How to get around Panama

Getting around

Domestic flights (mainly Air Panama) connect Panama City with Bocas del Toro and David quickly -- often the practical choice given how mountainous the country's road network can be.

The Pan-American Highway makes driving between Panama City, the Azuero Peninsula, and Chiriquí straightforward, though it stops entirely at the Darién Gap.

Within Panama City, the Metro (open since 2014) and buses cover the city well, and rideshare apps are widely available.

Verified against Global Affairs Canada, September 2026.

Taxis are not metered, and that changes everything

Registered yellow taxis are generally safe if you take them from a taxi stand — and the stands are at malls, hotels and the main transport hubs, which is where to head rather than to the kerb. They are not metered. Fares are calculated according to the number of zones crossed to reach your destination, so agree the fare before departure and keep small notes, because change is your problem and not the driver's.

Two more rules from the same page. Tell the driver you do not want to share, because they may otherwise stop to pick up additional passengers. And sit in the back. Ride-hailing apps are commonly used throughout the country; if you use one, confirm the driver's identity and the licence plate before getting in.

The Metro, and the interchange that matters

Line 1 of the Panama Metro opened on 6 April 2014 after construction from late 2010, and it has become the preferred way to travel across the city. It runs broadly north–south with 14 stations — six elevated and eight underground — over almost 16 kilometres, and the full run from Albrook to San Isidro takes about 26 minutes. It carries between 240,000 and 280,000 passengers a day.

The detail worth planning around: Albrook, the southern end of the line, is also the Estación Terminal Nacional de Autobuses — the national bus terminal. Metro and intercity coach meet in one building, which makes it the natural hinge between a city day and a trip out to the Azuero Peninsula or Chiriquí. There is also mobile coverage, voice and data, through the underground section.

Demand has outrun the original fleet: the government authorised 70 additional carriages in July 2015, taking the fleet from 20 trains to 26, each of five carriages and each carrying 1,000 passengers.

Buses

Public transport has improved in recent years but may still be unreliable, and local buses within Panama City do not always follow a regular route — which is the honest reason to treat the Metro and the apps as the default and the bus as the fallback.

Driving

The rule worth knowing before you rent: vehicle insurance is mandatory in Panama and many Panamanians drive without it. That turns an otherwise ordinary collision into a much larger problem, because there may be nothing behind the other party's liability. If you are in an accident, call the police and do not move the vehicle until an officer tells you to. Carry an international driving permit, keep windows closed and doors locked, and be prepared for roadblocks.

The Pan-American Highway makes driving between Panama City, the Azuero Peninsula and Chiriquí straightforward — and then stops entirely at the Darién Gap. There is no road onward to Colombia.

Flying and boats

Domestic flights, mainly Air Panama, connect Panama City with Bocas del Toro and David quickly, which is often the practical choice given the terrain.

Several stretches of coast are known narcotics corridors and are treated as dangerous at night; the detail, and the regions to avoid altogether, are on Stay Safe.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Metro de Panama — Panama City's Metro opened in 2014 and Line 1 runs north-south from the national bus terminal, Line 1 links Albrook, the national bus terminal, with San Isidro over about 16km, Line 1 of the Panama Metro began construction in late 2010 and finished in the first quarter of 2014, running mostly north-south and joining the Estación Terminal Nacional de Autobuses at Albrook with San Isidro station in the north of the metropolitan area, The first line of the Panama Metro entered service on 6 April 2014 and has since become the preferred means of travel, Line 1 has 14 stations, six elevated and eight underground, extends almost 16 kilometres, and takes approximately 26 minutes from Albrook to San Isidro, The Panama Metro currently carries between 240,000 and 280,000 users daily, In July 2015 the government authorised the purchase of 70 additional carriages, increasing the fleet from 20 to 26 trains, each of five carriages with capacity for 1,000 passengers, Metro users have mobile connectivity, voice and data, in the underground section of Line 1, Line 1 of the Panama Metro began construction in late 2010 and finished in the first quarter of 2014, running mostly north-south and joining the Estación Terminal Nacional de Autobuses at Albrook with San Isidro station in the north of the metropolitan area, The first line of the Panama Metro entered service on 6 April 2014 and has since become the preferred means of travel, Line 1 has 14 stations, six elevated and eight underground, extends almost 16 kilometres, and takes approximately 26 minutes from Albrook to San Isidro, The Panama Metro currently carries between 240,000 and 280,000 users daily, In July 2015 the government authorised the purchase of 70 additional carriages, increasing the fleet from 20 to 26 trains, each of five carriages with capacity for 1,000 passengers, Metro users have mobile connectivity, voice and data, in the underground section of Line 1 (September 2026).
Checked against Global Affairs Canada — Vehicle insurance is mandatory but many Panamanians drive without it; after an accident call the police and do not move the vehicle until told to, Registered yellow taxis in Panama are generally safe if taken from a taxi stand, and stands are usually found at malls, hotels and main transport hubs; they are not metered and fares are calculated according to the number of zones crossed, so small bills are preferable, a fare should be agreed before departure, the driver told you do not want to share, and passengers should sit in the back, Rideshare apps are commonly used throughout Panama, and the driver’s identity and licence plate should be confirmed before getting in the car, Public transportation in Panama has improved in recent years but may be unreliable, and local buses within Panama City do not always follow a regular route, Vehicle insurance is mandatory in Panama though many Panamanians drive without it; after an accident you should call the police and not move the vehicle until an officer tells you to, and an international driving permit should be carried, Car windows should be kept closed and doors locked at all times and drivers should be prepared for possible roadblocks, Vehicle insurance is mandatory but many Panamanians drive without it; after an accident call the police and do not move the vehicle until told to, Registered yellow taxis in Panama are generally safe if taken from a taxi stand, and stands are usually found at malls, hotels and main transport hubs; they are not metered and fares are calculated according to the number of zones crossed, so small bills are preferable, a fare should be agreed before departure, the driver told you do not want to share, and passengers should sit in the back, Rideshare apps are commonly used throughout Panama, and the driver’s identity and licence plate should be confirmed before getting in the car, Public transportation in Panama has improved in recent years but may be unreliable, and local buses within Panama City do not always follow a regular route, Vehicle insurance is mandatory in Panama though many Panamanians drive without it; after an accident you should call the police and not move the vehicle until an officer tells you to, and an international driving permit should be carried, Car windows should be kept closed and doors locked at all times and drivers should be prepared for possible roadblocks (September 2026).