There are 5 ways to get from Costa Rica to Panama 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 to Tocumen International Airport
best- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY)SJO - PTY
4h 9m$136–372Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal AlbrookSan José
16h 34m$52–77Drive 782.8 km
- Drive from San José to Panama City782.8 km
12h 57m$108–155Fly to Golfito, bus
- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Golfito (GLF)SJO - GLF
- Take the bus from Golfito to Paso Canoas
- Take the bus from Frontera to David
5h 55m$149–610Bus via Uvita
- Take the bus from Terminal TRACOPA to Uvitaby Costanera / ...
- Take the bus from Uvita Bahia Ballena to PanamaSan Jose
18h 44m$55–79
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Costa Rica to Panama is to bus which costs $50 - $80 and takes 16h 34m.
The fastest way to get from Costa Rica to Panama is to fly which takes 4h 9m and costs $130 - $380.
The distance between Costa Rica and Panama is 565 km. The road distance is 782.8 km.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to Panama without a car is to bus which takes 16h 34m and costs $50 - $80.
It takes approximately 4h 9m to get from Costa Rica to Panama, including transfers.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to Panama is to fly which takes 4h 9m and costs $130 - $380. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $50 - $80 and takes 16h 34m.
Panama is 1h ahead of Costa Rica. It is currently 3:19 PM in Costa Rica and 4:19 PM in Panama.
Yes, the driving distance between Costa Rica to Panama is 783 km. It takes approximately 12h 57m to drive from Costa Rica to Panama.
There are 873+ hotels available in Panama.
What companies run services between Costa Rica and 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 once daily. Tickets cost $50–70 and the journey takes 16h 25m. 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
- $45–310
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Golfito
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–600
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Golfito
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–330
- Phone
- +504 9919 5375
- Website
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal Albrook
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–70
- Schedules at
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
- Road
- $50–70
- 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 Golfito to Paso Canoas
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $3
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
- Phone
- +507 314 6886
- panachifauditoria@gmail.com
- Website
- facebook.com
Bus from Frontera to David
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $5
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
- 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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