Panama Layover Activities

edpeluffo says on Mar 3, 2009, 13:25:

I agree about Tocumen's airpot being boring. You can do a little shopping at los pueblos which is nearby, sure taxis can be expensive but you can always negotiate; I would personally find a taxi that is dropping somebody else off and try to get a lower rate.

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STEVENYCER says on Mar 3, 2009, 13:34:

Thanks for the advice, however my layover is smack dab in the middle of the day. Luggage (or sleep) isn't much of an issue, so I was thinking of venturing out in search of a nearby mall (cliche, I know), where I can do some lunch and maybe a little shopping. Will I find this in los pueblos? Have any of you tried to do this before in a 6 hour time frame?

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STEVENYCER says on Mar 3, 2009, 13:49:

Only if it came with a hot girl and case of beers. :)

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whitewidow says on Mar 3, 2009, 14:24:

i believe tocumen had a small cafe last time i was there.

I'm no doper! I just play one on TV.

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STEVENYCER says on Mar 3, 2009, 14:31:

That small cafe is the ONLY friggin thing to grab a bite aside from a hot dog cart. I'm considering going to Centro Comercial Los Pueblos Tocumen nearby, I found their website:

http://www.grupolospueblos.com/centrocomer2.html

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quantum says on Mar 3, 2009, 14:42:

Yes, 6 hrs is too long to be hanging around a boring airport like Tocumen. I agree. Head for Los Pueblos Mall and pass some time cruising around window shopping, eating lunch, girl watching, have a few beers, buy a few gifts, etc, etc. U can actually walk outside to the main road only a few hundred meters away and catch a local bus for less than a buck to the mall. No need to be paying any extortionary taxi fees. Buena suerte!

quantum

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cazadorez says on Mar 3, 2009, 21:19:

...for short time go downtown and hit the casinos and gamble, that is the best option I can think of....that is fast quick and kills some time in the layover. Nothing else much to do thats quick! There is casinos everywhere!!!!!!!1

Ay Hombre....no jodas!

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bickerss says on Mar 4, 2009, 05:21:

Guess you will have 3 to 4 hrs all up then to do something; try the following:

a trip to the old city; nice to see.
a rushed trip to the Canal.
the casinos as mentioned.
to the mall on ave balboa - have a look around and then go to Benegins which is next door and have a beer (or and go to the casino behind the mall).

You can get shared taxis (mini van ) for between 10 to 12 USD a person from the airport.

Investment Strategy - buying when others are crying!! Offloading when others are gloating!!!

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STEVENYCER says on Mar 4, 2009, 08:30:

Wow, bickerss, that is an ambitious itinerary!

I'll likely play it by ear, since I'll be laid over between 915am and 315pm and likely have to deal with some rush hour traffic. I also have to see if I have to get a visa or pay an airport fee to leave Tocumen for a few hours and ensure it won't take me forever to get back through security. I'll probably just visit the mall or the old city, not both, just to play it safe. It would be cool to take the bus from the airport, and then return in a cab (quicker). Thanks all for your suggestions!

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bickerss says on Mar 4, 2009, 08:59:

sorry - I didnt make it clear - you need to choose 1 (ie each sentence is something that you could do in the time allocated depending on your tastes - not all of them)

Investment Strategy - buying when others are crying!! Offloading when others are gloating!!!

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poco says on Mar 4, 2009, 10:27:

They have free wi-fi and plenty of plugs in the CENTRAL waiting area,, not sure about the Concourses?

I needed to move to one end of the Concourse to get the best signal.

So,, watch a movie, play a game, look at email and checkout the stores,, more overpriced electronics than I've ever seen in one place.

Lots of candy stores,, what the?? ,, is chocolate taxed,, are folks in Panama fat,, or what?

Anyway,, check it out,, a thumbs up.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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poco says on Mar 4, 2009, 10:37:

OH,, this explains the chocolate.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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STEVENYCER says on Mar 4, 2009, 10:54:

Oh, that's so wrong on so many levels....LOL

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STEVENYCER says on Mar 4, 2009, 13:35:

Okay, so I can't find anything anywhere about being 'allowed' to leave Tocumen for a few hours. My airfare already includes the departure tax...

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poco says on Mar 4, 2009, 14:59:

The original photo was about 265,000 K. The below photo takes up about 8 times LESS space. Think it was 35K?

Not a big deal on my high speed in the U.S.,, but many folks are on modem (64K) in Colombia and I am one of them. (not now) when I'm over there. I hate to see large file sizes.



Humm,, well,, show her these photos and see what happens,,
1. She will suggest you edit to have a smaller file size.
2. She will go on a diet.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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august says on Mar 4, 2009, 15:02:

No way, they're definitely going to make you buy the 5 dollar visa to go beyond the customs booths, much less leave the airport. Think about it, 6 hours really isn't that much time. You know you need to be early for your connecting flight because the airport/airline staffs are going to do something nonsensical (e.g. set up a gateside security checkpoint) to delay the check-in or boarding process, so you're not left with that much time. A taxi's like 30 minutes at least to the city center (unless you plan on lounging at some hot, dusty place outside the airport), so that's another hour and about 50 dollars round-trip minimum. I say you're much better off using the wifi/napping/getting snacks from that terrible restaurant in the terminal for a few hours instead.

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sloopskipper says on Mar 4, 2009, 15:53:

Even if you don't need collect your luggage and needn't pass customs, it could easily take an hour to clear immigration, once off the plane.

If you have been to Cartagena or Viejo San Juan the old city here (Casco Viejo) is not worthwhile.

Somebody mentioned a mall closer to to Tocumen, that I’m not familiar with, but in the city there are two large malls, MultiPlaza and MultiCentro. I suspect that electronics are maybe cheaper than in Colombia, but otherwise I think that I wouldn’t waste my time, or money .

I think that you will have to pay for internet at Tocumen. That was the case when I last flew to Colombia, out of here.

It is a nice little airport, but as others have said, the restaurant food sucks, except maybe behind security.

And, in Panama City, there is not much to see, and I think the going taxi rate is now $27US, each way, to/from the airport to Panama City (it's only maybe 20 minutes).

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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STEVENYCER says on Mar 4, 2009, 16:47:

I will play it by ear by going downstairs and if there is a short line thru immigration to exit the airport, I will make the plunge to the mall los pueblos. I will follow up and post the results next month!

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