Cheap Flights from Orlando Sanford (SFB) to Panama City (PTY)

One flight is presently available from Orlando Sanford International Airport to Panama City's Tocumen International Airport. You will depart with either Surinam Airways or Avianca and then switch to the other carrier at the first stop, but in all cases the departure is at 4:00 PM. Depending on the stops and series of carriers for your particular flight, it can take anywhere from 33 to 48 hours in total, and expect two or three long layovers. If you want direct service, it is available from Orlando International Airport, which is about 30 minutes south of Sanford International closer to Orlando's city center. COPA has regular non-stop flights from that airport that take a little over three hours and are usually less expensive to boot. The COPA flights also land at Tocumen International.

Facilities at Tocumen International Airport

Tocumen International is located about 20km (or a 20-minute drive) to the northeast of Panama City. There is a city bus that stops at the airport, but it is a little tricky to find as there is no signage indicating it is there. It can be found by following an unmarked walkway (that looks like an alley) to the immediate right of the Restaraunte Selles near the airport entrance.

A taxi ride from the airport to the city is fairly expensive by local standards, so it may well be more economical to simply rent a car. A number of major rental chains have offices at the airport including Alamo, ACE and Thrifty.

Tocumen International Airport is on the basic side in terms of amenities, but there are some items of interest for travelers. A free clinic is available on site for urgent medical issues. Free chargers and free WiFi are available throughout the airport. There is also a storage office for luggage that charges by the hour or by the day. Several private lounges are also available, and visitors can buy a day pass to access them. Among these, the Copa Club has showers available.

Tocumen has a fair amount of restaurants available including Teriyaki Experience, Subway and Air Margaritaville. There are also a number of restaurants not far from the airport along Corredor Sur.

Things to Do Near Tocumen International Airport

There isn't much of interest right outside the airport. You'll need to make the trip into Panama City to start exploring what the area really has to offer. Some prime points of interest in the city are the historic Casco Viejo area, the Mercado de Mariscos for a meal of fresh fish, the scenic walk along the Amador Causeway, and of course the Panama Canal (which has a museum on site).

Hints and Tips for Tocumen International Airport

If you're planning on taking the bus out of the airport, be aware there are two different types. There is a Gray Line bus that goes to Panama City and will take cash, but the fare is considerably more expensive. The regular city buses, which have an orange stripe on them, require you to use the local Metro Card to pay your fare. Metro Cards are not currently available at the airport, so you need to arrange for one beforehand or ask another passenger if you can give them cash to pay your fare for you.