Panama, bridging Central and South America, is home to several land border crossings that connect it with Costa Rica and Colombia. These crossings are essential for locals, tourists, and overland adventurers making their way through the region. Some are busy and modernized, while others are quiet, rural, and rarely used by foreigners. Knowing what to expect at each crossing can make your trip smoother and less stressful.
The busiest and most frequented crossing is Paso Canoas, linking Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province with Panama’s Chiriquí province along the Pan-American Highway. This checkpoint is open daily from early morning until late evening, with immigration and customs offices on both sides. Travelers should expect long lines, especially for buses and trucks, but it is well-equipped with ATMs, banks, duty-free shops, and restaurants. International buses such as Tica Bus and Tracopa frequently pass through Paso Canoas, making it the most convenient choice for long-distance travelers heading between Panama City, David, or San José.
Another popular option is the Sixaola–Guabito crossing, located on the Caribbean side and serving as the main gateway to Panama’s Bocas del Toro islands. Once famous for its rickety wooden bridge, the crossing now has a modern bridge and improved facilities. Immigration offices are generally open from morning until early evening, and buses connect Sixaola to Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica, while shared shuttles and taxis connect Guabito to Almirante, the boat launch for Bocas del Toro. Travelers should plan their timing carefully since arrivals in Almirante after dark can complicate boat transfers.
For a quieter alternative, the Río Sereno crossing offers a hassle-free experience with fewer crowds. This checkpoint, located in the highlands between Costa Rica’s southern region and Panama’s Chiriquí province, is favored by travelers heading toward Boquete, Volcán, and Cerro Punta. Immigration hours here are shorter—usually limited to daylight hours—so arriving early is best. The lack of big bus companies means you’ll need local transport, but the calm atmosphere and shorter wait times make it ideal for those looking to avoid the chaos of Paso Canoas.
At Panama’s southern border, the story is very different. The Darién Gap, a vast jungle separating Panama from Colombia, has no official road crossing. The only overland option is via small local outposts such as Yaviza, but foreigners generally cannot cross here. Instead, most travelers move between Panama and Colombia by air—common routes include Panama City to Medellín, Bogotá, or Cartagena—or by sea, with multi-day sailing trips and speedboat services linking Colón, Portobelo, or San Blas with Colombia’s Caribbean coast. This makes the Darién border the least frequented crossing, used mostly by local communities rather than international travelers.
In short, Panama’s border crossings each serve different types of travelers. Paso Canoas is best for long-distance bus travel and commercial routes, Sixaola–Guabito caters to the Bocas del Toro crowd, and Río Sereno is perfect for those seeking a relaxed, rural crossing. The Colombia border, by contrast, is more of a symbolic frontier than a practical route. Whether you’re backpacking through Central America or heading south to explore Panama’s mountains and beaches, planning your border crossing with the right timing and transport connections can make the journey much smoother.