Flying to Panama-Copa Airlines

Panama has flights to all Central American countries and both North and South America; Miami is the principal hub for flights to Panama. Copa is the national airline. There’s a US$20 departure tax on international flights, payable only in cash.

There are three land border crossings between Panama and Costa Rica; Paso Canoas, on the Interamerican Highway, is the most popular, followed by Guabito-Sixaola near the Caribbean coast. There are buses to the border that connect with local services on the Costa Rican side. Despite the huge amount of shipping passing through the Panama Canal, it’s hard to catch a ride on a boat.

The two-week hike through the jungle that comprises the Darién Gap - the roadless terrain between Yaviza and the Colombian border - is an unwise endeavor. But if you absolutely must cross the Panama-Colombia border on foot, do so at Puerto Obaldia, a sleepy little town just a couple of kilometers from some fine beaches.

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Filed under: Country Guide on January 22nd, 2008