Crossing the Costa Rica–Nicaragua Border With Kids: What It's Really Like Short answer: plan for anywhere from two hours to most of the day, bring USD in small bills, and let your kids soak it in — because this is not a boring border crossing. We've crossed the Peñas Blancas border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua multiple times, in both directions, on foot, with three boys in tow. It is chaotic, occasionally overwhelming, and genuinely one of the more memorable experiences of our time living in Central America. Our kids loved it. That probably tells you something about our family — and something about what kind of trip this is. Why You Need to Cross at All Most tourist visas for Costa Rica allow stays of up to 180 days, but the fine print matters. Depending on your nationality and how immigration officers are interpreting policy on any given week, you may be required to exit the country periodically to reset your status. The Nicaragua border run — crossing into Nicar...

  Third Time’s the Charm!   Sorry Base Camp, you’re gonna need to sit this one out… After drowning our sorrows in guacamole at a Mexican takeout joint on the US/Texas side of the border, we hatched Plan B. Leaving our beloved, overweight-by-Mexican-standards Base Camp in Big Bend National Park, we would ford the Rio Grande, and make our way on foot, or by burro to the small village of Boquillas. How to Visit Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico, from Big Bend National Park If you’re exploring  Big Bend National Park  and looking for a unique cross-border experience, a visit to  Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico , is a must. This tiny village along the Rio Grande offers authentic Mexican cuisine, handcrafted souvenirs, and a glimpse into rural life in northern Mexico. This guide covers  everything you need to know  about crossing the border from  Big Bend National Park to Boquillas del Carmen , including logistics, entry requirements, and tips for a seamless tr...

Upon our return to Maine for the summer we were invariably asked by everyone, “What sorts of adventures did you all get up to this time?” We could have focused on Base Camp, our school bus that we bought from the local district, and converted into our magic carpet ride, when our sailboat Tiny Bubbles II sold. We could have focused on the manatees that accompanied us as we swam in springs in Florida, the epic climbs of Hueco Tanks, just outside El Paso, or the glorious time we got to spend with friends and family— we could have focused on that… What stuck in our minds were our failures. We had failed in our search for our next boat, and we had failed to enter Mexico. It’s true, Mexico told us we were, “demasiado pesado,” or too heavy. Too heavy?  “Sí.” We had already been rejected at the previous border town of Ciudad Acuña, but we were told our luck could be better 50 miles south in Piedras Negras.  So Close, Yet So Far — Piedras Negras Border The woman in the border office th...