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The Copa Stopover: how to turn a Panama layover into the best part of your trip

Copa Airlines lets you pause in Panama for up to 7 days at no extra airfare. Over 88,000 travelers used it this year — up 37%. Here’s how to do it right.

By the Snorkel Coiba team6 min readUpdated August 2026
Panama City skyline at dusk — the view that greets Copa Stopover travelers

If you’re flying anywhere in the Americas, there’s a good chance your connection runs through Panama City’s Tocumen airport — Copa’s hub. What most travelers don’t know: Copa’s Panama Stopover program lets you stay in Panama for up to seven days at no additional airfare. Usage jumped 37% this year past 88,000 travelers, and it’s easy to see why.

How the stopover works

When booking a Copa flight that connects through Panama City, choose the Stopover option on copa.com (or ask your agent): you pick how many days to pause — from one to seven — and the airfare stays the same. You clear immigration, enjoy Panama, then continue on your original ticket. No separate booking, no fare penalty.

With 2–3 days: the city done properly

Casco Viejo’s colonial streets, the Canal’s Miraflores locks, rooftop dinners over two skylines — our Panama City guide covers it. It’s a genuinely great two-day city, and the airport is 30 minutes from downtown. But if you have more time, keep reading.

With 4–7 days: add the UNESCO marine park

This is the move most stopover travelers miss. Five hours from the capital, Coiba National Park — the “Baby Galápagos” — offers snorkeling with sea turtles, rays and harmless reef sharks for $65 per person, gear and lunch included. Two nights in Santa Catalina is enough for the full day trip.

A humpback whale in the Pacific waters of Panama during the July–October season
From July to October, humpback whales pass through Coiba — time your stopover right and you can see them on the way to the reef.

The 5-day stopover we’d build

Day 1: land, Casco Viejo evening. Day 2: Canal in the morning, shuttle west in the afternoon. Days 3–4: Santa Catalina — Coiba day trip, surf or hammock day. Day 5: shuttle back and fly out. Here’s the Coiba day hour by hour so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Logistics that make it painless

Panama uses the US dollar, English is widely spoken in tourism, and direct shuttles connect Panama City to Santa Catalina — see getting here. Message us your stopover dates on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm tour availability before you commit the days.

A scarlet macaw, one of Panama's iconic rainforest birds
Coiba’s reefs host 760+ fish species — a world-class snorkel day within reach of a long layover.

When to time it

December–April brings the calmest, clearest water; July–October adds humpback whales to the crossing. Any month works for the city. Check the best time to visit and pick the stopover length to match.

Same airfare. One unforgettable detour.

You’re flying through Panama anyway — spend two of those days snorkeling a UNESCO marine park with the local team.

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