Panama

You get dropped off at the border and have to walk the bridge. A Panamanian tourist bus awaits after immigration. My German neigbours just happened to be leaving the same day, so we traveled together. They are in the foreground of the picture here.

The Panamania border is always a craps shoot. To enter the country you MUST have proof of departure - either a bus or plane ticket. Most people have reported that booking a return trip with a shuttle company is sufficient. Of course this is all completely up to the border guard at the exact time and place where each individual is crossing. I was one of the unlucky ones. I only had my return shuttle receipt, so was forced to purchase a useless bus ticket to San Jose. Cost was only $14, but shouldn't be required. My traveling companions for the day had no problem and didn't have to show their flight ticket out of Panama City.

A British couple behind me was in a similar situation, though he was going back to Puerto Viejo and she was flying out of Panama City. However, they had a fudged airline receipt for the both of them just in case. They waited to see what happened to me before deciding which path to take. What happened to them? Said they were flying out of Panama City. The SAME BORDER GUARD that had JUST send me away accepted their answer without showing the fake receipt. I wasn't the only one in line who had to buy a bus ticket, but I wonder what the real criteria is for entering Panama.

BTW, the same thing happened to the wife above when she came into Costa Rica. There she was forced to purchase a bus ticket for San Jose to Panama City. Cost.......$58!!!!!

45 minutes at the border to get the entire group processed and loaded into the tour vans. Another 40 minute drive to the water taxi, then 45 minutes waiting for the water taxi to my final destination of Bocas del Toro. Approximately 60 people packed onto the boat.