The simplest way to get to Tribal Gathering from Panama Tocumen PTY airport is using our shuttle service. The cost is US$60 each way (plus the processing fee).

It’s also the only way to get through the gates after their closing time at 10 pm. So if you are planning to arrive late, better book yourself a shuttle and buy your pass online and avoid having to wait till the following morning to enter Tribal Gathering.

DEPARTING PANAMA CITY TOCUMEN (9th-23rd Mar): 2 pm and 8 pm with extra departures on busy days when many people arrive.

Airport Shuttle Meeting point is to the LEFT when you exit the secure area. Outside of the THRIFTY Car Rental. Please be ready to go with proof of purchase a minimum of 15 minutes BEFORE departure.  Shuttle will depart promptly so please, do not be late.  

If you would like to travel to Panama City on your own, the cheapest way is by METRO and you could go to the Metro Linea 2 (The Airport has a  Metro Station) with approx cost of $0.50. If you take the Metro Linea 1 it costs $0.35

The Festival Departure Meeting point is at the TOP of the track. Please be ready to go with proof of purchase a minimum of 15 minutes BEFORE departure. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the top so plan your departure accordingly. 

If you miss your shuttle you can ride on the next one as long as there are seats available. As with the rest of Tribal Gathering services, we allow exchanges but not refunds. Contact us so we can help find the best solution for your particular case.

TRAVELING TO PANAMA

Panama has three International airports, but the biggest and closest to Tribal Gathering’s Hippie Beach is Tocumen International Airport (PTY). It's approximately 3 hour’s drive to Tribal Gathering from the airport, depending on the traffic. Flying to Panama can be easy and affordable from almost anywhere in the world. Tocumen International Airport services many airlines with direct and indirect service.

Use one or two of the major search engines to compare and find the best flight or flight combination for you. Some of these search engines let you set up price drop alerts to your email. Based on previous experience, our travel team finds it best to book travel internationally 90 days before the travel date. But for travel within the Latin Americas within 60 days.

If you are traveling from within Central America it is also possible to get here by bus from Costa Rica. It's a pretty long journey, but if flight prices are high at the time, it will save you hundreds of dollars.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

For Europe and much of the Americas, you will only receive a stamp in your passport on arrival. This usually allows you to stay between three and six months in Panama as long as your passport expiration date is later than that. You are limited to driving only for three months. Make sure you come with an exit ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in the country. You can check this or this website for more information on your specific country's visa requirements.
Panama does not require any immunizations for entry to the country UNLESS you have been in countries affected by yellow fever. ex. Brazil, Colombia, etc. Yellow fever shots need to be done at least ten days before the departure date.

PUBLIC BUSES FROM PANAMA CITY

Getting to Albrook Bus Terminal

From Tocumen International Airport (PTY), a taxi costs around $30 and 5$ more for each extra person. Make sure to agree to the price with the driver before you jump in. Alternatively, you can walk to the bus stop outside the terminal a few hundred meters away and take a public bus for $0.25-$1.25, depending on the number of stops.

A taxi from the city centre to Albrook Bus terminal should be around $3, although taxi drivers will ask for more if in rush hours (or will refuse to take you there). Also, many bus routes go to the Bus Terminal ($0.25).

Another great alternative for travelling from the Airport to the bus terminal or around the city is peer-to-peer car service companies like Uber.

The Metro Public Transport is a train system throughout Panama City that now connects the Airport to the Albrook Bus Terminal. This is the cheapest and fastest way to get to Albrook Bus Station if you plan on arriving at Tribal Gathering by Bus.

You can enter the Metro by paying with a CC Visa or MC. When arriving from the Airport, you can enter the Tocumen Airport Station, in Metro Linea 2. This costs $0.50, while going to Linea 1 costs $0.35 for the ride. 

From Panama City to Sabanitas

Take the public bus to Colon City from Albrook Bus Terminal and hop off at the Sabanitas bus stop, next to the REY supermarket.

You have 2 options of buses:

Diablos Rojos: The colourful traditional buses of Panama. They start at 3:30 am and they run every 30 min.

Express Buses: Faster, more comfortable and with A/C. They start at 4:50 am and they run hourly.

From Sabanitas to Tribal Gathering

At the Sabanitas bus stop you need to wait for the bus for Costa Arriba - Nombre de Dios - Palmira (which comes from Colon). It will take a few hours as the bus stops a lot. Not all the buses go all the way to Palmira and the festival so please ask the driver to make sure. Some end their service in Cuango and there are no taxis there. Currently, only 3 buses per day serve Palmira and they are usually full of locals commuting, so it may be difficult to get in, especially with so many TG attendees.

Alternatively, there are other buses (Costa Arriba - Guaira) that can take you to Portobelo, which is halfway to Tribal Gathering from Sabanitas, and from there you can try to find a taxi to the festival site (35 km). If there are a few of you, this should be affordable, although this is even more inconvenient than the regular public bus.

We strongly advise all the travellers attending the Tribal Gathering to book our official airport shuttles to avoid extended waiting times and an extremely long journey on the public bus, with uncertain capacity.

The price difference will make your trip hassle-free and you will be supporting GeoParadise by helping offset the huge costs of transportation involved in bringing together tribes and artists from all over the world. Thank you for your contribution! :)

PUBLIC BUSES FROM COLON

You can grab the bus to Costa Arriba - Nombre de Dios - Palmira directly from Colon Bus Terminal, no need to do the transfer in Sabanitas. See above the instructions to hop off. Departure times from Colon are around 7 am, 11 am and 3 pm but delays are frequent and expected. and it may be difficult to get in the bus with the increased passenger traffic of other tribal gathering attendees.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

It's fairly easy to drive to Tribal Gathering from Panama city and the airport. You first need to follow signs for Corredor Norte and Colon, this will get you out of Panama city or away from the airport. You will need to have a Panapass sticker in your card to be able to go in the highway and Corredor Norte and Sur of Panama City. Cash payments are no longer permitted. All rental cars have them, make sure you top up yours before hitting the road to avoid fines.

Once on Corredor Norte Colon highway drive for approximately 45 minutes pass the final "cash only" toll and turn to Sabanitas exit. Follow the road for several minutes till you come to a Rey supermarket. Turn right, follow the road 3 km and turn right following signs to Portobelo. Stay on this road for 40 km passing through Portobelo until another right turn for Palenque, stay on this road all the way to Cuango where a right turn will take you onto the new road to Playa Chiquita/Palmira, several more km's and you're there. Phew! Probably better still if you get a phone chip in Panama city and use your map although the phone signal will disappear in certain areas and past Playa Chiquita.