There are 6 ways to get from Panama 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 from Tocumen International Airport
best- Fly from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane PTY - SJO
4h 4m$181–402Bus via Almirante
cheapest- Take the bus from Panama City to Terminal de transportebus Panama City
- Take the bus from Terminal Sixaola to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus Sixaola
20h 28m$31–53Bus
- Take the bus from Terminal Albrook to Terminal Tica Busbus Panamá / ...
16h 39m$55–90Drive 782.5 km
- Drive from Panama City to San Josécar 782.5 km
12h 49m$107–155Bus, bus to Golfito, fly
- Take the bus from David to Fronterabus
- Take the bus from Paso Canoas to Golfitobus
- Fly from Golfito (GLF) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane GLF - SJO
5h 1m$180–211Bus, bus to Puerto Jiménez Airport, fly
- Take the bus from David to Fronterabus
- Take the bus from Ciudad Neily to Puerto Jiménezbus
- Fly from Puerto Jiménez Airport (PJM) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane PJM - SJO
6h 21m$192–243
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Panama to Costa Rica is to bus via Almirante which costs $30 - $55 and takes 20h 28m.
The fastest way to get from Panama to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 4h 4m and costs $180 - $410.
No, there is no direct bus from Panama to Costa Rica. However, there are services departing from Panama City and arriving at Terminal Atlántico Norte via Terminal de transporte, Terminal de Transporte Changuinola Urraca and Terminal Sixaola. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 20h 28m.
The distance between Panama and Costa Rica is 565 km. The road distance is 782.5 km.
The best way to get from Panama to Costa Rica without a car is to bus which takes 16h 39m and costs $55 - $95.
It takes approximately 4h 4m to get from Panama to Costa Rica, including transfers.
Panama to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Tranceibosa Bocas del Toro, depart from Panama City station.
The best way to get from Panama to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 4h 4m and costs $180 - $410. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $55 - $95 and takes 16h 39m.
Panama to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Tranceibosa Bocas del Toro, arrive at Terminal de transporte station.
Costa Rica is 1h behind Panama. It is currently 4:41 AM in Panama and 3:41 AM in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between Panama and Costa Rica?
Avianca - Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A. and Copa Airlines fly 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 Albrook to Terminal Tica Bus 4 times a day. Tickets cost $58–90 and the journey takes 15h 30m. Tica Bus also services this route once daily.
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Golfito to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–270
Flights from Puerto Jiménez Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–270
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Golfito to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–270
Flights from Puerto Jiménez Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–270
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Tocumen International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–270
- Website
- costaricagreenair.com
Flights from Puerto Jiménez Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–270
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Tocumen International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–360
- Phone
- +504 9919 5375
- Website
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
Bus from Terminal Albrook to Terminal Tica Bus
- 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 Albrook to Terminal Tica Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Website
- https://www.ticabus.com/en/
- Phone
- +507 314 6886
- panachifauditoria@gmail.com
- Website
- facebook.com
Bus from David to Frontera
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $5
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
Bus from Paso Canoas to Golfito
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $4
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
Bus from Ciudad Neily to Puerto Jiménez
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $16
- Schedules at
- yoviajocr.com
- Phone
- +507 303 6326
- tranceibosa@hotmail.com
- Website
- facebook.com
Bus from Panama City to Terminal de transporte
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $12–30
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
- Child
- $12–15
- Adult
- $25–30
Bus from Terminal Sixaola to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $14–20
- Website
- https://www.mepecr.com/Ingles/index.html
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including The beginner’s guide to the 2018 World Nomad Games, Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?, and Need to know: Jadrolinija - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Panama to Costa Rica is 783 km. It takes approximately 12h 49m to drive from Panama to Costa Rica.
There are 752+ hotels available in Costa Rica.








