Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Taxis into town
Albrook is only 3km northwest of the city centre, and taxis to most places
in the city from here should not top $3-4, although the more luxurious cabs waiting immedi-
ately outside the terminal will charge you double the fare of a taxi flagged down on the road,
which is easy to do during the day.
AIRLINES
The country's domestic airline, Air Panama ( 316 9000,
flyairpanama.com
), conveni-
ently flies out of Albrook airport, and serves 19 destinations including San José, Costa Rica,
via a connecting flight from David. While in theory Air Panama accepts online credit-card
bookings, the website rarely works. Nor is credit-card payment over the phone accepted. You
need to purchase a ticket in person at Albrook airport (daily 5am-6pm) or at their office on
BY BUS
All regional buses arrive at the upper level of Albrook bus terminal (officially El Gran Ter-
minal Nacional de Transportes, more commonly referred to as “El Terminal”), the national
bus terminal 3km northwest of the city centre, close to Albrook Airport.
Getting into town
Local buses (including the new Metrobuses) into the city leave from the
ground level at the front of the terminal. Taxis also stop here and should take you to your
lodgings for no more than $3-4 for one or two passengers if you're heading for a central area
such as Casco Viejo or El Cangrejo, though they may try to charge more if you arrive late
at night or don't seem to know what you're doing. The new Metro's line's end terminus is
also here, which can take you to Plaza Cinco de Mayo - which gives walking access to Casco
Viejo - or along to El Cangrejo.
Getting to the bus terminal
To get to the bus terminal from the city centre, take a bus bound
for Albrook on Vía España, along the Cinta Costera/Av Balboa, or at the side of the Palacio
Legislativo off Plaza Cinco de Mayo. Alternatively, take the Metro from El Cangrejo or Plaza
Cinco de Mayo.
Onward travel by bus
To catch a bus out of town, tickets must first be purchased from the
appropriate ticket office inside the terminal, before passing through a turnstile (a 10¢ coin is
needed or a swipe card - Rapi pass - purchased for $1 at a kiosk in the bus terminal) to a
numbered departure bay at the back. For several major destinations, there is more than one
company operating transport, some offering both express and cheaper stopping buses, though
companies charge the same price for the same service.
Travelling to Costa Rica
Ticabus ( 314 6385,
ticabus.com
)
, with an office at the ter-
minal, runs overnight and daytime buses (daily 11am & 11.55pm; 15-16hr; $55 & $41) to
San José, Costa Rica. Advance booking is advisable. Alternatively, take a Padafront (
314
6264) or Panachif (
314 6885) bus to Paso Canoas at the
border
(9 regular buses daily, two
