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Home >> Bocas Del Toro >> How to Get There
FROM PANAMA CITY
By Airplane
This is the easiest and quickest way to get to Bocas. We recommend this route.
Arrange your international flight to Panama City and then a national flight to Bocas del Toro by Eeroperlas or Air Panama. You will arrive at the Tocumen International Airport and then, to fly to Bocas, you will need to go to Albrook National Airport which is about 30 minutes to an hour from Tocumen. You will probably need to stay over night in Panama City: there are many moderately-priced hotels ($20-$40) near the Albrook National Airport.
By Car
Interamerican Highway up to entrance to Gualaca (404 Km). Turn to the right and go to the end of the road to Chiriqui Grande (95 Km)nd then, in Punta Peña, the road to Almirante, where you can live the car in a parking. Roads are paved, in good condition. Beautiful views in the mountains.
By Bus
A direct bus from Panama City to Bocas del Toro, via Almirante has recently
become available with the opening of a new road. The bus ride takes
approximately 10 hours and the cost is $23 US. Bus departs from Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte
near Albrook Marcos Galabert Airport
(tel: 507-232-5803). From Almirante, you will need to
take the water taxi to Bocas del Toro on Isla Colón ($4).
By Car or by Bus:
In Almirante take a marine taxi to Bocas del Toro ($4 - 1/2 hour) or the ferry boat Almirante-Bocas
del Toro which only runs once a day at 8AM ($1 - 1.5 hr).
FROM DAVID
By Car
Interamerican Highway up to entrance to Gualaca (10 Km). Turn to the left and go to the end of the road to Chiriqui Grande (95 Km) and then, in Punta Peña, the road to Almirante, where you can leave the car in a parking. Roads are paved, in good condition. Beautiful views in the mountains.
By Bus
Take the bus to Almirante in the city terminal.
By car or by bus:
In Almirante take a marine taxi ($4 - 30 minutes) or a ferry boat (1.5 hour) to
Bocas or the ferry boat Almirante-Bocas del Toro which only runs once a day at
8AM ($1 - 1.5 hr)
FROM SAN JOSE - COSTA RICA
By Airplane
Nature Air serves the islands with fligths from/to San Jose. At San Jose it is possible to make connections to any part of the world. The flight schedules are in local time. Passengers must be in the airport at least one hour before the departure time. Due to the heavy traffic, we recommend to make reservations well in advance and to confirm the flights back.
By Car:
Cross the border in Sixaola, then drive to Almirante (35 Km). Road is paved, in good condition.
By Bus
1) Take a bus from San Jose to Changuinola ($ 10) This bus (Transporte
Bocatoreño) departs from the same terminal as Panaline, in San Jose, at 10:00 am
daily. Alfaro Bus company. Tel. 222-2666
In Changuinola take a bus or a taxi to Almirante. From Almirante take a water
taxi to Bocas Del Toro ($4). To return to San Jose by bus, Transporte Bocatoreño
departs every day at 10:00 am from the bus terminal in
Changuinola
2) As an option, take the 6:00 am "bus directo" to Sixaola at the terminal Caribe
in San Jose ($10).
Warning: be very careful here, do not leave your things unattended even for a moment!).
It is advisable to buy tickets ahead as the buses do fill up, especially on
weekends.
There are direct buses later at 10am, 1pm and 3:30pm but you will not be able to
cross the border in time and make the last boat taxi to Bocas. You could travel
part way to Limon or Puerto Viejo, spend the night and continue in the morning.
After passing Costa Rican immigration in Sixaola, you cross the bridge over the
Sixaola River to Guabito, Panama. Go through immigration again here and take a bus to Changuinola, than Changuinola to Almirante or catch a taxi to Almirante ($5/person) passing the town of Changuinola along the route. In Almirante, take a water taxi ($4) or a ferry boat (1 hour) to Bocas.
One can also take a taxi ($5 per person if sharing, or $15-20 if only 1 person)
directly from the border to the water taxi outside of Changuinola ($6).
Important Note:
Panamanian banks will NOT exchange Costa Rican money (colones).
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