Sixaola

Sixaola is a small town in Talamanca of Limón Province, Costa Rica. The town is located on the Rio Sixaola (Sixaola River), which forms the Costa Rica-Panama border. Highway 36 ends in Sixaola. Sixaola is right across the river from Guabito, Panama. Both towns consist of homes, banana farms, and small businesses for locals. The Rio Sixaola is also the boundary between the Central and Eastern Time Zones. Costa Rica is one hour behind Panama.

Map of Lim%C3%B3n Province, Sixaola, Costa Rica

Sixaola is 49 km (30 mi) south of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, known locally as Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo is a tourist destination on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. Tourists pass through Sixaola and Guabito along a road connecting destinations in Limón Province, Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro Province, Panama. The road is an old elevated railroad grade. A former railroad bridge crosses the Rio Sixaola at the border. Costa Rican customs is located at the west end of the bridge just down some stairs from the elevated railroad grade. When crossing the border in either direction, tourists must clear both Costa Rican and Panamanian customs. Entry and exit visas are required. Panamanian customs is located alongside the elevated railroad grade right at the east end of the bridge.

The border towns have no accommodations, restaurants, or services. In Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo offers the closest accommodations, restaurants, and services to the border. In Panama, Changuinola offers accommodations, restaurants, and services about 10 km (6 mi) from the border. Buses and taxis wait on both sides of the border.

The surrounding area is home to the Bribri Indians.