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=== Specific information =by location ==
== Borders ==
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'''Costa Rica''' is a country in [[Central America]]. It borders [[Panama]] in the South and [[Nicaragua]] in the North.
While hitchhiking isn't customary for long distance rides among the local population, it works pretty well in fact, especially close to beaches and in remote areas where there is almost no public transport. Except in remote places, hitchhiking on the back of pick-up trucks like in other Central American countries doesn't work in Costa Rica as it is illegal − the police give high fines for violations of this particular law. Your lifts will come with other sorts of vehicles.
Here people refer to hitch-hiking as "ride", "hacer ride" and "buscar un ride" are common expressions.
The border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua has one particularity : the boarder authorities make it close to hell for any vehicle to cross from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, and trucks bearing a load often have to wait 3 days at the Peñas Blancas border before the paper work get's through to allow them passage. The cue of vehicles in Peñas Blancas is at best several miles long. Entering Costa Rica from Nicaragua takes about 1 minute on the other hand.
== Other locations =Pan-american highway =For hitchhiking the [[Panamerican highway]], waiting times may be longer than on the beaches but are still not bad. Except Trucks are definitely the best and fastest way to cross the country on remote beachesthe Panamerican, hitchhiking on the back of pick-up trucks like other Central American countries doesn't work in Costa Rica as it is illegal − the police give high fines for violations of they travel this particular law. Your lifts will come with other sorts of vehiclesroad a lot and are almost always going long distances.
= Alternative route ==
If you are hitch-hiking through Cost Rica on the North-south or South-north rout, it is well worth while not going down the Panamerican (highway 2) all the way and instead taking the 34 along the pacific coast. A lot of truckers go that way anyhow as it is less hassle and not so mountainous, so if you are lucky enough to find a ride that is crossing the country you might just go that way without having to ask.
