(Panama Travel Group) For those visiting the Caribbean Coast and beaches in Costa Rica an exciting side trip is down the coast into Panama to the Bocas del Toro Archipelago.
The southern Caribbean coast around Puerto Viejo is famous for its beaches and its surfing. Go to Bocas del Toro and you will find great surfing, beaches, fantastic scuba diving, and sailing around the islands to archipelago. A quick and easy way to get from towns like Puerto Viejo, Manzillio, or Cahuita is to take the Caribe Shuttle.
Beaches in Puerto Viejo Costa RicaThis service operates between the Puerto Viejo area and the town of Bocas del Toro on Isla Colon. There trip is $32 each way and consists of a shuttle ride to and from a mainland marina on the Bocas mainland and a half hour trip by boat to Isla Colon. Pick up and drop off on each end can be at your hotel or at the Caribe Shuttle office.
Pertinent information for taking the Caribe Shuttle
• You will need your passport with the expiration date not less than six months from when you cross the border going either way.
• You will need to buy a $5 tourist visa when you enter Panama if you are not a citizen or legal resident of Panama.
• Tourists entering either Panama or Costa Rica will need proof that they have tickets to leave the country. A round trip ticket with Caribe Shuttle will suffice.
• Yes, you can bring your surf board. The maximum length for boards is 9 feet and it will cost $6 extra to bring your board.
• When entering Costa Rica you may be asked to prove solvency and to show that you have been vaccinated for Yellow Fever. Ask our travel experts about these requirements.
• If you have any other questions about specific requirements for persons of your nationality for entering Costa Rica call the Costa Rican embassy in Panama at 507-264-2980 or the Costa Rican consulate in Bocas del Toro at +507-758-9128.
Rates – $32 each way, children $25 each way For Pick Up/Drop Off at Cahuita, Punta Uva, and Manzanillo, add $6 per person each way. Caribe shuttle is currently offering a discount from Bocas to Puerto Viejo of $28 one way.
Schedule – The shuttle runs daily.
From Costa Rica: Pick up from area hotels between 6:30 and 7:20 am Drop off in Bocastown, Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Panama at 11:30 am Afternoon departures are available for groups of four or more by special arrangement.
Bocas Town
From Bocas del Toro: Pick up from Bocas town hotels about 7:45 am** (Passengers outside of Bocastown proper or without hotel pick up pre-arranged should arrive to the Caribe Shuttle Office by 8:00 am** to sign in.) The boat departs from Bocas Marine Tours dock approx. 8:30 am** Drop off in Puerto Viejo starts around 10:30 am-11:00 am at area hotels. Afternoon departures are available for groups of four or more by special arrangement.
The Caribe Shuttle pick-up time is an estimate and may vary by 15 minutes in either direction. Travelors should be waiting at the assigned pick up point 15 minutes before the assigned pick-up time. The shuttle will wait for clients a maximum of 5 minutes. When making reservations for the Caribe Shuttle you will need to give your full name as on your passport, your passport number, passport country, birthday, age, and occupation. Passengers are allowed one bag and one carryon. Extra bags and suitcases must be reserved in advance and are $7 each.
To book a trip on the Caribe Shuttle, make hotel reservations, or for more information about things to do in Panama contact Panama Travel Group today.
info@panamatravelgroup.com |+507-202-1111 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)
For information on Costa Rica please visit Costa Rica Travel Group’s website.