Cabo Matapalo to Coronado, Panama is about 352 road miles (566 km): roughly 9 h 36 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Costa Rica into Panama at about mile 98.
Full advisory: Costa Rica, Panama. Advisory issued: Costa Rica April 02, 2026; Panama August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Costa Rica: “Roads can have unclear lane markings, narrow shoulders, and large potholes.”
- Panama: “Use caution on the Pan-American Highway.”
| Distance | 352 mi (566 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 36 min |
| Border crossing | about mile 98, Costa Rica → Panama |
| Provinces on the route | Puntarenas, Chiriquí, Veraguas, Herrera, Coclé, Panama |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Getting across the Costa Rica–Panama border
The route crosses at about mile 98, from Puntarenas into Chiriquí. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Panama (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for stays under 180 days; a return or onward ticket is required and strictly enforced, plus at least USD 500 or proof of equivalent funds. Passport: must be valid for 3 months beyond your arrival date; make sure you get an entry stamp. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Panama | A valid U.S. license works for up to 90 days. |
| Entering Costa Rica (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for stays under 180 days, but you need a return or onward ticket. Passport: must be valid for the whole stay. |
| Driving in Costa Rica | Drive with your passport and a U.S. license or an International Driving Permit. |
| The car, entering Panama | Third-party liability insurance is mandatory in Panama. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Panama (updated August 13, 2026); U.S. State Department, Costa Rica (updated August 11, 2025). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Cabo Matapalo–Coronado drive in a few lines
The first 98 miles are in Costa Rica; the last 254 are in Panama. It runs through 6 provinces: Puntarenas, Chiriquí, Veraguas, Herrera, Coclé, Panama. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cabo Matapalo to Coronado
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–352 | 352 | Puntarenas, Chiriquí, Veraguas, Herrera, Coclé, Panama |
- Mile 98 of this route: Puntarenas → Chiriquí (international border)
- Mile 204 of this route: Chiriquí → Veraguas (province line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Veraguas → Herrera (province line)
- Mile 271 of this route: Herrera → Coclé (province line)
- Mile 337 of this route: Coclé → Panama (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cabo Matapalo and Coronado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. John Baptist Cathedral, Penonomé (mile 310)
- Nature and outdoors: Corcovado National Park (mile 25), Piedras Blancas National Park (mile 54), El Caño Archaeological Park (mile 296)
- Museums and history: St. James the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas (mile 249), El Caño Archaeological Park (mile 296), St. John Baptist Cathedral, Penonomé (mile 310)
Corcovado National Park
Established in 1975, Corcovado National Park covers 424 square kilometers of the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica, within the Osa Conservation Area.
Piedras Blancas National Park
Part of the Osa Conservation Area, Piedras Blancas National Park lies in Puntarenas Province in southern Costa Rica, near the town of La Gamba.
St. James the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas
Santiago de Veraguas Cathedral, dedicated to St. James the Apostle, is the Catholic cathedral of Santiago, a city in Panama's Veraguas province.
El Caño Archaeological Park
In Panama's Coclé province, El Caño is a pre-Columbian funerary complex with stone monuments and burial mounds, where gold artifacts of the Gran Coclé culture have been found.
St. John Baptist Cathedral, Penonomé
Also called Penonomé Cathedral, St. John Baptist Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Penonomé, in Panama's Coclé Province.
More drives to Coronado
- Panama City to Coronado
- Colón, Panama to Coronado
- Santa Catalina to Coronado
- San José, Costa Rica to Coronado, Panama
- Limón to Coronado, Panama
- San Isidro to Coronado, Panama
More drives from Cabo Matapalo
- Cabo Matapalo to Dominical
- Cabo Matapalo to Tortuguero
- Cabo Matapalo to Parismina
- Cabo Matapalo to Playas del Coco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cabo Matapalo to Coronado, Panama?
About 9 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 352 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cabo Matapalo to Coronado, Panama?
About 352 miles (566 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Cabo Matapalo to Coronado drive cross the border?
At about mile 98, from Costa Rica into Panama.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Cabo Matapalo into Panama?
No visa needed for stays under 180 days; a return or onward ticket is required and strictly enforced, plus at least USD 500 or proof of equivalent funds. Passport: must be valid for 3 months beyond your arrival date; make sure you get an entry stamp. A valid U.S. license works for up to 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated August 13, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Cabo Matapalo to Coronado, Panama?
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Panama Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Cabo Matapalo to Coronado?
Closest to the road: St. James the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas (cathedral, mile 249, 1 mi from the route); El Caño Archaeological Park (archaeological park, mile 296, 2 mi from the route); St. John Baptist Cathedral, Penonomé (cathedral, mile 310, 0.6 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.