For frequent flyers, layovers are a necessary inconvenience but what if that pause became the highlight? Thanks to Copa Airlines’ new direct route from San Diego to Panama City, a standard stopover can be transformed into a luxurious tropical transit or standalone escape—one where a cosmopolitan city rich in history and culture with easy access to jungle adventures awaits.
Jet-Set to Panama City with Copa Airlines
Launched on June 25, Copa Airlines added Panama City to the growing list of international destinations directly accessible from San Diego International Airport (SAN), joining the ranks of London Heathrow (LHR) and Munich (MUC). Previously, reaching Central or South America meant flying through Miami, Houston, or Charlotte, now Copa’s first-ever non-stop service connects San Diego residents to Panama and over 50 onward destinations across Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.
“This expansion reflects Copa’s growing U.S. footprint, now servicing 17 cities across the country,” shared David Defossey, Regional Sales Manager for Copa Airlines during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Gate 50 also attended by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria who underscored the importance of the new international connection as a “major win for the region” benefitting San Diego’s business and tourism communities.
The new non-stop flight reestablishes a meaningful link between two cities historically connected by the opening of the Panama Canal and San Diego’s Balboa Park—named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first European to glimpse the Pacific from Panama. More than a century after the canal reshaped global trade and positioned San Diego as the nearest U.S. West Coast port, the route feels like a fitting renewal of that legacy.
Flights operate four times a week with the return leg a convenient red-eye, landing in Panama at 5:20 AM local time—perfect for squeezing in a full day of adventure upon arrival. To transform the nearly six-hour flight into a relaxing and upscale journey, Dreams Business Class offers lay-flat seats, gourmet dining, priority boarding, and exclusive access to the Copa Club at Tocumen International Airport in Panama (PTY).
The Panama Stopover Program
Whether you’re on a layover or planning a full escape, Panama’s central location and use of the U.S. dollar make it a surprisingly easy and rewarding destination. Thanks to Copa’s Panama Stopover Program, it’s possible to extend layovers for up to seven days with no additional airfare. One of the most accessible countries in the Americas, Panama offers variety within its compact footprint: think lush rainforests, historic neighborhoods, and stunning beaches without the crowds of more well-trodden tourist hubs.
Where to Stay: Hotel La Compañía
Panama City proper might dazzle with its striking modern skyline, but its soul lies in UNESCO-listed gem Casco Viejo, where beautifully restored colonial buildings reveal spectacularly renovated historic stays such as Hotel La Compañía, a standout property and part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection. Opened in 2022, the five-star hotel occupies a Jesuit convent dating back to 1688, which later served as the site of the University of San Xavier, with wings added during the French and American colonial periods.
Today, it masterfully blends Spanish, French, and Beaux-Arts architecture across three distinct wings, each restored with meticulous care. Original stone walls, wood-beamed ceilings, and antique furnishings preserve the property’s soul, while modern rooms and suites provide contemporary comforts. Browse vintage books in the library, ride a time-travel-themed elevator, or sip a Caipirinha cocktail before dinner from the rooftop bar framed by striking views over the city and Panama Bay – although chic lobby hangout Exilio is a strong contender for a martini.
Home to five separate restaurants, including bakery and coffee bar La Panadería, and El Santuario, a go-to spot for breakfast and lunch, refined French concept 1739 is a standout for dinner. Set within the restored stone archways of a former chapel from the original San Xavier University, the space exudes historic grandeur and also reveals a wine cellar featuring a collection of more than 1,800 bottles accessed by a spiral staircase.
Another not to be missed dining experience awaits at the hotel’s sister property Villa Ana, a restored 1920s mansion named for Ana Mercedes Arias, its last resident and a prominent and beloved Panamanian socialite. Helmed by chef Patrice Jaumon, a veteran of Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe, the menu blends East Asian and Panamanian flavors. A series of uniquely designed spaces reflect different chapters of the building’s history—from the grand main dining room to an original Chinese Salon, which gives a subtle nod to Panama’s historic Chinese community. A gallery, speakeasy, cocktail bar, and rooftop cigar lounge complete the manse, but with no cellphones allowed, expect to go tech-free for a few hours.
Book a Guided Tour with Ancon Expeditions
To make the most out of visit to Panama City book a tour or day trip with one of the country’s most resepected and long-standing tour operators. Established in 1997, Ancon Expeditions is renowned for its expertly guided adventures that showcase Panama’s natural wonders. The small but strategically significant country is rapidly riseing as an ecotourism destination and offers exceptional wildlife encounters, many of which are accessible within just an hour of the capital. At Gatun Lake, a rainforest boat tour winds through jungle-fringed waterways. During a two-hour excursion, naturalist guide Nicolas Guerrero pointed out an impressive variety of wildlife: a dozing sloth and nine long-nosed bats resting under branches, lovely capuchin and howler monkey groups, several iguanas, two crocodiles, and a colorful array of birdlife—including the stealthy anhinga, known as the tropical “snakebird,” and striking gray-and-black raptor, the snail kite.
The Panama Canal is a modern wonder, making it a must-see for travelers and located a short drive outside Panama City, the Miraflores Lock is the place to watch massive cargo ships as they pass through this engineering marvel in real time. For a deeper dive, Ancon’s VIP tour offers a behind-the-scenes look that highlights the immense scale and precision of its operations. Even those who don’t identify as history or engineering buffs will be awed by the sheer magnitude of it all. Panama is also home to the world’s most coveted coffee, and back in Casco Viejo the Geisha Experience at La Concordia Boutique Hotel is an elevated tasting session that introduces first-timers to its delicate floral notes and citrus finish.
To wrap up a third and final day, guide Nico brought Casco Antiguo to life with stories of revolutionaries and artists on a walking tour of the Old Town. After exploring hidden plazas, he pointed out a tucked-away local rum bar, plus the best boutiques to shop indigenous made souvenirs that would have been easy to miss without his local insight: Casa Latina and La Galeria Indigena are both worth a look for animal masks skillfully woven by the Embera people, an indigenous community native to Panama, although the boutique at Hotel La Compañía was filled with treasures too.
Add Panama City to Travel Plans
More than just a convenient route, Copa Airlines has created an invitation to rethink what it means to be “in transit.” Why waste hours in the terminal when you could be sipping Geisha coffee in a chic tasting room, dining in a 300-year-old courtyard, cruising jungle waters in search of monkeys, or standing beside one of the world’s most remarkable engineering feats? Next time you’re booking a flight through the Americas, that layover doesn’t have to be a layover; it could be a luxury vacation in disguise.
