How To Get From Puerto Viejo To Bocas del Toro Best Way – You can go by bus, van, taxi and private transfer plus ferry.
What Is The Distance From Puerto Viejo To Bocas del Toro?
The distance from Puerto Viejo To Bocas del Toro is 100 kilometers. Click here to book online Bocas del Toro activities and day trips
The travel time by car from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro is around 3 hours plus 30 minutes ferry. You will have to cross the border but it’s a really fast and easy process. Read here how to get from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo the reverse way.
What Is The Best Way From Puerto Viejo To Bocas del Toro?
The best way from Puerto Viejo To Bocas del Toro is by shared van plus ferry for $26 USD you can book online and it will take 3 hours and 30 minutes.
What Is The Cheapest Way From Puerto Viejo To Bocas del Toro?
The cheapest way from Puerto Viejo To Bocas del Toro is by bus plus and ferry for $17 USD and it will take around 5 hours.
Read here how to get from Puerto Viejo to Panama City, Panama airport to city center, Boquete to Bocas del Toro and from Panama City airport to Bocas del Toro
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
WHERE TO STAY IN BOCAS DEL TORO
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 PUERTO VIEJO TO BOCAS DEL TORO
SHARED VAN FROM PUERTO VIEJO TO BOCAS DEL TORO (BEST WAY)
The best way from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro is by shared van plus ferry for $26 USD you can book online. All organized for you ferry transfer included!
The travel time from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to Bocas del Toro is 3 hours and 30 minutes. The vans are leaving at 8 am and 12 pm from Puerto Viejo and you can book online.
BUS PLUS BOAT FROM PUERTO VIEJO TO BOCAS DEL TORO (CHEAPEST WAY)
The cheapest way from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro is by bus and ferry. There are no direct buses from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro only shared van shuttles that you can book online.
First you will have to ride a local bus 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 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 taxes 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 plus ferry travel time from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro will be around 5 hours with the transfers and waiting time. The total fare bus plus ferry from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro is $17 USD. You will save $7 USD going on your own compared to book online but it will be an amazing adventure!
BEST WAY FROM PUERTO VIEJO TO BOCAS DEL TORO SHARED VAN VS PUBLIC BUSES
The best way from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro is by shared van and ferry for $26 USD you can book online for a total of 3 hours and 30 minutes of travel time and they will drop you at the hostel area in Bocas del Toro.
The best way from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro is by local buses for $17 USD if you go on a tight budget and it will take around 5 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.