The journey from Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro in Panama is fairly easy. Read on to learn about the steps and your options for doing it.
An easy way to get from Costa Rica to Panama is to travel from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro via the Sixaola-Guabito border crossing.
Being 2 of the most-visited destinations in Costa Rica and Panama respectively, many travelers make the journey, and there are private and public transport options.
You can either take a shuttle bus or a public transport bus from Puerto Viejo to the border town of Sixaola. After crossing the border, you then need to take another shuttle or two buses to the small port of Almirante. At Almirante you’ll board a small speedboat which brings you to Isla Colón, the heart of Bocas del Toro.
In this guide, I’ll break down each step of the journey from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro. I’ll explain what’s involved when traveling by shuttle or public transport – including the border crossing – and weigh up the cost and timings.
Puerto Viejo (Costa Rica) to Bocas del Toro (Panama) by shuttle bus
I made the journey from Puerto Viejo to Panama by shuttle bus. In total, the journey took around 3 h and cost $25 US. However, this doesn’t include border fees and the time spent going through immigration procedures.
Taking the shuttle bus is my recommended way of getting to Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica because the journey was quick, comfortable and relatively cheap.
The first thing you need to do is buy a ticket for the journey from a tour operator. There are quite a few of these in Puerto Viejo and popular companies include Caribe Shuttle and Gecko Trail. Shuttles leave several times earlier in the day so that you can cross the border before it closes at 17:00.
The price is usually around $35-$40 US and includes:
- Pickup from your accommodation
- The first shuttle to the border
- A second shuttle to Almirante
- A water taxi to Isla Colón, also known as Bocas Town
I shopped around before buying my ticket and found the journey for $25 US. I don’t think the company is well known judging by the low price and the fact I was the only person on the shuttle.
I bought the ticket from a convenience shop and didn’t manage to get the name of the tour operator. However, the picture below is of the shop and I’ve marked its location on the following map.
Puerto Viejo to Sixaola
The first leg of the journey is from Puerto Viejo to the border town of Sixaola and takes around 1 h.
At Sixaola you’ll be dropped off outside a small shop just before the Sixaola-Guabito International Bridge, which you walk across to enter Panama.
You’ll be directed inside a small shop where your passport will be checked and you’ll pay the $9 US Costa Rica exit fee. At first, it seems a little dodgy that immigration procedures are being carried out in a random shop by seemingly unofficial people. But don’t worry, the process is legit…
From here you need to head to the bridge, but before you begin crossing you must get an exit stamp from the border police. After getting your stamp you’re all set to leave Costa Rica and walk into Panama.
Sixaola/Guabito border crossing
You cross into the small Panamanian border town of Guabito passing over the Sixaola River. On either side of the bridge porters will offer to carry your bags for a tip. This is an optional service.
Come off the bridge and bear left toward the National Immigration Service building. Here they check your passport and question you about your travel plans. Then you need to head back towards the bridge to a small cabin where you’ll pay for your entry stamp.
I paid $3 US for my entry stamp, but I’ve read of people being charged between $1-$5 US. The fact that Panama has no official fee for entering by land and that people have reported different entry fees makes you wonder whether this is a scam being run by the border officers.
To enter Panama by land you technically need proof of onward travel and funds. However, no one asked me for either of these.
Guabito to Almirante
The second leg of your journey is to take another shuttle bus from Guabito to Almirante. This also takes around 1 h. You’ll need to find your shuttle bus after completing immigration procedures, but it should be parked close to the bridge.
Keep an eye on your belongings while walking to your shuttle. While I didn’t have any trouble here, Guabito is run-down and not the sort of place you want to be flashing anything valuable. Also, there are usually lots of taxi drivers trying to get your attention which could easily distract you.
Almirante to Isla Colon (Bocas Town)
Almirante is a small town with a tiny dock from where the water taxis to Bocas del Toro leave. The speedboat journey takes around 45 min and is fun as you pass by larger commercial docks and container ships. In choppy water you might get wet as the boat bounces over waves.
In Almirante you may have to wait a while for your boat or other passengers to arrive, but there are a couple of small shops selling bites to eat and other refreshments.
There are also staff who help you get your bags onto the boat. I was the only passenger on my speedboat and one of them asked me for money.
I don’t know whether this happens a lot, or whether this guy saw an opportunity to make money without unsettling other passengers. Regardless, I didn’t give him anything. If anyone asks you for money my recommendation is not to give any.
You’ll arrive at the main jetty on Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro where a few tour operators are based.
Depending on where your accommodation is, you can either take a taxi from outside the dock or walk. If your accommodation is in Bocas Town, then it shouldn’t be more than around 20 min walking.
Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro by bus (public transport)
Traveling from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro by bus can save you a few dollars, but will cost more in energy and time. In total the journey takes around 4 h, costs roughly $15 US and you’ll need to take 3 buses to get to the water taxi.
I would’ve done the journey with public transport had I not found the shuttle ticket for $25 US. For me, paying $10 US more outweighed all the bus changes and extra walking.
You’ll need to get on a MEPE bus to Sixaola from Puerto Viejo’s main bus terminal by the beach front. Here’s the MEPE bus schedule. You’ll get to Sixaola around 1 h 30 min later and the ticket costs $5 US.
After crossing the border you’ll get a second bus from Guabito to Changingula for around 30 min and at a cost of $1 US. Instead, you could take a taxi from the border to Almirante. I’ve read that drivers ask for around $10 US, but as they’re giving you the tourist price, you can negotiated.
At Changingula you need to take a third and final bus to Almirante. The journey lasts around 1 h and the ticket costs $1.5 US.
The final step is to pay for the water taxi, which should cost around $7 US one way.
Traveling from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo
It’s just as easy to do the journey in the opposite direction following the same steps I explained before only in reverse.
In Bocas del Toro, you can buy a ticket from a tour operator that includes the boat taxi and shuttle buses. Or, you can do the journey with public transport.
Head to the main jetty in Bocas Town where you arrived. Here you’ll find options for booking tickets or can simply hop on a boat back to Almirante. Boat taxis leave every 30 min from early in the morning and cost $7 US.
Is it worth going to Bocas del Toro?
Bocas del Toro is definitely worth visiting if you’re planning on doing water-based activities like scuba diving and snorkelling. The clear, Caribbean waters are teaming with interesting marine life including many different species of fish, nurse sharks, rays and sea horses. The vibrant coral is also really cool.
I went to Bocas del Toro to do a PADI Open Water diving course. This was with Panama Dive School and I had a blast. I saw all of the animals I just mentioned and got my diving certification.
However, outside of water activities and the beaches, I don’t think Bocas del Toro is a particularly special place. It has a party reputation and every Friday there is an all-day event called Filthy Friday that starts in Bocas Town. This costs $40US and I was told you get entrance and a free drink at each venue.
If you like partying, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy Bocas del Toro regardless. But if not and you don’t plan on spending time in the water, then I’d skip this destination.
Are you making the journey to Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica soon?
So that’s how to get from Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro in Panama. Here’s a quick recap of the steps involved.
- Shuttle or bus from Puerto Viejo to Sixaola (border town)
- Cross the Sixaola-Guabito International Bridge into Panama
- Shuttle from Guabito to Almirante
Or
- Bus from Guabito to Changingula and then another bus to Almirante
- Water taxi from Almirante to Bocas del Toro
If you’ve recently made the journey and have found any aspect of the trip has changed, feel free to let me know in the comments. Border fees and processes in particular can change so your comments will help me keep this guide up to date.
Safe travels and enjoy Bocas del Toro or Puerto Viejo.
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