarify for halloranc...
You can't take a rental car either way across the CR-PAN border... In a private car either the owner must be driving or you need a notarized letter of authorization for you to be driving and leaving the country - from the Panamanian side you also needed a clearance from the Stolen Vehicle section of the National Police - not sure if it's the same coming from CR.
Hope this helps,
Andrew

halloranc

Thanks for all the great info. I'll let u all know how it goes in a few months!

The car I drive will be mine, so I will fill u in on all the details. The NatureAir route to Bocas isn't yet open, but there is a small flight on CaribbeanWest from SJO to Panama's Allbrook airport.

Thanks!

Casey