A private charter from Albrook (PAC) to Contadora (OTD) covers 37 nautical miles across the Gulf of Panama in roughly 20 minutes. It is the shortest leg in the Panamanian network and the direct way into the Pearl Islands. Quoted per aircraft on request.
Route facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Marcos A. Gelabert – Albrook (PAC / MPMG) |
| Destination | Cnel. Raúl Arias Espinoza (OTD / MPRA) |
| Archipelago | Pearl Islands, Gulf of Panama |
| Great-circle distance | 37.2 NM · 43 miles · 69 km |
| Estimated flight time | 20 min |
| Aircraft | Aircraft assigned on confirmation · 4–12 seats |
| Destination elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Price | Quoted per aircraft on request |
Thirty-seven nautical miles of open water
Contadora is the most developed island in the Pearl Islands archipelago, in the Gulf of Panama. It has beaches, lodging and services, and sits close enough to the capital to work both as a weekend escape and as a longer stay.
What makes this destination distinctive is that there is no road alternative. It is an island. The options are the ferry from Panama City, which absorbs much of the day between crossing time and schedules, or the flight, which puts the island within reach of a mid-morning departure and a pre-lunch arrival.
That is the whole proposition: thirty-seven nautical miles separate a capital of one and a half million people from a Pacific island. Few destinations in the region offer that contrast at that distance.
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A runway that crosses the island end to end
Cnel. Raúl Arias Espinoza has an unusual configuration, and it is worth describing because it explains how the field is operated.
The runway crosses the width of the island. Approaches to either end are flown over the water, and the parking apron, on the north end, is tight.
That means three things for the passenger. First, the landing is visually striking, with sea on both sides until the last moment. Second, the field is sensitive to crosswind, which is common on a narrow isthmus of land. Third, the limited apron forces movements to be coordinated: this is not an airport where several aircraft can wait indefinitely on the ground, and departures are scheduled with that constraint in mind.
As a navigation reference, the Taboga Island VOR-DME lies 32.7 nautical miles west-northwest of the field.
On confirmed weather-related closures: Several fields in the network operate in daylight and visual conditions, and close when the weather does not allow it.
Albrook Airport (PAC)
Marcos A. Gelabert is Panama City's domestic airport, a kilometre and a half west of downtown on the site of the former Albrook Air Force Station. Elevation 31 feet, single runway 1/19.
For this route in particular its location is decisive: a short transfer from any hotel in the banking district or Casco Antiguo, and a flight of under half an hour. The door-to-door total competes with a ground transfer inside the city itself.
Aircraft and baggage
Aircraft assigned on confirmation, 4–12 seats, baggage confirmed at booking by weight and volume.
Because this is a short over-water flight into a field with a tight apron, schedule coordination matters more than on continental routes. Confirm your return timing when booking the outbound.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Panama City to Contadora?
Roughly 20 minutes across 37.2 nautical miles, over the Gulf of Panama.
How much does a private charter to Isla Contadora cost?
Quoted per aircraft on request, not per passenger. Send us the date and the group and we confirm in writing.
Can you reach Contadora by road?
No. It is an island in the Pearl Islands archipelago. The options are the ferry from Panama City or the flight.
What is the Contadora runway like?
It crosses the width of the island, and approaches to either end are flown over the water. The parking apron, on the north end, is tight.
Is this workable as a day trip?
The flight time allows it, but the tight apron at the destination means movements must be coordinated. Confirm your return timing when booking the outbound.
Which Panama City airport does the flight leave from?
Albrook (PAC), the domestic airport a kilometre and a half west of downtown.
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Related routes: Panama City to the Pearl Islands · Panama City to Playón Chico (San Blas) · Panama City to Santa Catalina / Coiba · How much does a private charter to Contadora cost · All routes from Panama City
See also: Door-to-lodge transfer · The Pearl Islands and Contadora · A Ten-Day Panama Itinerary