There are 6 ways to get from Costa Rica to Panama City by plane, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
best- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY)plane SJO - PTY
4h 17m$139–370Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal Albrookbus Panamá / ...
15h 30m$55–90Drive 782.8 km
- Drive from San José to Panama Citycar 782.8 km
12h 58m$108–155Bus, drive to Changuinola, fly to Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport
- Take the bus from Terminal Mepe - Limón to Parada Playa Manzanillobus
- Drive from Parada Playa Manzanillo to Changuinola (CHX)car
- Fly from Changuinola (CHX) to Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC)plane CHX - PAC
4h 43m$187–202Fly Limón International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Fly from Limón International Airport (LIO) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY)plane LIO - PTY
4h 20m$94–340Bus via Uvita
- Take the bus from Terminal TRACOPA to Uvitabus by Costanera / ...
- Take the bus from Uvita Bahia Ballena to Panamabus San Jose
18h 44m$56–80
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Costa Rica to Panama City is to bus which costs $55 - $90 and takes 15h 30m.
The fastest way to get from Costa Rica to Panama City is to fly which takes 4h 17m and costs $130 - $370.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Terminal Tica Bus and arriving at Terminal Albrook. Services depart five times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 15h 30m.
The distance between Costa Rica and Panama City is 567 km. The road distance is 782.8 km.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to Panama City without a car is to bus which takes 15h 30m and costs $55 - $90.
It takes approximately 4h 17m to get from Costa Rica to Panama City, including transfers.
Costa Rica to Panama City bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), depart from Terminal Tica Bus station.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to Panama City is to fly which takes 4h 17m and costs $130 - $370. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $55 - $90 and takes 15h 30m.
Costa Rica to Panama City bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), arrive at Terminal Albrook station.
Panama City is 1h ahead of Costa Rica. It is currently 11:03 PM in Costa Rica and 12:03 AM in Panama City.
What companies run services between Costa Rica and Panama City, Panama?
Avianca - Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A. and Copa Airlines fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) every 3 hours. Alternatively, Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter) operates a bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal Albrook 4 times a day. Tickets cost $58–90 and the journey takes 15h 30m. Tica Bus also services this route once daily.
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–280
Flights from Limón International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–290
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–330
- Website
- airpanama.com
Flights from Changuinola to Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $30–250
- Phone
- +504 9919 5375
- Website
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal Albrook
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $58–90
- Schedules at
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
- Road
- $60–90
- Phone
- +52 962 625 2435
- info@ticabus.com
- Website
- ticabus.com
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal Albrook
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Website
- https://www.ticabus.com/en/
Bus from Uvita Bahia Ballena to Panama
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 58m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Website
- https://www.ticabus.com/en/
Bus from Terminal Mepe - Limón to Parada Playa Manzanillo
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $4–7
- Website
- https://www.mepecr.com/Ingles/index.html
- Phone
- +506 2221 4214
- info@tracopacr.com
- Website
- tracopacr.com
Bus from Terminal TRACOPA to Uvita
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $14–19
- Schedules at
- tracopacr.com
- Colectivo
- $14–19
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Costa Rica to Panama City is 783 km. It takes approximately 12h 58m to drive from Costa Rica to Panama City.
There are 857+ hotels available in Panama City.





