Balboa - Marcos A. Gelabert Intl (Albrook)

1Runway 18/36 & aprons - east side

Driving Avenida Marginal Este you can not miss the enormous Albrook shopping mall. The largest mall in Central America, its parking lot is about 1km in length, along the middle section of the runway. Although palm trees line the road, good views can be had from here. Just try a few different spots depending on the type of aircraft you would like to photograph on the runway and read off some of the aircraft parked in front of the hangars. Light conditions are best in the morning.

2Southern aprons & taxiway - south side

From Albrook Mall, keep the fence on your right, on to Avenida Anton Gaillard, which rounds the airport on its south side. Follow the signs to the terminal. Just before turning right, a emergency gate can be found, which has some space to park your car. From here, great views can be had of the aircraft parked in front and sometimes inside the southern hangars. When runway 36 is in use, most aircraft taxi along the fence here. This spot is good for photography from about 01.00PM.

3Aprons -terminal area

The small terminal is located between two parking lots, both of which allow only limited views of the activity on the ramps as they are fenced off on the airport side by a wall. However, the terminal itself has a restaurant which permits viewing for on the aprons and taxiways.

4Runway 18/36 & aprons - west side

Continuing along the terminal, you will now enter the residential area of Albrook. The road goes uphill here, take the first road on your right, which will bring you to spot 4. The airport fence is found on your right and since you are on higher ground, great views of the northern ramps, including the storage area of impounded aircraft, can be had from here. The taxiway and runway are also well visible. The light conditions at this spot are never perfect, but are best in the late afternoon.

5Southern airport overview

If you are up for an interesting view of the southern part of the airport, visit Ancon mountain, locally known as Cerro Ancon. Various exits from Avenida de los Martires bring you to the top, from which interesting overviews of this part of Balboa and the Panama Canal can be had. If you just go to see aircraft, the best time to visit is in the late morning hours, when the sun is at your back. Photography is possible from here, but be sure to bring a lot of millimeters.