Panama is considered the hub of the Americas. It sits at a unique geographic and cultural crossroads—a narrow isthmus where North and South America meet. For centuries, its strategic location has made it a vital point for trade and travel, connecting oceans and continents. Today, it remains a global gateway, home to the world-famous Panama Canal and a major airline hub serving the Americas and beyond.
But Panama’s role as a hub goes far beyond business and logistics. It is also a biological bridge—a place where species from both continents converge. Here, northern hummingbirds cross paths with southern tanagers, and iconic species with mostly South American distributions, like the Harpy Eagle, can be found deep in Panama’s forests. This extraordinary mix makes Panama a dazzling opportunity to observe the astounding diversity of the Neotropics in one compact, accessible country.
Traveling here is also easier than ever, thanks to Copa Airlines’ Panama Stopover program.
This initiative allows travelers flying through Panama City to stay in Panama from 24 hours up to 6 nights at no extra airfare. Whether you’re heading elsewhere in Latin America or on your way home, it’s the perfect chance to experience Panama’s breathtaking biodiversity without the need for an entirely separate trip. With no additional cost for the flight, it’s the perfect chance to explore Panama’s exceptional natural beauty. To take advantage of this opportunity, just go to www.copaair.com and click on Panama Stopover – located at the right of the page inside the box Where do you want to fly. Then, follow the steps by choosing whether you would like to stay in Panama during your outbound or returning flight, and introducing your departure and final destination flight if you choose to visit Panama during your outbound trip, or introducing the destination you will visit before Panama and your flight back home. Copa Airlines will then do the magic.
Here you can find a list of the current direct flights from the U.S., through Copa Airlines (where you can use Panama Stopover) and other airlines too:
✈️ Miami (MIA) – American Airlines, Copa Airlines
✈️ Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Orlando (MCO) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Tampa (TPA) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Atlanta (ATL) – Delta Air Lines, Copa Airlines
✈️ New York (JFK) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Washington D.C. (IAD) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Boston (BOS) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Chicago (ORD) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Los Angeles (LAX) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Denver (DEN) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Las Vegas (LAS) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Raleigh–Durham (RDU) – Copa Airlines
✈️ San Diego (SAN) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Austin (AUS) – Copa Airlines
✈️ San Francisco (SFO) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Baltimore (BWI) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Newark (EWR) – United Airlines
✈️ Houston (IAH) – United Airlines
Flying from Canada or Europe? We have a list of direct flights for you too:
Direct flights from Canada to Panama
✈️ Toronto (YYZ) – Copa Airlines
✈️ Montreal (YUL) – Copa Airlines
And here are the direct flights from Europe to Panama:
✈️ Madrid (MAD) – Iberia, Air Europa
✈️ Ámsterdam (AMS) – KLM
✈️ París (CDG) – Air France
✈️ Fráncfort (FRA) – Lufthansa
✈️ Düsseldorf (DUS) – Lufthansa
With so many options, visiting Panama for birding and nature has never been easier. Whether you’re planning a longer wildlife adventure or just a quick stopover, we invite you to discover Panama’s spectacular birds, mammals, and natural beauty with us at Canopy Family.