With this stopover program, you can.
Can a layover become a mini vacation in itself? That’s exactly what happened when I flew Copa Airlines and found out about their Stopover Program, where you can explore Panama for up to seven days at no extra cost. I decided to put the program to the test, seeing how much of Panama I could actually see on a short layover in Panama City. As it turns out, I could see a lot.
Day One: Checking into the Sofitel
When I arrived in Panama City for my layover, I checked into the five-star Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, a Michelin key hotel that feels part Parisian, part tropical dream. I enjoyed cocktails at the hotel’s rooftop bar, Ammi, followed by a six-course tasting menu at the Sofitel’s fine-dining eatery, Caleta. When I returned to my room that night, happily satiated, the hotel had surprised me with a turn-down service complete with treats, while those enviable ocean views lulled me to sleep, helping me forget I was only technically on a short layover.
Day Two: A Short Trip to the Rainforest
The next morning, I woke to the promise of a day full of adventure, beginning with a rainforest excursion on the Panama Canal with Ancon Expeditions, a Panama-based company promising responsible tours for travelers. A short 45-minute drive to the town of Gamboa, where the Chagres River meets the Panama Canal, reveals another world entirely. As I glided down the river by boat, I spotted everything from howler monkeys to crocodiles.
Back in Casco Viejo, I wandered the colorful cobblestone streets of Panama City, enjoyed an incredible lunch at the celebrated Fonda Lo Que Hay, and enjoyed a much-needed afternoon caffeine pick-me-up at the world-famous Geisha Coffee Experience, considered an experience worth traveling for in itself. And because food is a love language and one of the best ways to introduce yourself to a local culture, that evening I enjoyed dinner at Lazotea, a rooftop restaurant in Casco Viejo with skyline views, incredible Latin flavors, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to dance all night.
Day Three: The Panama Canal & Emberá People
This being Panama City, the next day I visited the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal to learn about the inner workings of this globally significant canal and how ships transit through it. But by far the most memorable part of my entire trip was meeting the Emberá people, an indigenous tribe that lives along the Gatun River and is known for their deep respect for the rivers and forests, believing that everything in nature has a spirit. The Emberá community welcomes visitors into their village to showcase their customs and history, allowing even travelers on a short layover to walk away with a profound sense of Panama’s cultural heritage.
That evening, back in the city, I enjoyed a dinner at Cantina del Tigre, one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and ended the night using the secret password to get inside Arcano, a hidden speakeasy inside the Sofitel.
While it was a whirlwind, Copa Airlines let me do more than just wait around inside an airport for my connecting flight. Instead, I could drop my bags and stay a while, turning my layover into a mini vacation.
