getting to Palmar
Palmar is located directly on Red Frog Beach, on the Northside of Bastimentos Island. From Isla Colon (main island), take a water taxi to the "Palmar dock at Red Frog" ($5-10 pp). After a scenic 15 minute boat ride, the boat will bring you to a small dock on the bayside entrance of Red Frog Beach. You will then have a beautiful ten minute walk to Palmar across a jungle path where you can see monkeys, sloths, red frogs and caimans if you keep your eyes open! Please carry proof of your Palmar reservation to avoid the $5 Park Entrance fee. If you cannot carry your luggage, let us know ahead of time so we can arrange a wheelbarrow (subject to availability).
getting to Bocas
FROM PANAMA CITY
FASTEST: Fly to Bocas on Air Panama (around $100 one way, 1 hour). Buy tickets at www.airpanama.com
CHEAPEST: Take bus departing from Albrook bus station to Almirante ($28 one way, 10 hours), and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($6 per person, 40 minutes). Busses leave around 7:30 am and 7:30 pm. You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.
TIP: Bring warm clothes -- the bus is very cold.
FROM DAVID, PANAMA
Take a bus to Almirante ($8 one way, 4.5 hours) and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($6 per person, 40 minutes).
FROM BOQUETE, PANAMA
FASTEST: Take the Mamallena shuttle ($30 including boat, 3.5 hours). Departs Boquete at 8 am. Departs Bocas at 11:30 am for return trip. You can make a reservation directly online by clicking here.
CHEAPEST: Take the public bus to David (departs near center Plaza). Then take public bus to Almirante, and finally water taxi to Bocas Town ($6 per person, 40 minutes)
FROM SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
FASTEST: Fly to Bocas on Aerobell (around $110-150 one way, 1 hour). Only flies on Friday and Sunday. Book at www.aerobell.com
CHEAPEST: Take Bocatoreños Bus Line to Changuinola, Panama. Departs daily at 9 am from in front of Hotel Cocorí in San Jose ($14 one way, 6 hours). From Changuinola take a taxi to Almirante ($5-10 per person, 45 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($6 per person, 40 minutes).
ALSO CONSIDERABLE: Caribe Shuttle Bus directly to Almirante ($75 includes lunch, Wi-Fi, and boat to Bocas; 10 hours). Book below.
FROM PUERTO VIEJO, COSTA RICA
FASTEST: Caribe Shuttle directly to Almirante ($32 includes boat to Bocas, Wi-Fi; 3 hours). Book below.
CHEAPEST: Take a public bus to the border at Sixaola ($3, around 2 hours), then a bus from the border to Almirante ($3 per person, 1 hour 20 minutes), and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town ($6 per person, 40 minutes).
