Copa Stopover in Panama City: What to Do and Eat
How the Copa Airlines stopover works, how much time you need, and what to see and eat in Panama City on a layover.
Panama City is the hub of the Americas, and Copa Airlines lets passengers connecting through Tocumen add a stopover of up to seven days at no additional airfare. It is one of the better deals in air travel, and it turns a connection into a short trip.
How it works
When booking a connecting flight through Panama City, you select a longer layover â anything from one to seven nights â instead of the automatic connection. The fare stays the same; you pay only for the hotel. It has to be selected at the time of booking.
How much time you actually need
- 6 to 8 hours between flights. Enough for Casco Antiguo and a proper meal. The old town is about 30 minutes from Tocumen outside rush hour. Leave three hours to get back.
- One night. Casco Antiguo in the afternoon, dinner, and the Miraflores Locks of the Canal the next morning.
- Two or three nights. Add the Amador Causeway, the Biomuseo designed by Frank Gehry, and a day trip to the Caribbean side or the rainforest at Soberanía.
What to see with limited hours
If you only do one thing, do Casco Antiguo: ten walkable blocks of colonial architecture, the cathedral, Plaza de Francia and the best view of the skyline across the bay. If you only do two, add the Miraflores Locks, where you can watch ships transit the Canal.
What to eat
Do not spend a Panama layover eating international food. The things to try: ceviche â corvina or shrimp, gentler than the Peruvian version; sancocho, the national hen and culantro broth; patacones, twice-fried green plantain; and Ron Abuelo, the national rum.
Casco Antiguo is where Panamanian cooking is best represented. Aya la Vida, on Avenida A and Calle 12 Oeste, serves it in a contemporary register, with an open-air terrace and live music Thursday to Saturday.
Practical notes
Panama uses the US dollar, so no currency exchange. Tap water is safe. Cards work almost everywhere. And luggage can usually be left at the airport or at your hotel if you are only in the city for the day.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Copa stopover cost extra?
Not in airfare. You pay for accommodation and anything you do in the city.
How long can the stopover be?
Up to seven days, selected when booking.
Is a six-hour layover enough to leave the airport?
Yes, with care. Casco Antiguo is about 30 minutes each way; allow three hours to return before your flight.
Do I need a visa to leave the airport?
It depends on nationality. Many travellers do not for short stays, but check before you fly.
Where do I leave my luggage?
At the airport storage facility, or at a hotel if you have booked one for the night.
Keep reading
- Where to Eat in Panama City: A Local Guide
- Panamanian Food: What to Eat in Panama City
- Arroz con guandu y coco: plato panameno
Aya la Vida is in Edificio La Cuadra, Avenida A and Calle 12 Oeste, Casco Antiguo, Panama City. Menu and opening hours on its official site; book a table here, see the menu, or plan a Copa stopover.
Reserva tu mesa en Aya la Vida
Cocina panameña de autor en el Casco Antiguo de Ciudad de Panamá, Edificio La Cuadra, Avenida A y Calle 12 Oeste. Terraza al aire libre y música en vivo de jueves a sábado.
