David Bus Terminal
Dec 16th, 2006 by Don Ray
I had the occasion to go by the bus terminal today and I took this photo from the new end of the terminal facing toward the old end. I see there is a hotel in the middle I don’t remember from the past. I doubt if I would stay there. The bus terminal area is one of the best locations in David to get your pocket picked and I personally wouldn’t want to be there at night.
What NO bus strike?
Were you expecting one?
Hi Don Ray,
This is getting weird - I think we must be following each other around! I was in that area yesterday and noted the hotel at the terminal for the first time. I also doubted that I would ever stay there, however… getting around in downtown David has always been a challenge, but with Christmas shoppers coming in from all over Chiriqui as well as bus-loads arriving from Costa Rica, this town is crazy-busy!
I have been reading on Panama Guide how the Gov. is cracking down on un-safe buses after the nasty bus fire and the bus drivers UNION don’t like all the changes and said they where going to STRIKE…this was in PC.
Linda - I agree. Traffic has been crazier than usual.
SE - Probably. But then I don’t go by the bus terminal often.
I understand that Taxis are cheap in Panama, but is riding the Bus a bad idea for a Gringo? Theft? etc.?
I don’t think the buses are much of a problem for gringos. I heard of one pocket being picked in the David area by a passenger just arriving from PC, but I don’t know if it happened on the bus or as the person exited the bus. The bus terminals are areas that pick pockets frequent.
I will be in San Jose, Costa Rica next week and and I found this site in a google search looking for information on traveling between San Jose, Costa Rica and David.
If this is an inappropriate query for this site I apologize. Anything I can learn about David and travel to/from Costa Rica would be greatly appreciated. My son is a new Peace Corps volunteer outside of David and I hope to make several trips in the next several years. I have traveled in third world countries all over the world and don’t at all mind taking ‘local transportation’.
Thank you for any information you can provide.
Bill Little
bstuartlittle@yahoo.com
Your question is completely appropriate. I am not sure how helpful I can be. This site will give you a fair idea of David and the Link section will have several Links that may be of interest.
For travel from San Jose to David you have your choice between the bus and Air Panama which flies between the two. Good luck on your visit and my thanks to your son for his profession.
I’m trying to get from David to Bocas on a Saturday and just noticed Aeroperlas offers no flights on Sat. Is taking the bus a reasonable option? How expensive would it be to charter a taxi/car?
Scottle
Hi Scottle,
I would think that they have a bus. It costs about $12 to go from David to panama City so it should be less to go to Bocas from David. The roads will not be all that great and they probably will be several stops so it will take a while. You would have to check at the terminal to know times and rates for sure.
I would think a taxi would want to charge an arm and a leg to take you.