There are 6 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)plane SJO - PTY
4h 20m$181–402Bus via Almirante
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Terminal Sixaolabus San José – Sixaola
- Take the bus from Terminal de transporte to Panama Citybus Changuinola
20h 28m$31–54Bus
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal de Albrookbus Panamá / ...
15h 40m$59–89Drive 782.8 km
- Drive from San José to Panama Citycar 782.8 km
12h 58m$108–155Fly to Golfito, bus
- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Golfito (GLF)plane SJO - GLF
- Take the bus from Golfito to Paso Canoasbus
- Take the bus from Frontera to Davidbus
6h 7m$207–269Bus via Terminal Tica Bus Panamá
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus San José to Terminal Tica Bus Panamábus Terminal Albrook – Terminal San José
16h 20m$59–77
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 via Almirante which costs $30 - $55 and takes 20h 28m.
The fastest way to get from Costa Rica to Panama is to fly which takes 4h 20m and costs $180 - $410.
No, there is no direct bus from Costa Rica to Panama. However, there are services departing from Terminal Tica Bus and arriving at Terminal de Albrook via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 40m.
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 15h 40m and costs $55 - $90.
It takes approximately 4h 20m to get from Costa Rica to Panama, including transfers.
Costa Rica to Panama 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 is to fly which takes 4h 20m and costs $180 - $410. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $55 - $90 and takes 15h 40m.
Costa Rica to Panama bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), arrive at Terminal de Albrook station.
Panama is 1h ahead of Costa Rica. It is currently 10:32 AM in Costa Rica and 11:32 AM 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 de Albrook 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
- $45–290
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal de Albrook
- 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
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Costa Rica to Panama is 783 km. It takes approximately 12h 58m to drive from Costa Rica to Panama.
There are 886+ hotels available in Panama.