Fully updated in July 2025

We first crossed every border from Guatemala to Panama back in 2014, travelling entirely overland.

Buses, boats, minivans, and the odd long, sweaty walk between one immigration window and the next. It was enough time to understand how these borders actually work in practice, rather than how they’re described online.

We’ve returned to Central America a few times since, and things do shift: fees get tweaked, rules change for some passports, and certain crossings are more organised than they were.

Others are exactly the same.

What hasn’t changed is that you can still do all of this independently if you know what to expect and you arrive prepared.

This guide brings everything up to date for 2025 - entry and exit fees, visa limits, onward travel requirements, plus a few notes on the places where unnecessary charges or confusion occasionally pop up.

If you need the step-by-step route breakdowns, we’ve linked those throughout; this page is just the clear overview.

Belize

Entry Fee | There is no entry fee when arriving overland

Exit Fee | When leaving Belize by land, you will be asked to pay BZD $40 for the border departure fee plus an additional BZD $7.50 conservation charge (Protected Areas Contribution Trust). The total is BZD $47.50 (roughly USD $23–24).

You can pay in either Belize dollars or US dollars, and you will receive a printed receipt. Keep this on hand until you’re clear of the border as occasionally someone further along may ask to see it.

If you’re taking one of the direct buses between Belize City and Guatemala, some companies also add a small ‘border management fee’. This isn’t official, it’s just part of the convenience of not making the journey independently.

Proof of Onward Travel Required? | Usually not for land arrivals. Airlines flying into Belize City may ask to see onward travel, so if you’re flying, it’s sensible to have something to show.

Length of Tourist Visa | The majority of tourists will be granted a 30 day stay without a visa. Stays beyond this length require an extension for which you’ll need to visit and immigration office within Belize. Extensions are issued one month at a time and come with quite a hefty fee.

Commonly Used Crossings |

Belize - Guatemala / Benque Viejo del Carmen - Melchor de Mencos / for journeys between San Ignacio and Flores/Tikal
Belize – Mexico / Corozal – Chetumal / for journeys between Belize City or Caye Caulker and Bacalar
Belize – Mexico (by boat, seasonal) / Caye Caulker – Chetumal / schedules vary by weather and season

Scams | None. Belize's borders had clear signage about exit charges and an itemised receipted was given following payment. The most common point of friction is taxi drivers quoting inflated fares so be sure to agree the price before you get in.

Read more about how to cross between Belize and Guatemala or Belize and Mexico.

Guatemala

Entry fee | There is no entry fee when entering Guatemala by land.

Exit Fee | There is no official exit fee for leaving Guatemala at land borders.

If anyone requests payment - particularly outside the office or before you reach the immigration window - ask to see the printed fee list inside the building. If it’s not printed, it’s not real.

Proof of Onward Travel Required? | Occasionally requested at airports, rarely requested at land borders.

Length of Tourist Visa | Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua have a visa agreement named the 'CA-4'. For most nationalities, this is a 90-day visa given to you by the first country you enter out of the four. It allows you entry into all of them*.

This 90-day allowance begins when you enter the first CA-4 country and continues regardless of how many times you cross between them.

*Note that as of 2024, for UK citizens the CA-4 visa does not apply to Honduras; you will need a separate visa. See the Honduras section for more information.

Commonly Used Crossings |

Guatemala – Mexico / La Mesilla – Ciudad Cuauhtémoc / for journeys between Lake Atitlán or Quetzaltenango and San Cristóbal de las Casas
Guatemala – Mexico / El Ceibo – Tenosique / for journeys between Flores/Tikal and Palenque
Guatemala – Belize / Melchor de Mencos – Benque Viejo del Carmen / for journeys between Flores/Tikal and San Ignacio
Guatemala – El Salvador / Las Chinamas – La Hachadura / for journeys between Antigua or Guatemala City and Santa Ana or El Tunco

Scams | The most persistent issue is someone claiming there is a Guatemala exit fee when there isn’t. Paying only at the official window avoids this entirely.

Read more about how to cross between Guatemala and Mexico, Belize or to El Salvador.

El Salvador

Entry fee | There is no entry fee for land arrivals.

Exit Fee | There is no official exit fee when leaving El Salvador by land.

Proof of Onward Travel Required? | Not typically requested at land borders. Airlines may ask if you are flying into San Salvador.

Length of Tourist Visa | Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua have a visa agreement named the 'CA-4'. For most nationalities, this is a 90-day visa given to you by the first country you enter out of the four. It allows you entry into all of them*.

This 90-day allowance begins when you enter the first CA-4 country and continues regardless of how many times you cross between them.

*Note that as of 2024, for UK citizens the CA-4 visa does not apply to Honduras; you will need a separate visa. See the Honduras section for more information.

Commonly Used Crossings |

El Salvador – Guatemala / Las Chinamas – La Hachadura / for journeys between Antigua or Guatemala City and Santa Ana or El Tunco
El Salvador – Honduras / El Poy – El Amatillo / for journeys between San Salvador and Tegucigalpa or onward to León

Scams | Generally minimal. You may encounter people offering to ‘help’ speed up the process but it’s not necessary as the immigration procedure is direct and straightforward.

Read more about how to cross between El Salvador and Guatemala or Honduras.

Honduras

Entry Fee | There is a US$3 processing fee when entering Honduras at most land borders. Pay it directly at the immigration window and keep the receipt somewhere easy to access as you may be asked to show it again when exiting.

Exit Fee | No official exit fee. Occasionally the same US$3 is requested again on departure - if you kept your initial receipt, you should not need to pay twice.

Proof of Onward Travel Required? | Sometimes requested when arriving by air. At land crossings, it is usually not asked for, though rules can vary slightly between posts.

Length of Tourist Visa | Honduras is part of the CA-4 region for most nationalities, meaning the usual shared 90-day clock applies across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

However, UK passport holders are now an exception.

As of 15 August 2024, UK citizens must apply for a Honduran visa in advance, even though Honduras is technically within the CA-4 bloc. The CA-4 still covers Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua for UK travellers exactly as before, but Honduras no longer grants automatic entry on arrival for UK passports.

To put that simply: If you’re travelling on a UK passport, you cannot just walk into Honduras on the CA-4 stamp. You must apply for a Honduran visa beforehand.

If you are not on a UK passport, and your nationality is visa-exempt, then Honduras continues to function as part of the standard CA-4 shared 90-day system, the same as before.

Commonly Used Crossings |

Honduras – Guatemala / El Florido – Río Hondo / for journeys between Copán Ruinas and Rio Dulce / Flores
Honduras – El Salvador / El Poy – El Amatillo / for journeys between San Salvador and Choluteca / Tegucigalpa
Honduras – Nicaragua / Guasaule – El Espino / for journeys between León / Estelí and Choluteca

Scams | Nothing widespread. The main thing is to pay the US$3 fee only at the official counter and get the receipt. If anyone outside the building claims there are additional charges, walk past and deal only with the immigration window.

Read more about how to cross between Honduras and Nicaragua or El Salvador.

Nicaragua

Entry Fee | The standard fee for the tourist entry stamp is US$10 for which a receipt will be given - don’t lose this as you’ll need to show it upon departure.

At some borders, an additional small municipal or administrative charge (usually US$2/3) is collected. Payment should be made in cash, and from our experience it’s advisable to have the correct money as change is not always guaranteed.

Exit Fee | $3 USD exit fee payable in cordobas or dollars. If crossing at Penas Blancas, there will often be a US$1 fee to enter the border zone.

Proof of Onward Travel Required? | Not commonly asked at land borders. Airlines may request proof before boarding.

Length of Tourist Visa | Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua have a visa agreement named the 'CA-4'. For most nationalities, this is a 90-day visa given to you by the first country you enter out of the four. It allows you entry into all of them*.

This 90-day allowance begins when you enter the first CA-4 country and continues regardless of how many times you cross between them.

*Note that as of 2024, for UK citizens the CA-4 visa does not apply to Honduras; you will need a separate visa. See the Honduras section for more information.

Commonly Used Crossings |

Nicaragua – Costa Rica / Peñas Blancas – La Frontera / for journeys between San Juan del Sur / Rivas / Granada and Liberia / Nicoya / San José
Nicaragua – Honduras / Guasaule – El Espino / for journeys between León / Estelí and Choluteca / Tegucigalpa

Scams | Some people will try to sell you the immigration form for a few cordobas. You don't need to pay - these are available in the offices free of charge.

You may encounter porters offering to carry luggage, particularly at Peñas Blancas on the Nicaragua side. If you don’t need help, just decline. If you do want assistance, agree a price before they lift your bag, and keep your bag in sight the whole time - misunderstandings over payment are common, not theft.

Read more about how to cross between Nicaragua and Honduras or Costa Rica.

Costa Rica

Entry Fee | None for land crossings

Exit Fees | When leaving Costa Rica by land, there is an official exit tax of US$8. You can pay online in advance (save the PDF/receipt to show at the window), or at/near the border where third-party windows often charge US$10 total to cover a handling fee. Machines at the immigration building are not always operational, so paying in advance is easier.

To clarify, you cannot pay the official at the border office. You must pay in advance and then present your receipt to the official.

Proof of Onward Travel Required? | Yes. Costa Rica routinely asks for proof that you will leave the country within your permitted stay. If you’re not flying out, an international bus ticket is usually sufficient; airlines always check this before boarding.

Length of Tourist Visa | Many nationalities (including UK, EU, US, Canada) are commonly granted up to 180 days on arrival, but the exact duration is determined by the immigration officer at entry. The passport stamp is what counts.

If you cannot show proof of onward travel, they may limit you to fewer days - this happened to us once.

Commonly Used Crossings |

Costa Rica – Nicaragua / Peñas Blancas – La Frontera / for journeys between San José / Liberia and Rivas / San Juan del Sur / Granada
Costa Rica – Panama / Sixaola – Guabito / for journeys between Puerto Viejo / Cahuita and Bocas del Toro
Costa Rica – Panama / Paso Canoas / for journeys between Golfito / Uvita / Dominical and David / Boquete

Scams | The main issue is third-party offices charging more than the official US$8 when paying the exit tax in person. This isn’t a scam per se, as it’s a well-known additional cost, but it is annoying - paying online in advance avoids this.

Read more about how to cross between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and Costa Rica and Panama.

Panama

Entry Fee | Officially, there is no entry fee for Panama.

However, at two separate border crossings there were 'officials' who requested payment in return for a sticker in our passport. At one border, they wanted $1 USD and at the other they wanted $3 USD. We have heard that this doesn’t happen so much lately, but it’s something to be aware of.

Exit Fees | Officially, no. However, as above, there may be some people trying to charge you.

Please note that to cross into Colombia by boat, you may have to hand over a photocopy of your passport.

Proof of Onward Travel Required? | Yes - Panama is firm on this. You must be able to show evidence of onward travel - bus or flight - and officials may also ask for proof of accommodation and funds (although we’ve never been asked for this, and have not met any other traveller who has been).

Airlines enforce this more consistently than land borders, but it’s best to be prepared regardless of how you enter.

Length of Tourist Visa | Standard entry for most tourists - including UK citizens - is 180 days, however you’ll often just be given a stamp for 90 days.

Importantly, if you try to extend your stay by visiting a neighbouring country and returning to Panama, immigration officials may detain you.

Commonly Used Crossings |

Panama – Costa Rica / Sixaola – Guabito / for journeys between Bocas del Toro and Puerto Viejo / Cahuita
Panama – Costa Rica / Paso Canoas / for journeys between David / Boquete and Golfito / Uvita / Dominical

Scams | If you are crossing to/from Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, you may be approached by individuals trying to collect a US$3 unofficial ‘entry/exit payment’ in exchange for a small sticker or slip.

This is not part of the formal process. Move directly to the immigration window, and only hand over your passport to official staff.

You may also encounter porters offering to carry luggage, particularly around the Guabito entrance into Panama. If you don’t need help, just decline. If you do want assistance, agree a price before they lift your bag, and keep your bag in sight the whole time - misunderstandings over payment are common, not theft.

Read more about how to cross from Panama into Costa Rica here. Crossing the border from Panama into Colombia is tricky, with lots of expensive options. Read how we found the cheapest way to do it here.