Bus from Panama City to David
Padafront + Expreso Panamá Pullman · ~6-7 hours via Pan-American Highway · US$15-25 · Daily + overnight cama option
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The Panama City → David route is the standard transit to Panama's Chiriquí transit hub — gateway to Boquete, Volcán, the Costa Rica border, and the Almirante ferry for Bocas del Toro. ~6-7 hours west via Pan-American Highway.
Spring Bus connects you to operators on this route — Padafront + Expreso Panamá + Terminales David Pullmans ($15-25 USD, multiple daily including overnight cama).
Route details: Panama City to David
Travel time
6 h 30 min
Distance
440 km
Typical fare
$15 – $25 USD per person
Frequency
Multiple daily Pullmans + overnight cama option
First departure
Approx. 6:00 AM
Last departure
Approx. 11:00 PM (overnight)
Operators on this route
Padafront · Expreso Panamá · Terminales David
Pickup at Panama City
Albrook Gran Terminal de Transportes
Drop-off at David
David central bus terminal — onward to Boquete (~30 min, $2-5 USD) or Costa Rica border at Paso Canoas (~30 min, $3-8 USD)
About the journey
The Panama City → David route is the standard transit to Panama's Chiriquí transit hub — ~6-7 hours west on the Pan-American Highway. Padafront + Expreso Panamá run multiple daily Pullmans + overnight cama option. From David, onward connections to Boquete + Volcán (Chiriquí highlands) + the Paso Canoas Costa Rica border + the Almirante ferry for Bocas del Toro.
Travel tips for Panama City → David
- Overnight cama Pullman (~11 PM departure) is the popular option — arrive David early morning refreshed.
- Daytime Pullman (~6 AM-5 PM) for scenic Pan-American Highway daytime travel.
- Onward to Boquete — local bus from David (~30 min, $2-5 USD).
- Onward to Volcán — local bus from David (~1 h, $2-5 USD).
- Onward to Costa Rica via Paso Canoas border — local bus from David (~30 min, $3-8 USD).
- Onward to Almirante for Bocas del Toro ferry — local bus from David (~3-4 h, $8-15 USD).
- David itself is functional rather than scenic — most travelers transfer through quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the bus from Panama City to David?
**About 6-7 hours** on Padafront / Expreso Panamá Pullman via Pan-American Highway.
How much is the bus from Panama City to David?
**US$15-25 per person** on Padafront / Expreso Panamá Pullman. Overnight cama slightly more expensive than daytime Pullman.
Why visit David?
**Primarily as a transit hub** — gateway to **Boquete + Volcán** (Chiriquí highlands), the **Paso Canoas Costa Rica border**, and the **Almirante ferry for Bocas del Toro**. **David itself is functional rather than scenic** — limited tourist appeal beyond transit.
What time do Pullmans leave Panama City for David?
**Daily — typically 6 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM, 11 PM (overnight cama)** for Padafront + Expreso Panamá + Terminales David.
Can I continue to Boquete or Costa Rica same-day?
**Yes for both.** Boquete is ~30 min from David ($2-5 USD local bus). Paso Canoas Costa Rica border is ~30 min south of David ($3-8 USD local bus + walk-across border). Most travelers arrive David late afternoon + continue to Boquete same day; cross-border travelers continue to Paso Canoas same day.
Going the other direction?