1

no train but pretty easy to go by bus. check the ticabus website. http://www.ticabus.com/eng/index.php this is an international bus that is clean, comfortable, air-conditioned and pretty much "express" since it makes few stops.

no "hassle" at the border, other than the possibility of a long line. getting through the border requires somewhere between 20 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the time of year, how many agents are working, etc. but not really a hassle.

2

If could chime in on the border crossing at Paso Canoas. When you are in line into Panama watch as truck drivers always go with preference to the head of the line and their crossing is time consuming with many documents. You would think they could process somewhere other then the general window. Otherwise hassle free if you have your onward ticket and if you use the international bus they will take care of the border formalities for you.

3

the air conditioning works very well, bring something warm to wear just in case!

4

You have two border crossings (coast) for Panama, depending where you are coming from, if you are in the Southern Zone, and the Osa, south of Playa Dominical or the Osa-Corcovado/Drake Bay area, then the Pacific crossing above makes most sense. If you on the Caribe side, via Tortuguero, rafting Rio Pacuare, Pt Viejo area beaches to Manzanillo, then the Sixoala crossing on caribe side, via Bocas Del Toro is the easier border to cross and also offers more things to explore easily. The bus ride from SJ to PC is 19 hours or so, depending on border formalities...
You can also fly from SJ to David Panama, or fly to/from SJ Pavas on Nature Air and BDT Panama.

Don forget you need proof of onward travel for Panama border crossings from CR....you also lose an hour going to Panama, they are 1 hour later, so plant accordingly. especially for bus and ferry on caribe side to BDT.

You can even do a loop, down one coast and up the other...

No trains...

5

Take the Tracopa bus from CR to David City or Paso Canoa. The Paso Canoa border crossing is getting difficult. Have proof of an onward ticket and a credit card or cash handy. Just went through last week.

6

The Paso Canoa border crossing is getting difficult.

Care to elaborate and offer a reason why Mike?

Paul

7

Probably referring to the fact they are enforcing the Onward Travel requirements, in addition to the perpetual tourist making Visa runs in both countries as these foreigners work illegally and reside illegally in both countries...

8

Thank you all of you who have answered my post. Really appreciate it.