If you’re traveling within Panama City, you can take the city’s metro, which is the only subway system in Central America. There are also taxis, Ubers and city buses available to help you get around too. More than 55 million passengers travel through Albrook Terminal annually–that’s the same as if every person who lived in Tennessee took a bus trip from Albrook, more than seven times each!
Because I didn’t grow up using public transportation in Oak Ridge, I was a little nervous about taking the bus at first. But, I went with one friend from Berlin, Germany, and another from Oakland, California, both of whom were used to taking buses. They taught me how to read the schedules and figure out new routes in the city.
Sometimes it’s uncomfortable to ride a busito, which I often do to get back to Panama City after a day at the beach. The busitos sometimes don’t have air conditioning, and sometimes there’s only enough room to stand as people are quickly getting on and off. A day at the beach is always worth it, though, and the three-hour bus ride is only $3!
There’s a type of bus in Panama called Diablos Rojos, or red devils, which are iconic symbols of Panamanian culture. Diablos Rojos are retired school buses that were sent down from the U.S., and decorated with paintings, lights and messages to reflect the owners and their personalities. These buses also blare loud music and feel like a party, no matter where you’re headed.
