GETTING RIPPED OFF AT THE COSTA RICA - PANAMA BORDER

[kidcapri009]

Bottom line, travel with someone who speaks the language and is a native. I've been to costa rica many times and always have the price of things jump at least 200%. Its the tax for not speaking spanish. I always leave the transactions to my cousin who is a native.

[AbiAmath]

my stomach always turns when i am in this type of situation in other countries. it even turning right now watching this.

[Diyerke]

you should've stayed in Costa Rica... :)

[RetroFishman]

I like what you do, I did this once thru Belize and the Bay islands and thought about the Costa Rican expierience alone in a year or two but I keep changeing my mind and my Spanish is very poor. I could go chill in some remote areas but looseing the GRINGO image without some Spanish language skills is whats stopping me and not thrilled with going to the community college.

[gtenshi]

Poster, I see why you would feel ripped off. They asked you for a return ticket that you probably weren't going to use. However, this measure went into effect after Nicaraguan immigrantes were using tourist permits to come into Panama and stayed there illegally. Now, you say, "well, I'm American, backpacking through CA," and yes, you don't plan to stay in Panama illegally, and I think it was their fault for asking you to do all that when there probably shouldn't be a concern about you.

[DJMAJESTY213]

All ur videos were great u have motivated me 2 take a trip some were....u should make some dvds 2 sale i will make u some 4 free email me bcause i like what u doing im also from L.A....RESPECT DJ Majesty

[saferintheharbour]

Ah, memories... The key to not getting ripped off in Central America is speak Spanish and don't flash your cash! I crossed this border around the same time, but talked myself out of the return ticket (which didn't even look like a ticket) and only paid the $1 tax. Didn't have to show the $500 (that's to prove you can support yourself and are not looking for work btw). And the public bus only took 20 mins longer and cost about $2. Joys of picking up the lingo!

[JoseGtassh]

I am from Panama and i had have made some parts of this trip my self and this guy looks secure, for me on some countries it was the scarier thing. About the prices the point is i´ve seen my self how many ppl wants to come in vs ppl going out and there is no way comparison.. a benefit for me was my citizenchip is open border on all latin america we dont have problems at all but there is many ppl causing too many troubles in my country and that is why they have this rulez now

[1958rivers]

I'm leaving for Costa Rica for soon and I have enjoyed your videos. I plan a extended stay. Thanks for the info!

[mcmlxvi]

I don't get it, you were welcome in Panama, they let you in and they didn't ask you for anything that the US itself doesn't ask at their own borders, and you pay them back by posting a video with the words "rip off" in the title? Why don't you try to get back to LA with a Panamanian passport at the Mexican border and see how it goes?. Grow up dude.

[intransitTV]

@mcmlxvi I'm well aware of the purpose of paying an entrance fee as well as proof of departure. I'm simply showing the reality of this border crossing. In comparison to other border crossing on this particular trip in Central America, this one was the shadiest. So in comparison to all the other "great" border crossings I experienced, this one was a rip off. That's it. It's all relative.

[nattybenny]

@intransitTV YEA I NOTICED THAT TOO, IM HOOKED RIGHT NOW IM BEEN WATCHING SINCE THE FIRST VIDEO GOOD STUFF!

[HeyItsRaymonds]

@mcmlxvi There aren't many American's with camera crews trying to sneak into Panama to work and live illegally. It's like comparing Apples and Wood Flooring. Not just 2 different things but 2 completely different things.

[mcmlxvi]

@HeyItsRaymonds Let me tell you what's a rip off, American Embassies all over the world charging over 200 dollars to third world people for a visa application and then refusing the visa and NOT giving the money back. That's a 100 million dollars a year of rip off right there alone, and yet some Americans have the AUDACITY to criticize the way they treat them at the borders of those very same countries. Some nerve this guy has.

[MusicForYourFunk]

@mcmlxvi

jaded much?

[godivatgirls]

dude u never ask why.... all u did was trying to lisen to that bullshit.... u got to ask why...

[ariboreal]

thats not being ripped off, it is the same for go to europe, canada or usa, you have to show the back ticket and show that you have money enough for spend

[mcmlxvi]

@ariboreal Exactly! who doesn't know that.

[adriancbush]

Grow up.  Is this your first time out of LA? You're in Panama, try speaking Spanish. Try entering the US as a foreign tourist. Cute girl at the ticket counter however.

[WhereIsTaylorVideo]

Ahhh that same guy tried to get me to buy one too. From Changinola to San Jose. I was somehow able to convince the lady at the window that I had one although I didnt though...

Trip looks awesome! Dont miss Luna's Castle in Casco Viejo (Panama City)

[ishuaia]

Whats so hard to understand? You are a tourist, means that we only want your money here. You need to buy a ticket to get out of the country, we don't want more illegal inmigrants here, just like you guys in US don't want more inmigrants there. You think thats expensive? I have to pay $150 for the VISA only to go to US. And yes, they ask me for return ticket too.

Thats migration what do you expect? You can freely enter a country without paying anything? This ain't Europe mate.

[rodvarmo]

Yes, you got ripped off.. you didnt need a ticket all the way back to San Jose, just into Costa Rica. Panamanians can be a little pushy :)

[alexsf23]

The same thing happend to us in costa rica on our way tamarindo and montezuma by a guy selling tix to the boat they tryed to get us saying the cost $17usd and it was only $4usd they had to pull me of the guy when i found out!!!! lol

[elperro5]

why did you not show them you were going back to the U.S.? did you not have your ticket at the time?

[intransitTV]

@elperro5 I did not purchase my ticket yet. I was still planning on taking busses back depending on what the price is.

[antonio0186]

@intransitTV ey just pay the bill man.......

[MrHogslice]

That was scary. Red flags everywhere. Your safe now and other than your wallet getting lifted early on it looks like you had a relatively safe trip. great videos, I loved watching these. TY.

[intransitTV]

@MrHogslice A couple other scary situations that weren't on camera. For the most part, the trip was pretty safe. Safer than I expected.

[mcmlxvi]

@intransitTV Dude, you were unprepared. Next time check some webpages, there are tons of info for backpackers.

[intransitTV]

@mcmlxvi oh. wow. thanks.

[darkmed2]

Typical costaricenses and panamanians, for sure growing up in Panama you learn that no matter what we will rip you off, not me personally but some people will take advantage of tourists like you who don't know anything and well will do what they can to bring in more money.

[pdrop]

@darkmed2 oh well! I tried not to pay, but what can you do.

[shavaughn1980]

I think when they saw you they dollar signs.

[pdrop]

@shavaughn1980 haha, i guess so! Aside from the camera, I look poor.

[mudshark82]

planning to cross the CR/pan border in the next couple months.  informative video!

[pdrop]

@mudshark82 great, have a good trip.

[wolfisloose]

super sketch

[intransitTV]

@wolfisloose agree!

[mawacal]

sounds like a shake down

[MarcosAKAMunchies]

I crossed to panama recently in june from costa rica and i didnt have to buy a tourist card, didnt have to show that i had money, and didnt have to show proof when i was leaving......only had to pay a $1 us dollar tax fee when crossing thru panama

[intransitTV]

@MarcosAKAMunchies you're lucky! maybe it's something on that side of the country.

[mcmlxvi]

@MarcosAKAMunchies Dude, proof of some sort of financial means to support yourself during your stay and a return ticket is a standard requirement for ALL countries all over the world. As our friend said, you were VERY lucky.

[sergiodanielvera]

why do you have to show them that you have 500 to spend?

[intransitTV]

@sergiodanielvera I have no idea. I guess they want to make sure that people are spending in the country. It's all business. Kinda strange. I was pretty annoyed then and there.

[RandomCensorship]

@sergiodanielvera so they can tell their partners who to rob later on most likely. lol

[linkavitchC]

@sergiodanielvera u dont lol.

[dissidia123456789]

@sergiodanielvera they were prob planing to swindle him out of that 500 somehow probably...

[JoseGtassh]

@dissidia123456789 Are you sure??, you need read more before you post.... or may be it your racist mind comming out... you need to proove you have at least $500 to stay a month!!! ass hole!!

[dissidia123456789]

@JoseGtassh how am i an ass hole?!?! I was just stating my opinion. If you can't handle that then you need to grow the hell up...And don't act a fool on this video...it's just an informative video that doesn't people claiming racism all over the place. P.S I'm black!!! derrrrr

[JoseGtassh]

@dissidia123456789 i keep on my word even more now!