You’ve spent a few days soaking up the sun in stunning Santa Catalina along the Pacific coast of Panama, and you’re ready to head back to the capital, Panama City, for the electric city atmosphere. After a few days surfing, snorkeling and taking in the stunning surrounds in Santa Catalina you’re nicely re-energised and ready to see what the big city has to offer!
But how do you get from Santa Catalina to Panama City?
How do I get from Santa Catalina to Panama City?
Santa Catalina to Panama City is about 365 km and 5 hour and 35 minutes driving time.
When travelling from Santa Catalina to Panama City, there are a couple of options available depending on your preference and priorities. The options are to take a local bus, or arrange private transportation.
For budget-conscious travellers, the bus is the most cost effective option, and the cheapest way to travel from Santa Catalina to Panama City. The journey is quite arduous since it’s not possible to get there directly. Instead, you can transfer in either Sona or Santiago, but be cautious when planning as the connecting buses aren’t necessarily… connecting! Rather, on some occasions travellers are required to spend the night in the town before continuing on to Panama City as the timetables do not always align.
If convenience is your priority, the fastest way to travel from Santa Catalina to Panama City – and the best way to travel from Santa Catalina to Panama City – is by private car.
Santa Catalina to Panama City by bus
To get from Santa Catalina to Panama City by bus, you’ll have to transfer in either Sona or Santiago. You have more options to Santiago as the buses are a little more frequent for both parts of the journey, whereas Sona only has 4 buses each day between Santa Catalina and Panama respectively.
Unfortunately, the transfer isn’t always easy as the connecting buses don’t always add up. The timetables don’t always work well together so you might end up having to spend the night in town, before continuing on your way to Panama City. It can be fairly lengthy, and sometimes a little frustrating, particularly if the first leg of the journey takes longer than expected as you may get stuck in Sona or Santiago unplanned.
It is, however, a cheap option, costing only around $17 USD per person for the 6-8 hour journey. Quite a bargain, but we think you get what you pay for!
| Time intervals | 4 hours |
| First/Last departure | 5:50 AM / 5:45 PM |
| Avg. Price 2 persons | $34 USD |
| Duration | ~6-8 hours |
| Operating Companies | Panamá Regional Buses Transporte San Isidro |
Santa Catalina to Panama City by taxi
Taking a private car is recommended if you prefer a convenient and comfortable option for travelling between different cities. Using a global trusted service like Daytrip, you will be picked up at your accommodation in Santa Catalina and be driven to your destination in Panama City. That means no bus stops, no crowds, and no confusion. Best of all, you’ll be transported by a knowledgeable, local driver and have the opportunity to make sightseeing stops along the way! A trip from Santa Catalina to Panama City can include stops at…
- San Francisco Colonial Church Mountain
- Santiago
- Chorro Macho
- Parque Municipal Summit
- Templo Baha’i
- Miraflores Visitor Center
With comfort, convenience, and adventure, it is clear that a private transfer is the best option!