There are 6 ways to get from Panama to Costa Rica by plane, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Tocumen International Airport
best- Fly from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane PTY - SJO
4h 16m$190–490Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal de Albrook to Terminal Tica Busbus Panamá / ...
16h 40m$55–90Drive 782.5 km
- Drive from Panama City to San Josécar 782.5 km
12h 49m$126–182Bus, bus to Golfito, fly
- Take the bus from David to Fronterabus
- Take the bus from Paso Canoas to Golfitobus
- Fly from Golfito (GLF) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane GLF - SJO
5h 11m$236–267Bus, bus to Puerto Jiménez Airport, fly
- Take the bus from David to Fronterabus
- Take the bus from Paso Canoas to Ciudad Neilybus
- Take the bus from Ciudad Neily to Puerto Jiménezbus
- Fly from Puerto Jiménez Airport (PJM) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane PJM - SJO
6h 31mBus via Terminal Tica Bus Panamá
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus Panamá to Terminal Tica Bus San Josébus Terminal Albrook – Terminal San José
18h 10m$55–80
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Panama to Costa Rica is to bus which costs $55 - $95 and takes 16h 40m.
The fastest way to get from Panama to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 4h 16m and costs $190 - $490.
No, there is no direct bus from Panama to Costa Rica. However, there are services departing from Terminal de Albrook and arriving at Terminal Tica Bus via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 40m.
The distance between Panama and Costa Rica is 565 km. The road distance is 782.5 km.
The best way to get from Panama to Costa Rica without a car is to bus which takes 16h 40m and costs $55 - $95.
It takes approximately 4h 16m to get from Panama to Costa Rica, including transfers.
Panama to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), depart from Terminal de Albrook station.
The best way to get from Panama to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 4h 16m and costs $190 - $490. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $55 - $95 and takes 16h 40m.
Panama to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), arrive at Terminal Tica Bus station.
Costa Rica is 1h behind Panama. It is currently 10:36 AM in Panama and 9:36 AM in Costa Rica.
What companies run services between Panama and Costa Rica?
Copa Airlines flies from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) every 3 hours. Alternatively, Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter) operates a bus from Terminal de Albrook to Terminal Tica Bus 4 times a day. Tickets cost $58–90 and the journey takes 15h 30m.
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Golfito to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–250
Flights from Golfito to Juan Santamaría International Airport via Puerto Jiménez Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–250
Flights from Puerto Jiménez Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–240
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Golfito to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–250
Flights from Puerto Jiménez Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–240
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Tocumen International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–340
- Website
- costaricagreenair.com
Flights from Puerto Jiménez Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
Bus from Terminal de Albrook to Terminal Tica Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $58–90
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $60–90
- Phone
- +507 314 6886
- [email protected]
- Website
- Transporte Panamá Chiriqui Frontera
Bus from David to Frontera
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $12–13
- Schedules at
- Transporte Panamá Chiriqui Frontera
Bus from David to Frontera
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $12–13
- Schedules at
- Transporte Panamá Chiriqui Frontera
Bus from Paso Canoas to Golfito
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $4
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
Bus from Paso Canoas to Ciudad Neily
- Ave. Duration
- 23 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
- Phone
- +506 2783 4293
- [email protected]
Bus from Ciudad Neily to Puerto Jiménez
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $16
- Schedules at
- yoviajocr.com
- Phone
- +52 962 625 2435
- [email protected]
- Website
- Tica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus Panamá to Terminal Tica Bus San José
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Website
- Tica Bus
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including What documents do I need to cross Niagara Falls?, How to get from Southend Airport into central London, and How do I get from Sydney to Melbourne - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Panama to Costa Rica is 783 km. It takes approximately 12h 49m to drive from Panama to Costa Rica.
There are 738+ hotels available in Costa Rica.