First, we entered the Costa Rica immigration office to get our exit stamp in our passport. After getting our stamp, here we are making our way to the actual border crossing, a 300m walk.
We had our bags checked by the CR border guards, and proceeded into Nicaragua.
Bienvenidos a Nicaragua! Yeaaaaa, we made it!!! But now the confusing part started. Luckily we were approached by a guy who helped us through the Nicaraguan confusion. Remember this is all in the heat of the day, sweat is pouring off of us in the hot sun.
Wish I had more pictures of the mass confusion and inefficiency of Nicaragua compared to the calm and controlled Costa Rica side of the border. In Costa Rica, there are minimal stops. Get your exit stamp, get your bag checked, leave the country. Easy.
On the Nicaraguan side we may have had our bags checked yet again. Then we made our way through what looked like it used to be a town square over to an unmarked building with a long line on one side and a long line on the other side. Hmmm, okay, luckily we had the "guy" with us. We started in one line, as he kept moving back and forth to check the other line. I know, is this gonna be dodgy?
We then move into the other line. Finally wait it out, get our $26 USD ready for each of us, pay, get our Nicaragua entry stamp, and proceed to the next "area". Nothing is labelled, nothing is in any order, you kinda just make your way around the border area, following the guy who seems to know what he is doing. I remember is being the same last time I was here...again, we paid a guy to get us through.
We then crossed through some gates, and paid another US dollar to the guy there. Then you get swarmed by taxi drivers. Luckily, it seems these border guys work as a team, this guy we were with led us to a car, talked to the driver, loaded our stuff and away we all went.
Hmm, unlabelled car. I don't think any of them were actual labelled taxi's. I'm pretty sure they were all just locals trying to make a buck, all using their own rundown vesicles. Whatever, as long as we get to San Juan.
Remember, it's an adventure!!!
