Panama City Transport

Getting around

Contents

Bus & tram

Bus

Panama City has a good network of local buses (nicknamed diablos rojos or ‘red devils’), which run every day from around 5am to 11pm. A ride costs US$0.25, and we promise you’ve never seen anything quite like these tricked-out street rockets. Buses run along the three major west-to-east routes: Av Central–Vía España, Av Balboa–Vía Israel, and Av Simón Bolívar–Vía Transístmica. The Av Central–Vía España streets are one-way going west for much of the route; eastbound buses use Av Perú and Av 4 Sur; these buses will take you into the banking district of El Cangrejo. Buses also run along Av Ricardo J Alfaro (known as Tumba Muerto). There are plenty of bus stops along the street, but you can usually hail one from anywhere. Many of these buses stop at the Albrook bus terminal, the bus station near the Albrook airport.

The Plaza Cinco de Mayo area has three major bus stops. On the corner of Av Central and Av Justo Arosemena, buses depart for Panamá Viejo and the Tocumen International Airport. Buses for the Albrook domestic airport depart in front of the Legislative Palace. Buses depart from the station on Av Roosevelt, opposite the Legislative Palace, for the Balboa and Ancón area (including the Causeway) and other destinations. A ride usually costs no more than US$1.

Local transport

Taxi

Taxis are plentiful. They are not metered, but there is a list of standard fares that drivers are supposed to charge, measured by zones.

The fare for one zone is a minimum of US$1; the maximum fare within the city is US$4. An average ride, crossing a couple of zones, would cost US$1.25 to US$2, plus US$0.25 for each additional passenger. Always agree on a fare before you get into the cab. Taxis can also be rented for US$8 an hour.

Watch out for unmarked large-model US cars serving hotels as cabs. Their prices are up to four times that of regular street taxis. You can phone for a taxi:

America 223 7694

America Libre 223 7342

Latino 224 0677

Metro 264 6788

Taxi Unico Cooperativa 221 3191