How to Travel Around Panamá
Panamá is a small country that’s full of adventures and natural surroundings to discover. When you visit us, you could wake up on the Pacific Ocean and, in the same day, enjoy our delicious culinary offering as you overlook the Caribbean Sea. Travel around the country by land, sea, and air, since every destination, in addition to being located close by, are very well connected.
How to Get to Panamá
By Air
You can arrive in Panama City, Panamá from anywhere in the world. Tocumen International Airport is our largest and busiest gateway, receiving direct or connecting flights to and from all continents. Tocumen is also the heart of an important hub for connections to more than 80 destinations in North, Central, and South America.
Panama Pacifico International Airport, located just 20 minutes from the Albrook Bus Station, receives direct flights from Colombia and other destinations in Central America and the Caribbean.
By Land
Panamá is connected by land to the rest of Central and North America via the Pan-American Highway. This route is the central artery connecting different destinations within the country.
By Sea
Panamá is a port country, so it is also possible to arrive by boat. There are two ports that receive cruise ships: one on the Pacific coast and the other on the Caribbean coast. Some smaller ports receive small boats such as yachts and sailboats. Make sure you meet all the necessary requirements and compare the services and benefits private marinas offer so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
How to Get Around Panama City, Panamá
Car Rental
The easiest way to get around on your vacation in Panamá is by renting a car. At the international airport, you’ll find different rental services, including companies like Budget, Europcar, Alamo, Thrifty, Dollar, National, Hertz, Express, Avis, Enterprise, Sixt, Economy, Deal Mobility, and ACE Rent A Car.
To rent a car in Panamá, you need to have a valid driver’s license and a credit card. You also need to meet a minimum age requirement and pay for rental insurance.
Parking
Most tourist attractions in Panamá offer free or paid parking. Availability will depend on the time and day you visit. In Casco Antiguo, the historic district, parking is scarce and may be full during peak hours. But don’t worry—hotels and restaurants offer private valet parking services.
Tolls
There are three major highways with tolls in Panama City, Panamá: the Corredor Norte, the Corredor Sur, and the Autopista Panama–Colon. Other avenues and smaller streets are free to use. You do not need to pay to get anywhere in the city if you don’t want to.
Bicycle
The best way to visit and enjoy the Amador Causeway and the Cinta Costera is to rent a bicycle. We recommend leaving the car in the nearest parking lot and walking to one of the places where you can rent a bicycle. There are also guided tours by bicycle to visit Casco Antiguo, although if you go on your own, it’s best to park on the outskirts and walk around the historic district instead.
Taxi
The taxi system in Panama City, Panamá differs from the system in other countries. Here we do not usually use a taximeter. Instead, we recommend you ask a local how much the ride should cost and agree on the price with the driver before getting in the taxi.
Although this practice is becoming less common every day, taxis in Panama City, Panamá may be shared. This means that if you are the only passenger, the driver may offer their services to other people going in the same direction as you. If you do not wish to share your taxi, you have every right to refuse.
There is a fleet of white taxis specialized in tourism, known as the Special Tourism Service (Servicio Especial de Turismo [SET]), with standardized rates and services. They are usually parked at Tocumen Airport and near large hotels.
Bus and Metro
Our bus and metro system is well connected. Buy the MiBus card at the airport or at an official sales point to use either service. Download the MiBus app to load rides on the card, search for stops, and see your route. The buses and metro are air-conditioned and the system is fairly organized.
On Foot
In Panama City, Panamá, certain areas are better enjoyed on foot. Areas such as the Amador Causeway, the three sections of the Cinta Costera, and neighborhoods such as Bella Vista, El Cangrejo, the banking area, and Calle 50 have been adapted for pedestrians. Outside of these areas, or when going from one neighborhood to another, it is better to use a different means of transportation.
Our capital is a fairly safe city, so you’ll only have to worry about the sun, the rain, and the lack of sidewalks in certain areas of the city center. In any case, it is not a bad idea to take some precautions to protect your personal items.
How to Get from Panama City, Panamá to the Rest of the Country
Car Rental
Exploring Panamá by car is very convenient. The Pan-American Highway takes you from the province of Darien to Paso Canoas in Chiriqui, which is on the border with Costa Rica. From the Pan-American Highway, you can access beaches on the Riviera Pacifica, the Azuero Peninsula, the Pacific Coast of Veraguas, and towns such as Boquete and Tierras Altas, in the Panamanian mountains. The highway is wide, easy to drive, and well marked, as is the Panama–Colon highway, which will take you to Panamá’s Caribbean coast.
To reach some destinations, such as Guna Yala or the top of Baru Volcano, 4x4 vehicles are required due to the road conditions. Anyone driving on these roads should have experience driving on difficult terrain and unpaved roads. However, there is nothing to worry about because tour operators offer transportation to these areas and will pick you up at your hotel.
Bus
Using public transportation to get around is very easy. Buses leave from Albrook Bus Station to most destinations throughout the country. If you want to visit more distant or difficult-to-reach destinations such as Bocas del Toro, you will probably have to transfer to another bus at smaller stations.
Plane
Tocumen International Airport is the largest airport in the country. It has a terminal for domestic flights, with direct flights to David, Chiriqui. In Panama City, Panamá, Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport offers commercial flights to David, Changuinola, Isla Colon, and Chitre. On the outskirts of the city, the Panama Pacifico International Airport offers domestic flights to David.
If you want to take more comfortable, private trips to any destination with a landing strip, you can also charter flights in small aircraft or helicopters.
You’ll find everything from exclusive companies such as Flytrip, Blue Skies Panama, Charters Panama, Sky Ride, Omni Direct Corp, Aerorental, Aero Albrook, Skytropic, Charters San Blas, Meicer Aviación, Flapper, and more to airlines with commercial and private flights.
Air Panama offers charter flights to Guna Yala, Isla Contadora, Isla San Jose, Bahia Pina, and Jaque.