The right season to fly
Panama’s climate is tropical: dry season (December–April) overlaps with high tourist season → higher fares. Green season (May–November) is 20–30% cheaper, with lush landscapes and short but intense afternoon showers.
For a permanent move, leave in May–June: middling fares, acceptable weather, all admin offices open (unlike December).
Carriers worth knowing
Air France — CDG ↔ PTY direct
Seasonal, ~11h flight, polished service. Avg 1,100–1,400 € round-trip. Flying Blue mileage is usable. Recommended if traveling with your dog (AF accepts cabin pets < 8 kg on some flights).
Copa Airlines — direct or via Bogotá
Panama’s flag carrier. Direct CDG → PTY in high season, otherwise via Madrid or Bogotá. Recent fleet (Boeing 737 MAX), smooth online check-in. ConnectMiles mileage is valuable for Latin American hops.
American Airlines — via Miami
Daily connections via MIA. Watch the ESTA — required even in transit, settle 72h before departure. Avg 950–1,200 USD.
Iberia / Air Europa — via Madrid
The sane fallback when direct isn’t available. 2–4h MAD layover, 14–17h total. Often the cheapest option in low season.
When to book — the window that works
Per Skyscanner data, the optimal fare window is 6–8 weeks before departure for transatlantic flights. Earlier, you pay the “fear of delay” tax. Later, you pay the urgency tax.
Avoid:
- Dec 15 → Jan 5: Christmas + PA school holidays = +40%.
- Carnival (Feb/Mar): domestic flights saturated.
- Holy Week: Easter returns = +25%.
The tools that work in 2026
I systematically use two tools side by side:
- Skyscanner — to identify the fare window and available carriers;
- Kiwi.com — for multi-carrier combinations Skyscanner doesn’t surface (e.g. Iberia outbound, United return).
For Paris → Panama I open both tabs side by side. If the Skyscanner-Kiwi gap exceeds 10%, I dig in.
Pitfalls
- Non-changeable tickets: if your apostille appointment slips a week, you lose the ticket. Pay 80–120 € more for a flexible fare.
- Tight MIA layovers: 1h30 is risky. Aim for 2h30 minimum.
- Last-minute dog booking: pet option must be reserved 2 weeks ahead. No carrier accepts a dog on the day-of.
- Third-party online agencies: if your flight cancels, customer service is a black hole. Book direct or through Skyscanner/Kiwi (which forward you to the carrier).
Tocumen (PTY) on arrival
The international airport is Tocumen (PTY), 25 km east of Panama City. Plan for:
- 25 USD official taxi to downtown (45 min without traffic);
- 35 USD via Uber (often cheaper);
- 0.35 USD on bus 415 (1h30, A/C, Metro card).
At customs, you’ll be asked for your destination address: have your Booking or Airbnb address ready. Without an address, expect 30 extra minutes of questions.
Next reads: Open a bank account, Travel insurance for Panama, Bring your dog.