To get to Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte from the main island of Bocas del Toro (Isla Colón), just hop on a boat next to Taxi-25 and ask for Bambuda Lodge. It’s a quick 7-minute ride and should cost around $10 for 1-2 people, plus an extra $5 for each additional person.

You can grab a taxi from downtown Boquete, and tell the taxi driver to take you to Bambuda Castle, the street name is El Santuario. The prices can vary during the day, and late at night are expected to be higher.

You can also catch the ‘colectivo’ a public shuttle that goes from Bruna. Bruna is a supermarket on the main street (it is the one with the huge red Balboa sign). Take any shuttle that says either: Alto Lino, Arco Iris, or Palo Alto.

FASTEST: Fly to Bocas del Toro on AirPanama.com / trip.com.pa

CHEAPEST: Take bus departing from Albrook bus station to Almirante (about 10 hours), and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (about 40 minutes). Buses leave around 7:30 am and 7:30 pm. You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.

TIP: Bring warm clothes — the bus is very cold.

FASTEST: Shuttle – 6 hours

Feel free to contact us for a hassle-free experience. Our staff will handle the shuttle booking for you.

CHEAPEST:

Take a bus departing from Albrook bus station to Soná (4 hrs), then take another bus from Soná to Santa Catalina (2 hrs).

Schedule from Panama City to Soná:

5:50 am, 8:20 am, 10:20 am, 12:45 pm, 2:20 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:20 pm and 5:45 pm

Schedule from Soná to Santa Catalina:

5:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (every day but Sunday), 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. (every day but Sunday) and 4:30 p.m.

You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.

TIP: Bring warm clothes — the bus can be very cold.

FASTEST: Fly to Bocas del Toro on AirPanama.com / trip.com.pa

CHEAPEST: Take bus departing from Albrook bus station to Almirante (about 10 hours), and then a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (about 40 minutes). Buses leave around 7:30 am and 7:30 pm. You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.

TIP: Bring warm clothes — the bus is very cold.

If you are flying, when you get to Bocas del Toro International Airport (BOC), you can hop in a taxi (it’s just a 5 min ride), or if you’re feeling up for it, take a 10 min walk to the taxi dock near Taxi 25. Once you’re at the dock, jump on a public boat straight to Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte! It’s a quick 7 min boat ride, and it’ll cost you about $10 for 1-2 people, and $5 for each additional person.

From the Airport, you can grab a taxi and it will bring you all the way to the Castle in about 40-60 min.

If you’d like to take a public bus, you can grab a taxi to the bus terminal for about 10 min. From the Bus Terminal, hop on the bus labeled Boquete, where you will be driven to Boquete’s main square (last stop) in about an hour.

To get to the main island in Bocas del Toro, Isla Colón, you need to take a bus to Almirante. Once you’re there, either grab a taxi from the bus station or ask the driver to drop you off at Taxi 25 for a boat taxi ride.

Hop on a public boat from Taxi 25, and in around 25 minutes, you’ll reach the main island, Isla Colón.

FASTEST: Shuttle – 5 hours

Feel free to contact us for a hassle-free experience. Our staff will handle the shuttle booking for you.

CHEAPEST:

Take a public bus or taxi from Boquete to the bus terminal in David towards Santiago (2.5 hrs), then take a bus from Santiago to Soná, and then from Soná to Santa Catalina (2 hrs).

Schedule from David to Santiago:

6:15 am, 7:30 am, 8:45 am, 10:00 am, 11:15 am, 12:45 pm, 2:15 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm

Schedule from Santiago to Soná:

Every 30 min until 6 pm

Schedule from Soná to Santa Catalina:

5:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (every day but Sunday), 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. (every day but Sunday) and 4:30 p.m.

To get to the main island in Bocas del Toro, Isla Colón, you need to take a bus to Almirante. Once you’re there, either grab a taxi from the bus station or ask the driver to drop you off at Taxi 25 for a boat taxi ride.

Hop on a public boat from Taxi 25, and in around 25 minutes, you’ll reach the main island, Isla Colón.

When you arrive, head to the dock beside Taxi 25, and for just $10 for 1-2 people (and $5 per extra person), you will take a 7-minute boat ride to Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte.

You can either fly to David or if you’d like to take a bus, ride from the Albrook Bus Terminal to David, during the day it takes around 7-9 hours, or if you take the express night bus, it will take around 6 hours.

The bus will leave you at David’s Bus Terminal, where you’ll have to take a taxi or another bus (see steps from David for more info.)

You can book directly at the reception of Bambuda Castle and our staff will take care of the rest!

FASTEST: Shuttle – 7.5 hours

Feel free to contact us for a hassle-free experience. Our staff will handle the boat and shuttle booking for you.

CHEAPEST: Take a water taxi to Almirante (around 40 minutes), then take a shuttle from Almirante to David, in the bus terminal get a bus to Santiago (2.5 hrs), then take a bus from Santiago to Soná, and then from Soná to Santa Catalina (2 hrs).

Schedule from David to Santiago:

6:15 am, 7:30 am, 8:45 am, 10:00 am, 11:15 am, 12:45 pm, 2:15 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm

Schedule from Santiago to Soná:

Every 30 min until 6 pm

Schedule from Soná to Santa Catalina:

5:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (every day but Sunday), 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. (every day but Sunday) and 4:30 p.m.

You can book directly at the reception of Bambuda Castle and our staff will take care of the rest!

Ask our staff at Bambuda Lodge or Bambuda Bocas Town and they’ll be able to organize the transfer for you.

You can also take a public taxi boat to Almirante, followed by a public bus from the Bus Terminal in Almirante to David.

FASTEST: Take the Caribe Shuttle directly to Almirante (around 4 hours, it includes a boat to Bocas and Wi-Fi).

CHEAPEST: Take a public bus to the border at Sixaola (around 2 hours), then a bus from the border to Almirante (1 hour 20 minutes), and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (around 40 minutes).

FASTEST: Shuttle – 5 hours

Feel free to contact us for a hassle-free experience. Our staff will handle the shuttle booking for you.

CHEAPEST: Take a bus from Playa Venao to Panama City. In Panama City, take a bus departing from Albrook bus station to Soná (4 hrs), then take another bus from Soná to Santa Catalina (2 hrs).

Schedule from Panama City to Soná:

5:50 am, 8:20 am, 10:20 am, 12:45 pm, 2:20 pm, 3:15 pm, 4:20 pm and 5:45 pm

Schedule from Soná to Santa Catalina:

5:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (every day but Sunday), 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. (every day but Sunday) and 4:30 p.m.

You can only buy a ticket in person at the Albrook bus terminal.

TIP: Bring warm clothes — the bus can be very cold.

FASTEST: Take the Caribe Shuttle directly to Almirante (around 4 hours, it includes a boat to Bocas and Wi-Fi).

CHEAPEST: Take a public bus to the border at Sixaola (around 2 hours), then a bus from the border to Almirante (1 hour 20 minutes), and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (around 40 minutes).

FASTEST: Fly to Bocas on Green Airways.

CHEAPEST: Take a bus from San José to Changuinola, Panamá (around 6-8 hours). If you don’t make it on time, you can always spend the night in Puerto Viejo and leave the next day for Changuinola – You’ll have to cross the border walking either way.

From Changuinola (on the other side of the border) take a taxi to Almirante (around 45 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (around 40 minutes).

ALSO CONSIDER: Caribe Shuttle Bus directly to Almirante from San José. It might include lunch, it has Wi-Fi, and includes a boat to Bocas (around 10 hours). You’ll also have to cross the border walking but you’ll have a shuttle waiting for you on the other side. You can contact us directly or book online.

FASTEST: Fly to Bocas on Green Airways.

CHEAPEST: Take a bus from San José to Changuinola, Panamá (around 6-8 hours). If you don’t make it on time, you can always spend the night in Puerto Viejo and leave the next day for Changuinola – You’ll have to cross the border walking either way.

From Changuinola (on the other side of the border) take a taxi to Almirante (around 45 minutes) and then take a water taxi from Almirante to Bocas Town (around 40 minutes).

ALSO CONSIDER: Caribe Shuttle Bus directly to Almirante from San José. It might include lunch, it has Wi-Fi, and includes a boat to Bocas (around 10 hours). You’ll also have to cross the border walking but you’ll have a shuttle waiting for you on the other side. You can contact us directly or book online.