What’s the best way to get from Bocas Town in Bocas del Toro to Panama City? By bus, plane or private transfer? Including mistakes to avoid, and how I did it! You can also do this trip in reverse from Panama City to Bocas del Toro if you’re heading in the other direction!
*Just so you know, this article contains affiliate links
🚍 Book your transfer from Bocas to Panama City here
(this is the exact company I did this trip with!)
About Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro is probably the second most famous archipelago of islands in Panama after the San Blas Islands (Guna Yala). Bocas del Toro has become increasingly popular with tourists due to the recent boom of the tourism industry in Central America, and its proximity to Costa Rica.
It’s fairly easy to travel to Bocas del Toro from Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica (that’s how we did it!) and we met a lot of travellers along the way who were just taking a quick weekend out of their Costa Rica travels to dip their toes in the water of travelling in Panama. The two fellas I was travelling with did this exact thing and headed back to San Jose when I travelled on to Panama City.
We stayed in Bocas Town on Isla Colon, which is generally where most people stay or keep as their base when they visit Bocas del Toro. It’s also the easiest place to start your journey to Panama City. Wherever you travel from, your trip of course will begin with a boat ride back to Panama’s mainland. You will be able to take a direct boat from some other islands in Bocas del Toro, or you may need to take a water taxi to Bocas Town to begin your journey from there. But don’t worry, I’ll walk you through all of the options below!
About Panama City
Panama City is, of course, the capital of Panama, and a must-visit if you want to lay your eyes on some of the only high-rises in Central America. You’ll also likely need to stop over here if you want to take a tour of the San Blas Islands (Guna Yala), or visit some of Panama’s incredible national parks. By all accounts I’d say it’s well worth a visit, and you can check out where to stay in Panama City here.
🚍 Book your transfer from Bocas to Panama City here
Bocas del Toro to Panama City by Transfer
Now, I’m not going to tell you that I suffer from separation anxiety because that would sound pretty lame, but I will tell you that before this trip I’d been travelling with the same two boys that I’d met in San Jose for almost two weeks and, well, travelling alone again was going to feel weird. (Two weeks is a lifetime in backpacker terms – if you know, you know.)
This is one of the reasons I decided to pay for a “private transfer” from Bocas to Panama City rather than trying to wing it myself with the public bus. Another reason is that you have to book your bus ticket in person, and I wasn’t willing to travel all the way to the mainland only to find that bus tickets had sold out. It did cost more than buying all of the tickets separately, but in my opinion it was worth the extra cash. But, more on that later.
You can book your transfer three ways: you can book online with BookAway, go to the dock in Bocas Town and book through the agencies there, or sometimes you can ask whoever runs your accommodation to book it for you.
Having travelled through the majority of Central America already, I thought I knew the deal when it came to “private transfers”. Some random guy turns up in a minivan and collects a bunch of foreigners, then drops them off at various places whilst you try not to fall asleep and miss your stop.
That wasn’t quite how it worked here.
For starters, of course, your journey begins on a boat. When I arrived at the docks I was given a bus ticket, told not to lose it, and pointed in the direction of a boat. There were various people going in various directions on the boat, and when we arrived at the boat terminal in Almirante there was basically chaos. There was just a mass of people, bags, and random taxis pulling up. All of the tour operators had disappeared on their boats back to Bocas to pick up some more people.
Well, good thing I already had my bus ticket in hand! We each had to pay $2 to get the taxi to the bus station, which I don’t think should have happened but also wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
We made it to the bus stop in Almirante in just a few minutes, and more chaos ensued. There were a lot of locals, mixed with a lot of travellers, a mass of people, and several buses with no signs. All of the travellers were talking amongst themselves, and between us we ascertained that two overnight buses would go to Panama City. One at 4pm, and one at 4.30pm (I had a ticket for the one at 4.30pm)
It seemed as though it was still possible to buy a ticket for the bus (which, by the way, was the main leg of the journey and cost about half of what we’d each paid for our transfer), but because of the utter chaos I was glad to already have my ticket in hand.
The 4 o’clock bus came and went, and I sighed a very slight sigh of relief when another bus of the same company turned up not long before 4.30.
The bus stop in Almirante is not much more than a small building on the side of the road, with several buses parked outside and people spilling everywhere. There was a bathroom, but the lock and light were both out of order, and there was nowhere to buy food. It seems like total chaos when you first arrive, but as far as I know all of the buses that were supposed to come did come; you just have to ask around for your destination and look out for a bus turning up vaguely at the right time for your ticket.
Anyway, what ensued was a 12-hour bus ride (actually, randomly, sat next to someone that I met at a party in Nicaragua) with a screaming child in the seat behind us. The bus also broke down for around an hour somewhere around 10pm. But, we got on our way again after an hour or so, and arrived at Albrook bus terminal (next to Albrook Mall) in Panama City at around 5.30am.
🚍 Book your transfer from Bocas to Panama City here
Bocas del Toro to Panama City by Public Bus
So, if you want to take the public bus from Almirante to Panama City, I recommend you read the section above about taking a private transfer; they are basically the same thing, except that the transfer will arrange everything for you, and going DIY, well, of course, you have to arrange everything yourself.
Buying your own ticket for one of the local buses (there are two per day, a day bus and an overnight bus) is definitely the cheapest option. You could take a water taxi or boat from Bocas Town to Almirante for $6 when I was there in 2024, and my bus ticket showed a price of $29. Add the $2 taxi from the dock to the bus station, and that makes your total $37. Which means, if you bought all these tickets yourself, you’d save $13 on the $50 I paid for my transfer.
I don’t regret paying that extra, because I had the added security that I definitely had a ticket for the bus (which you can only buy in-person, by the way), but if you’re feeling adventurous then you could save a little money by organising the public transport yourself.
The bus leaves from Almirante bus stop (which is a short taxi ride or slightly longer walk from where the boat drops you off), and arrives at Albrook bus terminal in Panama City.
🇵🇦 More about Panama: The Best Beaches in Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro to Panama City by Plane
There are also direct flights from Bocas del Toro to Panama City, if you really are in a pinch. I never recommend taking flights for short distances because it is so bad for the environment, but it is for sure the fastest way to make the trip!
The domestic flight from Bocas del Toro to Panama City runs several times per day with Air Panama between Bocas Del Toro Airport, in Bocas Town, and Panama City Paitilla (also known as Albrook Airport) which is right there in Panama City next to Albrook bus station. Don’t get this mixed up with Panama’s main airport, Tocumen International Airport, which is inconveniently far out of the city!
Arriving in Panama City
If you arrive in Panama City by plane, you will probably arrive during the day and have no problem taking either a bus or a taxi to your accommodation. The daytime bus arrives in Panama City at around 8pm, so you’ll also have no problems with onward travel there, (although I’d recommend taking a taxi or Uber – don’t get on a bus alone at night!).
When we arrived at the bus station in Panama City (totally dazed and exhausted from the crying-baby-situation) everybody set about ordering Ubers and, figuring this would push up the price, I decided to just clamber into a cab. (Reason 106 to carry cash on you!).
I feel like I should always say that cabs can be less safe than Ubers, but it’s generally quite easy to spot which are the legit ones, especially in a setting like an airport or bus station. (I personally wouldn’t just grab a cab off the street). That doesn’t mean that it’s definitely safe, but it is much safer than getting into the car with some random dude.
Anway, happy travels in Panama! And maybe you’ll see a new article soon: How to Spot a Dodgy Taxi in Latin America…
FAQs About Travelling from Bocas del Toro to Panama City
What’s the cheapest way to get from Bocas del Toro to Panama City?
The cheapest option is taking public transport. You’ll need a water taxi from Bocas Town to Almirante ($6), a taxi to the bus station ($2), and the public bus to Panama City ($29). The total cost comes to approximately $37, compared to $50 for a private transfer. While cheaper, this option requires more organisation and doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a seat on your preferred bus.
How long does the journey from Bocas del Toro to Panama City take?
The whole journey takes about 14 hours, including the boat ride from Bocas to Almirante and the bus from Almirante to Panama City.
Can I book my bus ticket in advance?
If you just want to buy a bus ticket, you can’t buy it online, you have to buy it in person with a tour operator. This is the good thing about booking a transfer online or through your hostel; it includes your ferry form Bocas del Toro to Almirante on the mainland as well as a pre-purchased bus ticket from Almirante to Panama City.
Is it better to take the day bus or night bus?
There are two buses daily from Almirante to Panama City – a day bus and an overnight bus. The overnight bus allows you to save on accommodation but, of course, can be challenging if you struggle to sleep on buses. It also arrives at 5am, which isn’t too ideal. (Thanks to a bus delay I had already booked that night in a hostel, so they allowed me to check in and go straight to bed when I arrived. A couple of people on my bus were at the same hostel but hadn’t booked that night, and they were allowed to sleep in the hammocks in the garden.) The day bus arrives in Panama City around 8pm.
Where does the bus arrive in Panama City?
All buses from Bocas del Toro arrive at Albrook bus terminal, which is located next to Albrook Mall in Panama City. From here, you can easily catch a taxi or Uber to your accommodation.
Is it safe to travel this route alone?
Yes, I travelled it alone and I met plenty of other travellers doing the same thing on my way! The route is well-established and frequently used by foreign travellers, however, as with all travel in Central America, keep your valuables secure and be vigilant, especially when arriving at night.
Conclusion
Travelling from Bocas del Toro to Panama City offers several options depending on your budget, time constraints, and comfort preferences. While flying provides the quickest route, the bus is a more economical and environmentally friendly alternative.
Based on my experience, booking a private transfer provides peace of mind, especially when navigating the somewhat chaotic transport connections between the islands and mainland. The extra $13 I paid over the DIY public transport option meant I had a guaranteed seat on the bus and someone to contact if things went wrong.
The overnight bus journey, while lengthy at around 12 hours, is manageable and leaves you at Albrook bus terminal in Panama City, quite close to the city centre. Just be prepared for potential delays, such as our impromptu breakdown, and bring essentials like water, snacks, and entertainment for the journey.
