Sixty-three point one nautical miles from the Pacific to the Caribbean. It is the only route in the catalogue joining two archipelagos in different oceans, and it does so without touching the mainland. Quoted per aircraft on request.
Route facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Isla Contadora (OTD / MPCT) |
| Destination | Playón Chico (PYC / MPYC), Guna Yala |
| Distance | 63.1 NM · 117 km |
| Price | Quoted per aircraft on request |
Sixty-three nautical miles between two oceans
Panama is narrow, and this flight demonstrates it better than any map.
Contadora sits in the Gulf of Panama, in the Pacific. Playón Chico sits in Guna Yala, in the Caribbean. Sixty-three nautical miles separate the two archipelagos — less than Managua–Costa Esmeralda within a single coastal country.
By land and sea it is another story: you have to return to Panama City from Contadora and then cross the cordillera to the Caribbean coast. Two days with transfers at both ends.
The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
It is not a shortcut, it is the only connection
And precision matters here, because the comparison with the capital misleads.
From Panama City, Contadora is 37.2 nautical miles away and Playón Chico 81.1. If your itinerary passes through the capital anyway, two short flights from there work just as well.
This route exists for anyone who does not want to go back. It is one link fewer, not a shorter journey — the same logic as Utila–Guanaja in the Bay Islands.
Guna Yala is visited with permission
It is the warning this destination calls for, and it is not ours: the Guna Yala territory is an autonomous comarca with its own access rules, and visits are coordinated with the communities.
We do not handle that permission and we do not replace your local operator. But it is worth knowing before fixing dates, because this is not a destination you simply arrive at. Access requires an authorisation handled by the area’s administration or your local operator, on their own timescales.
And Contadora has a ferry, but not this way
Contadora has sea service from Panama City, and on the cost page we recommend it for anyone with time. We confirm the applicable ferry timetable in the quote, because it changes with the date and the operation.
That boat does not take you to Guna Yala. It goes towards the mainland, in the opposite direction. For this particular leg there is no direct sea alternative: the flight is what makes the journey possible.
An itinerary almost nobody proposes
Two archipelagos, two oceans, two entirely different cultures — the Pearl Islands and Guna Yala resemble each other in nothing — and sixty-three nautical miles in between.
If your trip to Panama is about islands, this is the link that makes it one trip rather than two. Ask about it as a full itinerary, not as a separate leg.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Contadora to San Blas?
The flight covers 63.1 nautical miles. By land and sea you have to return to Panama City and cross the cordillera: two days.
Is it shorter than going via the capital?
Not by much. From Panama City, Contadora is 37.2 nautical miles and Playón Chico 81.1. What it saves is a link, not distance.
Is there a ferry between the two archipelagos?
No. Contadora has a boat to the mainland, in the opposite direction. For this leg the flight is what makes the journey possible.
Do I need permission for Guna Yala?
It is an autonomous comarca with its own access rules, and visits are coordinated with the communities. We do not handle that permission. Access requires an authorisation handled by the area’s administration or your local operator, on their own timescales.
Is it an international route?
No. Both points are in Panama, though in different oceans. It is a domestic flight from start to finish.
Who does it make sense for?
For anyone doing an island trip in Panama. It is the link that makes it one trip rather than two.
Enquire
See also: How much does a private charter to Isla Contadora cost · Panama City to Playón Chico · Private flights from Panama City · San Blas island hopping charter · All destinations · Door-to-lodge transfer · The Pearl Islands and Contadora · Do You Need Travel Insurance for Panama · Private Charter from Tocumen to San Blas · Private Charter from Isla Contadora to Pedasí · Private Charter from Tocumen to Isla Contadora