The Roads of Panama

In Panama all the streets and roads of all kinds bear names rather than numbers. This kind of gives it a more personal approach to navigation but has the drawback that it becomes difficult to find addresses if you are not from around the city.

However for the sake of clarity and for the sake of describing routes to places of interest, I am going to devise a virtual road naming convention that will be used throughout the site. It will also be used in the (future) route planner. In any case here you will find an indexing of road names and numbers for reference.

The name and numbering convention I shall use is as follows: Major inter-provincial roads are prefixed by PAN followed by a single digit number. Important roads within a province (Provincial Roads) comprise of two to three digits prefixed by PROV. The first digit indicates the province following the old convention of license plates in Panama.

Interprovincial Roads or Highways

PAN-1 Panamerican Highway

Runs from the town of Paso Canoas, Chiriqui right on the border with Costa Rica all the way to Panama city, Panama. Then after leaving the city it continues onwards to the town of Yaviza, Darien where it ends. This road is the continuation of the Panamerican road that comes all the way from Alaska down to tip of South America. In Panama this roads stars at the province of Chiriqui, crosses the provinces of Veraguas, part of Herrera, crosses Cocle, Panama and ends in Darien.

PAN-2 Panama-Colon

You drive the Transistmica northbound leaving the city and goes all the way to Colon city. On the capital you may also start the journey using the "Corredor Norte" highway (expensive but faster).

PAN-3 Divisa-Pedasi

The town of Divisa, Herrera is right on PAN-1. The PAN-3 road starts in Divisa crossing the length of the central provinces of Herrera and Los Santos in the Azuero Peninsula. It ends in the town of Pedasi, Los Santos. The Las Tablas-Pedasi portion of the road is in good condition, in fact in Los Santos it is in excellent condition as it was re-paved completely by the government of former president Mrs. Mireya Moscoso.

PAN-4 Chiriqui-Bocas del Toro

Many years ago this trip was not possible by road I even remember when "La Trocha" was being explored. Anyway, this road begins on PAN-1 on a place that signals the beginning of the road to Gualaca and La Fortuna and goes all the way to the town of Chiriqui Grande, Bocas del Toro. It is in good condition and for what I hear is a wonderful experience because it goes all the way up to the top of the continental divide before starting its descend into Bocas del Toro.

Provincial Roads

These are by no means the only roads, just the major roads that are transited to visit certain places of interest.

1 - Bocas del Toro

• PROV-11 Chiriqui Grande⇒Almirante⇒Changuinola. This is a coastal road that continues where PAN-4 ends and borders the Chiriqui Lagoon (yes it is in Bocas del Toro)

2 - Coclé

• PROV-21 PAN-1 ⇒ El Valle. Begins at the intersection with PAN-1 and takes you to the town of El Valle de Anton.

3 - Colón

• PROV-31 Sabana Grande ⇒ Portobelo, La Guaira, Nombre de Dios. Begins at the town of Sabana Grande at the intersection with PAN-2, continues towards Puerto Pilon (filthy looking area) and then on amidst green hills and pastures. Then it follows the Atlantic coast direction southeast to the town of Portobelo. Up to here the condition is ok. Then it continues to the small town of La Guaira which is where you catch the boat to Isla Grande. From there it continues to the old historic town of Nombre de Dios. After Portobelo the road is not so good.
• PROV-32 Colon city ⇒ Gatun ⇒ San Lorenzo. At some point on PAN-2 you turn left (if coming from Panama city), it is better if you ask directions. Then you drive to the Gatun Locks. If there is a ship passing the Gatun Locks you will have to wait (it is fantastic). Then after crossing Gatun Locks the road should take you to a place where the road becomes unpaved and takes you to Fort San Lorenzo. There are other towns in the area as well so pay attention or ask for directios.

4 - Chiriquí

• PROV-41 Concepcion ⇒ Volcan ⇒ Bambito ⇒ Cerro Punta. The town of Concepcion is at the intersection with PAN-1. The road will take you through nearly 32 kms. of beautiful landscapes as it winds up the continental divide (and you can even see the Pacific ocean from up there) with mist and low clouds until you reach the beautiful and peaceful (I should like to live there) town of Volcan. At some point you take the right to continue up towards Bambito and Cerro Punta (22 kms) under the watchful eye of the Baru Volcano.
• PROV-42 Volcan ⇒ Rio Sereno. In the town of Volcan there is a crossing that you won't miss, it tells you whether you continue to Cerro Punta (PROV-41) or head to the town of Rio Sereno higher up. Rio Sereno is also a border crossing (with Costa Rica). This road is 48 kms. long.
• PROV-43 David ⇒ Boquete. This 35 kms. road starts at the intersection of PAN-1, travels through the Dolega district and takes you straight into the town of Boquete in the highlands. Somewhere in the middle you will find the intersection with PROV-44.
• PROV-44 Dolega ⇒ Gualaca. Coming from Boquete you take the left at the marked intersection. Follow this road (make sure you have enough fuel on the car!) through a wonderful stretch of grassland, crossing the Esti Dam until you reach the town of Gualaca. At the town of Gualaca you find the intersection with PAN-4.

7 - Los Santos

• PROV-71 Las Tablas ⇒ Pedas�. Splendid road rebuilt by the government of former president Mrs. Mireya Moscoso.

8 - Panamá

• PROV-81 Panama city ⇒ La Chorrera. Somewhere after the town of Arraijan (on PAN-1 westbound) you find this intersection. You can continue on PAN-1 but you are better off (faster and double lane) by getting on the Panama-La Chorrera highway, it costs $1.00 for a regular auto. At the end you rejoin PAN-1 again.
• PROV-82 Corredor Norte. An expensive (one of the most expensive tolls in the continent) toll road that will save you time but the price you pay per kilometer is just outrageous.
• PROV-83 Corredor Sur. Yet another expensive toll road built by the same Mexican company under the same panamanian government that did not look after the interest of the panamanian people. It connects Panama city at Paitilla to the exclusive Costa del Este, then continuing over water for a few kilometers (you can see the tower of Panama La Vieja) until you reach Tocumen Airport.

9 - Veraguas

• PROV-91 PAN-1 ⇒ Santa Fe de la Monta�a. From the intersection at PAN-1 this roads takes up you the continental divide on the province of Veraguas to the town of Santa Fe.