Is it better to pay taxis in Panama with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
Panama taxis mostly don’t accept cards. I rode in different parts of the country, and not once did I see a card reader. In Panama City, Uber and DiDi exist and let you pay digitally, but the traditional taxis are strictly cash. The good part is that U.S. dollars are widely accepted, so you don’t have to stress about currency exchange. I’d say: use apps for card payments when possible, but always keep cash handy for street taxis.
My experience with taxis in Panama was that cash is the rule, but card is possible if you stick to apps. Uber in Panama City let me link my card, but sometimes the drivers asked if I could pay cash instead, which shows it isn’t fully reliable. Street taxis are always cash-only, so don’t expect machines. My advice: carry cash for daily rides and only depend on apps if you’re in the capital and want a cashless option.
When I traveled around Panama, taxis were one of the few places where I always needed cash. None of the local cabs accepted cards. In the capital, I used Uber a few times and managed to pay through the app, which was smooth, but outside the city you won’t find that option. Street taxis everywhere operate on cash, either in U.S. dollars or balboas. Carrying smaller bills helped me, because drivers rarely had change. Cards just aren’t common in taxis.
In Panama, taxis are mostly cash-based, even in Panama City. I didn’t encounter any driver with a card reader. Local taxis work on cash, but the DiDi and Uber apps in the capital allow you to pay by card, and that worked for me a couple of times. The issue is that regular street taxis don’t use those systems, so if you’re planning to hail rides, keep plenty of cash in balboas or U.S. dollars. Small bills work best.