Taxi to Albrook, then an overnight coach to David
If you want the cheapest run from PTY to David or Boquete, you land at Tocumen T1 or T2, grab a taxi or Uber into town, and board an overnight Intercity Bus David via Albrook from Albrook Bus Terminal. There is no direct bus from Tocumen to David, so Albrook is your mandatory middle step.
Expect about 30–60 minutes by taxi from PTY to Albrook in normal traffic, and closer to 75 minutes if you hit rush hour on Corredor Sur. A metered yellow taxi from the airport typically runs in the US$25–35 range; Uber or inDrive can be a bit less if surge pricing is quiet.
From Albrook, the coach to David usually takes about 7–8 hours overnight, running on the Pan-American Highway with only short stops. Typical fares sit around US$15–20 one way, so even with the airport taxi you often come in under US$60 total compared with a domestic flight.
Overnight departures to David from Albrook often leave around 10:00 p.m. to midnight, with a couple of daytime buses in the morning and afternoon. Trip reports on forums mention that peak dates and holidays can sell out, so don’t cut it close if you want to roll straight from plane to coach.
Seats are assigned and coaches are air‑conditioned, sometimes aggressively, so bring a hoodie and maybe earplugs for the 7‑hour ride. Luggage goes in the underfloor hold, and drivers usually hand out a small tag for retrieval at David’s terminal.
Regulars on Panama boards often skip the same‑day connection from PTY and instead book a cheap room near Via España or El Cangrejo, then ride a morning bus from Albrook. That avoids the stress of clearing immigration, waiting for bags, crossing the city, and catching a coach all inside a tight 2–3 hour window.
Step-by-step from PTY:
- 1. Land at T1 or T2 and clear immigration and customs; budget 45–90 minutes from door opening to curb.
- 2. At the arrivals curb, book an official taxi (ask for Albrook Terminal) or call Uber; confirm the price, usually US$25–35.
- 3. Ride to Albrook Bus Terminal; in off‑peak traffic this is about 30–40 minutes via Corredor Sur.
- 4. Inside Albrook, buy your David ticket at the counter marked “David”; bring your passport and some cash in balboas or US$.
- 5. Tag your checked bag, board when the platform is called, and keep your ticket handy for the 7–8 hour run.
Pro tip: If your flight lands in PTY after about 6:00 p.m., strongly consider a Panama City hotel and a morning bus instead of gambling on the late coach.