Tocumen International Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels
At the airport in Tocumen
At the airport · The Riande Aeropuerto is about 2 km away with a free shuttle; the Crowne Plaza is under 1 km away with a shuttle running 24 hours on request.
Best for: One-night layovers and departures before dawn, for those who don't want to face the traffic into downtown.
- Free shuttles running even in the early morning hours, without the traffic on Via Domingo Díaz
- No risk of missing the connection because of queues on the road into downtown
- Only the Tocumen industrial area around: for dinner you stay in the hotel
- For an evening in Panama City you still need 30-45 minutes by taxi
Recommended hotels in this area
- Riande Aeropuerto Hotel Casino: About 2 km from the terminal with a free shuttle; outdoor pool and an on-site casino for a long layover between two flights.
- Crowne Plaza Panama Airport by IHG: Less than 1 km from the terminals, with a free shuttle running 24 hours on request; outdoor pool and gym for an overnight stay between two flights.
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El Cangrejo and Via España
Neighbourhood · About 30-40 minutes by taxi from the airport (20 km), up to 45 at peak hours; there is no direct fast connection.
Best for: Those who want the evening life, restaurants and the historic financial district, a step from Via España.
- Via España and the Bella Vista district reachable on foot from the hotels
- Restaurants, banks and nightlife concentrated in a few streets
- No direct metro from the airport: you depend on taxis or a rental car
- Heavy traffic on Via España at peak hours
Recommended hotels in this area
- Hotel El Panama by Faranda Grand: The city's first large hotel, at the top of Via España in the Bella Vista district; large pool surrounded by gardens and three in-house restaurants.
- Le Méridien Panama: At the corner of Calle Uruguay and Avenida Balboa, on the border between the financial district and the nightlife of El Cangrejo; bay views from the upper floors.
- Hyatt Regency Panama City: On Calle 52, 4 minutes on foot from Via España and 10 from Avenida Balboa; a café and a food market on the ground floor.
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Punta Pacifica and Marbella
Neighbourhood · About 30-40 minutes by taxi from the airport (20-22 km); no direct fast connection, you depend on taxis or a rental car.
Best for: Those who want the bayside skyscrapers and Avenida Balboa, with Multiplaza Mall a few minutes away.
- Avenida Balboa reachable on foot from both hotels
- Multiplaza Mall and the restaurants of Punta Pacifica a few minutes away
- An area of skyscrapers and offices: little street life outside the shopping malls
- The same traffic as the rest of the city towards the airport
Recommended hotels in this area
- JW Marriott Panama: A tower on the Punta Pacifica coast, the former Trump Ocean Club taken over by Marriott in 2018; four outdoor pools and three in-house restaurants.
- Riu Plaza Panamá: A 34-floor tower in Marbella, 9 minutes on foot from Avenida Balboa; 634 rooms and three restaurants, among the chain's largest in the city.
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Costa del Este
Neighbourhood · About 10-20 minutes via the Corredor Sur (toll road) under normal traffic conditions, up to 30 at peak hours.
Best for: Business trips to the city's newest financial district, the closest to the airport along the Corredor Sur.
- The financial district closest to the airport, thanks to the Corredor Sur
- A seafront with shops and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel
- A district of offices and skyscrapers: quiet evenings, little nightlife
- For the historic centre or El Cangrejo you still need a taxi
Recommended hotels in this area
- The Westin Panama: On the Rotonda of Costa del Este, the financial district closest to the airport via the Corredor Sur; Heavenly Bed beds and an in-house spa.
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