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Lanes reverse for the drive home on 5 and 8 Nov

If you went to the interior for Fiestas Patrias, plan your trip back around two days. The National Police will reverse lanes on the Interamericana on Thursday 5 and Sunday 8 November, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., to speed up traffic heading back to Panama City, it announced on 30 October.

The roads have already been busy and dangerous. In the 72 hours reported on Tuesday 3 November, police counted 399 crashes, 88 people injured and five deaths in Colón, Veraguas, Panamá and Coclé (Crítica; La Verdad Panamá).

Lane reversal for the return (National Police)

  • When: Thursday 5 and Sunday 8 November, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Where: from El Nance (San Carlos) to Sajalices (Capira), and from Campana (Capira) to El Nazareno (La Chorrera).
  • Follow traffic officers' directions at the start and end of each stretch.

What police found on the way out

  • 3,987 traffic tickets, including 988 for speeding, 198 for faulty lights and 104 for driving under the influence (police report via Crítica and La Verdad Panamá).
  • 344 vehicles towed.
  • More than 53,000 vehicles had left the capital for the interior by Monday 2 November.
  • For comparison, the 2025 Fiestas operation (31 Oct to 5 Nov) recorded 407 crashes, 114 injured and seven deaths, with 112,778 vehicles leaving the capital (La Prensa, 6 Nov 2025).

Flying back

  • Tocumen expects about 95,000 extra local passengers between 30 October and 10 November (Tocumen airport, 30 Oct).
  • Copa projects its busiest arrival days as Sunday 8 November (8,900 passengers) and Thursday 5 November (8,860), with about 68% of arrivals in the afternoon.
  • If you are heading to or from Tocumen on Sunday morning, ENA SUR will close Corredor Sur accesses between Paitilla and Costa del Este, in both directions, from 9:00 p.m. Saturday 7 November to 10:00 a.m. Sunday 8 November. Ramps toward Tocumen from Punta Paitilla, vía Israel, Punta Pacífica and Coco del Mar will be closed; the entrance from Chanis toward Tocumen stays open (ENA SUR via Mi Diario).

Going by bus

  • The ATTT is checking buses at the Albrook terminal for insurance, inspection, tyres, lights, extinguishers, driver licences and passenger limits (ATTT via El Digital Panamá, 30 Oct).

What it means for expats

  • Thursday and Sunday will be the heaviest return days by road and air. If you can, drive back on Friday or Saturday, or set off early.
  • Inside the reversed stretches, keep your speed down and do not change lanes where officers have set cones.
  • Do not drink and drive. Police are stopping drivers along the main routes.
  • If you are flying out on Sunday, leave extra time for the airport run and check Corredor Sur access before you go.
  • Save 911 in your phone and check your spare tyre, lights and documents (licence, registration, insurance) before leaving.

Sources

  • National Police - Lane reversal plan for Fiestas Patrias - 30 Oct 2026
  • Telemetro - Lane reversal times and stretches for the holidays - 30 Oct 2026
  • Crítica - Five dead on the roads in the last 72 hours - 3 Nov 2026
  • La Verdad Panamá - More than 200,000 people travelled to the interior by car - 3 Nov 2026
  • La Prensa - Seven deaths and at least 400 crashes over the 2025 long weekend - 6 Nov 2025
  • Tocumen International Airport - About 95,000 extra local passengers expected over Fiestas Patrias - 30 Oct 2026
  • Telemetro - ENA announces Corredor Sur closure for marine-bridge works - 29 Oct 2026
  • Mi Diario - Several Corredor Sur accesses to close on 7 and 8 Nov - 30 Oct 2026
  • El Digital Panamá - ATTT steps up road-safety checks for Fiestas Patrias - 30 Oct 2026