There are 7 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 28m$179–400Bus via Paso Canoas
cheapest- Take the bus from San José to Paso Canoasbus Paso Canoas – San José vía Costanera / ...
- Take the bus from Frontera to Albrook - Panamabus Panama
16h$42–47Bus
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Gran Terminal Nacional de Transportebus Panamá / ...
15h 40m$59–89Drive 782.8 km
- Drive from San José to Panama Citycar 782.8 km
12h 58m$108–155Bus to Changuinola, fly to Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport
- Take the bus from Terminal Mepe - Limón to Terminal Sixaolabus
- Fly from Changuinola (CHX) to Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC)plane CHX - PAC
5h 40m$170–202Fly Limón International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Fly from Limón International Airport (LIO) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY)plane LIO - PTY
4h 4m$389–441Bus #2
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus San José to Terminal Tica Bus Panamábus Terminal Albrook – Terminal San José
16h 10m$55–80
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 via Paso Canoas which costs $40 - $50 and takes 16h.
The fastest way to get from Costa Rica to Panama City is to fly which takes 4h 4m and costs $380 - $450.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Terminal Tica Bus San José and arriving at Terminal Tica Bus Panamá. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 16h 10m.
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 40m and costs $55 - $90.
It takes approximately 4h 28m to get from Costa Rica to Panama City, including transfers.
Costa Rica to Panama City bus services, operated by Tica Bus, depart from Terminal Tica Bus San José station.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to Panama City is to fly which takes 4h 28m and costs $170 - $400. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $55 - $90 and takes 15h 40m.
Costa Rica to Panama City bus services, operated by Tica Bus, arrive at Terminal Tica Bus Panamá station.
Panama City is 1h ahead of Costa Rica. It is currently 2:40 PM in Costa Rica and 3:40 PM 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 Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte 4 times a day. Tickets cost $58–90 and the journey takes 15h 30m.
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–280
Flights from Limón International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–330
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–360
- Website
- airpanama.com
Flights from Changuinola to Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $35–270
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte
- 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
Bus from Terminal Mepe - Limón to Terminal Sixaola
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6–10
- Website
- Autotransportes MEPE
- Phone
- +506 2221 4214
- [email protected]
- Website
- tracopacr.com
Bus from San José to Paso Canoas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 54m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $21–25
- Schedules at
- tracopacr.com
- Colectivo
- $21–25
- Phone
- +507 314 6886
- [email protected]
- Website
- Transporte Panamá Chiriqui Frontera
Bus from Frontera to Albrook - Panama
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $20–23
- Schedules at
- Transporte Panamá Chiriqui Frontera
- Phone
- +52 962 625 2435
- [email protected]
- Website
- Tica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus San José to Terminal Tica Bus Panamá
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Website
- Tica Bus
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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.
Book your Costa Rica to Panama City bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
There are 887+ hotels available in Panama City.