Thanks for your feedback, Stewart. We’ve rewritten this section to make it clearer.

Very happy to, this page was so helpful for me, so I’m glad to help the future “crossers”.

July 29th – Costa Rica to Panama (Frontera Sixaola)
Got to the border with a bus from Cahuita (2600 colones – 1h).
In Sixaola you will have to pay 9$ exit fee (only cash, can also be paid in colones) at the little kiosk before the actual migration office (if you have mobile network, you can go directly to the migration office and scan the QR code via smartphone to pay 8$ with card). Get stamped out.
Cross the bridge and go to the next kiosk where you will have to pay other 8$ (4$ to enter Panama and 4$ to exit Panama in advance) then go to the migration office and get stamped in: nobody asked for proof of onward travel nor proof of hotel reservation.
You can take the public bus (1$) to Changuinola Bus Terminal to take a different bus to reach your Panamanian destination (direct bus to David every hour or so and to Panama City everyday at 5pm for 29$).

ATTENTION: the border process was very smooth BUT reportedly Sixaola is the only Panamanian frontera in which they charge an entry/exit fee, apparently because is so popular to go to Bocas del Toro in Panama and so they milk the tourists. If you do not plan to go there, try to enter the country from a different frontera, because, contrary to what the officers say, nobody will ask you to show the proof of payment of the exit fee when you leave the country (i.e. at the Colombian border).

Thank you so so much! Really appreciate all the effort you put into this. Got your cards too!