Taking the overnight bus from Panama City to David is one of the easiest ways to travel across Panama while saving yourself an entire day. You leave from Albrook in the evening, spend most of the night travelling west, make a proper stop around Santiago for food and a bathroom break, and arrive in David early the next morning. The journey takes roughly seven hours, and there are overnight services from Albrook.
The first thing to understand is that the bus can be cold. Panama City might be hot and humid when you board, and you may think wearing shorts and a T shirt is perfectly reasonable. Then the air conditioning starts. Before long you can be sitting there wondering why you didn't bring winter clothing. Take a sweatshirt, hoodie, light jacket or even a small travel blanket. Keep it with you in your seat rather than putting it underneath the bus. This is probably the single most common piece of advice from people who regularly take the overnight David bus.
Bring a fully charged cell phone and a power bank. Seven hours is a long time if your phone dies halfway through the trip, particularly if you're using it for maps, messages, entertainment or arranging your accommodation after arriving in David. Download some music, movies, podcasts or other entertainment before leaving Panama City. You may plan on sleeping the whole way, but having something to do makes the journey much easier if you don't.
The bus normally makes a substantial stop around Santiago, roughly halfway through the journey. This is your opportunity to get off, stretch your legs, use the bathroom and get something to eat. The stop is generally around 20 to 30 minutes, so there is enough time to have a proper meal rather than simply grabbing a drink. Just keep an eye on the bus and don't wander too far. You don't want to return from buying dinner and discover that your ride to David has already disappeared.
One thing that foreign travellers should absolutely keep handy is their passport. There is an identification checkpoint farther along the route where officials can board the bus and check passengers' identification. You don't want your passport buried at the bottom of your backpack underneath the bus. Keep it in your small personal bag or somewhere secure and easily accessible.
When you arrive at Albrook, give yourself enough time to buy your ticket and find the correct boarding area. Albrook is a huge and busy terminal, but once you understand the system it is fairly straightforward. Your ticket will give you your seat information, and your large luggage normally goes underneath the bus while you keep your smaller personal bag with you.
And don't forget that David is a transportation hub, not necessarily the end of your journey. Once you arrive, you can continue toward Boquete, Volcán, the Costa Rica border or other parts of Chiriquí. For many backpackers, the overnight bus is therefore the gateway to exploring the entire western side of Panama.
So prepare for the trip properly. Have your passport on you, charge your phone, bring a power bank, carry some water and snacks, keep some cash available, and most importantly, bring a sweatshirt. You may be leaving a tropical city at night, but inside that bus you might feel like you're travelling through Canada in January.
Get comfortable, put your seat back, enjoy the Santiago food stop and try to get some sleep. If everything goes according to plan, you'll wake up in David with the sun coming up over western Panama and an entire new part of the country ready to explore.How to Prepare for the Night Bus From Panama City to David
Taking the overnight bus from Panama City to David is one of the easiest ways to travel across Panama while saving yourself an entire day. You leave from Albrook in the evening, spend most of the night travelling west, make a proper stop around Santiago for food and a bathroom break, and arrive in David early the next morning. The journey takes roughly seven hours, and there are overnight services from Albrook.
The first thing to understand is that the bus can be cold. Panama City might be hot and humid when you board, and you may think wearing shorts and a T shirt is perfectly reasonable. Then the air conditioning starts. Before long you can be sitting there wondering why you didn't bring winter clothing. Take a sweatshirt, hoodie, light jacket or even a small travel blanket. Keep it with you in your seat rather than putting it underneath the bus. This is probably the single most common piece of advice from people who regularly take the overnight David bus.
Bring a fully charged cell phone and a power bank. Seven hours is a long time if your phone dies halfway through the trip, particularly if you're using it for maps, messages, entertainment or arranging your accommodation after arriving in David. Download some music, movies, podcasts or other entertainment before leaving Panama City. You may plan on sleeping the whole way, but having something to do makes the journey much easier if you don't.
The bus normally makes a substantial stop around Santiago, roughly halfway through the journey. This is your opportunity to get off, stretch your legs, use the bathroom and get something to eat. The stop is generally around 20 to 30 minutes, so there is enough time to have a proper meal rather than simply grabbing a drink. Just keep an eye on the bus and don't wander too far. You don't want to return from buying dinner and discover that your ride to David has already disappeared.
One thing that foreign travellers should absolutely keep handy is their passport. There is an identification checkpoint farther along the route where officials can board the bus and check passengers' identification. You don't want your passport buried at the bottom of your backpack underneath the bus. Keep it in your small personal bag or somewhere secure and easily accessible.
When you arrive at Albrook, give yourself enough time to buy your ticket and find the correct boarding area. Albrook is a huge and busy terminal, but once you understand the system it is fairly straightforward. Your ticket will give you your seat information, and your large luggage normally goes underneath the bus while you keep your smaller personal bag with you.
And don't forget that David is a transportation hub, not necessarily the end of your journey. Once you arrive, you can continue toward Boquete, Volcán, the Costa Rica border or other parts of Chiriquí. For many backpackers, the overnight bus is therefore the gateway to exploring the entire western side of Panama.
So prepare for the trip properly. Have your passport on you, charge your phone, bring a power bank, carry some water and snacks, keep some cash available, and most importantly, bring a sweatshirt. You may be leaving a tropical city at night, but inside that bus you might feel like you're travelling through Canada in January.
Get comfortable, put your seat back, enjoy the Santiago food stop and try to get some sleep. If everything goes according to plan, you'll wake up in David with the sun coming up over western Panama and an entire new part of the country ready to explore.