DESTINATIONS
Azuero
Bocas del Toro
Boquete
Darien
El Valle
Kuna Yala/San Blas
Panama Canal
Panama City
Pearl Islands
Santa Catalina
Taboga Island
View All...

ACTIVITIES
Beaches & Islands
Boat Tours
Camping
Canopy/Zip Line
Caving Tours
Hiking & Trekking
Kayaking
Mountain Biking
Native Communities
Nature & Wildlife
River Rafting
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling

RESOURCES
About Panama
Area Maps
Car Rental
Domestic Flights
Flights to Panama
Getting Around
Panama Travel Tips
Small Hotels
Tour Operators
Travel Distances
Travel Guidebooks
Weather

Getting Around - Panama
You can reach almost every corner of the country using the public transportation system. However, this service has not been designed with the tourist in mind, you have to speak some Spanish to figure things out and be mentally prepared for the experience, third-world style.

Travel Distances

Buses

Panama City Getting on a bus in Panama City is an adventure, bus drivers have to compete against each other for passengers, turning the city streets into their race track. On top of that, the buses are old and not properly maintained. This is supposed to change in the near future, in the meantime it's better to avoid them.

City to City Buses Public buses going from city to city are good, with modern ones available for the most popular destinations. A word of advice, bring a good sweater for the long distance ones, they usually turn the AC at ridiculously low temperatures.

Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte National Bus Terminal in Panama City right next to Albrook Mall, close by to the domestic airport. Site in Spanish with destinations, schedules, and prices: www.grantnt.com

BUSES "PANAMA - COSTA RICA - PANAMA"

Expreso Panama www.expresopanama.com
Tica Bus www.ticabus.com

Land Transfers

Private Transfers For private land transfers visit the Tour Operators page.

Taxis There are no taximeters inside the taxis in Panama. Instead taxis use a formula based on zones and number of passengers. You can ask the driver how much before getting in, in fact, this is recommended to avoid being taken advantage off. Taxis are plentiful in the cities, and the fares are reasonable priced. As of January 1st, 2010 all legal taxis in the country must be painted yellow.

Trains There's only one train service in Panama, and that's the historic "Coast to Coast" railway from Panama City to Colon. Website: www.panarail.com

Boat Schedule Bocas del Toro

BOCAS MARINE & TOURS 757-9033 Website

Bocas - Changinola ($7) 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 4:30pm
Changinola-Bocas ($7) 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm
Bocas - Almirante - Bocas ($4 each way) Leaving every 1/2 hour starting at 6:00am until 6:30pm

TAXI 25 757-9028

Bocas - Almirante ($4) 6:00am, 7:00am, 7:30am, every 1/2 hour
Almirante - Bocas ($4) 6:30am, 7:00am, 7:45am, every 1/2 hour

Boat Schedule Contadora

Panama Pearl www.panamapearl.com

Boat Schedule Taboga: Barcos Calypso

MONDAY - WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY

Panama City - Taboga 8:30am, 3:00pm
Taboga - Panama City 9:30am, 4:30pm

TUESDAY - THURSDAY

Panama City - Taboga 8:30am
Taboga - Panama City 4:30pm

SATURDAY - SUNDAY - HOLIDAYS

Panama City - Taboga 8:00am, 10:30am, 4:00pm
Taboga - Panama City 9:00am, 3:00pm, 5:00pm

Departs from "La Playita de Amador" on the Causeway. For more information call: 314.1730 or 390.2403

Domestic Airlines

Aeroperlas www.aeroperlas.com
Air Panama www.flyairpanama.com
Nature Air www.natureair.com

PANAMA MAP:

PANAMA TRAVEL:

Diablos Rojos Old School Buses from the US are bought by private investors in Panama and after being painted and decorated they become part of the public transportation system. Sadly, due to lack of maintenance and reckless driving these colorful buses are now facing extinction.

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