How To Get From San Jose to Bocas del Toro Best Way – You can go by car, bus, van and private transfer.
What Is The Distance From San Jose to Bocas del Toro?
The distance from San Jose Airport to Bocas del Toro is 308 kilometers. Click here to book online Bocas del Toro activities and Day Trips
The travel time by car plus boat is around 10-12 hours from San Jose to Bocas del Toro. Read here how to get from Bocas del Toro to San Jose the reverse way
What Is The Cheapest Way From San Jose to Bocas del Toro?
The cheapest way from San Jose to Bocas del Toro is by bus plus boat for $28 USD. If you go by bus the travel time will be around 14 hours.
What Is The Best Way From San Jose Airport to Bocas del Toro?
The best way from San Jose to Bocas del Toro is by shared van plus boat for $125 USD you can book online per person and 11 hours and 30 minutes of travel time.
How Much Are the Crossing Border Taxes Between Costa Rica And Panama For Foreigners?
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Panama for foreigners is $9 USD when leaving Costa Rica and $4 USD when entering Panama.
Check out best tours in Bocas del Toro and best Costa Rica Sim card for tourist
WHERE TO STAY IN BOCAS DEL TORO PANAMA
Hostel and dorms can only cost $15 USD a night in Bocas del Toro if you’re on budget travel. There are also mid-range hotels in Panama. They can cost up to $50 USD a night if you want a more comfortable place to stay at while exploring Panama. If you prefer luxury will start from $100 USD per night.
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HOW TO GET FROM SAN JOSE TO BOCAS DEL TORO
BY SHARED VAN PLUS BOAT FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO BOCAS DEL TORO (BEST WAY)
The best way from San Jose to Bocas del Toro is by shared van plus boat from your hotel. The van travel time is around 11 hours and 30 minutes.
The van fare from San Jose airport to Bocas del Toro is $125 USD and you can book online. The van is leaving at 5 30 am from San Jose and gets to Bocas del Toro at 6 pm.
SAN JOSE TO BOCAS DEL TORO BY PLANE
The fastest way from San Jose to Bocas del Toro is by plane. It will take 45 minutes and the flight ticket is around $200 USD you can book online. If you have the budget go for it, you will save a long day on the road!
BUS FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT TO BOCAS DEL TORO (CHEAPEST WAY)
The cheapest way from San Jose airport to Puerto Bocas del Toro is by bus plus boat. First you must ride a local bus to San Jose Terminal MEPE where the buses are leaving to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
There are two bus services running from San Jose airport to city TUASA (Red and white buses) and Station Wagon (Yellow and orange buses). The buses run every 10 minutes starting from 4 am until 11 30 pm.
The total travel time from San José Juan Santamaría Airport to city is around 30-40 minutes. The bus fare is 675 CRC which is $1.10 USD for one way and you don’t have to pay extra for the luggage. You will have to walk outside to get the buses leaving from the main road outside the airport. You can buy the ticket directly to the bus driver.
The final destination for both bus companies is Tuasa Terminal which is on Second Avenue at Merced Park in San Jose where you can walk 10 minutes distance to San Jose Terminal MEPE to get the bus to Puerto Viejo.
BUS FROM SAN JOSE TO BOCAS DEL TORO
There is no direct bus from San Jose to Bocas del Toro. First you will have to ride a local bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo and from Puerto Viejo to Sixaola. Once in Sixaola you will cross the border to Panama and you will have to get two buses to get to Almirante and get the ferry to get to Bocas del Toro.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM SAN JOSE TO PUERTO VIEJO
The bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo De Talamanca are leaving from San Jose Terminal MEPE (check the exact location in Google Maps). The buses leave every two hours starting from 6 am, 8 am,10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm. Check here MEPE Bus schedule and route!
The bus fare from San Jose to Puerto Viejo is around $15 USD. The travel time from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is 5 hours and 30 minutes.
The bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo will stop at Puerto Limon just in case you are heading from San Jose to Puerto Limon and the final destination is MEPE Bus Stop in Puerto Viejo where you can go walking to most of the places for accommodation.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM PUERTO VIEJO TO SIXAOLA
The bus schedule from Puerto Viejo to Sixaola is leaving every hour starting at 6 30 am to 7 30 pm from Puerto Biejo Bus Terminal (the border closes at 5 pm).
The bus fare from Puerto Viejo to Sixaola is around $3 USD. The travel time from Puerto Viejo to Sixaola is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Once in Sixaola, you will have to cross the border, paying a tax fee for leaving Costa Rica $9 USD and you will have to pay $4 USD for entering Panama and showing a flight out ticket leaving Panama or a bus ticket to return to Panama.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM SIXAOLA TO BOCAS DEL TORO
There is no direct bus from Sixaola to Bocas del Toro. You will have to take two buses: from the border Guabito to Changinola and from Changinola to Almirante where you will get the ferry to get to Bocas del Toro.
BUS FROM GUABITO TO CHANGINOLA
Once you cross the border in Panama you will have to take a bus from Guabito to Changinola. The bus travel time from Guabito to Changingula is around 30 minutes and the bus fare from Guabito to Changinola is $1 USD.
BUS FROM CHANGINOLA TO ALMIRANTE
Once in Changinola, you will have to take a bus from Changinola to Almirante where you can get the ferry going to Bocas del Toro. The bus travel time from Changinola to Almirante is around 45 minutes. The bus fare from Changinola to Almirante is around $2 USD.
You can also get a taxi or shared van direct from the border Guabito to Almirante for $10 USD and around 1 hour travel time.
FERRY/WATER TAXI FROM ALMIRANTE TO BOCAS DEL TORO
Once in Almirante, you will have to take a boat to get to Bocas del Toro. The ferry or water taxi from Almirante to Bocas del Toro will take 20 minutes and the boat fare from Almirante to Bocas del Toro is $6 USD.
The total bus fare from San Jose Airport to Bocas del Toro is $28 USD and the total travel time is around 14 hours. You will save $50 USD going on your own compared to book online but it will be an amazing adventure!
If you want to get in the same day you will have to take the first bus at 6 am and maybe you will have to get shared taxis to save time and get to Bocas del Toro in the same day.
CAR RENTAL IN SAN JOSE
There are many options for renting a car in San Jose. But for this time with a border crossing between Costa Rica and Panama. I wouldn’t recommend renting a car and I would choose a shared van or a bus if you are on a budget. Or a private transfer if you wish for more comfort.
BEST WAY FROM SAN JOSE TO BOCAS DEL TORO SHARED VAN VS PUBLIC BUSES
The best way from San Jose to Bocas del Toro is by shared van and ferry for $125 USD you can book online for a total of 11 hours and 30 minutes of travel time and they will drop you at the hostel area in Bocas del Toro.
The fastest way from San Jose to Bocas del Toro is by plane. It will take 45 minutes and the flight ticket is around $200 USD you can book online
The best way from San Jose to Bocas del Toro is by local buses for $28 USD if you go on a tight budget and it will take around 14 hours or even longer depending on the transfer and waiting time. You will have a great adventure!
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Panama for foreigners is $9 USD when leaving Costa Rica and $4 USD when entering Panama.
Happy Travels!
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues to share his travel experiences alongside his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.