Bus to Panama City

[Glenda Cates]

Who has taken the big bus to PC?Cost?Time?Where to board the bus - boquete or David?Toilet on board?Comfort?

[Jim Tosch]

Every restaurant serves a bad meal now and then. But the highway is a little rough right now.

[Jane Vasarhelyi]

Wow, is this different from the answers I received when I posted the same question a few months ago. All the reviews were glowing.  What on earth's happened to change this experience? BTW, I haven't taken the bus yet. Was planning to do so in December with a very reluctant husband. This discussion may put the knife to that. :(

[Cynthia Dunne]

I took the bus to PC last week.  Left David at 10 am.  arrived PC at 6 pm.  We had one stop in Santiago.  A lot of road construction for the first couple of hours then rush hour traffic in PC.  It wasn't really comfortable for someone with long legs but bearable.  What was the worst was the noise.  Screaming and crying babies and then they put on a movie (dubbed in spanish) really loud.  When the movie ended it played again.  Even the Panamanians were asking the driver to turn the volume down.  So on our return we decided to take the night express.  They leave PC 10, 11 and 12 pm.  Double decker bus, a bit more comfortable but at least quiet.  Left PC at 11 pm, took a sleeping pill and woke up in David at 4 am.  Faster and quieter.  What everyone says about the bathroom is true.  

[Patrick]

Hi Glenda: On Wednesday of this week my wife and I traveled to Panama City

and returned yesterday. This is my experience: On Wednesday we arrived at

the Bus Terminal in David at 7:55 a.m. There was no line (very unusual) at

the ticket purchase counter. The girl at the ticket office said that we could

pay on the bus, that there was plenty of seats available. OK, we've done

this before. The bus was leaving at 8:00 a.m. in 5 minutes. Wow, I felt that

I should buy a lottery ticket, what luck. We planned on the 9 a.m. bus but

this way we could get into Panama City an hour earlier.   I was hoping for

a double decker but that was not to   be. OK,

 I've rode  single deck buses for 15 years before the double deckers arrived,

no problem. The single decker bus looked like new but I think it is only

refurbished with a new coat of paint and new seats. The bus normally

takes 3 hours to Santiago and 3 or 3 ½ hours to Panama City. Being

an old geezer I made sure not to drink anything before I got to Santiago

where I usually purchase a small  (and I mean really  small) cup  of coffee.

This is the first bathroom stop, I can deal with a 3 hour wait. However,

it took five (5) hours to get to Santiago .They keep the bathroom door

locked so you have to go up front and ask the bus's attendant to

open the bathroom door and everybody looks at  you as if you are

crazy to use the bus's bathroom. You are only allowed to do a

pee pee, no number 2's. There is no toilet seat cover only a stainless

steel unmovable round seat that appears to be wet with bad aimers,

who would want to sit on that seat anyway. Anyway. with the bus

swinging side to side and stop and go it takes a good aimer to hit the

jackpot. Now, I have to tell you that there is no flush on that toilet. Also,

there is no soap or  water to wash your hands. Don't look for any

paper towels there is none. Since no number 2's are permitted, don't

look for any toilet paper. Remember this is 3rd world.

 As we are stopping and going  the 9 a.m. double decker bus  

passed us as our bus  kept stopping for no apparent reason, or

so I thought. At one stop, I saw the drivers  helper cross the street to

the Delta Gas  Station and return with 3 gallon jugs of what

 I thought was gasoline but was  actually water. I've been on these

bus's that run out  of gasoline before. This was the first bus that

ran out of water, it seems that the radiator  had a small  leak and the

attendant had to fill her up every so often, the numerous stops

 were for the  radiator to cool down . After 5 hours we arrived in

Santiago, we brought our own sandwiches to eat (don't trust any of

that greasy food  sold  reroute), especially with the bathroom situation

on the bus. When we first  got on the bus it was really cold, sweater

cold. When we left Santiago the air conditioning was turned off so it was

really hot. Going uphill everything passed us by, this bus had no power.

Nine (9) hours after we left David we arrived  in Panama City, exhausted.

The return trip on Thursday took eight+ hours. Construction delays all the

way like yesterdays trip. We had considered taking the Panafront bus

(now named PanaChief), I guess new ownership, as our cousin in

Panama City said that they had all new bus's (single decker) and

recommended them. As we passed the PanaChief ticket office we

noticed that the next bus left at 9:30 a.m.. a wait of 45 minutes.

The David Terminal bus left at 9:00 a.m. so we decided to use the David

Terminal bus  again a single decker. This bus was jammed but we got

2 seats together. Again, I didn't drink anything before boarding the bus

figuring I could last until Santiago, wrong. Halfway to Santiago I tried

the bathroom without calling for the attendent to let me in. The bathroom

door was blocked by a 5 gallon type bucket. I had to go, I removed the

bucket and opened the door. There on the floor was a turned over refuse

basket and in the toilet was, what looked like a Pamper diaper and the

smell was enough to kill. Needless to say, I closed the door as best I

could, not fully but at this point I didn't care. Took aim and soaked the

nasty diaper. I told my wife if I ever say "let's take the bus", to kick me

in the butt. She agreed.

 

My advice to Glenda. TAKE THE PLANE.

 

Patrick     

[Hope McQuiston]

We were concerned about the bus too, but the cost was less, they had bathrooms, which we did not need so I can't vouch for. But it was a double decker, clean, roomy enough for a comfy sleep- we took the evening express. Just know enough spanish so that you can get your tickets, luggage and your taxi to the airport from Albrook bus terminal to the airport. We've done it twice and it went well.

[Glenda Cates]

Thanks everyone. I am willing to ride the bus to add to our Panama stay. Stanley not so much he wants to fly.

[Nanette Witmer]

Glenda, remember if you take the flight there is a weight restriction on bags. Only 30 lbs are allowed.

[Glenda Cates]

We are sending our suit cases to PC with Fletes

[Debbie Wilson]

FYI, I've never had the midnight bus stop in Santiago for more than a pull over on the side of the road for 10 seconds. But I have also never seen it as a problem. Most people are asleep. The daytime buses do stop for a break.

[Craig and Nancy Burgess]

Hi Glenda,

*The buses run round the clock from 6am til 3am.

*The cost for the regular bus is $15is pp

*The express buses run 10pm, 11pm, 12midnight, 3am

*The cost is $18ish pp and the 3am offers 1st class for $25. Quite nice and roomy leather seats. (limited seats available)

*take the bus at the David Bus Terminal. Arrive at least 1 hour early to purchase your ticket

*Toilet on board but only to urinate. If you go poop the you will have to pay a $5 fine (expensive $..t) :)))  or you will not get your luggage

*Seats are comfortable and the A/C is usually blasted so on the pm routes you may want to take a light blanket

Von voyage!