How to get to Bocas Del Toro?

Getting to Bocas Del Toro can seem a little bit intimidating; however, we promise you that it isn’t that hard! Depending on where you are coming from & your budget, there are generally two options: to fly in or get a bus.

On this page, you will find our best transportation tips & the easiest ways to get to Bocas Del Toro from 3 locations in Panama – Panama City, David, Boquete, and 2 locations from Costa Rica – San Jose and Puerto Viejo.

Let’s jump right into it!

Getting to Bocas Del Toro From Panama City

By bus:

You can also go to Bocas Del Toro from Panama City by bus. If you go directly from the airport, you can get an Uber or a bus to Albrook Bus Terminal (Gran Terminal de Transporte, www.grantnt.com). If you take Uber, it will cost you about $20-$30.

There is a day bus and a night bus to Almirance, the trip is about 10 hours, and one way costs about $30. You can’t purchase the tickets online. You can buy them the same day you travel at the Albrook Bus terminal.

Overnight buses from Panama City to Almirante depart at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. You’ll be arriving at Almirante at around 7.00 a.m. Remember that the buses are air-conditioned, so make sure you have a shirt with long sleeves and trousers. Once you arrive in Almirante, you can pay any taxi $1 to take you from the bus stop to the docks from where the boats depart to Bocas del Toro.

The water taxi to Bocas Town is $6 per person and lasts around 30 minutes. You must ensure that the bus you choose will reach Almirante before 6 p.m. since the last boat leaves the island. The boats to Isla Colón (Bocas del Toro’s main island) depart every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Returning To Panama City With A Bus:

If you are returning to Panama City from Almirante, the bus departs daily at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. The ticket can be purchased from the local Bocas del Toro office in advance. The Bocas del Toro bus ticket office phone numbers are 303-6326 and 303-6327.

By airplane:

You can book an airplane ticket from Panama City to Bocas del Toro online with Air Panama. Go to their website at: AirPanama.com. You will fly from Albrook International Airport (PAC, also known as Marcos A. Gelabert Airport). You can install Uber on your phone to get to the airport for a much cheaper rate than the typical city taxi. The ride is about 30 minutes and will cost about $20-$30.

 The flight is approximately an hour, and the price for a one-way ticket is between $69 and $136. The sooner you get your ticket – the cheaper fare you can find. However, the cheapest fares have less baggage allowance, so if you want to travel with more luggage,  you must purchase a more expensive fare or pay more to check in your extra luggage. Find what each fare includes here.

Important note: 

When you arrive at Tokumen Airport, you will need to clear customs, then transfer by Taxi or UBER to Albrook International Airport (PAC) to fly out or Albrook Bus terminal to take a bus. Whichever option you choose, ensure you have at least 3 hours in between. If you think you won’t have enough time, it is better to sleep over in Panama City and go the next day. 

Getting To Bocas Del Toro From David, Panama

By bus:

You can take a 4-hour bus ride from David to Almirante for $8.50. Get off and take a few minutes’ taxi ride to the dock for $1, from where you can get a 35-minute boat ride to Bocas Town for $6.

By taxi:

Alternatively, you can also hire a private taxi from David. It will cost approximately $120 (one way) and take 3 hours.

Getting To Bocas Del Toro From Boquete, Panama 

You can take the Mamallena Shuttle directly to Bocas ($30, 3.5 hours, includes boat fare to Isla Colon).

Getting To Bocas Del Toro From Costa Rica

From San Jose by shuttle bus:

A shuttle bus from Caribe Shuttle offers a pick-up at 6 a.m. from either your hotel or Denny’s (near Juan Santamaria Airport). From there, it will head up to Puerto Viejo for lunch. After that, you will get help to pass the border. Once you reach Almirante, you will board a boat to Bocas del Toro. The trip includes all transfers, lasts about 10 hours and costs $78. Find more information here.

There is also the option to take the public bus from San Jose to Sixaola (an hour away from Almirante). This option is more of a hassle because you have to create your own trip, change a few additional busses (which increases the chance of missing a ride), plus it might be harder for you to get help when passing the boarder, especially if you don’t speak Spanish.

From Puerto Viejo by shuttle bus:

If you are in Puerto Viejo, Limon, you can get a shuttle bus from Caribe Shuttle that lasts around 4 hours and costs $34.

Important notes:

• Panama is ahead of Costa Rica by 1 hour, which might affect your travel plans, so please pay close attention and plan accordingly. 
• There is a $9 tax to exit Costa Rica. This fee is not included in the ticket price.
• Panama is only accepting flight itineraries for entry into Panama. (No bus tickets)
• There used to be the option for a direct flight from San Jose to Bocas Del Toro; however, after recent research, there is no longer that option. (February 2023 update)