Central America: Do I really need an onward/return ticket?

Question

Traveling to Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, and Ecuador . I don't want to book all my flights in advance to have freedom of time.

Do I really need to have an onward/return ticket to enter any of these countries? Does customs really check?

Also, do they actually require "proof of sufficient funds" to enter? What does this entail?

Answer 1

I sugguest you buy a ticket to your first stop and a return ticket from the last stop.  I live in Costa Rica and when I cross into Panama they want a bus ticket back to San Jose, and proof of $500.  I show them an ATM or credit card and that is good enough.  When you cross Costa Rica to Panama and show a ticket from Ecuador back home that should be sufficient.

Answer 2

You mean immigration, not customs. They will not check, they will never check.  If they ask just tell them you are leaving by land in 1 week.  They really don't care all that much if you are coming from a wealthy country.  If you are coming from Nicaragua and are Nicaraguan and entering Costa Rica ,for example, they will check.

The big problem is that you airline may prevent you from boarding.