A few travellers have been updating our bus schedule information for David. Here is what we have and check the comment section at the bottom for extra details. Several photos come from a great contributor named Maria, have a look in the comments for some excellent advice and info to go with the photos.
David to Panama City
Check the schedule photos below. One great traveller sent us some updates. Can you add more photos and schedules for this stop? Share your travel knowledge!
David to Boquete
One great traveller shared a schedule for buses to Boquete, check below in the photos. Can you add more photos and schedules for this stop? Share your travel knowledge!
David to Paso Canoas
Every 7 minutes with the first bus at 4:30am. Cost is $2.10 and takes 1hr 20min.
Help your fellow traveller
If you have taken any of the buses on this page, please drop us a comment below about how the trip went, what time you left, how long it took and what it cost. And, definitely let us know if we have anything wrong.
Lets help each other in our travels!
Travelled from David to Almirante on Feb 15. It was easy. As we arrived at the terminal looking for a Ticket Office a guy yelled out Almirante and Bocas. It was the white collectivo buses. We paid 14.50 each as we got on. Our main baggage was stored on top of the bus. It was reasonably comfortable and air conditioned but not too cold. We stopped for a bathroom break and snacks at Rambala. Many locals hopped on and off the bus at various places along the way. The driver was careful on the winding mountain road. 4 hrs after leaving David we arrived at Almirante where people were waiting to help you find a taxi to the boat dock for 1 balboa/person and then help you to the ticket office and on to the taxi boat at 6 Balboas each. 30 minutes later we arrived in Bocas Town. The trip was beautiful and very reasonable when you consider the distance travelled.
Thank you, Wilma!
Be careful about connection to Playa la Barqueta (beach) or Las Olas Resort from David.
The busses leaving from the A3 Gateway all will go to Guarumal, but some go slightly different ways and they may go to different points after Guarumal.
Our Spanish is still weak and a friendly local assured us the bus went to the coast. We actually got on one that went down route 48 as far as route 12 and then did a turn east toward Orille del Rio. Which is about 5 km short of the beach. The driver (in broken English) told us to wait at the stop at Route 12 and said there would be another bus coming behind him (20 minutes?) that does go rest of the way.
Return to David was easy and that bus had “La Barqueta” on his front windshield.
Our false start bus cost $1.20 each. The return bus to David was $2.00 each.
Thanks for the extra information!
We did route Panama City-Santiago-Santa Fe. As there is no section for Santa Fe neither Santiago, Im writing it here,maybe it can be helpful. When you arrive to Santiago,enter the bus station and turn left and read red signs on pillars above the parked buses. Stop to the Santa Fe is located next to the men restroom. It is minivan with Santiago – Santa Fe on windshield. It goes often and the one way trip is 2,90$ for one person. The trip was about 2 hours long (way back took us aprox 1,5 hour). You always pay when you are getting of the bus at the arrival station.
SANTIAGO – > DAVID
When traveling to David from Santiago look once again for the minivan this time located at the very end of the station on the right right behind the women rest rooms (this time there is no information on pillar but look for sing Santiago – David on windshield.). The one way trip is 9 $ per person and takes around 2,5 hours.
Thanks, Sylvia!
We traveled from David to Santiago. Please note the schedule above for David to Panama City is through a bus company called
Terminales David-Panama. (a little confusing since you are at Terminal David) Look for the double-decker busses, some were blue and others gray.
The Terminal in David is pretty large! There’s one part with all the mini busses and then down at the other end, there is a waiting room and ticket sales for the big busses. Important note, tickets are not sold until 1 hour before departure.
There was a bathroom on this bus, pretty exciting! Our stop was Santiago which is halfway between David and Panama City. They told us we’d be able to travel there because that was the rest area where they’d take a break. It took a little under 3 hours and cost $9.05 per person.
Knowing a little about Santiago we asked which rest area they’d be going to? We were told La Pyrimidal and ended up at Los Tucanes. This created a lot of confusion upon arrival. Once we met our friends, we found out they are actually right next to each other. Good to know, if this happens to you!
Thank you so much! This is really great information for everyone. I will get all of this incorporated soon. 🙂
After crossing the border in Paso Canoas, we needed to take the bus to David. We took a mini bus but it all happened very quickly. Just after exiting the part where you get stamped, there was a station on the left with a couple busses. The guy wearing a shirt with a logo said he was going to David and leaving now, not sure of the exact company name. The rate was $2 per person and $1 per suitcase and took 1.25 hours. Since this was a mini bus, it was pretty cramped! Also you pay after you get on. We took the bus to Terminales David.
Thank you, Maria!
Every 7 minutes -2,10$. First bus at 4:30am, last bus no idea. Total distance 1h20
David to El Valle
Catch any Panama City bound bus and ask the driver to drop you at Las Uvas, this should take 5hrs and cost approximately $13.
Las Uvas is a tiny village, you’ll need to cross over the overpass and wait on the corner opposite the gas station. A micro bus will pick you from there and take you to El Valle, takes 1-1.5hrs and costs $2.50.
David to The Lost & Found Hostel
At the main station in David look for the micro bus to Changuinola, this is the bus to Bocas del Toro so if you can’t find it just ask someone at the station for the Bocas bus and they’ll point you in the right direction. They leave approximately every hour, the trip takes 1.5-2hrs and costs ~$3.50.
David to Bocas del Toro
At the main station in David look for the micro bus to Changuinola, let the driver know you are going to Bocas. From Almirante take a taxi or walk to the dock then take a boat to Isla Colon $5 ~30mins.
David to Bocas del Toro as of October 2018
Look for the bus to Changuinola at Section E, Gate 25. The cost is now $8.45 to Almirante. This route generally uses a 40-person mini-bus. These leave about every 15 minutes. The trip to Almirante takes 4 hours. (It has taken up to 4.5 hours, but it never has been 1.5-2hrs.) There is usually a food and banos stop at Rambala.
By-the-way, you can get your $5 water taxi ticket in the small office across from the bus gate in David. Banos charge is now $0.35 at the David and Almirante terminals, but only $0.25 at the water taxi building. Rambala banos is still free.