Hi,

We will be changing planes in Panama on our way to Costa Rica. Could anyone tell me a bit about the Panama City airport? Wondering what food options there are and if there are shops.

Also, will we go through customs there or when we get to SJO? Or both?

Thank You!!

All I can say is LOTSA shops, way more that the airport in SanJose. And very upscale shops at that.

Thank you, Fathie. Sounds great!!

Your name suggests you might like jewelry. If so, go to the Reprosa shop in the airport. The prices are similar to the downtown shops and the selection was fairly good on my last visit.

Oh, thank you! Can't wait!

I just flew back to the USA from PTY on Saturday. There are quite a few shops, and it's a nice airport (very modern, lots of glass). Or at least it seems like there are a lot of shops--in reality there are lots of repetitions. What I remember: two stores selling watches/sunglasses but not other jewelry, one store selling jewelry (but it seemed somewhat consignment or estate-sale like), a number of duty-free shops (with liquour, cosmetics, perfume, cigarettes, but the prices weren't any cheaper than home, for the cosmetics, anyway), three Lacoste stores (one just for shoes and accessories), several handbag/luggage stores, several electronic stores (though I'm not sure who buys a large flat-screen TV and tries to bring it back to the US from there?), one store selling Panamanian goods, one cafe/bar. There are also two executive lounges: one for American and its affiliates and one for Continental and its affiliates (we used the Continental one since we were flying Delta, and it was typical of all airport clubs we have been in). We did see people waiting on the second floor (where we couldn't get to) and envisioned that it was some sort of transit lounge (maybe that's where you will wait for your connection?) Don't get TOO excited about shopping, but you can definitely amuse yourself for an hour or so. There are tons of restrooms and lots of places to sit and wait.

Thank you fluffnfold, for excellent review. We are hoping to get a bite to eat since we will be flying through the night and the next day; possibly a place to pick up something to bring along for our daughter to eat. She is hypoglycemic and it is really our only place to get food until around 4pm. Shopping would be an added bonus. Any idea what the cafe serves and if it is any good?

We didn't go into the cafe (perhaps that word is a bit too glamorous--snack bar might be better) since we used the airline lounge instead with their complimentary food and drink. But it seemed quite crowded whenever I walked by. It was even mobbed when we first arrived in PC at 9:45 pm on a Friday night, so there must be flights departing after that time and they continue to serve food/drinks. It wasn't overly large, but I believe it had counter service as well as tables. Thinking back, I also saw two food/drink carts, although they weren't open for business on the morning of our departure. I didn't really take notice, but I think they may have sold sodas, hotdogs, and/or snowcones. All the duty-free shops sold candy/chocolates, if you are really in a pinch.

Thank you for the great info!

I have the same question that the OP asked, but no one answered that part of her post: We will change planes in Panama on our way to Peru from the US. Will we have to go through customs in Panama, or just Lima? Can we send our bags all the way through (COPA all the way from Orlando)? I have traveled internationally, but I guess I have never had a layover in another country, so it just occured to me that I might have to go through customs. Thanks!

If you are with COPA all the way, then I believe that your bags will go all the way to Lima. If the layover is extended COPA have a deal where you can do a city tour etc without paying the exit tax again and you only check yourselves through immigration and you don't need to clear your bags - sometimes their layovers are 8+ hours depending on where you are coming from and going to... so you might want to check on that.

Cheers,
Andrew