Travel advice for Panama
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Panama
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International flights arrive at Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City. Services arrive daily from the US (most are routed through Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston or Miami) and other Central and South American cities; KLM and Iberia fly from Amsterdam and Madrid, respectively. Flights from San José, in neighbouring Costa Rica, often stop in David before continuing on to Panama City. The recently upgraded airport in David is expected to see direct international flights from and to the US at some point.
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10 days / from1655 USD
Highlights of Panama
Explore Panama's vibrant capital, including the famous Panama Canal before heading out to the tropical rainforest. Nature trails are waiting to be explored before your flight to Bocas del Toro, where you will enjoy a few days kicking back or being active, the islands offer something for everyone.
customize ⤍10 days / from2099 USD
Cuisine & Culture of Panama
Explore Panama's culture and cuisine in depth in this itinerary. Learn about the Emberá traditions close to the capital, before heading to Panama's cultural heart. Take a local cooking class and explore the surroundings of Chitre, one of Panama's oldest settlements.
customize ⤍8 days / from1882 USD
Thrilling Adventures in Panama
Mountain-biking, river rafting, mangrove tours - Panama has endless opportunities for all adventure-seekers. Enjoy this fast-paced itinerary from Panama City to the highlands of Boquete and ending on the beaches of Boca Chica.
customize ⤍9 days / from3966 USD
Luxury Honeymoon
Enjoy the finest Panama has to offer - luxurious hotels, a private gastronomic tour in Panama City, time to discover the highlands of Boquete before heading out to Panama's Pacific coast to spend a few days relaxing on the beach.
customize ⤍You can cross into Panama by land from Costa Rica, but due to security concerns it’s not possible to do so from Colombia. Instead, backpackers are increasingly booking passages by boat.
Panama has three land routes from Costa Rica: the main border crossing along the Interamericana is at Paso Canoas, while a less-frequented border outpost is at Guabito, on the Caribbean coast, which allows for access to the Bocas archipelago. There’s a rarely used border post in the Chiriquí Highlands at Río Sereno (8am–5pm; reached by bus from Volcán).
Though you can take local transport and switch buses at the border, the slightly costlier fares on international services run by Tica Bus (wticabus.com) give you a better shot at an efficient and hassle-free passage (though border waits can be long). In addition to official documents, travellers at the border crossing will often be asked to show an onward or return ticket. If you're travelling on a one-way ticket, migración is likely to require advance purchase of your bus fare back to San José.
Panama has three land routes from Costa Rica: the main border crossing along the Interamericana is at Paso Canoas, while a less-frequented border outpost is at Guabito, on the Caribbean coast, which allows for access to the Bocas archipelago. There’s a rarely used border post in the Chiriquí Highlands at Río Sereno (8am–5pm; reached by bus from Volcán).
Though you can take local transport and switch buses at the border, the slightly costlier fares on international services run by Tica Bus (wticabus.com) give you a better shot at an efficient and hassle-free passage (though border waits can be long). In addition to official documents, travellers at the border crossing will often be asked to show an onward or return ticket. If you're travelling on a one-way ticket, migración is likely to require advance purchase of your bus fare back to San José.
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Panama
written by Andy Turner
updated 26.04.2021
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