Nicaraguans Head Home For The Holidays
The Nicaraguan exodus from Costa Rica is underway, as thousands are readying their bags for, what is for many, the annual trip home to visit family and friends.

Costa Rican authorities at the border control point of Peñas Blancas have extended their hours of operation, opening until 10pm every night for the next few weeks, meeting the increased travel demands of the season.

Bus operators like Transnica and Ticabus report an almost sold out of all passes on their buses to and from Nicaragua up to January 8. The cost of a the return fare is us$20.

Many others travel by private bus operators who have been advertising excursion to Nicaragua for months and at a much lower fare, while others will be crossing the border at various unmarked and patrolled crossings, as they are in Costa Rica illegally.

The lines at the Nicaraguan embassy in San José has been long for days, many looking for visas for their children born in Costa Rica and travelling to Nicaragua for the first time, while others getting their travel documents in order.