Copa Airlines offers easy access to Panama and beyond

Editor’s note: Tampa International Airport Manager of Communications C.J. Johnson recently traveled to Panama City, Panama, aboard TPA's nonstop flight on Copa Airlines. This is a travelogue of his experiences and recommendations.

There’s nothing quite like traveling to a new destination, especially when it’s an adventure to Panama City, Panama – known as the “Crossroads of the World” for its vital location between North and South America and the famously important Panama Canal.

I recently flew nonstop from TPA to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) aboard Copa Airlines, which has been operating at TPA since 2013. The airline recently increased service to PTY to 12 nonstop flights a week from Tampa International Airport.

Copa has also made it easy for Tampa Bay travelers to explore Panama, even if their final destination is elsewhere. They provide a complimentary stopover program with all sorts of hotel, restaurant and activity deals for passengers who are connecting through PTY to any of 47 Latin American and Caribbean destinations.

For context, I’ve been on a personal quest to visit as many countries as I can, and I hadn't yet made it to Panama. This trip would mark my first visit to Central America, bringing my personal “countries visited" tally up to 42. It would be a short trip, less than 48 hours on the ground, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was excited to try out Copa Airlines and explore this unique city.

After I breezed through check-in and security at TPA, Copa was kind enough to upgrade me to a business class seat for the less than three-hour flight from TPA to PTY. I was able to kick back, relax and enjoy the delicious onboard meal of beef, rice and salad once we had taken off. While Wi-Fi service isn't currently offered aboard Copa, the airline offered plenty of movies and shows to help pass the time.

As I descended into PTY, nicknamed the Hub of the Americas, thunderstorms limited the views out over the city, but the mood of the passengers onboard couldn’t have been brighter. Applause broke out once we touched down.

Clearing customs took less than five minutes and before I knew it, I was in the back of an Uber, heading toward the stunning modern skyline of Panama City. To me, this city felt like an impressive mix of Miami and Dubai, with gleaming skyscrapers soaring high above the Gulf of Panama.

After settling in at my hotel, I walked over to the sophisticated Azahar restaurant for dinner on their outdoor patio, which provided stunning views of the water to go along with their delicious shrimp bisque and truffle fries. I enjoyed the view and the food before calling it a night.

The following morning, I hit the ground running. With only one full day in Panama City, I wanted to see as much as possible. The rainy morning didn’t stop me from exploring. My first stop was getting intentionally lost in Casco Antiguo (also known as Casco Viejo), a historic district that is home to some of the oldest parts of the city. From brightly colored buildings to bakeries with amazing pastries to stores offering iconic woven-straw Panama hats, it was clear to me why this district was popular. I took a coffee break at Sisu Coffee Studio, where a gorgeous interior and delicious latte awaited me.

As the lunch hour approached, I made my way to the Miraflores Visitor Center, home to a unique Panama Canal experience featuring an IMAX theater, observation deck and guided tour. Thousands of visitors come each day to see this engineering marvel, which employs nearly 9,000 people. I met up with my guide who took me up close to the locks, telling me that 35 to 40 ships pass through the Canal every day. I then watched in awe as one large ship after another was slowly lowered from one lock to the next, making their way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean with small electric locomotive-like machines known as mules helping keep them centered within the lock's boundaries.

After several hours at the Canal, I returned to Panama City for a long walk along the water, admiring the skyscrapers and discovering beautiful outdoor art installations. I eventually made my way to pastry and coffee bar Athanasiou for another fuel-up before settling in for dinner at Tántalo, one of the many rooftop restaurants in Casco Antiguo. As the sun went down and the city lights began to glow, I sneaked over to Granclemént for a delicious scoop of gourmet ice cream.

It was already time to go, so the following morning I packed up and Ubered back to Tocumen International Airport. I checked in at the Copa ticket counter and cleared security in less than 15 minutes.

Terminal 2 at PTY was impressive, with high ceilings and a wide variety of retail and dining options. It was very clean and the staff I encountered were friendly and helpful. I settled in at the Copa Club, an amazing lounge located on the terminal’s second floor, featuring beautiful views out over the concourse and the airfield. This lounge, available to select travelers, offers hot showers, movie theater-style seating, plenty of food and much more. It made the wait for my departure incredibly easy and comfortable.

I then boarded my two-and-a-half-hour flight back home. I was in Copa's Economy Extra class for this leg of the trip and found my seat to be quite comfortable, with plenty of legroom. Copa is often ranked as one of the most on-time airlines in the world, and I’d agree. Before I knew it, we were touching down at TPA nearly 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

It was a fast but fabulous jaunt to Panama’s capital, making the easy trip worthwhile. I'd love to visit again and spend more time exploring all that this amazing country has to offer. So, what are you waiting for? Copa Airlines offers 12 flights a week from TPA to PTY, making it easy to reach Panama City or dozens of other destinations from America’s Favorite Airport. To book your next trip to Panama or beyond, click here: https://www.copaair.com/