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GETTING TO PANAMA CITY
Flights
from the States
The
most common way people get to Panama is by international
airlines into Tocumen International Airport. Many airlines
fly into PC through Miami, Atlanta, Houston and other hubs.
It is about a 3 hour flight from Miami to PC. You will then
need to get over to the domestic airport (see below) for
a short flight to Bocas. Depending on your Tocumen arrival
time, you may need to stay overnight in PC to make a connection.
Hotels
are inexpensive and comfortable in PC. Besides, if you have
not ever been to Panama, I'd highly recommend a few days
there to see the city. There is a lot to do: visit the Canal,
Casco Viejo, Gamboa Rainforest Preserve, Lake Gatun, art
and craft museums and galleries, great restaurants, etc.,
before hopping over to Bocas.
GETTING
FROM PANAMA CITY TO BOCAS
After arriving at Tocumen International
Airport you have a number of travel
options to Bocas. I urge you to fly
unless you want to visit the Pacific
coast beaches, in which case you could
take a bus or rent a car, but that
is a long haul.
If
you elect to fly to Bocas, after clearing
customs at Tocumen Airport, you will
need to transfer to Albrook Airport,
the domestic airport, for your approximately
one hour flight to Bocas Del Toro
Airport on Isla Colon. It is about
a 40 minute taxi ride from airport
to airport, and costs about $25. Currently
two airlines fly from PC to Bocas,
Aeroperlas
and Air
Panama.
Both are fine. The less than one hour
flight from PC to Bocas over the city,
canal, mountains, Caribbean and the
Bocas Archipeigo is spectacular. Sometimes
it goes directly to Bocas and sometimes
it goes first into Changuinola. Don't
get off at the wrong place!
GETTING
FROM COSTA RICA TO BOCAS
As
of December, 2005, Bocas Del Toro
has gone International (well, sort
of). We now have flights to and from
San Jose, Costa Rica on Nature
Air. Nature Air flights to Bocas are only 3 days a week, so you'll have to coordinate your flights. You may want to consider
flying this route as flights to San
Jose from the U.S. should be shorter
and less expensive than going through
Panama City. Nature Air flies through
the domestic airport, so you will
need to transfer from the San Jose
International Airport to the domestic
airport, about a 30 minute taxi ride,
for your flight to Bocas, which takes
about 45 minutes.
You
can also take a comfortable 6-8 hour
bus ride from San Jose through Limon
along the Caribbean side to Bocas.
We have not done this, but I have
heard it's fun... once or twice is
probably enough, though.
TRAVEL
HELP
Many of the general websites on our
Links & Reference
page have info on travel, airlines,
buses, trains, ferries, etc. For personal
help and attention many travelers
and local gringos use the people below
to make their lives easier:
- Jose
Saenz:
bocasfrog@yahoo.com,
Phone (507) 614-7811
Web www.goldenfrog.net,
Fax (507) 263-7604
is an excellent contact to assist
you in Panama City. We frequently
have him pick us up at the Tocumen
International Airport and take
us into town. Jose or a taxi charge
$25-$30 from the airport to downtown.
He can also take you from your
hotel to the domestic airport
at any hour. If you want to tour
PC or shop he or one of the staff
will drive you around PC for about
$8/hour. They know where to get
anything!
- Another
great contact in PC is Tammy
Liu: tammy@panoramicpanama.com,
Phone (507) 314-1417, Web www.panoramicpanama.com,
Mobile (507) 651-6232, Fax
(507) 314-1417
has arranged all kinds of accomodations,
side trips and transportation
for us in and around Panama City.
She even has a very nice little
B&B, Estancia. Both Jose and Tammy are
very reliable.
- If
you go to David or Boquete, you
should contact Toby Braxton:
services@tycos.com, Phone
(507) 617-8629, Fax (507) 775-1812
She can meet you at the David
Airport and take you shopping
or touring to Boquete, Volcan
or wherever. She and her little
girl Stevie are great fun and
Toby is also extremely reliable and speaks fluent English..
- Jose
Palm is a travel agent in David
who has an excellent reputation.
I only have his phone number,
which is (507) 774-1636
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