My Beautiful Passport contains affiliate links. We may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) on qualifying purchases so we can continue to create helpful content. Thank you, and we appreciate it. See our disclosure policy for more information.
Have you been wondering how to get to Bocas del Toro, Panama? You’ve come to the right place.
This stunning archipelago on the Caribbean Sea is known for its pristine beaches, lush jungle, and vibrant culture. But it’s also a remote island, so you can’t drive to Bocas Town and it can be tricky to get to if you haven’t visited before.
Having travelled to Bocas del Toro multiple times, I can help you find the best way to get there so you can plan your trip with ease.
From planes to buses and shuttles, let’s get right into all your options for getting to Bocas del Toro from Panama City, Boquete, David, and San Jose.
From Panama City: by plane (1 hr, starting at $70 USD each way)
From David: via shuttle (4.5 hrs, starting at $30 USD each way)
From Boquete: via shuttle (4.5 hrs, starting at $30 USD each way)
From San Jose, Costa Rica: by plane (1 hrs, starting at $160 USD each way)
How to Get from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro
To get to Bocas del Toro from Panama City, choose to fly, ride a bus or shuttle, or a combination of transportation methods.
Quickest way: Fly directly from Panama City
Economical option: Take a bus from Panama City followed by a water taxi
Alternate routes: Fly to David and take a taxi or shuttle ride and a water taxi or take the bus from David to Chiriqui Grande followed by a boat ride
Whichever option you choose, it will be an adventure! Over my multiple visits to Bocas, I’ve taken different routes. I’ve flown, taken a bus, a shuttle, and a boat ride, so I’ve experienced it all!
How to Fly to Bocas del Toro From Panama City
The best way to get to Bocas del Toro from Panama City is to fly.
Flights with Air Panama are 50 minutes and start at $70 USD each way. This is the easiest and most expensive option, but worth it to save time if it fits your budget.
Fly out of Albrook Airport, which is a 40 min Uber or taxi ride from Tocumen International Airport. Albrook is a domestic airport near Albrook Mall and Tocumen is the main airport of Panama City, so don’t mix these up! If you aren’t sure, book a shuttle to take you.
Plan to stay one night in Panama City before your flight. This will ensure flight delays from outside of Panama don’t cause you to miss a same-day domestic flight.
I flew to Bocas on my second vacation to Panama. And while you fly on a tiny plane, it was so cool to see Bocas del Toro from above and recognize some of the islands from my first visit.
Tip for Flying to Bocas del Toro
Book your flight as soon as you know the dates as there are limited seats
Checked bags are not included in the lowest flight price and are an additional charge, so double-check your luggage size and add luggage with your flight ticket if needed
Arrive an hour before your flight time and not earlier as it’s a tiny airport and if you arrive too early, there’s nowhere to sit and wait until the check-in booth opens
If you want to save some money, fly to Bocas and then take the night bus back to Panama City
Bus from Panama City to Bocas del Toro
Taking the bus from Panama City is a cost-effective way to get to the islands. It combines one night’s accommodation and transportation into one cost.
The Panama City to Bocas del Toro Night Bus departs from the Albrook Bus Terminal between 6-8 pm and takes 10-12 hours.
Bus tickets need to be purchased at the Albrook Bus Terminal on the day of your travels and are approximately $35 USD.
You’ll reach Almirante between 6-7:30 am the next morning, where you’ll take a taxi to the dock and a water taxi to Bocas del Toro. Don’t worry, taxis are always waiting for the night bus to arrive, so it’s easy to continue your journey when you are half asleep as I was.
The taxi in Almirante (from $1 USD, 5 min ride) and the water taxi (from $6 USD, 20 min ride) are a separate cost from your bus ticket.
Tips for Taking the Bus to Bocas del Toro
Arrive early to the bus terminal to buy your same-day ticket to secure your spot
Bring a travel blanket or wear a sweater and pants as the buses are heavily air-conditioned and it can be hard to sleep when cold
Pack lightly when possible to make it easier for you to travel via buses and water taxis
How to Get to Bocas del Toro from Boquete or David
You can get to Bocas del Toro from David or Boquete by taking a shuttle or public bus, and a water taxi or ferry.
Private or shared shuttle: Takes about 4 hours to Almirante where you transfer to a water taxi for an additional 30 mins. Book your shuttle when you arrive in Boquete/David for the day you plan to head to Bocas del Toro to secure your spot (from $30 USD).
Public buses: Takes a minimum of 6.5 hours as there are no direct buses. Ride multiple buses from Boquete: to David, to Gualaca, to Chiriqui, then to Almirante where you can catch a water taxi.
Additional shuttle option: Ride from Boquete/David to Chiriqui Grande and ride the ferry to Bocas Town. It takes 45 minutes and leaves at 7:15 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 3:30 pm and 5:45 pm daily. Taking the boat lets you skip a long and bumpy car ride and is an enjoyable way to see the islands in a speedboat.
On my way from Bocas to Boquete, I reversed the route and took the speedboat ferry to Chiriqui Grande and a private shuttle I had arranged in advance the rest of the way. I enjoyed seeing the sunrise at Volcan Baru and taking a coffee farm tour while in Boquete.
How to Get from San Jose to Bocas del Toro
To get to Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica, choose to fly, ride a bus or shuttle, or use a combination of transportation methods.
Quickest way: Fly directly from San Jose
Economical option: Take a bus from San Jose followed by a water taxi
Alternate routes: Hire a private shuttle followed by a water taxi
Flying from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro
The fastest way to get to Bocas del Toro from San Jose, Costa Rica is by plane.
Flights with Skyway CR are 50 minutes and start at $160 USD per way. This is a more expensive option but will save you time if it fits your budget.
Fly out of TobÃas Bolaños Airport, which is a 30 min Uber or taxi ride from Juan SantamarÃa International Airport. TobÃas is a domestic airport and Juan SantamarÃa is the main airport of Costa Rica, so don’t mix these up!
Getting to Bocas del Toro from San Jose by Bus
Taking the bus from San Jose requires a few extra steps but is a cost-effective way to get to Bocas del Toro.
Local MEPE buses depart daily from Caribe Terminal in San Jose at 6 am, 8 am, 10 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm. The ride takes about 5.5 hours to the Sixaola border (from $11 USD). And the whole journey to Bocas will take 10-12 hours.
It can be done in 9-10 hours if you wake up early enough to make all your transfers and have a quick border crossing, but it’s a long travel day. If you have time, it’s best to take the bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo (which takes 5-6 hours) and spend the night before heading onwards to Panama.
Buses run daily from Puerto Viejo to Sixaola, which is the Costa Rica-Panama Border crossing town.
You will need to walk across the land border and pay the Costa Rica exit fee (from $8-9 USD).
I walked across the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border during my trip to Costa Rica, and the process is the same for this one. Pay your exit fee, clear immigration, and you are onwards in your travels with a new passport stamp.
Once you’ve entered Panama, you have 3 options to get to Almirante where you catch the water taxi to Bocas del Toro:
Ride a bus to Changuinola (from $1.50 USD) and a minivan to Almirante (from $2 USD)
Take a shared shuttle van to Almirante (from $10 USD)
Hire a taxi to Almirante (from $10-15 USD)
Riding a Shuttle from San Jose to Bocas
Riding a shuttle from San Jose is the second fastest way to get to Bocas (after flying).
Choose between a private shuttle or a shared shuttle. Arrange your shuttle in advance to secure your seat, or book upon arriving in Costa Rica.
Shuttles take 7.5-12 hours to reach the islands including the ferry time across the water. Be prepared for an early start as departure is usually 5:30 am.
The time varies based on if your shuttle includes time to stop for lunch and the cost varies from $70-100 USD per person.
There are additional costs for oversized luggage and surfboards. After trying surfing in Nicaragua, I understand why people travel across Central America with their surfboards.
Panama is 1 hour ahead of Costa Rica. Keep this in mind when planning your timing for buses and ferries. Costa Rica abides by Central Standard Time (CST) and Panama is on Eastern Standard Time (EST)
You need a plane ticket out of Panama already purchased in order to enter Panama by land. They won’t let you into the country without knowing when you will leave
Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your visit dates to gain entry to Panama
How to Get to Bocas del Toro from the US and Canada
The first step for how to get to Bocas del Toro from the US or Canada is to fly into Panama City’s Tocumen Airport.
This is the main way to arrive in Panama and will be the same whether you are flying in on a direct flight from Miami, New York, or Toronto.
From Panama City, you can take a domestic flight to Bocas del Toro Isla Colón International Airport, ride a bus or travel by shuttle.
Where to Stay in Bocas
Casa Acuario – an overwater boutique hotel with complimentary water sports on Isla Carenero (I loved it)
La Selva Nomad Tree Lodge – a remote treehouse-style resort in the jungles of Isla Colon (I loved it)
NAYARA Bocas del Toro – a Bali-inspired luxury resort with an on-site spa on Isla Frangipani
FAQs about Travelling to Bocas del Toro
Is There a Ferry to Bocas del Toro, Panama?
Yes, there is a ferry to Bocas del Toro. The ferry from Chiriqui Grande takes about 45 minutes and leaves multiple times daily.
There is also a 30-minute water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town which is the route all the buses take from Panama City, David, Boquete, and San Jose.
Can You Fly from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro?
Yes, you can fly from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro.
Skyway CR offers direct flights from San Jose to Bocas del Toro which take only 50 minutes and starts at $160 USD for a one-way ticket.
Depart from TobÃas Bolaños Airport, which is 30 minutes away from Juan SantamarÃa International Airport in Costa Rica.
What Airlines Fly to Bocas del Toro?
The airlines that fly to Bocas del Toro are Air Panamá and Skyway CR.
Air Panama offers direct flights from Panama City to Isla Colón Airport in Bocas del Toro.
Skyway CR offers direct flights from San Jose, Costa Rica.
Both flights take about 50 minutes and leave multiple times daily.
What is the Best Airport to Get to Bocas del Toro, Panama?
There are two best airports to get to Bocas del Toro: Albrook “Marcos A. Gelabert” Airport in Panama City and TobÃas Bolaños Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. Of these, Albrook Airport is best for travellers getting to Bocas from within Panama.
Can You Drive to Bocas del Toro?
No, you cannot drive to Bocas del Toro as it’s a series of islands off the coast. Drive to Almirante, leave your car and take a water taxi to Isla Colon.
It’s easy to get around Bocas by walking, biking, and taxi. And water taxis can take you island hopping.
Final Thoughts: Getting to Bocas del Toro
Getting to Bocas del Toro can be easy when you pack light and plan ahead.
There are flights from Panama City and San Jose, and buses from Panama City, David, Boquete and San Jose. Private shuttles and taxis tend to cost more but are faster than buses.
With so many ways to get there, it’s no wonder why this Caribbean paradise has become one of the best places to visit in Panama for travellers looking for adventure.
Melissa is the founder of My Beautiful Passport. A Canadian who has explored 20+ countries on 4 continents, she enjoys combining soft adventure and affordable luxury. Through sharing her own experiences, travel tips, and destination itineraries, she helps others plan their unique adventures whether it be at the beach, in the city, or in the mountains.
