Once you enter Panama you must proceed through immigration. There are only 4 windows in immigration, so lines can get long. After clearing immigration you have to pass through customs. Generally speaking the process is rather quick and you will be required to open your suitcases). The lines are divided into "articles to declare" and "nothing to declare".

When you leave the airport you will most likely be approached by taxi drivers. If you want to travel alone to the city the cost one-way is about $20.00. If you prefer, you can share a taxi or small mini-van with others and pay less.

There are no public buses that arrive to the terminals entrance, however, if you are willing to walk a bit there are public buses that pass just out front. About 5 -8 minutes from the terminal, just off to the right, there is a circular intersection with a bus stop. Both local (non air conditioned) and direct buses (air conditioned) pass by here. Take the air conditioned bus! Both buses pass through the city, and stop at several different locations. The direct bus always rides along the new pista just completed and is much quicker. The buses read Corredor Sur/Tocumen Airport, and they cost about $0.75.Might be an option for backpackers.

BY BUS VIA THE PACIFIC COAST
There are several ways you can get to Panama from San Jose, but first you have to decide just how far you want to go and on which coast you want to enter Panama. The Pacific coast is by far the most heavily traveled, as all commercial traffic pass along this route. For those visiting Panama and not heading directly to Bocas del Toro the Pacific coast is most likely how they will enter the country.

If you are interested in going from San Jose to Panama City both Panaline and Tica Bus offer direct service from San Jose, which costs approximately $20.00-$23.00 each way. Buses normally depart daily and take about 14-15 hours to complete the trip. They are large, air conditioned and comfortable. You may or may not stop along the way before reaching the border.

You can also take a bus to the border and later catch a bus on the Panama side with the bus company called Padafront. This bus leaves at regular intervals from the border throughout the day and stops in David en route to the Panama City.

If you want to go only as far as David (the capital of the Chiriqui Province and just 30 minutes from the mountain community of Boquete) and not to Panama City, there is a bus that departs San Jose every morning from the Tracopa bus terminal at 7:30 a.m. and costs approximately $8.00 one way. The bus makes a short stop in San Isidro, and later a 30 minute rest stop before reaching the border. The trip from San Jose to the border takes approximately 7 hours. Once clearing the border the ride to David is only 45 minutes. If you arrived at the border and decided that you wanted to go as far as Panama City you could take the Padafront bus mentioned above. You would lose the money you spent on the portion between the border and David, but it's rather insignificant.

If you go as far as David on this particular bus you can proceed to Panama City with either Padafront or Panama-David bus lines. These buses, similar to Tica Bus and Panaline, are also large, comfortable and air conditioned, but are not direct unless you take the midnight bus. The bus ride takes about 7 hours and stops midway at Santiago for about 30 minutes where you can eat. Bus at either company depart nearly every hour, perhaps less if they fill up quickly. The ride costs approximately $11.00 and takes about 7 hours. There is an express bus which is quicker and costs a few dollars extra, but it only departs in the late evening.

The roads between San Jose and Panama City are in generally good shape, particularly in Panama. While the roads in Costa Rica have improved somewhat, mostly on the main arteries, there are still large potholes littering the roads.

BY BUS VIA THE ATLANTIC COAST
You can reach Panama along the Caribbean coast as well, in fact, most tourists visiting Bocas del Toro arrive this way.

You can take a direct bus from San Jose, Costa Rica to Changuinola, Panama which departs every morning at 9:00; there is really no bus terminal for this bus, but it departs just one half block north of the Panaline bus terminal (1 1/2 blocks north of Coca Cola bus terminal). This particular block comes to a point and on that point is a parking lot. The attendant in the office can help you. Normally you purchase your tickets on the bus itself. This bus stops in Limon and may or may not stop along the rest of the way. The trip costs about $8.00 and lasts between 5-6 hours. This bus does not have air conditioning or a bathroom, but it is comfortable. It usually never leaves full.

You can also take a direct or local bus to Sixaola, which is the border town on Costa Rica's side. Buses depart San Jose to Sixaola daily from the Caribbean Terminal just north of the city. These buses are similar to those mentioned above.

As well, you can also take a direct bus from San Jose to Limon, and later catch a bus to Sixaola. Buses leaving San Jose en route to Limon depart throughout the day, and they are large, modern and comfortable. It's important that you arrive early enough in Limon in order to be able catch the bus heading to Sixaola.

Assuming you don't take the direct bus to Changuinola but rather a bus to the border only, once clearing the border you will need to obtain a taxi to Changuinola. Taxis charge per ride so if the taxi is full you'll only pay about $1.00 per person. If you travel alone they will probably try to charge you about $3.00 - $5.00. There are always taxis arriving from and departing to Changuinola. The ride lasts 20 minutes, on a poorly maintained road.

From Changuinola buses and taxis can be obtained if you would like to head on to Almirante, which is where the water taxis depart en route to Bocas Island. Buses from Changuinola to Almirante cost $1.00, and they are small minivans, but very comfortable and air conditioned. A taxi ride from Changuinola to Almirante costs $10.00 per ride and NOT per passenger. The route is the same, and the road has been recently paved. If you are really pressed for time you can hire a taxi at the border to take you directly to Almirante for about $15.00. The buses that run from Changuinola to Almirante end just near where the water taxis depart. It's not more than a 3-5 minute walk. Just ask for directions when you arrive at the bus stop.

There are now water taxis that depart right from Changuinola en route to Isla Colon, Bocas. So, you really don't need to make the trip from Changuinola to Almirante. The water taxi takes about 1 hour each way and costs $5.00 per person. From central Almirante it shouldn't cost more than $1.00 to get to the water taxi port.

It is important to point out that the last water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town is said to leave no later than 6:00 p.m., so if you arrive Changuinola any later than say 4:30 p.m. it is recommended that you take a taxi and not public bus; the bus ride takes about 1 1/4 hours whereas the taxi can make the trip in around 25 minutes.

The coastal road in Costa Rica between Bri Bri and Sixaola has recently been paved, saving much time. Weekends tend to be busier as local travel between the countryside and city, thus the bus will probably stop more often.