The best and easiest way to get to Bocas del Toro is to fly from Panama City, Panama with Air Panama. Alternative routes to Bocas del Toro from Panama City include taking the bus, renting a car, or flying with FlyTrip. Our favorite way, and what most traveller’s prefer, is to fly from Panama City with Air Panama.
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The best and easiest way to get From Panama City to Bocas del Toro:
The best and easiest way to get from Panama City to Bocas del Toro is by flying with Air Panama. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: First, you’ll book your international flights to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City (PTY).
Step 2: Next, you’ll get flights with Air Panama from the Alrbook International Airport to Bocas del Toro (PAC –> BOC). Book these flights directly on AirPanama.com, and leave 2.5-3 hours in between your international flight arrival and the domestic flight to Bocas del Toro as you will need to clear immigration and then transfer airports from Tocumen International (PTY) to Albrook International (PAC) where Air Panama flies out of.
Helpful Tips:
- Book your Air Panama flights in advance as they can fill up and get more expensive as the dates get closer.
- Air Panama officially recommends leaving 1 day in between your domestic and international flights as a buffer for delays and flight cancellations due to weather.
- It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Tocumen Airport to Albrook Airport, and you can use UBER (cheapest way) or just take an airport taxi (fastest way). The airport taxis cost around $35 total but UBER can be much cheaper.
- Alternative Domestic Panamanian Airline: FlyTrip is a smaller private airline that also offers flights from Panama City to Bocas del Toro from Thursday to Sunday plus Tuesdays and might be worth checking out for you!
Learn about the best time to visit Bocas del Toro
How To Get to Bocas del Toro
To get to Bocas del Toro you will first fly into Panama City, Panama, or San Jose, Costa Rica. You can take a bus or shuttle from either city to get to Bocas del Toro, or you can fly from Panama City to Bocas del Toro. Flying from Costa Rica has limited availability with the Sansa airline.
The best and easiest way to get to Bocas del Toro is to fly from Panama City, Panama, with Air Panama. Check out flights to Panama City below:
Panama City to Bocas del Toro
There are 6 ways to get from Panama City to Bocas del Toro:
By Plane:
- Fly to Bocas del Toro with Air Panama. There are 2-4 flights per day and they are around 50 minutes. (starting at $75 with 1 checked bag)
- FlyTrip offers flights from Thursday to Sunday + Tuesdays with 9-12 person planes which is another option. (starting around $120)
By Bus and Shuttle:
- Take a 10-hour bus ride from Panama City to Almirante and a 30-minute water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town. ($40)
- Fly to David with Air Panama, and then take a 4-hour shuttle ride and a 30-minute water taxi to Bocas Town.
- Take the bus from David to Chiriqui Grande and then a 45-minute boat ride to Bocas Town with PanaBocasExpress.
By Car Rental
- You can rent a car in Panama City and drive to Almirante, the nearest town on the mainland of the Bocas del Toro Province. Once you arrive in Almirante, you can leave your car at Leiza’s Secure Parking ($3-$4 per night) and take the water shuttle ($6 per person) over to Bocas Town on Isla Colón.
- You can also bring your car over to Isla Colón on the Ferry that leaves twice per day. Check out FerryBocas.com for more information and schedules.
Learn about surfing or scuba diving in Bocas del Toro
How to get to Bocas del Toro from San Jose, Costa Rica:
- Fly from SJO to BOC with Sansa
- ($70) Take the 10-12 hour bus/ shuttle from San Jose and a 30-minute water taxi from Almirante to Isla Colon. You will be crossing the border form Costa Rica to Panama and there are some additional fees to pay at the border. Check Caribe Shuttle for this option.
Where is Bocas del Toro?
Bocas del Toro is located on the North-West Caribbean coast of Panama, just a one-hour drive from Costa Rica. Panama is located on the isthmus that connects South and Central America. Panama borders Columbia to the South and Costa Rica to the North. The Bocas del Toro Province comprises an archipelago of 9 main islands set amongst turquoise waters, as well as a large mountainous and rainforest-covered region on the mainland.
Learn about the 17 best places to stay in Bocas del Toro
Airport and Bus Terminal Information:
The Bocas del Toro Airport is called Aeropuerto Internacional de Bocas del Toro, Isla Colón (Bocas del Toro International Airport, Colon Island). All flight arrivals to Bocas del Toro will arrive in Bocas Town Isla Colón. From there you will take a land taxi to your accommodation or a land taxi and then a water taxi if your accommodation is not reachable by car.
Airport Codes:
- The Bocas del Toro Airport Code is BOC (International Airport of Bocas del Toro, Isla Colon)
- The San Jose, Costa Rica Airport Code is SJO (Juan Sanatamariá International Airport)
- The Panama City International Airport Code is PTY (Tocumen International Airport)
- The Panama City Domestic Airport Code is PAC (Albrook “Marcos A. Gelabert” International Airport)
- Air Panama or Fly Trip (Flights from Panama City to Bocas del Toro)
Shuttles and Bus Terminals
- MEPE Bus Caribe Station for the Bus from San Jose to the Sixaloa Border crossing into Bocas del Toro
- Albrook Bus Station (Located near Albrook Mall & Airport) for Panama City to Bocas del Toro
- Caribe Shuttle (Shuttles from San Jose to Bocas del Toro)
- Hello Travel Panama (Shuttles from Boquete to Bocas del Toro)
Learn about the best things to do in Bocas del Toro
Want to Know More About Bocas del Toro?
Check out our Travel Guides below! There are tons of travel guides about Bocas out there, but most are written by people who only visited the islands for a few days. Our guides are written from years of experience living full-time in Bocas del Toro!
Browse More Travel guides below or visit our blog homepage here.
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Bocas del Toro Surfing Guide: Surf Spots, Seasons & Lessons (2024)
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10 Day Panama Itinerary for Bocas del Toro (With Costs)
Bocas del Toro: Quick Travel Guide 2024 (By A Local)
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Hello,
Do you know if the night bus from albrook to alrimante is still a thing. I just can’t find anything about it online. Do you know if there is anything to find online or if it just at albrook station?
Thank you for a nice blog!
Hi! Yes the night bus is still a thing. You generally just have to show up and purchase a ticket there and then hop on the bus. This is a good guide about bus rides in Panama: https://panamarelocationtours.com/taking-a-bus-in-panama
I’m not sure that you can buy tickets online
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Hola, será que podemos ver el Canal de Panamá el día que llegue a Panama City desde USA y al otro día viajar a Bocas del Toro? Ósea que tan difícil es ver el canal y también viajar a bocas?
Hola! Es facil a ver el Canal y solo dura como 2 horas. Puedes pedir al taxi cuando sales del aeropuerto en Tocumen a llevarte alli, o en la manana antes que van al aeropuerto para Bocas.
Hi this is our first time in Panamá and we are winging it. Spent a couple days in Panamá city,next at the Buenaventura and now driving to Boquete. Love your blog and am wondering does it make sense to take our car on the ferry or park it and go without it.
Thanks much!
Hi Brad I’m glad our blog has helped you! If you think you’ll need your car – for staying on isla colon and wanting to be able to drive around the island, then it could be a good idea to bring it. If you aren’t staying on isla colon then you dont need it. The taxi system on isla colon is pretty reliable but can be annoying sometimes, but it is also to get around just fine with taxis.
Im looking to book and overnight bus from Panama City to Bocas but i cant find a site to do so. Am I able to purchase the day of?
Hello! Yes you can purchase the tickets the day of at the bus terminal. I am unaware of an online way to purchase these tickets. Many things in Panama are still developing/ coming online slowly so probably this will be improved in the future!
Our plan is to flight from Panama City round trip to Bocas del Toro and then explore Boquete (rent a car) for 3 days
I would like your opinion:
1-Fly to Bocas airport or the closest main land?
2-Best island (with beach) to stay at Bocas
3-Best place to rent a car
Hi Gloria!
Yes you will want to fly directly to Bocas from Panama City, and if you want a beach you’ll want to stay either at Red Frog on Isla Bastimentos, Punta Vieja on Isla Bastimentos, or in the Bluff Beach area of Isla Colon. You can check out our beach guide for more information about the beaches of Bocas del Toro: https://solbungalowsbocas.com/bocas-del-toro-beach-guide/
I’m not so sure about renting a car, but you can easily get to Boquete from Bocas del Toro by shuttle for around $35 and 3-4 hours. I think once you are in Boquete you can just taxi around and it is not really necessary to have a car, but there does seem to be car rentals there. Then to get back to Panama City you can fly from David, which is a 20 minute car ride from Boquete, instead of coming all the way back to the Bocas islands.