Central America - 7 hours at PTY - enough time for a canal visit?

Hey FTers,

I've never been to Panama and am looking at a GRU -> PTY flight this October with the decision between spending 7 hours in PTY or IAH before connecting on. IAH I've done so thinking about taking the time in PTY. 7 hours seems long but I don't know the area at all -- I've seen posts about half day layovers but any thoughts on if the canal is a reasonable stop with 7hours, customs, etc?

If it changes things, my flight arrives at 7am in PTY and departs at 2pm. Flying business class from GRU and on to IAH.

Thanks!

If you hired a driver to pick you up at the airport and take you to the canal, you could do it. Figure an hour there and back, a couple hours to get back through security, gives you three hours to visit the canal.
You may run into more traffic in the morning. But can be done.

If you hired a driver to pick you up at the airport and take you to the canal, you could do it. Figure an hour there and back, a couple hours to get back through security, gives you three hours to visit the canal.
You may run into more traffic in the morning. But can be done.

That's perfect. Thanks so much!

That's perfect. Thanks so much!

I didn't add in time to clear customs, etc. but it is fairly quick. Even with traffic, you should have a good two hours at the locks, plenty of time. The airport is on the other side of the city from the locks.


We used "My Friend Mario". Not the cheapest, but they spoke English fluently and were reliable. http://www.myfriendmario.com/
Email is easier to contact them it seems. If you have any spare time, they can tour you other places in the city as well.

I didn't add in time to clear customs, etc. but it is fairly quick. Even with traffic, you should have a good two hours at the locks, plenty of time. The airport is on the other side of the city from the locks.


We used "My Friend Mario". Not the cheapest, but they spoke English fluently and were reliable. http://www.myfriendmario.com/
Email is easier to contact them it seems. If you have any spare time, they can tour you other places in the city as well.

Very cool. I'm a believer in safe over sorry when traveling to places I've never been so planning to jet over, take a look and get back which sounds easy enough.

I echo all that has been said. A little bit of traffic in the morning, but you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the great museum.

Just returned from Panama last week. Customs was amazingly fast. When the staff noticed Continental passengers, along with those from another airline, coming into the customs area, they immediately added other staff who took their place quickly and immediately opened up for business.

Some drivers "found" us at the airport, but I would encourage you to look at tripadvisor.com and get some recommendations for a driver and arrange it in advance. As a general price guideline, a shuttle from the airport to downtown was $28 and then we negotiated later that day a private street taxi from our hotel to the Canal and a return. Canal admission was $8 which included the museum and a 10 minute film. The museum is definitely worth it, and the Canal visit is something I would highly recommend. We were told it is best to go early AM or late afternoon (we were there around 3:45) in order to see the huge Panamex boats. We only spent an hour there as we were up against a 5:00 closing time. Allowing for an hour travel time each way, you might also be able to squeeze in a quick trip to Casco Viejo (old section of Panama) which is very near the canal. We walked the area, but there were numerous people in cabs getting a taxi tour.

Clearing immigration took very little time back at the airport.

I'd say that you certainly have time to see the Miraflores Locks and the canal museum, but you would not have time to take a trip onto Gatun Lake or see the Gatun locks. That comprehensive canal tour would require around 8-10 hours, in addition to a couple of hours of airport time. Too bad, as Gatun Lake is one of the best wildlife viewing sites on the planet.

Just be aware that the taxi driver usually quote a fare about 2-3x the normal rate when they realize that you are a tourist...you goal is to show that you know the lay of the land, and to not to get ripped off (too badly).

a little spanish goes a long way...

7 hours... you could do the canal, grab a meal in Paitillas, and still make it back to the airport with time to spare.

Same story, but I'll have 8 hour layover in PTY (arrive 1030, depart 1830). I'll check out the suggestions, but it sounds like I can do a canal visit and squeeze in old town?
Thanks!

Same story, but I'll have 8 hour layover in PTY (arrive 1030, depart 1830). I'll check out the suggestions, but it sounds like I can do a canal visit and squeeze in old town?
Thanks!
Easily.

Reliable, english speaking driver, punctual. Available for airport rides, tours, errands. $ 15 per hour.
airportridespanama@gmail.com or 60653942(507 area code is Panama)
Name is John and lots of us who live in Panama have used his service and find him friendly, reasonable and reliable.

Same story, but I'll have 8 hour layover in PTY (arrive 1030, depart 1830). I'll check out the suggestions, but it sounds like I can do a canal visit and squeeze in old town?
Thanks!

Ok - plans have changed - I have 12 hours now - arrive 0630, depart 1830. anything else to see besides Miraflores locks and the old quarter with that much time?

Thanks!

Reliable, english speaking driver, punctual. Available for airport rides, tours, errands. $ 15 per hour.
airportridespanama@gmail.com or 60653942(507 area code is Panama)
Name is John and lots of us who live in Panama have used his service and find him friendly, reasonable and reliable.


he's actually $20 / hour, thanks for the suggestion

Reliable, english speaking driver, punctual. Available for airport rides, tours, errands. $ 15 per hour.
airportridespanama@gmail.com or 60653942(507 area code is Panama)
Name is John and lots of us who live in Panama have used his service and find him friendly, reasonable and reliable.

he's actually $20 / hour, thanks for the suggestion

Just be aware that the taxi driver usually quote a fare about 2-3x the normal rate when they realize that you are a tourist...you goal is to show that you know the lay of the land, and to not to get ripped off (too badly).

a little spanish goes a long way...


LOL

Ok - plans have changed - I have 12 hours now - arrive 0630, depart 1830. anything else to see besides Miraflores locks and the old quarter with that much time?

Thanks!

Casa Viejo is interesting. Nice view.

Will try to put together some other suggestions. When are you leaving?

leaving here 12 May, will be there 27 May - thanks

Ok - plans have changed - I have 12 hours now - arrive 0630, depart 1830. anything else to see besides Miraflores locks and the old quarter with that much time?

Thanks!

If you are into wildlife, I would take the Monkey Island boat trip out of the Gamboa Resort on Lake Gatun. It's around 2 hours, and well worth it.

I saw Crocs, several varieties of Monkeys, Eagles, Hawks, Sloths, Aarvarks, Capybaras, and numerous variety of waterfowl

I know this is tight and perhaps rushed but wondering if this is doable. I land at PTY at 6:32 am and depart at noon. Wish to see the canal of course and do not mind paying a cab etc to drive and wait for us. I can have my bags checked straight from Brazil to Trinidad I am sure and if will help can upgrade to biz. Is this feasible?

You can do it. I had a 12 hour layover on COPA in PTY this past Sunday. I hired John Panama - airportridespanama@gmail.com (I found him through flyertalk). He charges $20 per hour and speaks english, spanish and german fluently. I felt like he did a great job and really showed me around Panama City. Granted you will have less time than I did, but I highly recommend him - really had a fun day!

Ok perfect I emailed him lets see what he says. I am glad it is doable as this is why I even made this stopover.
How far is the canal from the airport?

I had a 7 hour layover. I also used John Panama - airportridespanama@gmail.com
My flight arrived around 2PM, but I didn't get out of the airport until 3PM. John was waiting for me at the exit area. It does take about an hour to get to the canal and I was able to see 4 ships go through the locks, but the visitor center closes at 5PM.

John also took me to the Albrook mall and drove me around downtown. We got back to the airport by 7:30PM. Getting back into the airport was much faster. John was very friendly and he charges $85 for the service.

Have a similar layover in PTY, but from 2pm-9pm on a Wednesday.

Anyone know what the security situation is around that time. Just want to know how much time to allocate to pass through security.

Thanks!

I once did that, I went thougth customs then I got to a kiosk where they offered me a visit to a mall for lunch then a visit to the canal and finally a visit to a place for purchase souvenirs all that for 37 dollars I did not have reservation but this was in 2010 I don't know if there still exist those kioks