Travelling from San Juan to Panama City: what you need to know
Planning your trip begins with working out where you'll fly out of in San Juan. Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) is the city's main base, so check out your options for booking a flight from San Juan to Panama City departing from here.
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) and Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB) are Panama City's primary hubs.
A direct flight from San Juan to Panama City takes an average of 3 hours 1 minute. The timezone in Panama City is UTC-5, which makes it 1 hour behind San Juan.
The busiest route for flights from San Juan to Panama City is from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY). There are 29 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to head off first thing, the earliest flight from SJU to PTY is the 06:00 Copa Airlines option. If you prefer travelling later, the final departure is at 17:48 with Copa Airlines.
To ensure you get on your flight from San Juan to Panama City, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport even earlier. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights when you fly during peak periods in general.
You won't need a visa for Panama if you hold a passport from Puerto Rico and are visiting for tourism purposes. Visa and travel documentation requirements are subject to change. So before booking your cheap flights from San Juan to Panama City, check with your airline and your destination country's local consulate or embassy for up-to-date information.
Flying from San Juan
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)
Set out from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) on a nonstop flight from San Juan to Panama City. From SJU, you can land directly at Tocumen International Airport (PTY).
You can travel on a direct flight from San Juan to Panama City with Copa Airlines. This popular carrier operates services from SJU.
We make it easy to plan a flight from San Juan to Panama City with a stopover. To see all your options departing from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Some popular stopovers include:
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
Las Americas International Airport (SDQ)
Located around 8 kilometres from central San Juan, SJU can be reached in about 11 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The same journey on public transport will take roughly 56 minutes.
Need a convenient hotel near Luis Munoz Marin International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from San Juan to Panama City, these stays will put you moments from check-in:
Arriving in Panama City
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is around 21 kilometres from the centre of Panama City. With your own car rental or in a cab, the drive is about 21 minutes.
Travelling by public transport will take you roughly 1 hour and 5 minutes.
Reserve a hotel near PTY if you're catching a late flight from San Juan to Panama City. Settle into one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC)
As soon as your flight from San Juan to Panama City has touched down, you can get to the city centre in around 6 minutes by car. Central Panama City is approximately 2 kilometres from Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC).
You can expect the journey to take about 24 minutes on public transport.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel near PAC. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your flight from San Juan to Panama City:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Juan to Panama City
R 1,326 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from San Juan to Panama City. Return flights start from R 3,597. These fares can change depending on availability.
Score cheap tickets from San Juan to Panama City by booking at least 8 months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for picking up a bargain.
Schedule your trip for April. That's the cheapest month for tickets from San Juan to Panama City. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across every month.
Log into your online account or use the app to set up a Price Alert. You'll get notified right away if there's a cheaper deal on this route. It's easy to do, and it'll save you the hassle of searching for cheap tickets from San Juan to Panama City every day.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from San Juan to Panama City.
Best time to go to Panama City
It's time to pick your trip dates for your flight from San Juan to Panama City. June is the busiest month to visit Panama City. If you prefer a more peaceful vibe, go in February.
Lock in your flight from San Juan to Panama City for March if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Panama City to range from 21ºC to 32ºC.
Search for cheap tickets from San Juan to Panama City in February if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 22ºC and 31ºC on average.
More about Panama City
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Panama City right here. Check out these options as soon as you've booked your flight from San Juan to Panama City:
Panama Canal Museum and Casco Viejo are just a couple of the big attractions to add to your Panama City itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Cinta Costera.
Complete your Panama City trip with a car rental
Explore our range of car rentals once you've found your hotel and cheap flight from San Juan to Panama City. Whether you're after a compact ride, family sedan or something more luxurious, you can compare companies in one go to get the best deal.
