For backpackers traveling between Panama and Colombia, flying is often the easiest way to cross the border. The good news is that you have three very different options: Copa Airlines, Wingo and Avianca. They can all get you from Panama to Colombia, but the experience, price structure, baggage rules and route networks are quite different.
The biggest mistake is looking only at the advertised ticket price. A $70 Wingo ticket can become much less attractive once you add a cabin bag and checked luggage, while a more expensive Copa or Avianca ticket may include more of what you actually need. For backpackers carrying everything they own, the cheapest airline isn't necessarily the cheapest flight.
🇵🇦 Copa Airlines: The easiest option from Panama
Copa Airlines is the obvious choice for convenience. Panama City is Copa's main hub, and the airline currently offers scheduled service between Panama and 11 Colombian cities, giving it an enormous advantage if you're traveling beyond Bogotá or Medellín.
Copa is particularly useful if you want to fly directly from Tocumen International Airport to places such as Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, Pereira or Barranquilla. Current Copa fare listings, for example, show round trips from Panama to Medellín from around US$212, Bogotá from around US$276 and Cartagena from around US$334, although prices change constantly.
The major advantage is simplicity. You arrive at Tocumen, get on your plane and Colombia is next. There is no need to travel to another Panamanian airport or build a complicated itinerary around connections.
Copa is also particularly attractive for travelers who are continuing onward through the Americas. Its Panama hub is designed around connecting flights, so Panama City functions as a giant crossroads between North, Central and South America.
The downside? Copa often isn't the cheapest option. Its lowest fares can also have additional charges for baggage and optional services, so you need to compare the final price rather than just the headline fare.
Best for: convenience, direct flights from Panama, lots of Colombian destinations, connections and travelers who don't want to complicate their journey.
💰 Wingo: The backpacker's bargain hunter
Wingo is where things get interesting for budget travelers. Wingo was created specifically as a low-cost airline and operates flights within Colombia and to several international destinations, including Panama.
Wingo's biggest attraction is the headline price. If you travel light and find a promotion, it can be extremely competitive. Wingo specifically markets cheap flights between Panama and Colombian destinations such as Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Cartagena and Barranquilla.
But this is where backpackers need to pay attention.
Wingo's Go Basic fare includes only a small personal item measuring up to 40 × 35 × 25 cm. A larger cabin bag isn't included. Go Standard adds a 12 kg cabin bag, while Go Plus includes a 23 kg checked bag.
That means Wingo can be fantastic if you're the kind of traveler who can fit your life into a small backpack. If you're carrying a large backpack, however, you should add the baggage before comparing the price with Copa or Avianca. Buying luggage at the airport can be considerably more expensive.
For a young backpacker spending several weeks traveling around Colombia, though, Wingo can be hard to beat. If you can travel with minimal luggage, this is the airline I'd check first when price is your number-one priority.
Best for: budget backpackers, short trips, travelers with little luggage and anyone willing to accept a more basic airline experience to save money.
✈️ Avianca: The middle ground
Avianca sits somewhere between Copa and Wingo. It is a major Colombian airline with a huge domestic network, which makes it particularly interesting if Panama is simply the beginning of a longer Colombian adventure.
For example, you might fly Panama to Bogotá and then continue to another Colombian city. Avianca's network can make this practical without having to piece together several unrelated tickets.
Avianca also uses a fare structure where baggage depends heavily on the ticket you purchase. Its current baggage information shows that international flights between Central America, South America and the Caribbean can have checked-bag charges starting around US$80, depending on fare and circumstances.
So, just like Wingo, you shouldn't judge Avianca solely by the initial fare displayed in a search engine. Check what is actually included.
Avianca can be particularly attractive when its fare is close to Copa's but the schedule or onward Colombian connection is better. If you're heading deep into Colombia rather than simply visiting Bogotá, Medellín or Cartagena, its extensive Colombian network can become a major advantage.
Best for: travelers continuing around Colombia, people who want a large Colombian network and travelers who find a good fare with baggage included.
🚌 What about traveling overland?
For backpackers, there's another important point: Panama and Colombia don't have a road connection through the Darién Gap. You cannot simply take a bus from Panama City to Bogotá.
That makes flying the easiest conventional option. There are alternative adventures involving boats and combinations of buses and boats through the Caribbean, but they take considerably longer and can cost more than an ultra-cheap flight.
For most backpackers, a cheap flight is therefore not just about saving time. It can actually be the most practical way of crossing between Central and South America.
🏆 So which one should you choose?
Copa wins for convenience. If you're in Panama City and want the easiest possible trip, Copa is hard to beat. Its Panama hub and large Colombian network make it particularly convenient. Copa currently lists direct Panama flights to numerous Colombian cities.
Wingo wins for the hardcore budget traveler. If you can travel with only a small personal item, Wingo's low-cost model can produce some seriously cheap tickets. Just don't forget that the cheapest fare includes very little luggage.
Avianca wins for exploring Colombia. If Panama is simply your gateway into Colombia and you plan to continue to several cities, Avianca's Colombian network can make it a very useful option.
The backpacker rule
Don't compare:
Wingo $80 vs Copa $160
Compare:
Wingo $80 + cabin bag + checked bag vs Copa's final price with the baggage you actually need.
That is where the real difference becomes apparent.
For someone traveling around Central and South America with a small backpack, I'd check Wingo first, then Copa, then Avianca. For someone with a large backpack and a lot of luggage, I'd compare the final prices carefully because Copa or Avianca can sometimes become much more competitive.
And if you find a Wingo fare that is dramatically cheaper than the others and you're traveling light, grab it. That's exactly the kind of flight that can make a backpacking trip through Panama and Colombia considerably cheaper.