There are many ways to get around in Panama. When it comes down to basic transportation, buses, taxis, and the subway are good options. However, when you need something more private, more spacious, and more luxurious, there are some great alternatives. While considerably pricier than other transportation alternatives, chartering your ride is actually more common in Panama than you think. From private cars, to tour buses, to boats, and even helicopters, charters are everywhere in the city, and the interior. Here are a few tips on how to look for the best charter service to fit your needs, and what they can provide for you.
The sky’s your limit. Literally.
Before chartering your transportation, it’s important to look at where you’re going, what you need, and what you’re willing to spend. For example, you can hire a car to take you to the Caribbean islands of San Blas for around $50-$75 each way, but it will take around 3 hours. You can charter a helicopter, or even private plane, for more than ten times that, and arrive in 30-40 minutes. It’s all about what you are willing to spend, and how you want to travel. Private car services differ from taxis in the sense that they are typically vetted by a well-reputed service, and have large, luxury vehicles, with English speaking drivers. Private helicopters are, well, private helicopters, so there isn’t much of a comparison to a non-chartered version.
Another very popular form of private charter and transportation are boats. Panama is a very water-friendly nation with a small land mass and two oceans at either side of its north and south borders. It’s also a country with many islands. Because of this, boat chartering is hugely popular amongst tourists and locals who are looking for a special excursion or regular luxury travel. Boats have much less use in the city and interior (obviously), but as far as getting from the mainland to the islands on the Caribbean and Pacific, it’s the preferred method of travel. To get to many islands, chartering a boat is the only option. Sailboats are a very popular option for this, and often offer on-board gourmet dining, island tours, and private sleeping quarters.
Don’t just travel. Tour.
Due to the nature of luxury, private transportation, most services offer guided tours, along with practical transportation services. It’s not uncommon to have a driver, captain, or pilot take you for a guided tour in English of the surrounding area of your destination. For ground travel to places near or in the city, the typical rate is about $20-$25 an hour. For boats, it’s about the same, however tours tend to be longer. For air tours, prices are typically customized depending on the client’s needs. However, don’t expect to pay any less than $400-$500 an hour, on a good day.
Island excursions, whether by boat or air, as well as Canal tours, make up the lion’s share of charter tours. Popular sea destinations are the San Blas Islands, the Pearl Islands, Bocas del Toro, and Coiba. Canal tours usually comprise of the Miraflores Lockes, Balboa, Lake Gatun, and Colon, where the Caribbean mouth of the Canal lies.
Chartering transportation may not be for everyone, but it’s a great way to travel in style, or take in some sights when you’re here. With a country so diverse, yet so geographically small like Panama, it’s an efficient, comfortable, and luxurious way to see the most that the country has to offer.
