Transportation

Changuinola is accessible by air, land, or sea. Visitors can fly into Captain Manuel Nino International Airport from Panama City

Panama City

Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...

 and Bocas del Toro. Direct flights from the United States, Canada, and Mexico are not available. Airlines may include Aeroperlas Regional, Aeroplas, Air Panama

Air Panama

Air Panama is an airline based in Panama City, Panama, which offers scheduled and chartered passenger flights out of its hub at Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport, mostly on domestic routes with a low passenger volume...

, and Nature Air

Nature Air

Nature Air is an airline based in San José, Costa Rica. It operates scheduled international and domestic services, as well as regional charter services. Its main base is Tobías Bolaños International Airport, San José...

. Flights can be delayed due to frequent thunderstorms and heavy rains.

Ferries connect Changuinola to Bocas del Toro. The ferry from travels through a canal built to serve local banana plantations. Buses run between Changuinola, David, Almirante

Almirante

Almirante is a city in the Bocas del Toro Province of the Republic of Panama. Its name is Spanish for Admiral.-Tourist Use:For travelers, Almirante is mainly used as a jumping off point for land travel to other cities on the mainland, Panama or to Costa Rica. An approximately 30-minute water taxi...

, and the Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....

n border. When traveling by land, tourists coming from or going to Costa Rica must clear both Costa Rican customs in Sixaola

Sixaola

This article is about the town of Sixaola. For the river, see Rio Sixaola.Sixaola is a small town in the Talamanca Canton of Limón Province, Costa Rica. The town is located on the Rio Sixaola , which forms the Costa Rica-Panama border. Highway 36 ends in Sixaola. Sixaola is right across the river...

 and Panamanian customs in Guabito

Guabito

Guabito is a town in the Changuinola District of the Bocas del Toro Province of Panama. Guabito is a small town located directly across the Rio Sixaola from Sixaola, Costa Rica. An elevated former railroad grade and bridge connect Guabito to Sixaola. This border crossing is popular with tourists...

. Buses and ferries are more reliable in bad weather.

Except for Isla Colon

Isla Colon

Colón Island is the northernmost and main island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago located in Bocas del Toro Province, Panama. The capital city of the province, Bocas del Toro, is located on the island and is one of Panama's main tourist attractions...

, islands in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago

Bocas del Toro Archipelago

The Bocas del Toro Archipelago is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea in northwest Panama. The archipelago separates Bahía Almirante and Laguna de Chiriquí from the open Caribbean Sea. The archipelago is located in the Bocas del Toro District of Bocas del Toro Province. The major city is Bocas...

 are accessible only by private boat or water taxi. Many small communities line the string of islands, and very few have roads. Many companies provide boat service to various islands and diving spots.

Infrastructure

Changuinola's transportation infrastructure includes a small international airport, ferry and water taxi docks, and local roads. Local roads may be paved, gravel, or dirt. Visitors should inquire locally about current road conditions.

Changuinola has a well develop infrastructure. The community has all the facilities included . The town has a very good water filtration.

Health care

Health care is available, but facilities are limited. The closest hospitals are located in David and Panama City

Panama City

Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...

. Some shops and hotels sell over-the-counter medications, first aid supplies, sunblock, and insect repellent. Visitors should bring enough prescription medications and supplies (blood glucose strips and lancets, blood pressure monitors, etc.) for their entire vacation.

Common medical problems include food and waterborne diseases, insect bites, sunburns, heat stress/stroke, and dehydration. Visitors are advised to take reasonable precautions common to tropical destinations. Choose clean lodging and eating establishments. Use insect repellent and sunblock. Limit mid-day sun exposure. Drink plenty of bottled water (at least 3 liters/day).

External links

• Tropic river woods
• Weather Underground: Changuinola, Panama (not Costa Rica).