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Voykit pocket guide · Panama
Taboga
Spend a day on Taboga for beach, hiking and a quick church visit; arrive by ferry from Panama City (20‑45 min).
Taboga is a small island 20 km south of Panama City, best explored on foot in a single day. Ferries run from Amador Causeway; the island offers a beach, marked trails, a historic church and a few budget hotels.
- Country
- Panama
- Best months
- Jan–Apr, Dec–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (rainier season)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the balboa (PAB), fixed 1 to 1 with the US dollar; US dollar notes are the paper money in use, with Panamanian coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–$50 excl. bed · Mid $50–$80 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Más Móvil, Tigo and Digicel SIMs at Tocumen and in malls; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Fire/ambulance 103 · General emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if not added.; Guides and boat crews: US$5–10 per person.; Hotel porters: US$1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Panama City and most towns; drink bottled on the islands and in Bocas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; basic outhouses on San Blas islands.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | $2–$4 |
| Meal at a restaurant | $7–$20 |
| Taxi pickup‑truck ride | $5–$10 |
| Ferry round‑trip | $12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PTY · Tocumen International Airport
- Main airport for Panama City; take a taxi or bus to Amador Causeway for the ferry, about 30–45 min
Typical fares
- Fast ferry Amador → Taboga
- about $12 round‑trip, 20 min (check)
- Scenic ferry Amador → Taboga
- about $12 round‑trip, 45 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Island is walkable; a few pickup‑truck taxis serve the three hotels. Boats can be rented for short tours.
See and do
Known for
- Second‑oldest church in the western hemisphere
- Beach and hiking trails
- Boat tours for fishing and birdwatching
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Panama City | Ferry from Amador Causeway, 20‑45 min | ≈1 h round‑trip |
Sleep
- B&B Cerrito Tropical
- Small hotel, USD55–110 per night for two
- Hotel Vereda Tropical
- Small hotel, USD55–110 per night for two
- Residencial Turistico Mundi
- Small hotel, USD55–110 per night for two
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis-koo-leh |
| Thank you | Graciasgra-see-as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan-toh kwes-ta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?don-de es-ta el ba-nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings in shops
- Dress: Long trousers in offices and churches; avoid: Beachwear in the city
- Guna communities: Ask before photos, pay the fee; avoid: Walking into homes or ceremonies
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry schedule varies; check departure times (20 min fast ferry, 45 min scenic ferry).
- Limited cash facilities; bring USD or cards.
Taboga is generally safe; watch for strong currents when swimming and keep valuables secure on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Taboga yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Second‑oldest church in the western hemisphere
- Beach and hiking trails
- Boat tours for fishing and birdwatching
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Taboga: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Taboga, revision 4784341 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4784341
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/taboga). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.