How-to Easily Travel to Nicaragua via Liberia, Airport and Cross the Border

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Some travelers are finding it easier to fly from their departure location to Liberia Airport rather than Managua, Nicaragua. If you’re finding better flight prices to Liberia than Managua and you’re looking for information on how to cross the land border into Nicaragua, you have come to the right place!

Border Crossing from Liberia, Costa Rica to Nicaragua 2022

Updated August 2022

Crossing the border is easy! And we’ll show you how!

Is it difficult to arrive in Nicaragua via Liberia, Costa Rica? Not at all!

Costa Rica no longer requires covid vaccination or testing to arrive. You will need proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test to cross into Nicaragua.

You will need $17 US dollars in total for your border crossing, round trip. It is best to have exact change for each payment as they may not have change. Bring a few extra small bills as these taxes and fees may be inflated. We will updates these prices as quickly as we can as soon as we receive new information.

There are various ways to arrive at the border. There are buses from the Liberia airport for a few dollars. Or you can take a taxi for approximately $75 from Liberia airport to the border. Contact us to arrange your shuttle from the airport to the border or to our beachfront surf lodge in Playa Gigante, Nicaragua.

Arriving at the Costa Rica and Nicaragua Border Crossing.

Around the corner to the left, you will enter the Costa Rica Migration building (walk towards the large BCR sign, around the corner to the right). When you book your shuttle with us, our drivers will bring you here to this building.

When you arrive to Costa Rica migration you will be asked to pay $3 per person for exit to Nicaragua.

When you enter the Costa Rica migration building, they will check your passport. They may also ask where you are going in Nicaragua. If you are staying with us at Giant’s Foot Surf Tours, you can show them your hotel confirmation received by us in your email. This confirmation paper should contain all of the information they require. The only other thing they may ask for is your occupation.

You will exit, walk along the road towards an additional passport checkpoint for your border crossing. On the left side of the road (sidewalk) there will be officials who will want to see your passport.

Next you walk towards the Nicaragua migration building. If you are with our shuttle drivers they will instruct you where to walk and your next driver will be waiting outside the Nicaragua migration building to bring you through. Currently Nicaragua is requiring proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test for entry. You can show this at the nurses window to the right of the migration building entrance.

Enter the Nicaragua Migration building. Someone holding a stack of receipts like the one below will approach you. Pay them $1.00 for a municipal tax. You will pay $13 at the counter and receive a tourist visa for 90 days. The slip of paper they give you might say 30 days. Don’t worry. You have 90 days from the date of your passport stamp. 

Leave the Nicaragua Migration building, head towards the left. There is one final passport checkpoint for your border crossing. At this checkpoint you will see an official in uniform under a shade. Show your passport to this official and you’re done! 

You have now completed your border crossing from Liberia, Costa Rica to Nicaragua! Welcome and enjoy your adventures! If you are staying with us at Giant’s Foot Surf Tours, the driver for your shuttle will be happy to stop for snacks or a cold beverage so don’t be afraid to ask for “una cerveza por favor”! If you are not staying with us and you need any help during your stay in Nicaragua, or your travels from Liberia, don’t hesitate to contact us or come and stay with us at Giant’s Foot Surf Tours! Safe and Happy Travels!