The most recommended way to travel from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro, Panama, is by Shuttle and water taxi. The cheapest option is to take a local bus and then a water taxi.
I recommend you book a shuttle from Puerto Viejo to Bocas Town, Panama. It is not much more expensive than taking a public bus and makes the trip much easier.
If you still want to save some bucks, you can hop on the hourly bus to the border in Sixoala.
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How far is Bocas del Toro from Puerto Viejo?
The distance from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro in Panama is about 112 kilometers or 70 miles.
Transportation Options from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro
The following table outlines all transportation options from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro:
| Method | Travel time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bus + Ferry from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro | ~3 hours | USD 20 |
| Shared Shuttle from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro | ~3 hours | USD 48 |
| Flight from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro | – | – |
| Taxi from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro | 3 hours 20 minutes | – |
| Rental Car | 3 hours 20 minutes | – |
Getting to Bocas del Toro from Puerto Viejo
1. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro by bus and ferry
Journey Duration: ~3 hours
The cheapest way to travel to Bocas del Toro is by catching a local bus in Avenida 73 & Calle 213 in Puerto Viejo to Sixoala at the border.
The bus leaves every hour from 06.30 AM and costs less than three USD. Once you arrive at the bus stop in Sixaola, you must go to the immigration office to get your exit stamp in Costa Rica.
From there, you have to walk over a bridge to get to the immigration office in Panama. Once you have your arrival stamp in Panama, you can take a shuttle or taxi to the water taxi in Almirante.
Once you arrive in Almirante, you can take a water taxi for around six USD to Bocas town. Please note: The last water taxi to Bocas Town Panama leaves at 6 PM, so make sure to leave Puerto Viejo no later than midday.
The total cost of the trip is around USD 20.
GuateGo
On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation options from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
2. Shared Van Shuttle (Recommended)
Journey Duration: ~3 hours
A daily shuttle is operated by the “Caribe Shuttle” from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to Bocas Del Toro.
The trip takes around four hours and costs USD 48.
3. Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro Flight
You could theoretically drive back to San José and take a flight to Bocas del Toro.
This might be a solution if you don’t want to travel by boat; however, I don’t recommend it as it is way more expensive and takes much longer than all other options.
4. Driving with Rental Car
Journey Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes
If you don’t want to depend on bus or shuttle schedules, you can also drive yourself from Puerto Viejo to the water taxi gate in Almirante.
You can park your car in Almirante and get on the next ferry to Bocas Town, Panama.
5. Uber or taxi
Journey Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes
It is also possible to take a taxi or Uber from Puerto Viejo to the Costa Rican border in Sixaola.
Once you have crossed the border, you can take another taxi or shuttle to the water taxi gate in Almirante and buy your ticket for the boat trip to Bocas del Toro.
Best day tours in Bocas del Toro, Costa Rica
Get Your Guide helps you find the best tours wherever you are heading to. It’s usually the first website I check when I plan a trip to a new place.
Here you can find some of the best tours in Bocas del Toro, Costa Rica.
