PANAMA!
Last days in Costa so a Cloud forest hike:
dripping with life!
twichers are out
Next up another fucking border. Every one requires umpteen photocopies of docs to get a TVIP (Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit). Crossing from Costa Rica to Panama is a good example of good vs bad...
Arrive Costa Rica, border, just drive past everyone cos bikes can.
Next, you get 3 or 4 guys pointing where to park and showing various IDs and saying they will help you. These 'Coyotes' get told to go away thank you, but the money changer dudes are useful.
Find the customs and immigration building, always easy.
Inside this one is a counter for customs and one for cancelling (or acquiring) the bike import permit. Job done in 20 mins...
Exit Costa Rica, drive over bridge to Panama. This no mans land is where some bikers meet to sell a bike (with doctored documents...)
old bridge
new one
Now here goes arrive PANAMA!
STEP 1 tell the coyotes to go away, get vehicle sprayed / disinfected on entry.
STEP 2
pay for spray at kiosk. In each instance a tiny window opens briefly giving you a cool air conditioned blast as you stand in sweltering heat in hot biker gear..
STEP 3
Pay tourist arrival tax or somesuch here,
this guy actually drove his truck over that tiny bridge, bonkers.
STEP 4 get passport stamped at immigration
STEP 5 Customs, get temp importation of the bike.
STEP 6 get your Insurance for the bike
and your done...
Despite all this faff this was a quiet border on the Caribbean coast and everyone was so nice it was kind of fun!
Amazing ride and cracking sunset to finish a long day :)
Welcome to Panama!