Balboa is about 8 kilometres from central Panama City (Casco Viejo) and easily reached without a car.
Taxi and ride-hailing: The quickest option. Uber and InDriver operate in Panama City and will take you directly to Balboa or Miraflores Locks; fares from the city centre are modest. Traditional yellow taxis are also widely available. Negotiate the fare before getting in a yellow cab.
Bus: Metro buses run from Panama City to Balboa. The journey is cheap but slower and requires navigating the local network — most visitors find a taxi more practical for a first visit.
By car: Balboa is straightforward to drive to from the city. Parking is available at the Miraflores Locks visitor centre and at the Calzada de Amador. Traffic from the city centre can be slow during morning rush hours.
Tocumen International Airport is about 35 kilometres from Balboa. Taxis and Uber from the airport take 40–60 minutes depending on traffic. There is no direct bus link from the airport.