| Popular in | April | High demand for flights, 4% potential price rise |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest in | February | Best time to find cheap flights, 2% potential price drop |
The shortest flights from New Zealand to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City, Panama, originate in Auckland. These flights can be as short as 24h 30min, although the fastest flights on most days will take between about 27h and 36h to reach their destination. If you’re flying out of either Christchurch or Wellington, you should budget between 30h 30min and 46h travel time for the faster flights to PTY.
Unfortunately, nonstop flights from New Zealand to Panama City are not currently available. However, you can find several one-stop Panama City flight deals if you’re flying out of Auckland Airport (AUK). Most of these one-stop flights fly through Los Angeles, but it is possible to fly through other cities, including San Francisco and Santiago, Chile. When flying out of Christchurch Airport (CHC) or Wellington Airport (WLG), your flight will have at least two layovers. The most popular routes from both of these cities stop in Auckland and Los Angeles before reaching Tocumen International Airport, Panama City.
Tocumen International Airport, Panama City is about 23 km northeast of the city centre. It takes about 50min to get downtown using the S480 or V480 buses, which run every 20min throughout the day. There is also a free shuttle bus that runs between the airport and the Metromall Shopping Centre. From the mall, you can pick up a number of buses that serve the city as well as the Line 2 Metro train, which serves the Cerro Viento station in front of the mall. If you choose to take a taxi to the city centre, the 16min ride will cost about $ 15.00 (NZ$ 21.50) per person. You can also hire a rideshare company such as Cabify or Uber for the trip downtown.
Perhaps the most famous site in Panama City, Panama, is the Panama Canal. You can learn about the canal and watch the locks in action at the Miraflores Visitor Centre, or you can experience the canal first-hand by taking a boat ride through the locks. Another classic destination is the Casco Viejo (or “Old Town”) section of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring historic buildings, local boutiques, restaurants, and lively nightlife. If you’re looking for an authentic Central American shopping experience, you’ll find open-air markets like the Santa Ana Market, where you can haggle for the best prices for clothes, jewelry and other goods and souvenirs. For an outdoor adventure just minutes from the city centre by car, you’ll find the Metropolitan Natural Park, a rainforest within the city limits where you are sure to spy many species of birds, and maybe even native tamarins and sloths. Beachgoers can choose from a variety of beaches near the city. Tobago Island, about 20min from the city and accessible by ferry, is known for its soft sands and lush vegetation, while Puta Chame is about 90min from the city and is popular with both surfers and sunbathers.
Citizens of New Zealand do not need a visa to fly to Panama City. You only need to carry a valid passport. Visitors can stay in Panama for up to six months; if you wish to stay longer than six months, you will need to apply for a visa extension at the Offices of Immigration in Panama.
Booking a flight to Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY) is your only option if you intend on flying to Panama City. It is only a 18.4 km journey from Tocumen Intl to Panama City’s city centre.