Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

rt.</p><p id="fa1e">I paid $11 for an uber from downtown back to the airport so I would expect the fare would be similar in the opposite direction. I would still plan for it to take at least 30 minutes due to traffic but you can have a more comfortable ride in a better car for half the price of a taxi.</p><p id="6cdc">Uber worked well in the city and fares were cheap. One common scam in Panamá is that the driver won’t end your trip in the Uber app and then continue driving after they drop you off so that your trip will look longer and thus cost more. Just make sure that you check the Uber app and if you see that this happened, customer support will take care of the situation for you.</p><h1 id="6d7c">Public Transportation</h1><figure id="798d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*0HKx-i_SuoujvFfN55i6NA.jpeg"><figcaption>This is the bus that you need to catch at the airport</figcaption></figure><p id="6524">Public transportation is going to be the cheapest option but it will take significantly longer. I bought a metro card for$ 5 at the airport and it had $2 of fare preloaded.</p><p id="ee7c">There is no metro stop at the airport so you have to take a bus to the metro stop. The bus will stop at Waiting Area 2 and you can ask anyone and they should help you find it. I waited about 25 or 30 minutes for the metro bus to arrive at the airport. I got on and used my card to pay my fare which was$ 0.25 USD. I took a short bus ride to the Estacion Corredor Sur metro stop where I got off the bus.</p><p id="9b60">The metro train system is pretty simple. There are two lines that intersect so all you need to know is which direction to take. From the area near the airport, you will want to take the Line 2 metro train towards Estacion San Miguelito. From San Miguelito, you will transfer to Line 1 and take the train that heads towards Albrook which will take you downtown.</p><p id="6c4c">The total fare between the bus and the trains will be about $1.25 USD and you can expect the trip to take more than an hour and closer to an hour and a half depending on how long you have to wait for the bus at the airport.</p><p id="8153">I wasn’t traveling with a rolling suitcase but I imagine that it would be quite a hassle dragging a suitcase around the stations and getting into the crowded me

Options

tro cars. If you have a lot of luggage then maybe another option would be easier for you. You should expect the metro cars to be standing room only and very cramped.</p><h1 id="3443">Arrange An Airport Shuttle</h1><p id="b6bf">Due to the nature of the airport being so far away from the city, it is common for hotels to have a shuttle service. You will have to arrange this beforehand so that they can be there when your flight arrives.</p><p id="2d91">This will be the most simple option since they will come to the airport, pick you up, and take you directly to the hotel.</p><p id="9bed">The price will vary for every hotel so just contact them beforehand and see if they have a shuttle and what they charge so that you can compare it to these other options and decide what will work best for you.</p><h1 id="93ae">Notes About Panamá City</h1><figure id="cc01"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*p8g0alSqnEvYtv4LLfi_dA.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="47cd">They sell SIM cards at the airport but they cost $30 USD. If you are comfortable not having service during your trip into the city, then I recommend finding a local store and buying a SIM card there. It will be considerably cheaper and they should have options for less than$ 5 depending on how long you need the SIM.</p><p id="52d1">One nuance of Latin America as a whole is that you can’t rely on Google Maps or Waze as much as we do in other regions. It’s not uncommon for you to search for something, see that they are open on Google, and then when you arrive there is nothing even there. Or sometimes they will close early for the day with no warning. It’s just the way things operate so be ready to be flexible.</p><p id="2c40">As a white male from the United States that can speak decent Spanish, I felt totally safe on both the bus and train. I have a bit of experience traveling in Latin America and I felt very safe there. The city felt safer than many other Latin American cities but phone snatching is pretty common in most of Latin America so of course, always keep your guard up and be careful with your phone in public. Don’t make yourself an easy target and you likely won’t become a victim.</p><p id="26b9">Panamá City, Panamá is a really cool city so be sure to enjoy your trip and be safe!</p></article></body>

Getting To Downtown Panama City from Tocumen Intl Airport

If you are flying into Panamá then you more than likely will land at Tocumen International Airport(PTY). If you have a long layover or if you are staying for a few days, then you will need to find transportation to the city from the airport.

The airport is located about 18km (11 miles) from the city center so walking isn’t an option. Luckily, there are several options to choose from in every budget. The most common options are taking a taxi, Uber, public transportation, or a prearranged airport shuttle.

To start, the US dollar is the currency used in Panamá so if you are coming from the United States then you won’t have to change your money. You might get some Balboas in change, but they have the same value as the corresponding US coins.

Taxis

The numbers on the door are what you should look for. This means it is a registered taxi.

The taxistas or taxi drivers at the airport are pushy and assertive. They will likely bombard you with offers to drive you to the city and tell you how much faster they can get you there.

It seems like the prices start at $30 USD and I was curious how far I could negotiate it down. I got the price down to $20 before walking away. Definitely don’t pay the first price that they offer. It helps to know a little bit of Spanish because they will definitely take advantage of gringos every chance that they can.

Taking a taxi will take about 30 minutes to get from the airport to the city center. If you take a taxi, make sure it is an official taxi. Most will be yellow and look for the sticker on the side with the numbers.

Uber

I used uber a few times in the city and I also used it to go back to the airport since I was short on time and I knew the metro would take a while. If you have cellphone service, then you can call an Uber to pick you up at the airport.

I paid $11 for an uber from downtown back to the airport so I would expect the fare would be similar in the opposite direction. I would still plan for it to take at least 30 minutes due to traffic but you can have a more comfortable ride in a better car for half the price of a taxi.

Uber worked well in the city and fares were cheap. One common scam in Panamá is that the driver won’t end your trip in the Uber app and then continue driving after they drop you off so that your trip will look longer and thus cost more. Just make sure that you check the Uber app and if you see that this happened, customer support will take care of the situation for you.

Public Transportation

This is the bus that you need to catch at the airport

Public transportation is going to be the cheapest option but it will take significantly longer. I bought a metro card for $5 at the airport and it had $2 of fare preloaded.

There is no metro stop at the airport so you have to take a bus to the metro stop. The bus will stop at Waiting Area 2 and you can ask anyone and they should help you find it. I waited about 25 or 30 minutes for the metro bus to arrive at the airport. I got on and used my card to pay my fare which was $0.25 USD. I took a short bus ride to the Estacion Corredor Sur metro stop where I got off the bus.

The metro train system is pretty simple. There are two lines that intersect so all you need to know is which direction to take. From the area near the airport, you will want to take the Line 2 metro train towards Estacion San Miguelito. From San Miguelito, you will transfer to Line 1 and take the train that heads towards Albrook which will take you downtown.

The total fare between the bus and the trains will be about $1.25 USD and you can expect the trip to take more than an hour and closer to an hour and a half depending on how long you have to wait for the bus at the airport.

I wasn’t traveling with a rolling suitcase but I imagine that it would be quite a hassle dragging a suitcase around the stations and getting into the crowded metro cars. If you have a lot of luggage then maybe another option would be easier for you. You should expect the metro cars to be standing room only and very cramped.

Arrange An Airport Shuttle

Due to the nature of the airport being so far away from the city, it is common for hotels to have a shuttle service. You will have to arrange this beforehand so that they can be there when your flight arrives.

This will be the most simple option since they will come to the airport, pick you up, and take you directly to the hotel.

The price will vary for every hotel so just contact them beforehand and see if they have a shuttle and what they charge so that you can compare it to these other options and decide what will work best for you.

Notes About Panamá City

They sell SIM cards at the airport but they cost $30 USD. If you are comfortable not having service during your trip into the city, then I recommend finding a local store and buying a SIM card there. It will be considerably cheaper and they should have options for less than $5 depending on how long you need the SIM.

One nuance of Latin America as a whole is that you can’t rely on Google Maps or Waze as much as we do in other regions. It’s not uncommon for you to search for something, see that they are open on Google, and then when you arrive there is nothing even there. Or sometimes they will close early for the day with no warning. It’s just the way things operate so be ready to be flexible.

As a white male from the United States that can speak decent Spanish, I felt totally safe on both the bus and train. I have a bit of experience traveling in Latin America and I felt very safe there. The city felt safer than many other Latin American cities but phone snatching is pretty common in most of Latin America so of course, always keep your guard up and be careful with your phone in public. Don’t make yourself an easy target and you likely won’t become a victim.

Panamá City, Panamá is a really cool city so be sure to enjoy your trip and be safe!