On this page we are trying to give answers to most of your questions. We are just now starting to develop this page so your question may not be here yet. Please Contact Us and not only will we gladly answer your question, we may add your question to this list.
Q: What do I need to make a reservation?
A: To make a reservation you will need information from EACH and EVERY PASSPORT in your group, including:
1. Name EXACTLY as in passports (1st, middle, 1st last, second last, etc. whatever the passport says),
2. Passport country and number
3. Age and date of birth,
4. Occupation.
Q: Do I need a passport to cross the border?
A: Yes, and your passport can not have a expiration date less than six month from the crossing date.
Q: What are the requirements for crossing the border?
A: You should check with the Panama and/or Costa Rica Embassy or Consulate in your country for requirements particular to your nationality, but in general, for most nationalities, all you will need is:
1. a passport that will not expire within six months of the entry date.
2. When enter and departing PANAMA will charge a fee (US$3 as of July 2011, but can change without notice). This fee is NOT included in our price, so make sure you have it. Having exact change will speed up the process more than you can imagine. NOTE: If you travel with Caribe Shuttle you are not currently (as of December 2011) required to show proof of departure from Panama. Otherwise, if you travel on your own, border officials will ask you for a flight leaving from Panama (only from Panama, a ticket leaving from CR will not work, for example), and if you do not have this proof you will likely be required to buy an international bus ticket ($15 as of December 2011). So by travelling with us you can save $15 at the border in the case that you don’t have that proof.
3. When entering COSTA RICA, travelers are required to show “proof” that they will leave Costa Rica. Proof means a receipt/ticket/itinerary for an international flight departing from Costa Rica or from a nearby country or an international bus ticket departing from Costa Rica. If you do not have proof when you arrive at the Costa Rican immigration office, you will most likely be required to buy an international bus ticket. You can do this at the border, so don’t worry. But it will save money and a LOT of time and headache if you print out your itinerary ahead of time (They do not except an image on your electronic devise; don’t ask me why.) As of December 2011, these tickets cost $14, but that can change without notice. If you do not have proof, do everyone a favor and buy it when you get to the border before you wait in the immigration line. Our border guide will point you in the right direction.
There are other requirements such as proof of solvency, yellow fever shots for entering Costa Rica, etc., but at the time of this writing, these are not being enforced.
Q: Can I bring my surf board?
A: Yes, maximum 9 feet, but you must reserve space for your boards when making a reservation. There is a $7 charge for each board.
Q: Can you pick us up or drop us at our hotel in Bocas?
A: No, this service has been suspended indefinitely. However, you can easily flag down a yellow taxi truck in front of the dock or your hotel. They cost 65 US cents per persons from/to anywhere in Bocastown (much more for out of town, ask the driver before you get in). And there are a hundred water taxis waiting to whisk you to/from your hotel on another island.