Frequently asked questions

You get there by ferry from the Amador Causeway, Panama City. The operator with the most departures is Taboga Express, which charges $24 round trip for tourists and $20 for Panamanians and residents (verified July 14, 2026). The crossing takes about 30 minutes.

Since December 2024 the island charges $1 per visitor, a fee adjustment approved by the municipality (Municipal Agreement No. 25), presented by the municipality as an environmental contribution that funds beach cleanup and public-space upkeep. Exempt: island residents, retirees, children under 12, and officials on government business.

Tickets are bought directly at the departure pier before boarding. Taboga Express also sells them online at tabogaexpress.com and accepts Visa, Mastercard, Clave, or cash; arrive 45-60 minutes before departure.

Per information gathered about the island (last updated in 2019), there are no ATMs and few businesses take cards, so it's best to get cash before leaving the city. We haven't verified whether this has changed since then.

Sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable sandals for stone and sand, a dry change of clothes, and small bills for food, getting around town, and the entrance fee.

Yes, per information gathered about the island (2019): camping is allowed, especially near where the old Taboga hotel used to stand. The usual advice is to let the local police know and never leave the tent unattended overnight.

Yes, you can bring your own food and drinks for personal use (not to sell). Avoid glass containers, which have been confiscated at the pier entrance in past years, and take your trash with you.

Generally speaking, Panama has a dry season from December to April (less rain, more sun) and a rainy season from May to November. Both are fine for a visit; the dry season is more predictable for a beach day, though the island gets visitors year-round.

With Taboga Express, yes: the fare is $10 round trip per pet (verified July 14, 2026). Confirm the conditions with the operator before you travel.

No. The historic Hotel Taboga was demolished years ago (per 2018 records), but the island now has new hotels, hostels, rooms, and rental houses.

At least 45-60 minutes before departure, per Taboga Express's own recommendation; per this site's experience gathered in 2015-2019, on weekends and holidays it's best to arrive even earlier since the lines get longer.