Tocumen International Airport

Tocumen International Airport is about 24 km east of Panama City, linked by the Corredor Sur expressway and Avenida Domingo Díaz. By taxi or Uber the drive downtown takes about 35 minutes in light traffic and can take over an hour at rush hour. By Metro, the trip takes about an hour with transfers.

Tocumen airport serves Panama City but sits on its eastern outskirts, in the Tocumen area about 24 km from downtown. It is not within walking distance of the city's main districts, such as Casco Viejo or the banking district, so you need a taxi, rideshare, transfer or the Metro to reach them.

Tocumen has two passenger terminals. Terminal 1 is the older building, opened in 1978, and Terminal 2 opened to passengers in June 2022. They are joined by a pedestrian corridor of about 170 m, and a free shuttle bus also runs between them. A Metro Line 2 station sits next to the terminals.

Copa Airlines uses Terminal 2 for check-in, arrivals, immigration and baggage claim, although some Copa flights use gates in Terminal 1. If your flight parks at Terminal 1, follow the signs to Terminal 2 to collect your bags. Air France, KLM and United also use Terminal 2, while American, Delta, Avianca and Iberia use Terminal 1.

Official airport taxis wait directly outside arrivals and are the safe option. They are not metered, so agree the fare and destination before you get in, and carry cash, as cards are rarely accepted. Ignore people who approach you inside or outside the terminal offering rides, as they are not affiliated with the airport.

Yes. Since March 2023 a branch of Metro Line 2 has run to an Aeropuerto station a 5 to 10 minute walk from arrivals. Ride two stops to Corredor Sur, continue on Line 2 and change to Line 1 for downtown. The trip takes about an hour, trains can be crowded, and service does not run overnight.

Yes, Uber operates at Tocumen 24 hours a day, though waits can be longer for very early or late flights. Drivers are not allowed to pick up at the arrivals curb. Walk to the designated pickup point in the parking garage outside Terminal 2, and wait until you are there before requesting your ride.

You need a valid passport and must meet the visa rules for your nationality, which vary by country, so check them before you fly. On arrival you go through immigration and then customs after baggage claim. Immigration lines at Tocumen can be long when several flights land at the same time, so allow extra time.

Coronado and Playa Blanca are Pacific beach areas west of Panama City, so the trip from Tocumen crosses the city and the Panama Canal before following the Pan-American Highway. Most travelers use a private transfer or rental car, or go into the city first and take an intercity bus from the Albrook terminal.

The Miraflores Locks visitor center on the Panama Canal is on the western side of Panama City, so from Tocumen you cross the whole city to reach it. Most visitors go by taxi, Uber or transfer, often after checking into their hotel, and traffic on the way through the city strongly affects the travel time.

Panama is on UTC−5 all year with no daylight saving time. It uses the US dollar as paper money alongside the balboa, which circulates as coins. The climate is hot and humid year-round, with a dry season from about December to April and a rainy season from about May to November.

Tocumen is operated by Tocumen S.A., a state-owned company, and is the hub of Copa Airlines. It handled 20,981,855 passengers in 2025, up from about 19.25 million in 2024, with 17 passenger airlines serving 97 international destinations in the Americas and Europe. It has two runways and two passenger terminals.

We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.

Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.

Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.

Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.

Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.

Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.

Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.

Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.

You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.

PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.

Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.

During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.

Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.

No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.

Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.

Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.

Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.

All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.

We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.

Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.

Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.