Stuck In Costa Rica

Mayhem is the best way I would describe the last 24 hours. Anybody who has ever traveled internationally has experienced at least one issue while abroad. Your car breaks down, you run out of data, your laptop is stolen, lost the keys to your room, nobody speaks your fluent language. We've all been there. But I think we can all agree, the most important thing in any of your international travels is your passport. I can officially say, I have experienced a major passport issue.

A moment I never thought I'd dread where I was denied entry to not just another country, but leaving the country I'm in.

If you're confused, don't worry, I am just as confused as you are right now, as well as all my close family and friends who were getting second by second updates when this was happening. I'll start at the beginning of all of this and don't worry, I'll be quick.

I was scheduled to leave Costa Rica for Peru on May 1st. My flight was leaving at 8 am from San José and since Manuel Antonio is three hours from the airport, I scheduled a 1:30 am taxi so I didn't risk any issues. I go to sleep around 9 pm, packed and ready to go, all for my alarm to go off with absolutely no sound. Waking up at 4 am I am in full panic mode, there are no other taxis available, and the airline numbers are not going through. Accepting that I will miss both my flights, I buy two new flights for 5 pm to fly to Lima and 5 am to Cusco (it's very expensive to fly straight to Cusco, Peru, like a couple grand expensive.) I leave at 9 am on a bus from Quepos to the airport and get there around 1 pm. Now you're caught up, and here is where things go WAY left field.

I arrive at the airport and go up to the Copa Airline counter to check my bag, as soon as I hand the lady my passport, I could tell something was wrong. She handed it to a man who I could tell was her supervisor, and he proceeded to shake his head. Now to preface things; back in January, before I left for my first Costa Rica trip, my adorable and teething puppy decided to pull my passport off the counter & chew on it. I assumed the damage wasn't that bad and was able to travel with it to Costa Rica in January, back to the states, and then again in April.

The agent Mauricio asked me when the damage had happened and I explained to him the story and that I haven't had any issues with it. With a shocking look on his face, he emphasized that he needed to confirm with Peru if I would be allowed into the country since my passport was damaged. He proceeded to take a picture of it and texted it over to immigration in Peru.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/3a7d5c_cda7db54b2f84212824f4fd9606a189b/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Now if you have guessed it, you are correct that I am panicking. I waited 45 minutes, sitting at the counter with all my stuff and praying to God that I would be let in. Mauricio comes back and tells me that Peru has stated I would not be allowed in the country. With utter shock on my face, he continues to state that I am also not allowed to leave the country with this damaged passport. Not even back to the United States. Obviously, I instantly start crying. I have already missed two fights and the two new flights I just bought hours earlier I am going to miss.

He proceeds to tell me that I will have to go to the US Embassy which is 20 minutes away and request a new passport. Only then will I be able to book a flight to leave. As I panic to find where it is, I discover that the Embassy is closed on Sunday for a national holiday. I call my dad and text my travel friends (Jess & Gavin, Travel World Culture) letting them know what's going on. I'm in utter disbelief that this is happening, and completely confused on how I have been allowed to travel three times with this passport and nobody has mentioned to me that I should request a new one.

After hours of sitting at the airport, talking to the airlines trying to cancel my flights and get my money back(I never did), I'm calling every number I can find on the US Embassy website trying to get help; I am finally able to get to someone. The lady explains to me that the Embassy is not only closed on Sunday but also Monday for the national holiday. Basically, I will be unable to request an emergency passport until Tuesday morning. Even then, how quickly I get my passport will entirely depend on how nice of an agent I get at the Embassy. Essentially, I could get one in a couple of hours, or weeks.

So that's my current predicament. I write this blog at a B&B across the street from the Embassy, in hope that I can leave Costa Rica tomorrow and finally be united with my friends. In total, I've spent about $1500 to get to Peru including all the flights, taxis & lodgings.

As sad and frustrating as this entire thing has been, I fully believe this all had to happen for a reason. Missing my first two flights, my passport being denied so I miss my other two flights and then the Embassy being closed for two days at the moment I would need it to be open. I have yet to figure it out, but I feel calm knowing this will all work out.