How to Get to Bocas del ToroFlights, Buses, Shuttles and the Ferry

Updated November 2026. Schedules come from the operators and change from time to time, so confirm times and fares with them before you travel.

The fastest way to Bocas del Toro is a one-hour flight from Albrook Airport in Panama City to Bocas Town on Isla Colón. Overland, you take a bus or shuttle to the port town of Almirante and a 30-minute water taxi across the bay, or drive to Chiriquí Grande and take the one-hour boat across the lagoon.

Which one makes sense depends on where you’re starting: Panama City, Boquete and David, or Costa Rica. Here is each route.

Which airport do you fly into for Bocas del Toro?

You land at José Ezequiel Hall International Airport (BOC), right in Bocas Town on Isla Colón. The terminal is a short walk or a quick taxi ride from most hotels in town, and boats to the other islands leave from the docks a few blocks away.

How do you get from Panama City to Bocas del Toro?

By plane: about 1 hour

Flights to Bocas leave from Albrook Airport (Marcos A. Gelabert, PAC), not from Tocumen (PTY), where most international flights arrive. The two airports are about 28 km apart. Allow 30–60 minutes for the drive, and a few hours between flights if you’re connecting on the same day.

• Air Panama flies Albrook–Bocas several times a day.
• FlyTrip also flies Albrook–Bocas on small 9–12 seat planes.

Air PanamaBocas TownOnly 50 minutes separates Bocas del Toro to Panama CitySee listingFlyTripBocas TownElevate Your AdventuresSee listing

Fares are usually lower the earlier you book. These smaller planes have their own luggage allowance, so check it with your airline before you pack.

By bus: 10–11 hours overnight, plus the boat

Overnight buses leave Albrook Bus Terminal (next to Albrook Mall) for Almirante, usually between 6 and 8 p.m., and arrive around 6–7:30 a.m. Tickets are bought in person at the terminal.

The overnight buses keep the air conditioning nice and cool, so bring a sweater.

In Almirante, it’s a short taxi ride to the water-taxi docks. Then it’s the boat to Bocas Town (see below).

How do you get from Boquete or David to Bocas del Toro?

The simplest option is a shared shuttle. Hello Travel Panama runs a shared shuttle from Boquete to Bocas with the water taxi included. Pickup is at your hotel between 8 and 8:30 a.m., and the trip takes about 4½ hours door to dock.

By public bus, it’s three vehicles: Boquete to David, David to Almirante (about 5 hours), then the boat. It’s the most budget-friendly option, with a scenic ride over the mountains.

From David airport, there are only occasional flights to Bocas, not daily ones. A private transfer from David to the Almirante dock takes about 4 hours.

By boat from Chiriquí Grande: the scenic shortcut

If you’re driving from David or Boquete, or coming on a shuttle that goes this way, you can skip Almirante. Take the road to Chiriquí Grande instead and catch the PanaBocas Express boat across the Chiriquí Lagoon to Bocas Town. It cuts close to an hour off the trip, and the ride across the lagoon is the prettiest way in.

• Boats from Chiriquí Grande to Bocas Town: 7:15 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
• Boats from Bocas Town to Chiriquí Grande: 6 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• The trip takes about an hour, with stops at Cerro Brujo and Loma Partida.
• Rental car? Leave it in the monitored parking at the PanaBocas office in Chiriquí Grande.
• Booking: reserve on panabocas.com or by WhatsApp at +507 6030-8204, and be at the dock 25 minutes before departure.

PanaBocas also runs direct boat-and-van trips from David, David airport and Boquete, including drop-offs on Bastimentos and Solarte.

How do you get from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro?

You cross at Sixaola (Costa Rica) – Guabito (Panama), about an hour and a half by road from Almirante.

• Shared shuttles from Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Punta Uva take 4–5 hours, including the border and the boat.
• Costa Rica charges a land exit tax per person. You can pay it online through Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) or at the kiosk at the Sixaola border post.
• Panama’s entry rules for most visitors: a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return or onward ticket, and proof of at least $500 in funds. Check the rules for your nationality with Panama’s immigration service before you go.
• Panama is one hour ahead of Costa Rica. Cross in the morning, so you aren’t racing the last water taxis.

The last leg: Almirante to Bocas Town

Unless you come through Chiriquí Grande, every overland route ends at the docks in Almirante.

• Water taxi: about 30–35 minutes. Boats leave roughly every half hour from about 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no fixed timetable. Plan to reach Almirante in daylight to catch a boat across.
• Car ferry: about 1 hour 40 minutes and runs about twice a day. It’s the way to go if you’re bringing a car. Check times and vehicle fares with Ferry Bocas.

Getting around once you’re here

Bocas Town is small enough to walk. To reach the other islands, you take a water taxi from the docks along Calle 3. Carenero is a couple of minutes across the channel, and Bastimentos and Solarte are a little farther. Agree on the fare before you get in, and ask what time the last boat back leaves.

Our Where to Go guide covers each island, from Isla Carenero to the Cayos Zapatillas. Plan Your Trip has money, packing and entry details.

Keep planning

• Best time to visit Bocas del Toro: weather month by month
• Things to do in Bocas del Toro

Frequently asked questions