Taboga Island · Practical guide
Getting to Taboga Island
Ferry, fares, where to buy your ticket, and the island's entrance fee — everything worth confirming before you leave the house.
Taboga is the island you spot the moment you clear Panama Bay, and getting there is refreshingly uncomplicated: one ferry, one route, no transfers. It leaves from the Amador Causeway and, after a short hop across the bay, drops you off on the narrow stone streets of the town, sea on one side and the hill on the other.
This page covers what you need before you board: current schedules and fares, where to buy the ticket, how much the island's entrance fee runs since the 2024 adjustment, and a few practical notes that save you a bad surprise — cash chief among them, since the island isn't exactly stacked with places to withdraw money.
The three ferry operators' details were verified on July 14, 2026 against the sources listed next to each one (operator website, recent traveler reviews, and Taboga tourism directories).
Ferry schedule
Taboga ExpressVerified: 2026-07-14
Tourist $24.00 · Resident $20.00 · Children/Seniors $14.00
Departure point: Flamenco Island, Fuerte Amador Mall lobby (Amador Causeway)
Crossing time: 30 min
Phone: (507) 6234-8989
| Panama City (Balboa) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 AM · 9:30 AM · 11:00 AM · 3:00 PM |
| Taboga Island (return) | Monday to Friday | 8:45 AM · 10:15 AM · 2:30 PM · 4:00 PM |
| Panama City (Balboa) | Saturday, Sunday and holidays | 8:00 AM · 9:30 AM · 11:00 AM · 3:00 PM · 4:30 PM |
| Taboga Island (return) | Saturday, Sunday and holidays | 8:45 AM · 10:15 AM · 2:30 PM · 4:00 PM · 5:00 PM |
Reference schedule (2016) — confirm at tabogaexpress.com when booking
Barcos CalypsoVerified: 2022-07-01
Tourist $17.00 · Children/Seniors $9.50
Departure point: La Playita pier, Amador Causeway (behind Mi Ranchito restaurant)
Crossing time: 60 min
Phone: (507) 314-1730
| Amador (La Playita) | Monday to Thursday | 8:30 AM |
| Taboga Island (return) | Monday to Thursday | 4:00 PM |
| Amador (La Playita) | Friday | 8:30 AM · 3:30 PM |
| Taboga Island (return) | Friday | 9:30 AM · 4:30 PM |
| Amador (La Playita) | Saturday and Sunday | 8:00 AM · 10:30 AM · 4:00 PM |
| Taboga Island (return) | Saturday and Sunday | 9:00 AM · 3:00 PM · 5:00 PM |
Schedule per isladetaboga.com (undated) — confirm with the operator
La Roka FerryVerified: 2026-07-14
Fares and schedule: check with the operator
Departure point: Balboa Yacht Club, Amador Causeway
Crossing time: 35 min
Phone: (507) 6997-4444
Where the boats leave from
Three ferry companies serve Taboga in 2026, each with its own departure point around Amador. Taboga Express's catamarans leave from Flamenco Island, Fuerte Amador Mall lobby (Amador Causeway). Barcos Calypso leaves from the La Playita pier, Amador Causeway (behind Mi Ranchito restaurant). And La Roka Ferry leaves from the Balboa Yacht Club, Amador Causeway. All three are within the Amador Causeway, a few minutes apart by taxi or Uber — worth confirming with your operator which one applies to you before leaving the city.
Tickets and fare
Taboga Express is the operator with the most current presence: it charges $24.00 round trip for tourist adults, $20.00 for Panamanians and residents, and $14.00 for children and seniors (verified 2026-07-14). Arrive 45-60 minutes before departure. Foreigners need a passport; Panamanians and residents need a cédula. Pay with Visa, Mastercard, Clave, or cash. Pets: $10 round trip.
Barcos Calypso charges $17.00 round trip for adults and $9.50 for children and seniors, with a crossing of roughly 60 minutes (fare verified 2022-07-01, from our own research; the schedule comes from isladetaboga.com and carries no publication date, so confirm it with the operator before you travel).
La Roka Ferry is a third option we confirmed exists (verified 2026-07-14), departing from the Balboa Yacht Club, Amador Causeway with a crossing of roughly 35 minutes. Fares and schedule: check with the operator at (507) 6997-4444.
Island entrance fee
Since December 2024, the island charges $1.00 per visitor as part of a municipal fee adjustment (Acuerdo Municipal N.º 25), framed as an environmental contribution that funds beach cleanup, upkeep of public spaces, and tourism programs. Exempt: Island residents, Retirees, Children under 12 and Officials on government business.
Tips for the trip
- Bring cash. Few businesses on the island take cards and there isn't always a working ATM — better to change money before you leave the city rather than count on finding one there.
- Skip glass bottles. In past years they've been confiscated at the pier entrance; in case the restriction still applies, bring drinks in plastic or aluminum containers if you can.
- Book ahead on weekends and holidays, when ferry demand rises and departures fill up faster.
- Confirm your return time before you step off the boat. Getting stuck on the island an extra day isn't a disaster, but it's not the plan either.
What to bring
- Sunscreen and a hat — the bay sun is strong even under clouds.
- Small bills, for food, getting around town, and the entrance fee.
- A towel and a dry change of clothes.
- Comfortable sandals for walking on stone and sand.
- Heading to the beach? Ask around town about umbrella and chair rentals — availability and pricing shift from one season to the next.