How to Get From Panama City to Chiriqui
One of our most commonly asked questions is “What is the easiest way to get to Chiriqui (David) from Panama City?” Yes, we are all still waiting for international flights to fly directly into David. Until then, there are a few other options. Generally, one can choose to fly domestically into David, take the public bus service across the country or hire a private driver. All viable options depending on your needs and situation.
The fastest way to reach Chiriqui of course is to fly into the Enrique Malek Airport in David from Panama City. Presently, there are two airlines that provide this service; Air Panama and Copa. The deciding factor is usually from which airport you want to depart. Air Panama is serviced out of the Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport, commonly referred to as “Albrook airport.” This public airport is located less than one mile west of the center of Panama City. It is the former site of the Albrook Air Force Station and is centrally located to most points in Panama City; directly across the street from Albrook Mall and the Metro transit station making this airport a popular choice.
Copa Airlines flies into David from Tocumen International Airport. Tocumen is located approximately 12.5 miles from city center which doesn’t sound far, but having to deal with typical city traffic can make it a big inconvenience. Tocumen is where most people enter the country and is also where many other airlines and international flights arrive and depart. So, for many it makes sense to use Copa when connecting to other flights.
For a fraction of the cost, a third option is to take the bus from Panama City to David (or several points in Chiriqui.) The Terminal Nacional de Transport, or the “Albrook Transit Station” is the center of everything. All busses to all points within Panama can be found in this terminal. The ticket windows are in the main aisle and are clearly marked with destinations. All tickets are purchased from these windows and are manned with personnel to answer your questions. Schedules and costs are usually posted here. There are two bus services that service Chiriqui, TDP (Terminales David Panama) and Panachief. Two separate companies with similar costs. These buses run frequently throughout the day and night and offer a couple of express options that will get you to David in about 6 hours overnight; sometimes without a restroom break. Although the bus is a great option, be aware that it can get very cold with the A/C blasting making the cabin cold enough to hang meat. This seems to be the case primarily at night. This terminal is the home of the metro train that can rapidly transport you to different locals within the city. Currently the metro has only one line, but the progress of the second line (that will go out near Tocumen) is well on its way.
A final option to travel from Panama City to Chiriqui is to hire a private transportation service. Some
taxi drivers will also make the trip for you. In this case it is best to get referrals. Presently, the general cost by personal transport service from Panama City to David is about $500.
Hopefully this clarifies options of travel between Panama City and Chiriqui. There are currently plans for a train service that will offer yet another great option for accessing the interior of the country.
