Directions to Bocas

From Panama City

By air:

Flights depart from Albrook Airport (local flights), which is about an hour from the Tocumen International Airport, depending on traffic. Flight duration is about 1 hour. Approximate cost $100.00 one way.

By bus:

Panama City to Almirante by Bus, and then a Boat to Bocas del Toro

If you want to save some money, then taking an overnight bus from Panama City to Almirante (10 – 11 hours), and then a boat from Almirante to Bocas del Toro (30 minutes) is the way to go.

To make this happen you first have to take a taxi from Tocumen Airport ($35- $40) or from your hotel in Panama City to Albrook Bus Terminal (Gran Terminal de Transporte, www.grantnt.com). And from there you can get your bus to Almirante.

Once you arrive to 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 first boat to Isla Colón (Bocas del Toro’s main island) departs at 6 a.m. and takes 30 minutes. Boats depart every 30 minutes until 6 p.m. The cost for the overnight bus ticket is approximately $30 and the boat (water taxi) costs $5. On Sundays, there is also a bus that leaves Panama City at 7 a.m.

Overnight buses from Panama City to Almirante depart at 7p.m., 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m and take around 10 to 11 hours. Busses are air conditioned, modern and have reclinable seats. You will arrive to Almirante between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.

Currently there are three water taxi companies: Bocas Marine Tours ($5 per person), Transporte Torres and Taxi 25.

The bus that will take you back from Almirante to Panama City departs daily at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

RETURN

The water taxis from Bocas Town to Almirante start transporting at around 6 a.m. and the bus from Almirante to Panama City departs daily at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.