Panama Metro, Panama Province, Panama

4MUFan-TRIP 5:00 PM Aug 11, 2022

Easy after you get your Rapid Pass
I used the Metro to get back to my Airbnb after visiting the Locks on a 1 night stay in Panama. I had a feeling using the vending machines might be a challenge so I searched all over the internet for some clear English instructions but couldn't find any. So hopefully you can pick up things from my experience. First of all Most vending machines are only for reloading $ on a card you already have. The machines that do dispense cards DO NOT have an English button. Even the staffed kiosks couldn't sell me a card. They just changed my $ bills for fresh crisp ones and pointed to a vending machine. To get a card you have to select a box in the upper left of the touch screen. I asked several of the others standing in line and even they seemed confused by the title of the touch screen button. Here's the next trick. The vending machines only take cash. 1s or 5s. Once you select this box in the upper left a green light comes on by the bill slot. You have about 4 seconds to get your 2 $ bills in this slot. If one goes in but the second gets spit out because it's wrinkled and you don't get it back in in time the machine voids your request BUT keeps your dollar. Now I know why the staffed desk insisted on giving me crisp dollars. Assuming you make it past this the machine spits out your Rapid card. But this card has no funds on it. So you have to select a different item ( this option is clearer in Spanish), and once the green light turns on quickly but carefully put in a couple bucks to load the card. One more thing. Everyone told me at Metro subway rides were always 50 cents which is a great deal. But that's not completely true. If you start in downtown and then transfer to line 2 which heads close to the airport they charge you an additional surcharge when you try to get off. So don't cut it to close particularly if you're using one card across several people. Aside from the difficulty getting a card if you are a nonspanish speaking tourist to Metro is very nice. The stations are clean and easy to get in and out of. It's crowded but safe.

4BVinLA 5:00 PM Oct 6, 2022

Modern efficient metro.
The card purchase and charging process was a little confusing at first as they are separate processes. But once I had my card it proved to be a very efficient and reliable metro. The per ride price is a bargain compared to most subways, the trains are clean, the wait times low, and stations had modern wait time displays so one is never left wondering when or if a train will come. Overall I found the metro useful.