I crossed into Panama a few days ago at Rio Sereno.
I was asked how much money I had with me but was not required to show it. I told the guy I had $400 and that seemed to satisfy him.
Muy tranquilo at Rio Sereno.

True that brother.

While visa hoping in and out of Nicaragua and CR just showing them my motorcycle log book has been enough. CR and Panama the same.

Walkovers I have been with, have been asked for proof of onward travel, but not always. There are a lot of expat visa-runners in CA and the local authorities are well within there rights to enforce border protection/immigration rules.

That said, I have never been required to prove any financial means or been required to wait the mandatory 72 hours before returning to the neighbouring country.

I believe its important how you present yourself to the immigration officer, profiling does happen, and while you may relish the rough n ready "man/women of adventure look" you have carefully cultivated, they (may) just see another drop-out. The locals take a lot of pride in their appearance.

If you are planning to give something back in these countries, most organisations will happily supply you a constancia - official letter recognising you as a volunteer etc. In my experience these work wonders at borders.

Andrew

Solvency
 

Years ago I spent some time in Thailand and had the same visa renewal hassle along with the economic solvency hassle. I learned to solve it by buying travelers checks when flush with cash, then immediately reporting them stolen to American Express. Amex would quickly issue replacements, which I immediately cashed. The 'lost' travellers checks could be used at the Thai/Malasian border to show solvency.

Update to Entering Panama-

The last few months, foreigners need proof of Onward Travel to enter Panama by air, bus or on foot. This means a bus ticket out, or a plane ticket out. It is now a major hassle at all border crossings from Costa Rica, especially on the Pan Am route, the caribe Sixoala route seems to be more relaxed. Airlines are enforcing this prior to boarding a flight to Panama, I was denied boarding on Dec 15th, on a CPA flight from Chicago to Panama City, as my return was from Liberia Costa Rica 4 weeks later,so a oneway will be no good, and you may have to buy a fully refundable Oneway ticket out of Panama to San Jose, on Taca or Avianca for around $500.

All you need for proof of funds is a Major Credit Card.

Costa Rica Exit Tax: This new tax ( $7) debuted in NOV and caused massive chaos. Foreigners and Panamanians/Nicaraguans, were arriving at border with no notice of the new tax, and there was no way to pay cash, it had to be paid at a certain bank, which had no ATM or office nearby on 3 of the 4 four borders crossings, Paseo Canoes (Pan AM HWY CA1)has the bank branch, but closed sundays, NO GO for Sixoala Caribe, Rio Sireno/San Vito (Panama), Los Chiles (Rio San Juan via boatto Nicaragua) and Penas Blancas ( Pan Am Hwy CA2via Nicaragua).

Then after a media firestorm and travelers having to return back to either Liberia (Penas Blancas) or Limon (Sixoala) crossings, only to find bank branches closed or not even able to prepare a receipt in some cases, the Exit Tax was suspended, apparently until Feb 10, until the bank that has the contract, can install ATM type devices at the borders/Immigration, to pay via CC/Cash (Colones or USD). The crux of all this mayhem, typical for CR and Latin America, is that the bank with the concession to collect the tax, is on verge of failing, and legislative powers want to seize it now, as its holdings are insufficient to covers it huge losses in real estate loans and foreclosures, which have mounted in recent years (like US Situation).

So, who knows when this will be operational and they collect the tax again, keep an eye on TicoTimes or AM Costa Rica.

:wacko:

I crossed last week into Panama at Sixaola and was not asked for this. Easy border, and close to Bocas Del Toro - which was wonderful.