There are 4 ways to get from Panama City to Costa Rica 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
best- Fly from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane PTY - SJO
4h 10m$188–488Bus via Fernandez de Cordoba
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus Panamá to Terminal Tica Bus San Josébus Terminal Albrook – Terminal San José
18h 10m$55–80Bus
- Take the bus from Terminal de Albrook to Terminal Tica Busbus Panamá / ...
15h 30m$58–90Drive 782.5 km
- Drive from Panama City to San Josécar 782.5 km
12h 49m$119–171
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Panama City to Costa Rica is to bus which costs $55 - $90 and takes 15h 30m.
The fastest way to get from Panama City to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 4h 10m and costs $180 - $490.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Terminal de Albrook and arriving at Terminal Tica Bus. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 15h 30m.
The distance between Panama City and Costa Rica is 566 km. The road distance is 782.5 km.
The best way to get from Panama City to Costa Rica without a car is to bus which takes 15h 30m and costs $55 - $90.
It takes approximately 4h 10m to get from Panama City to Costa Rica, including transfers.
Panama City to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), depart from Terminal de Albrook station.
The best way to get from Panama City to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 4h 10m and costs $180 - $490. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $55 - $90 and takes 15h 30m.
Panama City to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), arrive at Terminal Tica Bus station.
Costa Rica is 1h behind Panama City. It is currently 3:40 PM in Panama City and 2:40 PM in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between Panama City, Panama and Costa Rica?
Copa Airlines flies from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) every 3 hours. Alternatively, Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter) operates a bus from Terminal de Albrook to Terminal Tica Bus 4 times a day. Tickets cost $58–90 and the journey takes 15h 30m.
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Tocumen International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–330
Bus from Terminal de Albrook to Terminal Tica Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $58–90
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $60–90
- Phone
- +52 962 625 2435
- info@ticabus.com
- Website
- Tica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus Panamá to Terminal Tica Bus San José
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Website
- Tica Bus
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Panama City to Costa Rica is 783 km. It takes approximately 12h 49m to drive from Panama City to Costa Rica.
Book your Panama City to Costa Rica bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
There are 727+ hotels available in Costa Rica.