car rental or bus & taxis?

[MARY-LOU RAMPOLD]

Am spending 3 months in Panama, 1 on the Pacific coast near Coronado, then 2 near Volcan. A rental car is really expensive for such a long period of time. Is it easy to use the public bus system? Or taxis? What do you recommend?

Sincerely,
Mary-Lou

[JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Mary-Lou,

The buses between Panama City and Coronado don’t have air conditioning last I checked and the schedules aren’t exact, but they run frequently enough that tourists do use them, in addition to the many locals that use them. They’re quite inexpensive, probably around $3-4 per trip.
Once you’re in the Coronado area, there are taxis, they are cheap and easy to use for trips in the Coronado area. You will need to speak enough Spanish to tell them where you want to go, count out money, etc.

Buses Panama City-David are usually nicer, air conditioned. About five hours. You can even get midnight ones that you sleep on (12am to 5am).
Once you’re in the Volcan area, there are taxis (though perhaps not as many as Coronado area but shouldn’t matter as Volcan is tiny). They are cheap and again, you’ll communicate in Spanish.

If you don’t have a great deal of luggage and if you are adventurous (i.e., not the type to be very put off if the bus is a little crowded or there’s a chicken running about) you’ll likely be just fine with the buses. I have taken them many, many times, but I am not very sensitive to noise or close-contact so take personality type into account.

Another alternative is to hire a driver/ground transport to get you to the Coronado area and/or the Volcan area and use taxis for day-to-day.

I hope this helps.

[MARY-LOU RAMPOLD]

Thank you Jessica! That was quite helpful. One more question, if we do hire a driver/ground transport, what would we expect to pay?

Mary-Lou

[MARY-LOU RAMPOLD]

oops, forgot to ask! Also, Jessica, how do I go about finding a reputable driver to hire?

Thanks so much!

Mary-Lou

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Oops! Sorry Mary-Lou, just realizing now you had additional questions. The tour/transport companies don’t publish rates, they will quote you a lump sum depending on what exactly you want (though airport transfers are usually around $30). Please see below for contacts,
Best,
Jessica

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Local tel: +(507) 216-9299
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Helpful information:

Planning a visit? Here is some important information about Panama travel and resources:

Arriving/Departing: Most travelers fly into Tocumen International Airport, Panama City, Panama (PTY), Panama’s only international airport and the region’s biggest hub. Panama’s international airline, Copa, is Latin America’s largest.

For domestic flights, Marcos A. Gelabert Airport in Panama City (also referred to as Albrook, after the neighborhood in which it’s located) offers flights from domestic airline Air Panama.

The Enrique Malek airport in David, Chiriqui offers flights to and from Costa Rica; all other flights to and from David are domestic.

There are also small domestic airports or airstrips elsewhere in Panama, including the San Blas/Kunayala region, Contadora Island, and Bocas del Toro.

Customs and Immigration: U.S. and Canadian citizens must have a passport to visit Panama. No visa is required.

Citizens from visa waiver countries, including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay, may visit Panama for up to 90 days without a visa*.

*This list is subject to change. Please always check with your nearest Panamanian consulate or your home country’s foreign affairs office prior to travel to ensure you have the latest information.

Country Information:

• Time Zone: EST (No Daylight Savings adjustments. Google “time in Panama” for the exact current time).

• Power: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz, US Standard two-pin plugs. As the U.S. is 120v, you may want to purchase a converter/transformer to safeguard your 120V appliances. Power surges do occur; you may want to use power strips with surge protection to safeguard your laptop and other electronics.

• Currency: Panama uses the U.S. dollar (referred to as the Balboa). All bills are U.S. bills; you’ll find a mix of coins from different U.S. states as well as Panamanian coins (exact same size/specs as U.S. coins). Major credit cards are widely accepted in Panama City (I mean, not in thatch-roofed fondas or open-air markets, but you know, shops with actual doors and stuff). Outside the city, you may need to use cash for most expenditures; there are even hotels/motels that don’t accept credit cards (ask before you go).

• Foreign exchange: this is not a country where you’ll find exchange posts around every corner. You can withdraw dollars from ATMs in Panama City, ask whether your hotel offers exchange services, or plan on getting to a bank during local operating hours.

• Climate: Panama is tropical with average temperatures of 88º F and two seasons: dry and rainy. The dry “summer” season is usually December-April. Expect rain on the Caribbean coast (places like Bocas del Toro), year-round. In highland regions such as Boquete, misty rain is common and temperatures can drop to 60º F at night. No matter where you go, you may need a light sweater or jacket due to cool ocean breezes or over-zealous use of air conditioning. For more information, consult Google News, The Weather Channel, or any other trusted news or weather source.

For help planning your visit contact your travel agent or make use of reduced travel websites such as Kayak.com. Low airfares are often available on Copa/United, visit: http://www.copaair.com for more information. Other airlines like Spirit also offer budget flights.

For help choosing a hotel and other information try review sites such as TripAdvisor.com. The Riande Airport Hotel (tel: +507-290 3333; website: http://www.hotelesriande.com) is the closest to Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, but far from city conveniences.

Local contacts:

• Local Travel Agent: Casey Halloran, Co-Owner, Costa Rican Vacations & Panama Luxury Vacations, In Costa Rica: 1-800-606-1860 ext 401, In Panama: 1-866-393-4192, Web: http://www.vacationtopanama.com.

• For road trips, tours, and transportation in Panama (including airport pickups) contact local operators like Inside Panama, message: transport@insidepma.com, tel: +507-6675-6601; Turista Internacional, message: incentives2@turistaintl.com, website: http://www.turistaintl.com; Sealandsky Journeys, message: ditase@yahoo.com, tel: +507-6630-0847; or Marco Colucci, tel: +507-6672-1201, message: macoluche@hotmail.com.

• Rental Cars: There are many rental companies in Panama including

o National: http://www.nationalpanama.com/english/index.htm
o Hertz http://www.rentacarpanama.com/general/default.aspx
o Budget Rent A Car http://www.budgetpanama.com/
o And more: http://www.panamatours.com/Services/serv_carentals.htm

Taxis are available nearly everywhere and are very inexpensive. Fares within the greater metropolitan area are usually $3 to $5. Visits to outlying areas like the Panama Canal Miraflores visitor center can cost double.

Taxis do not use meters; they carry charts showing the price increase by district. Add $0.35 per additional person to the fare. Taxis charge extra for pickup at hotels, airports, and other tourist destinations. Any taxi can take you to the airport. Only special white “tourism taxis” are allowed to pick up passengers from the airport. Tocumen Airport fare is a flat fee of about $25.

It is not customary to tip (unless the driver has gone above and beyond, carrying lot of luggage, acting as a tour guide, returning a lost item, etc.). It’s always a good idea to ask the taxi driver what the fare will be before getting in.

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Thanks again for your inquiry. International Living appreciates your patronage and trusts you’ll benefit from the ultra-specific, actionable information provided in IL publications and products.

Best of luck with all your Panama plans.

IMPORTANT PANAMA HOLIDAYS 2013*

January 1 New Year’s Day
January 9 Martyr’s Day (no alcoholic beverages sold for 24 hours)
February 8-12, Feb 13 Carnival & Ash Wednesday
March 28-31 Holy Week (no alcoholic beverages sold for 24 hours Good Friday)
May 1 Labor Day (Moved to April 29 to create a long weekend)
August 15 Founding of Panama La Vieja (original city)
November 3-5, 10-11, 28 Fiestas Patrias (Independence/national holidays)
December 8 Mother’s Day
December 25 Christmas Day
* subject to change

[MARY-LOU RAMPOLD]

Thank you again Jessica…getting very excited about coming to Panama. 😀

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Have a wonderful time!

[Dale Schmidt]

I will be visiting Coronado October 1, and flying into Panama City. What would a taxi cost for the trip to Coronado?
Thanks Beth

[COUNTRY EXPERT – LINDA CARD]

Hi there, and thanks for your post. I can’t tell you an exact dollar amount, but a taxi from Tocumen Airport to Coronado would be quite expensive, because it is more than an hour’s drive. For comparison, the taxi ride from Tocumen to downtown Panama City costs $25 to $30.

Some of the resorts and hotels in Coronado offer shuttle service from the airport, so that may be an option for you. Check with the hotel where you have reservations to find out.

Another option is to arrange your own transport with a tourism or transport company. I’ve copied the ones Jessica noted above for your convenience, so you may contact them directly.

• Local Travel Agent: Casey Halloran, Co-Owner, Costa Rican Vacations & Panama Luxury Vacations, In Panama: 1-866-393-4192, Web: http://www.vacationtopanama.com.

• For road trips, tours, and transportation in Panama (including airport pickups) contact local operators like Inside Panama, message: transport@insidepma.com, tel: +507-6675-6601; Turista Internacional, message: incentives2@turistaintl.com, website: http://www.turistaintl.com; Sealandsky Journeys, message: ditase@yahoo.com, tel: +507-6630-0847; or Marco Colucci, tel: +507-6672-1201, message: macoluche@hotmail.com.

Have a great visit! Linda

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Dale or Beth,

The above was an older list from 2013. I’m sure most of the contacts are still good but in any case, here’s an updated list from 2015.

Road trips, tours (day tours, eco-tours, etc), ground transportation, airport pickups, etc:

• Panama Vacations, http://www.vacationtopanama.com

• Ancon Expeditions, http://www.anconexpeditions.com

• Roadrunner Panama, web: http://www.panamaroadrunner.com

• Inside Panama, email: transport@insidepma.com, tel: +507-6675-6601

• Panama Travel: http://www.panamatravelunlimited.com, info@panamatravelunlimited.com

• Sealandsky Journeys, email: ditase@yahoo.com, tel: +507-6630-0847

• Marco Colucci, tel: +507-6672-1201, email: macoluche@hotmail.com

If you search the forum for related posts (using a keyword like taxis, rentals, or transport/transportation) you’ll find some more info that may be of interest. Don’t hesitate to post again if we can help you with anything else.

Best,

IL Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch

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