Lax to Medellin via Copa Air has a great deal but the catch is......There is a large 10hr. layover in Panama. So i.e. you arrive at Panama at 9:30am and leave to Medellin at 7:43pm, mind you this is on a Friday. My question is....is it worth my while to leave the airport to get some action and venture a little in Panama. Is the airport close to the city? If so where is it recommended to go on a Friday and get back in time to make it on the plane with no issues. Will I get hasseled to get back on the gate zones? Please respond with multiple options.

In researching more by calling Copa Airlines, they state they have a program with Aero Republica and can get me on a connection flight from Panama at 11am. So i.e. a 1hour layover, but the catch is you cannot do it via electronic/internet ticket. You physically have to go to LAX and buy the paper ticket. Which I have no problem in doing so. I guess I have both options on the table but I am still left with that thought of adventure and going for it in Panama and making it a two location trip monger destination. Once again please give me the inside of the good and bad of my train of thought. Thanks in advance....

Caz, IMO, if it's your first trip down there, it may be interesting to check out Panama for a few hours, lots of casinos and shopping. Panama Canal is interesting to see as well. As for daytime p4p, there are massages open (use ther on site rooms as you will likely not check in to a hotel), but I usually get a call girl (telephone book) or call up a novia I know and just hang out. Can't recommend a particular massage as I haven't been back for awhile and the talent changes alot. I usually don't find the daytime massage talent all that great. Another option is that some taxi drivers know of Colombian gals working out of their apts. IMO, Night time is better as there are lots of great clubs to check out if you read the Panama section. Just be aware that Panama is expensive for p4p compared to Colombia.

Aero Republica is another great option, too bad you have to go stand in line at the airport to get the tix. These days, I like flying into Bogota as there are lots more to do, I have gal friends there, and there are lots of flights to MDE or CTG each day (although CO flies in kinda late so you gotta stay overnight). Hope this helps.

Interestingly enough the AeroRepublica website at http://www.aerorepublica.com.co/index.php3
makes no mention of service betweeen Panama and Medellin

Any other valuable information??

Cazadores

Are you being sarcastic? If so, what's your problem? Unless AeroRepublica hasn't bothered to update their website to reflect that they now fly to Medellin from Panama,it makes me wonder if you were misinformed by Copa.

(Message edited by Reytj on April 26, 2006)

Mr. tough guy Reytj.... Read my post thoroughly and you will see I know Aero Republic flys to Medellin from Panama! I was simply asking if anybody had any other ideas for a short time in Panama. Get a grip... guy!!!

Caz, if I may add, Panama, like Costa Rica, is a very beautiful country outside of the city. The canal is amazing to see, and there are national parks that are simply stunning.

You can negotiate for an hourly rate with a taxi to be tourguide to show you the nearby areas.

My friend and I rented a car for a day trip and the roads and conditions were fairly easy to navigate, compared to driving in the States.

I also did a helicopter tour one trip which was amazing as well.

Helicopter tours:
http://www.helipan.com/english/tours/canal/index.html

Thanks Merlin as usual you always come through with some good info....Unfortunatley I already went physically to LAX and got the tickets with a minimal 1 hr layover with Aero Republic. I weighed it out and decided to just hit straight to Medellin instead of wasting a full day of travel and partial couple hour site seeing. Maybe next time Ill do the Panama canal.. Thanks again Merlin!!!

Hehe, I'd do the same in a heartbeat, have fun.