Hi Scrabblebiker,
I was through Rio Sereno a few miles past Sabalito, Costa Rica last month and there was a Costa Rica immigration building right near the border. He stamped my passport out and left my bike papers open while I went down to Yaviza since my Costa Rica insurance and TVIP was good for 90 days. I explained to him that I was only going to be in Panama for a short visit.
They had mandatory insurance (seguros obligatorio) for sale on the Panama side. And it was muy tranquillo. They charged 1.00 to spray the bike on Panama side. No other charge. I returned through the same border. It closes at 5:00PM so I spent the night in Rio Sereno at the Posada Andes. Nice old place with creaky teak floors. And it was just as easy coming back through Rio Sereno.
They don't have Costa Rica mandatory insurance for sale at the border, so it is a problem for people traveling north. If you already have the insurance from your trip south through Costa Rica like I did, then it is cake.
Best,
John Downs
|