TAXIS
Taxis are very cheap in Panama City. Within the City center it is $1.25 (+25 cents per additional person) Never pay more than $3!!! Always negotiate price before you enter a taxi- SAY NO if taxi driver (most of them are very unfriendly) tries to screw you- Feel free to insult him if he is very rude, but make sure beforehand that he is not too big and that he doesn´t carry a weapon as they tend to be very aggressive!!!
BUSES
Bus fare within city limits is 25 cents. You pay when you get off the bus! Buses opposite of SUPERMERCADO REY go either to PLAZA 5 DE MAYO and then to ALBROOK BUS TERMINAL or to CALLE 12 at end of AVENIDA CENTRAL.
Buses back to the Hostel
If you want to return to the Hostel by bus from Albrook/Plaza 5 de Mayo/ Casco Viejo/Calidonia take any bus that says CALLE 50 and get off in front of PANAFOTO in Calle 50. Panafoto is a big Camera store with a huge sign. If you have any doubts tell the driver to let you off at Panafoto Calle 50!
Going by bus from Hostel to the Airport
To go from the Hostel to the Airport there are 3 different ways:
- Take a Taxi for $20
- Take a bus in CALLE 50 that says TOCUMEN. It will cost you 25 cents but as it takes the route trhrough the city it takes between 50 and 90 minutes depending on the traffic. The busstop is located 300 meters from the airport. Only recommendable when you don´t have too much luggage and until 9 p.m. as the area is not the safest at night!
- Take a bus opposite of Shoppingcenter MULTICENTRO in AVENIDA BALBOA (15 minutes walk or $1.25 by taxi) and there take a bus that says CORREDOR TOCUMEN. This bus uses the bypass which reduces the traveltime to 30 minutes. It costs $1.25. The busstop is located 300 meters from the airport. Only recommendable when you don´t have too much luggage and until 9 p.m. as the area is not the safest at night!
DOMESTIC AIRLINES
There is two domestic Airlines AIR PANAMA (316-9000) and AEROPERLAS (315-7500). Prices are the same, Service is similar. Both leave from the domestic Airport in ALBROOK (by Taxi $2,50 - $3.50 from Hostel). AIR PANAMA office is located in AVENIDA BALBOA (Waterfront 15 minutes walk from Hostel-see map). They also offer Student rates (international student card required)!
AEROPERLAS office is located in HOTEL CESARS PARK (270-0477 also Sundays).
STUDENT TRAVEL AGENCY
OTEC TRAVEL (STA TRAVEL) located at end of first Block in Via Veneto-see map!
GOING FROM PANAMA CITY TO DAVID, COSTA R. BORDER (PASO CANOAS), BOQUETE, BOCAS DEL TORO
PANAMA-DAVID: BUSES LEAVE FROM ALBROOK BUS TERMINAL:
Timetable Terminales David-Panama booth B29/B30 Phone:314-6228
5.30 1.00
6.50 3.15 EXPRESS BUS 12 Midnight!
8.15 4.30
8.30 AM 5.45 PM Prices: Normal Fare 12.60
9.30 7.15 EXPRESS $15
10.30 8.30
10.45 10.45
11.45
12.00 12MN !!!Prices and times are subjects to change!!!
PADAFRONT booth B28 Phone: 314-6263/6264 –THESE BUSES FIRST GO TO DAVID AND THEN CONTINUE TO BORDER IN PASO CANOAS!!!
6.30
8.00 AM 3.30 EXPRESS BUSES 10.45 and 12 Midnight!
10.20 5.15 PM Prices: Normal Fare 12.60 ($14 to Border)
8.00 EXPRESS $15 ($17 to BORDER)
12.30MD 10.45 Prices and times are subjects to change!!! 12MN
PANAFRON booth B-19 Phone: 314-6285/6401
10.40 PM EXPRESS $15
Duracion: Panama City- David 6,5 hours Panama- Border 7,5 hours
Panama to Boquete:
Take bus to David and afterwards at same Bus terminal take Bus to Boquete (every hour 45 minutes/$1)!
By bus from Panama to Bocas del Toro: Phone 303-3030!
There is a direct bus daily leaving from Albrook Busterminal to Almirante The bus leaves ALBROOK at 8 PM and arrives in Almirante at 6 AM the following day! Price $24! From Almirante you take a launch for $4 to Bocas Town on Isla Colon!
Another option is to take first a bus to David ($12.60/$15) and from David a Bus to Almirante (every hour $8)!
Going from Panama City to Costa Rica
1. Direct Buses Panama City- San Jose
· Tica Bus leaves from Albrook Busterminal daily at 11 AM and 11PM and arriving in San Jose around 4 AM and 4PM the following day! Price $25
Bus continues trip to Managua and rest of Central American Countries and Tapachula/South of Mexico at 6 AM!
· Panaline leaves from Albrook Busterminal daily at 10 PM and arrives in San Jose around 3 PM the following day! Price $25
Panaline has also buses from San Jose to Managua!
· EXPRESS PANAMA leaves from Albrook Busterminal daily at 11.55 PM and arrives in San Jose around 3 PM the following day! Price $25
2. Buses to Border and Buses from Border to San Jose
- Take first a PADAFRONT Bus to Border in Paso Canoas and on other side of Border take TRACOPA BUS to SAN JOSE-PRICE $9 (between 7 and 9 hours)
TRACOPA office is located right between Panamanian and C. Rican checkpoint on your right hand side!
Timetable direct buses Paso Canoas-San Jose:
4 AM 7.30 AM 9 AM 3 PM (Costa Rican Time)
Please remember Time difference to Costa Rica (1 hour behind)
3. Buses from Border to south of Costa Rica
· There is direct buses from the border to Golfito. Once in Golfito you can take a ferry to Puerto Jimenez which is the gateway to Corcovado National Park on Peninsula de Osa!
· There is also 2 direct Buses from Ciudad Neily (The first Costa Rican town behind border 16 km from Paso Canoas) to Playa Uvita and Playa Dominical (one of the nicest beaches in southern Costa Rica and a good surf spot- 3 hours)! First bus leaves early in the morning around 6.30. The second bus leaves at 2.30 PM!
GOING FROM BOCAS DEL TORO (ISLA COLON) TO COSTA RICAN BORDER (GUABITO-SIXAOLA), PUERTO VIEJO, CAHUITA, LIMON AND SAN JOSE
1. From Bocas del Toro (Isla Colon) to Border in Guabito/Sixaola
Take direct boat to Changuinola (beautiful 45 minutes boat ride-$6). You will arrive in the marine park in Changuinola. From there take a bus to the bus Terminal in Changuinola (50 cents). From the Terminal take a TAXI COLLECTIVO to the border (1 Dollar). At the border checkpoint in Guabito get your Exit Stamp and then walk over the train bridge to the Costa Rican checkpoint in Sixaola. Once you got your entry stamp, you can take one of the buses going to PUERTO VIEJO, CAHUITA and LIMON (see timetable)!
ADVICE: If you want to save money, don´t go with the guys offering to bring you from the Marine park in Changuinola to the border for $10! They tell you it´s the cheapest way but as you can see, the above mentioned way is way cheaper!
2. Going from the border (SIXAOLA) to San Jose
If you want to go from the border to San Jose you take either a direct bus from the border or if there is none you first take a bus to Puerto Limon (3 hours) and from Limon there is at least one bus per hour to San Jose (2 hours).
3. Going from Changuinola to San Jose (Direct bus)
There is a DIRECT BUS to SAN JOSE every morning at 10 am leaving from the bus Terminal in Changuinola (6.5 hours/$8)!
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A TIME DIFFERENCE OF ONE HOUR BETWEEN PANAMA AND COSTA RICA (1 hour behind)!!!
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BUSES IN PANAMA AND CENTRAL AMERICA PLEASE VISIT:
www.thebusschedule.com
DOWNLOAD INFORMATION AS PDF-FILE
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