Paso Canoas (border with Costa Rica) >> David, Panama
The closest border to David is at Paso Canoa, and it is the busiest border crossing between the two countries. The buses that go directly from San Jose to Panama City, and they can drop you off in David though you’ll be another short bus ride to the main terminal. If you’re coming from the border there are colectivos that run every 7-8 minutes between 7 in the morning until 10:30 at night. It costs $2.10USD and takes about an hour and twenty minutes.
David >> Boquete >> David
Bus schedule David // Boquete
Boquete is located about an hour and a half away from David by bus. From David, buses leave regularly from the main bus terminal between 4am and 7pm. It costs $1.75USD one-way. To get to the bus terminal, take any inter-city colectivo (for example, “Frontera David” or “Concepcion David”) for$0.35USD.
The “Zona Urbana” buses do not go to the bus terminal. Or, you can take a cab for around $1USD per person. When you get to the terminal, there will be a line of colectivos and chicken buses — where they go will be indicated both on signs on the buses as well as small signs hung from the ceiling. The bus to Boquete is a larger chicken bus, so it’s pretty easy to spot.
The bus drops you off next to the main plaza in Boquete. To catch the bus back to David, head back to the plaza and look for Restaurante Baru on the far corner. If you’re on the main street looking at the fountain, it will be to the right. The bus leaves from that corner, right in front of Frituras and Delicias ENA. If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, we highly recommend trying the pineapple empanadas while you’re waiting for the bus to leave.
David >> Boca Chica/Boca Brava
From David, you must first go to Horconcitos. There is a direct bus daily from David to Horconcitos that leaves from the main terminal in David, takes about an hour to get to Horconcitos and costs $2USD. They will drop you off in front of Restaurant Kaylie at the beginning of the road to Boca Chica. There are also a number of buses that will pass the road into Horconcitos and they can drop you at the turnoff. The colectivos to Boca Chica generally wait at this turnoff before coming into Horconcitos. To Boca Chica from the turnoff or Horconcitos it costs $3USD per person. Once you arrive in Boca Chica you must take a small boat to Boca Brava. The boat costs $1USD to go to “la rampa” (near Donde Julio) or $3USD to Hotel y Restaurante Boca Brava.
Take me to SLEEPING : DAVID
Take me back to DAVID // Take me back to PANAMA // Take me HOME