$263 Find Cheap Flights from Panama City to San José - Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Panama City to San José:

• Earliest: departs at 6:40 am and lands at 8:06 am
• Latest: departs at 9:29 pm and lands at 10:55 pm.

The flight takes about 1h 26m.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Panama City to San José:

• Economy Class
• Business Class

A nonstop flight from Panama City to San José takes 1h 26m, covering 335 miles.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

Round-trip flights from Panama City to San José range from $226 to $281, with an average of $262 over the past 12 months. Anything below $226 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 3% above the $262 route average. Book 4 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $244 round-trip via San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL), compared to $263 for nonstop.

There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $61–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Boeing 737-800 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Copa Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 737 MAX 9 variants.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Panama City to San José flights, with 45% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 22%, evening flights for 22%, and night flights for 11%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $280 to $1,547. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x higher than the lowest one.

One-way fares from Panama City to San José are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $347, which is 126% above the typical average for this route.

San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates averaging $30 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Priceless
• Avis
• Budget
• Alamo
• Payless

Flights from Panama City to San José usually depart from Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY) and arrive at San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while night departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Panama City to San José route, 4% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1h 33m.

Connecting flights from Panama City to San José most commonly pass through:

• Bogotá El Dorado (BOG) - 50% of one-stop connections
• San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) - 50% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 8% on flights from Panama City to San José. Saturday is the cheapest departure day at $259 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $281, a difference of $22.

Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

Only Copa Airlines operates flights between Panama City and San José.

Flying via San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 6h 09m, compared with 6h 53m via Bogotá El Dorado (BOG).

San José is 1 hour behind Panama City (Central Time vs Eastern Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in San José are Parque Metropolitano La Sabana, Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica and Museo de Oro. These are among the most viewed places in San José on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating Panama City to San José flights:

• Copa Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Avianca: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Copa Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
• Avianca: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Leading airlines such as Avianca, Copa Airlines, and Aeromexico have implemented pet-friendly policies for flights between Panama City and San José. As long as the weight of an individual animal does not exceed 40 lbs, these airlines allow passengers to fly with small domesticated animals in the cabin.

To access more cost-effective ticket options, customers are advised to consider choosing connecting flights instead of nonstop flights when booking their flights from Panama City to San José. Customers can explore indirect flight options offered by airlines such as Aeromexico, which have layovers in Mexico City, or Avianca Airlines, which have layovers in El Salvador or Colombia.

If you intend to travel with multiple bags on your flight from Panama City to San José, it is advisable to select an airline that offers a more lenient policy regarding carry-on luggage. Copa Airlines, Avianca, and Volaris Costa Rica are among the carriers operating on this route that have the most accommodating rules when it comes to carry-on baggage restrictions.

You can take the Metro Bus or Metro train to reach the area near the airport and then transfer to a local bus or taxi for the final leg of the journey. You can also use taxis, which are readily available throughout downtown Panama City. It's advisable to use registered taxis with official identification.