Public transport in Panama City

Overview

The Panama Metro (Spanish: Metro de Panamá) is a rapid transit system serving Panama City and its metropolitan area. It was developed to ease traffic congestion between the city and the San Miguelito District and to provide an alternative to road transport, and it operates daily throughout the year. It is the first and only subway system in Central America, and it supplements the MiBus bus network rather than replacing it.

Riding it end to end as a visitor is straightforward. You enter a station, tap a rechargeable card at the turnstile, ride to your destination, and tap out where required. Cash is not accepted on the metro or on Metrobus buses, so your first task on arrival is to obtain a card. The system is small and legible: two lines are in operation, with a single interchange between them, and trains run from early morning until late at night. Because the metro does not reach every place of interest, you will often combine a metro ride with a Metrobus trip or a short taxi ride for the last leg.

The network

The network is built around the metro, with an extensive bus system filling in the gaps and long-distance coaches and ferries handling travel beyond the capital.

Panama Metro (Metro de Panamá)

• Line 1 (Línea 1) — opened on April 6, 2014, after the first public passenger trips were carried out on April 5. It runs on a mostly north–south route from Albrook in the west to San Isidro in the north, and was extended to a new northern terminus at Villa Zaita, which opened on April 25, 2024. It now spans 18.1 kilometres (11.2 mi) with 15 stations, roughly equal parts elevated and underground, with the section from Albrook to El Ingenio being underground. It passes Via España, Plaza 5 de Mayo and El Ingenio, and a full trip takes around 26 minutes.
• Line 2 (Línea 2) — opened in 2019, temporarily opening for World Youth Day in late January before entering regular service on April 25 of that year. It serves the northern and eastern suburbs, extending 24 kilometres (15 mi) with 18 stations. Areas served include San Miguelito, Paraíso, the Via Cincuentenario intersection, Villa Lucre, Brisas del Golf, Los Pueblos and Metromall shopping centres, San Antonio, El Parador in the Pedregal corregimiento, Don Bosco, the Technological University of Panama (UTP), Las Mañanitas, Eastern Hospital, Altos de Tocumen, La Doña shopping centre in the 24 de Diciembre sector, and Nuevo Tocumen.
• El Ramal (the Line 2 airport branch) — a branch of Line 2 connecting Corredor Sur and Tocumen International Airport (Aeropuerto), opened on March 16, 2023. There are no through trains to Aeropuerto; trains on the branch start at Corredor Sur.
• San Miguelito station — the interchange between Line 1 and Line 2.
• Line 3 (Línea 3) — a 24.5-kilometre (15.2 mi) monorail with 11 stations under construction, linking Ciudad del Futuro in the Arraiján District with Albrook station, where it will connect to Line 1. It is expected to serve a daily demand of 160,000 passengers with a travel time of 37 minutes, and it will become the first Japanese-technology monorail in Latin America, with rolling stock supplied by Hitachi Rail. It is not yet open to passengers.

The metro is part of a broader National Master Plan to improve transportation around Panama City, which includes the construction of two additional rapid transit lines, two monorail lines, three tram lines, and an aerial lift line. Note that no tram, light-rail or aerial lift line is currently in passenger service.

Metrobus (MiBus)

The city replaced the flamboyant former "diablo rojo" buses with modern, air-conditioned city buses known as MetroBus, operated by MiBus. The network covers areas not served by the metro, including Panama, San Miguelito and Colón districts. In September 2018 an alphanumeric route coding system was introduced to make routes easier to identify, and there are three route types: Corridors, Complementary and Trunk. Key routes include the Corredor Sur and Corredor Norte express routes linking the city centre with the suburbs, and many routes originate or terminate at Albrook Bus Terminal, which connects to the metro. Look for the orange sign to find stops. Route and schedule information is available via the MiBus app or official website.

Diablo rojo (chicken buses)

Panamanians call a chicken bus a diablo rojo. Once a common sight in the city, they are now relatively rare and do not travel through most city neighbourhoods. In 2013 the diablos rojos were phased out from the main city routes, but they still connect the city with outlying suburbs. Fares are $0.25, and the destination is written across the front windshield in large letters. Buses are privately owned and drivers usually compete with each other for passengers, which is why they carry colourful decorations. They can get crowded, and it is not unusual to see three people seated on a two-person bench with many more standing in the aisle.

Suburban and intercity rail

The only train service is between Panama City and Colón on the Panama Canal Railroad. It is mostly a freight train, but it has a very nice passenger car, and the ride offers excellent views of the Panama Canal and the tropical rain forest. In a way it is the only "transcontinental commuter rail line" in the world, as some people live in Colón and work in Panama City or vice versa and commute using this train. Trains arrive at Corozal Passenger Station (Estación de Pasajeros de Corozal) in the western suburbs near Albrook Airport. As of February 2024 the train has been reopened for service, but only for passengers on excursions from cruise ships.

Long-distance buses

Panama City has one of the most modern bus terminals in Latin America, the Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte, commonly referred to as "Albrook". It is the main hub and is well organised, sitting next to the domestic Albrook airport and forming part of a shopping mall of the same name. Longer-distance buses leave from the eastern side of the terminal on the ground level, and you pass through turnstiles by paying $0.10. Arrivals are usually on the first floor above the terminal building. International services including Ticabus and Expreso Panama (Panaline) start and end here, and the terminal also serves David, Santiago, Chitré, Bocas del Toro and other major cities and towns. Metrobuses serving the terminal arrive and leave from the western side, between the bus terminal and the Albrook Mall. Access to the metro station is via a bridge in the centre of the terminal.

Ferries

Regular ferries connect Panama City with the Pearl Islands, including Contadora and Saboga. The trip takes about 90–120 minutes depending on the island, and tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the departure pier on the Causeway. Most visitors arriving by sea come on cruise ships, which usually dock at the Fuerte Amador Cruise Terminal on the Amador Causeway. There is no public ferry service through the canal itself.

Tickets & fares

The metro and Metrobus share a single rechargeable smartcard, so one card covers both. Cash is not accepted on either system, which makes the card effectively mandatory. Fares below are approximate and change, so confirm current prices locally.

The cards

• Tarjeta Metro — the metro's reloadable card. It has an initial cost of $2 and can be purchased and reloaded at any station with cash or a credit or debit card.
• Tarjeta Metrobus — the prepaid chip card for the bus network. It stores up to $50.00 in fares and is rechargeable. The card itself costs 4.00 balboas and must be recharged before use. The minimum recharge is 0.50 balboas and the maximum single recharge is $50.00.
• RapiPass 3en1 — sold inside the Albrook terminal, this card can be used on the metrobus, the metro and the terminal (including the $0.10 terminal fee at turnstiles and toilet use). The card costs $2 and needs to be topped up.

Where to buy and reload

Metro cards are available and reloadable at any station. Metrobus card purchase points include the metro stations Iglesia del Carmen, Albrook, Los Andes and 5 de Mayo, plus sales and recharge points across Panama City and San Miguelito. You can recharge in person at authorised establishments with cash and receive a receipt, or online: select a provider, enter the card number, confirm, pay, and then download the balance at a self-service kiosk or totem. You can check your balance by entering the card number at the Metrobus card website. If you lose your card, buy a new one at an authorised point; registering your card makes it easier to check your balance.

Fares

• Metro Line 1: $0.35 per ride.
• Metro Line 2: $0.50 per ride.
• Line 1 to Line 2 transfer: $0.85 total.
• Metro student fare: $0.17 per trip.
• Metrobus trunk route: $0.25.
• Metrobus corridor route: $1.25.
• Metrobus student fare: $0.10.
• Metrobus general range: roughly $0.25–$0.75 depending on distance and route.
• Diablo rojo: $0.25.
• Regional colectivos or chivas: typically $1–$5 depending on route and distance.
• Intercity coaches: roughly $5–$20 depending on distance; for example Panama City to David is about $15–$20.

Discount fares for students, retirees, seniors and people with disabilities require a personalised card. No dedicated tourist pass is documented in the sources; visitors generally use the standard reloadable cards and top up as needed. Keep your card loaded to avoid boarding delays, and reload at metro stations and select bus stops.

Hours

• Monday–Friday: 5:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Saturdays: 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Sundays and holidays: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

One source gives the last train as leaving at 22:00 all week, with the first train leaving Monday to Saturday at 05:00 and Sunday at 07:00, so treat the closing time as approximate and check locally. The schedule may vary on holidays and during special events. Metrobus hours are roughly 4:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., varying by route and day.

From the airport

Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is the main airport, located in San Miguelito about 32 km northeast of Panama City, and there is a Panama metro station near the terminal. The metro's Line 2 airport branch, El Ramal, connects Corredor Sur and Tocumen International Airport (Aeropuerto) and opened on March 16, 2023. There are no through trains to Aeropuerto, so you start your journey at Corredor Sur and change there. From Corredor Sur you can reach the rest of the network, transferring between Line 2 and Line 1 at San Miguelito.

By road, a taxi to or from the international airport typically costs $30 including tolls if you take the Corredor Sur highway. Ride-hailing apps Uber and inDrive are also available in Panama City.

Panama City has two other airports. Gelabert/Albrook Airport (PAC), also known as Albrook Airport, is located just a few minutes from the city centre within the metropolitan area and handles domestic and some regional flights, mainly to destinations such as David, Bocas del Toro and Chitré. Pacífico Airport (BLB) is at the southwestern end of the former canal zone on the west bank of the canal, with regional scheduled services provided by Wingo Panama.

Etiquette & customs

• Rush hour: the metro is busiest between 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 5:00–7:00 p.m. Traffic in Panama City is heavy at peak hours, so allow extra time for bus travel.
• Queuing and boarding: have your card ready before you reach the turnstile; keeping it loaded avoids boarding delays for everyone behind you. At the Albrook terminal, turnstiles can only be accessed with the card and no cash payment is possible, but people are generally very helpful, so you can ask someone to swipe you through and give them the $0.10 instead.
• Crowding: buses can get crowded, and on the old diablo rojo buses it is not unusual to see three people seated on a two-person bench with lots of people standing along the aisle.
• Priority and quiet seating: discount fares for students, retirees, seniors and people with disabilities require a personalised card, so expect designated provision for these groups; offer your seat to elderly passengers, pregnant riders and those with reduced mobility.
• Eating and drinking: no eating or drinking rules are documented in the sources for the metro or Metrobus; as a general courtesy, avoid consuming food and drink on crowded trains and buses.
• Taxi sharing: cab drivers do not expect tips and may pick up additional passengers along the way. The rule is that unless there is little to no deviation from the first person's route, the first person picked up is the first person dropped off; otherwise the driver will ask if it is okay to pick up the other fare.
• Overcharging: beware that taxi drivers frequently try to overcharge visitors, sometimes up to many times the actual price, and may not have or know about the official fare table. It helps to ask locals what the price should be and then negotiate based on that.

Official links

• Tarjeta Metrobus — card balance check (Spanish)

Survival terms

• Subway / metro — metro (MEH-troh)
• Ticket — boleto (boh-LEH-toh)
• Line — línea (LEE-neh-ah)
• Entrance — entrada (en-TRAH-dah)
• Exit — salida (sah-LEE-dah)
• Transfer — transbordo (trans-BOR-doh)
• Single fare — tarifa sencilla (tah-REE-fah sen-SEE-yah)
• Day pass — pase diario (PAH-seh DYAH-ryoh)

Buy your rechargeable card at the first station you reach and keep a few dollars of balance on it at all times, because neither the metro nor Metrobus accepts cash and a loaded card is the one thing that keeps your journey moving.