Bocas Del Toro to Hwy 1

I understand there are flights from Bocas to David. Are flight tickets available lickety split or are reservations necessary in advance?

By land, how is bus travel from Almirante to Chiriqui Grande and on to the Interamerican Hwy (#1)?
In other words, what are options for getting from Bocas del Toro to Hwy #1 to resume travel to points east?
Thanks?

Just took bus from Changuinola today to David. Stops at Almirante, about 4 hours from there to David. Lovely road.

The flights between Bocas and David only operate 3 or 4 days a week from what I can remember. Check Air Panama's site for the schedule. It varies, some days you can just walk up and buy the ticket at the counter. Others, you have to book in advance. I would book in advance just to take advantage of any promotional fares. Although fares are pretty cheap these days.

BTW, the bus ride from Almirante usually amounts to a pretty bad puke fest, as the indigenous people (and their many kids and babies in tow) tend to get carsick pretty easily. Everytime I've been on that route it's gotten pretty nasty. One piece of advice, sit as close to the front of the bus as possible.

Yes, I remember being surprised that the bus is the only one that I know of in Panama that actually makes a point of announcing to the passengers that they carry sick bags!

MADE THE TRIP A DOZEN TIMES AND NEVER EXPERIENCE THE BARF SITUATION.........
JUST MY LUCK!