Travelling from Panama City to Medellin: what you need to know
Begin planning your holiday by considering where you'll board your flight from Panama City to Medellin. Tocumen International Airport (PTY) and Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB) are Panama City's main airports.
Come in for landing at Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE), the chief entry point to Medellin.
Take a direct Panama City to Medellin flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 1 hour 20 minutes.
Panama City and Medellin follow the same timezone, UTC-5.
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are 71 weekly departures to choose from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from Panama City to Medellin is with Copa Airlines at 21:27. Go for the first PTY to MDE departure with Copa Airlines at 06:53 to make the most of your first day in Medellin.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. That way, you can comfortably catch your Panama City to Medellin flight.
You can expect bigger queues during popular months such as June. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
How to find the cheapest flights from Panama City to Medellin
To score cheap Panama City to Medellin flights, reserve your journey four months before your departure.
The best month for picking up cheap plane tickets from Panama City to Medellin is July. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then choose the dates that offer the biggest savings.
Save time looking for cheap flights from Panama City to Medellin by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare becomes available.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' Panama City to Medellin flights.
Flying from Panama City
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
You can book a direct flight from Panama City to Medellin leaving from Tocumen International Airport (PTY). Start your journey at PTY and end it at Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE).
Be on the lookout for promotions with Copa Airlines. This airline offers direct Panama City to Medellin plane tickets from PTY.
We make it simple to book a Panama City to Medellin flight with a stopover. To see all your options departing from Tocumen International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Popular stopovers include:
El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
Alfonso B. Aragon Airport (CLO)
Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG)
The journey from central Panama City to PTY takes around 1 hour 5 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 18 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want an easy start to your travels? Stay near Tocumen International Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Panama City to Medellin or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are perfect:
Tocumen International Airport maintains a strong on-time performance, reducing the likelihood of delays. Departures from PTY land at their destination as scheduled 86.03% of the time.
Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB)
Prefer to fly from Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB)? This popular hub offers nonstop flights from Panama City to Medellin, seamlessly connecting you to Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE).
Wingo offers direct Panama City to Medellin plane tickets from BLB. Book your preferred window seat and reach your destination in one go.
Get more out of your holiday with a stopover on your Panama City to Medellin flight. Visit friends or family or tick another city off your list. Whatever you decide to do, check out these stops between Panama Pacifico Airport and Medellin:
El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
Alfonso B. Aragon Airport (CLO)
Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG)
BLB is about 11 kilometres from central Panama City. It'll take you 20 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre.
It's your holiday, so why not spend an additional night away? Think about checking in to one of these accommodation options near Panama Pacifico Airport the day before your flight from Panama City to Medellin:
Most flights that depart Panama Pacifico Airport arrive at their destination within the expected time frame. It achieves a consistent on-time performance rate of 87%.
Arriving in Medellin
Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE)
Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE) to central Medellin takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 18 kilometres away.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Panama City to Medellin, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these accommodation options near MDE:
Grab a Jose Maria Cordova International Airport rental car and explore Medellin and beyond with your own set of wheels. Localiza, Green Motion and Confort Rent a Car are top providers to choose from here.
Reserving your ride from Jose Maria Cordova International Airport about one week ahead gives you the best chance of locking in a great deal.
Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH)
The centre of Medellin is about 3 kilometres from Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH). Once your flight from Panama City to Medellin has touched down and you've made your way through the terminal, expect a drive of around 15 minutes.
If you hop on public transport, the ride to the centre will take you 30 minutes or so.
Grab an Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport rental car and take the scenic route to your next destination. You can choose from top outlets like Confort Rent a Car and Green Motion.
Get first dibs on the best options. Securing your ride from EOH one week in advance often means more savings and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Best time to go to Medellin
August is the most popular month for flights from Panama City to Medellin. To avoid the crowds, visit Medellin in April.
The warmest month in Medellin is August, with temperatures ranging between 11ºC (52ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF). Book your Panama City to Medellin ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
Search for cheap flights from Panama City to Medellin in July if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 11ºC (52ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF) on average.
More about Medellin
After booking your flight from Panama City to Medellin, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Medellin:
Parque Arvi and Botero Plaza are just two of the top-rated attractions to put on your Medellin itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Pueblito Paisa.
Explore more of Colombia
Medellin will leave a lasting impression, but there are so many other parts of Colombia you'll want to see. Around 241 kilometres south-east of Medellin, a trip to Bogota will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with leading attractions like Gold Museum, Usaquen Train Station and Urbanización Villas del Madrigal - Molino del Viento Park.
Around 322 kilometres south of Medellin, Cali is another favourite stop in Colombia. No visit is complete without checking out Cristo Rey, Gato de Tejada and Caliwood Museo de la Cinematografia.
