Ferry Bocas

What to Expect

The Ferry Bocas connects Almirante with Isla Colón and is the main option if you need to bring a vehicle to Bocas or transport larger or heavier items that are difficult to take on a regular water taxi.

The crossing takes around 1 hour 40 minutes. Separate rates apply for passengers, bicycles, motorbikes, cars, 4x4s, buses and trucks. Schedules can change, so check the current timetable and fares before you travel:

• Current ferry schedule
• Current ferry prices

Taking a Car on the Ferry: Our Experience

On busy days, the queue at the Almirante terminal can be long enough that not every car makes the sailing it is waiting for. We crossed with a rental car, arriving in Almirante on a Thursday evening for an early Friday ferry, and learned a few things along the way:

• Plan to be in line early. The evening before, a person at the terminal told us that cars not yet in the queue might not make the morning ferry. When we arrived at 6:00 AM, the line was already so long that some cars did not get on even the 12:00 sailing.
• Joining the queue the night before is a trade-off. It means leaving your car at the terminal overnight. We were not comfortable leaving a rental car there, as we did not feel Almirante is an especially safe place for it.
• Travel midweek if you can. The queue seemed to be longest towards the weekend, so a midweek crossing is likely easier.

These are impressions from a single crossing, not official rules. Check current conditions with Ferry Bocas before you plan around them.

Alternative: Leave the Car in Almirante

If you don't need a car on Isla Colón, you can skip the vehicle queue altogether. Almirante has several guarded car parks close to the water taxi docks, where you can leave the car for the length of your stay and cross by water taxi instead. According to travelers' reports, these lots are fenced, attended and a short walk from the boats.

• Ask for the total price and your dates before you leave the car, and have both written on the receipt.
• Choose a lot that is clearly close to the docks and has someone present.
• Water taxis run during the day only. Departure times vary, so don't plan on arriving late in the day and leave yourself plenty of buffer.
• Take your luggage and valuables with you.

We have not tested a specific car park ourselves, so check current conditions on site.

Overnight in Almirante

If you want to be at the terminal early, sleeping in Almirante the night before is the practical choice. We stayed at El Paso de Almirante: a simple place with nothing exciting about it, but good value for the price and with air conditioning. Check current rates and availability on Booking.com.

Good to Know

• The ferry is mainly useful if you travel with a vehicle, oversized luggage or freight. As a regular passenger with luggage, a water taxi from Almirante is usually the faster and more convenient option.
• Ferry Bocas also transports goods and bulk construction materials throughout the archipelago, which makes it useful for larger deliveries.
• Schedules may differ on Sundays and public holidays, so always check the current timetable before departure.

Plan Your Trip

• Where to Stay in Bocas del Toro: which island and area fits your trip
• Best Time to Visit Bocas del Toro: when to go
• Best Things to Do in Bocas del Toro: what to do once you arrive