Typically a trip to Panama’s Tocumen International Airport means finding a REALLY nice friend to drive or shelling out $25 for a cab ride there. But if you want to save a ton of money you can try this “travel hack” by using the Metro Bus to get to the Panama airport and pay only $1.25. Here’s what you have to do:
From the airport to Panama City
Step 1: Exit the airport and head to the right
Walk towards Restaurante Selles.
Step 2: Enter the hallway next to the restaurant
The airport has installed ZERO signs that say this leads to the pedestrian walkway going to the main road. At first, it will look like you are entering somewhere that you are not supposed to but this is the correct way.
Continue through the back hallway and outside.
Step 3: Cross the street
Once you reach the end of the walkway, you need to cross the street to get to the bus stop with busses heading back to Panama City.
Step 4: Get on the Tocumen-Corredor Sur bus
They DO NOT sell Metro Bus cards at the airport. If you are a tourist trying to use the bus you will need to kindly ask someone if you can pay them a $1.25 to swipe you through with their card. Wait for the Tocumen-Corredor Sur bus to arrive and DO NOT get on any of the ones that say Via España because it will take forever to get back to the city. Alternatively, you can get onto one of the large white buses that say Tocumen on them, and these accept cash. Once you are on the bus, you can get dropped off anywhere on Avenida Balboa or take the bus all the way to the Albrook terminal and transfer to another bus or hop on the Metro.
From Panama City to the airport
Step 1: Board the Tocumen-Corredor Sur Metro Bus
You can either board this bus on Avenida Balboa on the side of the road closest to the ocean or take the Metro or Metro Bus to the Albrook terminal and transfer to the Tocumen-Corredor Sur bus. I live in San Francisco, so I take the Cinta Costera-Panama Viejo bus to Multicentro Mall and then use the pedestrian bridge to cross the street and catch the bus at that bus stop. The cost of the Tocumen-Corredor Sur bus is $1.25 instead of the standard .25 cent fare because it uses the highway. Do not use the Tocumen busses that do not say, Corredor Sur, because these go a long way and it can add hours to your travel time. Alternatively, you can use the white buses that say Tocumen on them, and these accept cash.
Step 2: Get off at the airport stop
The bus ride from Multicentro to the airport is approximately 30 minutes and if the voice recordings that announce the stops are working you need to get off at the stop that announces “Aeropuerto.” It’s the stop that has a covered walkway right in front of the airport.
Step 3: Continue on the walkway
The walk from the start of the walkway to the airport is around 7 minutes, and it’s pretty straightforward.
You will go through a parking lot and then after that go through this entrance and follow it until the end.
The hallway ends at the entrance of the airport.
Step 4: Head up to the second floor
The pedestrian entrance leads to the level with arriving flights so just head up to the second floor to check into your departing flight.
My total travel time for walking out the door of my apartment to arriving at the doors of the airport was 1 hour and 15 minutes, so it’s longer than taking a taxi, but it’s worth the savings. Here is a breakdown of how long each step took so that you can better plan your trip:
2:00 pm – Arrived at the bus stop closest to my apartment
2:05 pm – Bus arrived
2:20 pm – Arrived at Multicentro and crossed the street to wait at the next bus stop
2:45 pm – Tocumen bus arrived
3:15 pm – Arrived at the airport
I would recommend leaving your house extra early if you are trying to catch a flight or even do a trial run a few days before your flight to see how long it takes.
Also, this is NOT a trip you want to do with large luggage (I think they won’t let you on the bus with a giant suitcase). It’s best to do this for short trips where you just have a small carry-on bag or suitcase.
Remember, using the bus is only recommended if you have small carry-on luggage. Otherwise, I recommend paying the extra money for a taxi or uber.
Enjoy the savings!
145 Comments
Hello, I have read a lot of good things on this website that I know will be useful for my upcoming trip to PTY. My question is once I get to Albrook Terminal, which bus will take me to Aloft Hotel (Via Israel & Calle 76, San Francisco Panama). I will be traveling there in about a week and didn’t know if the Panama Viejo-via Israel-Mariscos metro comes to Albrook Terminal. I read on your site that seeing the best of the city is to get on this bus from San Francisco. Thank you in advance!
going to Panama first time , how can i get to the hotel Secrotel from the airport.
Anyone tried to pay cash with the big white bus?
Dear Sir Thank you for making my upcoming trip to Panama City 9/18/19 BUT can you purchased the Metro card online (USA) before my trip ?
It’s not possible to buy a metro card online but you can purchase one inside any of the metro stations.
this is so freaking awesome. I will be in PTY for 10 hrs layover so I cant wait to use this
Very good explanation with photos. I wish I saw it before we came to Panamá city. Now, I know how to go back to the airport without spending 30$ US on a taxi. On April 2018, you can buy a metrobus pass for 10$ US. It worth it. Métro is easy to take and you pay for each station at the end.
Maintenant plus facile à prendre l’autobus grâce à tes explications et photos. Bravo! Ça vaut la peine d’acheter la carte de débit (rechargeable au station de métro) metrobus indispensable pour le métro et les bus. Aucun argent accepté. Possible de l’acheter à l’aéroport pour 10$ US. On est en avril 2018. Merci!
Bernard, Toutes les lectures actuelles mentionnent que nous ne pouvons acheter une cartemetro bus à l’aéroport. Donc, vous me confirmer que nous pouvons en obtenir une à Tocumen airport… Selon votre experience, quelle station de métro devons-nous rejoindre en provenance de l’aéroport cers Albrook?
Richard
Hi Joey,
nice work!
We did the trip today and it worked out pretty well.
Now there are signs leading the way from the airport to the bus station. That made it really easy to find. It,s possible to leave the bus earlier at metro station 5 de Mayo to connect to the metro.
Thank you so much.
Greetings
Hans from Germany
Did you take the White Bus as he mentioned or the city bus, how did that work out?
Hi Joe, Outstanding piece of work! It was most helpfull….you should do more such things about PC! Thanks very much from 2 South Africans.