The Best Things to do in Panama City
Whenever I thought about Panama, all that came to mind was the famous Panama Canal. However, to my surprise, Panama City was more than that. This beautiful city is made up of stunning skyscrapers and beautiful beaches and jungles surrounding it.
Panama City has become a popular hot spot for American retirees and a quick stopover city to visit. Flights to Panama are cheap from Florida, Medellin, and other major cities. So, you’ll see a lot of tourists checking out the city and other popular destinations like Bocas del Toro, Boquete, and San Blas.
In all honesty, I didn’t precisely visit Panama City because I had an interest. I went because it was the cheapest flight from Medellin. Since I had been in Colombia for nearly 180 days already in 2021, I had to leave the country a few days to start the year with another 180-day allowance in the country. So, I chose Panama as a New Year destination.
Table of Contents
The Best Things to do in Panama City
It turns out Panama was more enjoyable than I imagined it would be. First of all, the city reminded me of a U.S city with skyscrapers. It has international restaurants, has a lovely beach vibe, feels safe, and the architecture is beautiful. Basically, it’s a modern city with everything you need. In a way, it gave me Miami vibes. It was a bit expensive too in comparison to other Latin American countries.
However, once you get out of the city and into nature, there is more of a local vibe, and it feels more like Central America, which I love. Unfortunately, I only had a few days to explore. I’ll have to go back one day. There is a lot to do and not enough information about all the cool places in the country.
For now, I’ll tell you what you can do in Panama City and nearby. I hope you like it as much as I did!
Visit the Panama Canal
The most iconic thing in Panama City is visiting the Panama Canal. However, I had no idea how important it was until I visited the Panama Canal Visitor Center at the Miraflores Locks. There, I toured the museum and learned important information about it.
You can also go to the viewing area where ships pass through one of the canal locks. It takes them nearly 3 hours to pass this spot and about 10 hours to go through the whole canal. The canal itself is over 50 miles (82 km), and it’s surrounded by artificial lakes and islands made from the canal.
The brief history goes like this: The French began constructing the Panama Canal in 1881, but they stopped due to constructions problems and lives lost. Eventually, in 1904 the United States took over and finished the canal in 1914. So, this canal area became United States property for over 80 years until President Carter signed a treaty in 1999 that gave Panama full control.
The entrance price in January 2022 was $10 (lower during the Pandemic period). My friend and I took an Uber ride there for $7 and toured independently. However, many full-day guided tours also take you to the canal for a much higher price. So if you are on a budget, I suggest getting there yourself instead of purchasing a tour.
Unfortunately, we visited at a time when no ships passed by. We regretted this so much! We realized that seeing how the locks function when a boat passes would have been ideal for watching when we arrived. So, make sure you call the museum to ask what times ships will be passing through the day you visit.
Wander Casco Viejo
When you first arrive in Panama, you will notice the beautiful skyscrapers. There are so many! However, in a charming old part of the city is Casco Viejo. Casco Viejo is an area in San Felipe where you’ll find lovely colonial architecture, various restaurant options, beautiful churches, and a gorgeous view of the Panama skyline. It is an excellent spot for backpackers since there are social hostels, bars, and vibrant nightlife. You can’t go to Panama without visiting this part of the city.
In Casco Viejo, there is a vine-covered walkway along the water’s edge. This walkway is called “Lovers Lane.” It is the perfect romantic spot at sunset, and it has an incredible view of the city skyline. Along the walk, you can find vendors selling souvenirs. I went twice during my visit, and it’s the perfect spot for a lovely evening breeze in such a hot city.
Walk the Cinta Costera
La Cinta Costera, or Coastal Beltway, is a large oceanfront land and space that offers incredible views of the city and bay. The beltway is a spot for a picnic, jogging, walking or biking along the trail, or just gathering around.
It’s a family-friendly area and a spot where you’ll find locals and tourists gather. Along the way, you can find bike rentals, food vendors, and the Seafood Market that has fresh fish.
To get there, it’s easily accessible from the Marbella district and Casco Viejo. We walked from one point to the other one night, and it took us a little over an hour with stops along the way.
Hike Ancon Hill
At first glance, Panama seems like it’s only a concrete jungle. However, it is full of green places to immerse yourself in nature. One easy spot to get to and a short hike is Ancon Hill. It’s only a short ride away from Casco Viejo, and it has the most fantastic view of the city skyscrapers and Casco Viejo.
The best part of this humid tropical forest is all the wildlife you can spot. We saw many monkeys and lots of ñeques (agouti). Although we didn’t see any, there were also sloths, deer, armadillos, toucans, butterflies, and more. The hike was easy and only took us about a half-hour to climb. Thankfully it’s shaded because Panama is hot, and the sun burns a little extra in this city!
At Ancon Hill, you can also find the largest Panamanian flag in the country. Unfortunately, the route to the flag was closed during my visit, but you can spot the flag from the city.
You can also hike at Metropolitan Natural Park nearby, and you’ll also find many trails and wildlife.
Explore Panama Viejo
Although Casco Viejo is an old part of the city, there is an even older part, Panama Viejo. Panama Viejo is an archeological site that was where the city began. It was the first city ever built on the Pacific Coast, and it quickly became an important trade route.
Pirates often attacked it because of its importance in trade, and pirates completely destroyed the city in 1671. However, the ruins remain and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can tour the museum to learn about the history of the first city on the Pacific Coast of the Americas that the Spanish founded.
The price is $10, and it takes about 2 hours to tour the ruins and museum.
Walk the Amador Causeway
The Amador Causeway is a road that stretches 3 km into the Pacific Ocean and connects four artificial islands (made from what was dug out for the Panama Canal). There are large sidewalks on the 3 km stretch for biking, skating, walking, riding scooters, sitting on benches, and more. At the end of the Causeway, there are a handful of restaurants and lovely views of the city. There is also a large hang-out spot for kids to play.
You can have an Uber drop you off at the end of the Causeway, and you can rent bikes to ride the stretch. Bike rentals start at $10. Or, you can have dinner and cocktails at one of the many restaurants. It was definitely a nice spot to visit and hang out.
See the Sunset from a Rooftop Bar
One of my favorite things to do in a skyrise city is visit rooftop bars to enjoy the sunset. In Panama, there are many to choose from. Actually, I regret not visiting more in my time there because I had the loveliest time and view.
I visited two during my stay in Panama City. One was at Selina Hostel. From Selina’s rooftop, you can view the city skyline. If you’re familiar with the Selina Hostel chain, you know they have the best social atmosphere for meeting people and hanging out. However, you don’t need to stay there to visit the rooftop. At the top, there is a lovely pool, an incredible view, and a social atmosphere. I highly recommend visiting and having a drink there to view the city.
Another excellent spot is El Faro Rooftop Bar. This bar sits on the 63rd floor of the hotel and is at the end of the skyscrapers near Casco Viejo. You have the most incredible view of all the skyrises next to it, a view of the beach, a 360-degree view of the city, and you can catch the sunset. The menu isn’t necessarily cheap, but it is well worth visiting for a drink and snacks while watching the colors of the sun paint the sky. My $8 cocktail was worth the view and lovely atmosphere. Most drinks cost more, but I got the cheapest one on the menu, and it tasted perfect. The bar opens at 4 pm.
Two other popular rooftop bars include Tantalo Rooftop and Gatto Blanco.
Explore the Skyscrapers
Although I didn’t walk around Marbella and nearby to specifically explore the skyscrapers, I did get to glance at some cool ones. Panama City is the city with the tallest skyscrapers in Latin America. One unique skyscraper is the “tornillo” or “screw” in English. However, the tower’s official name is the F and F Tower and is also known as the revolution tower. It’s probably one of the coolest skyscrapers I’ve seen in a big city.
Another nicely designed building is the JW Marriot, previously known as the Trump Ocean Club. It has apartments, functions as a hotel, has retail shops and offices.
Enjoy the Beach
Although you can find beaches in Panama City, the best beaches are found outside the city, and many people drive out to visit them. One beach you can visit is Playa Cacique in Cacique, Colon.
It’s best reached by car and takes about 2 hours to reach. Some other popular islands include Taboga Island, Punta Chame, Isla Grande, Contadora Island, San Blas Islands, Portobello, and many more.
Day Trip to Portobello
If you decide to visit Playa Cacique, make sure to stop at Portobello, which is on the way. This port city is in the province of Colón. It has many surrounding beaches and scuba diving schools. There are also historic ruins of a fort built by the Spanish Empire. It’s a nice stop to make.
Day Trip to Los Chorros de Olá, Cascada Las Mesitas, and Cerro Picachos de Ola
There is a massive list of places to visit outside the city! Because Panama is a huge concrete jungle, it’s easy to forget that Panama is also rich in nature and wildlife.
Just one hour or two outside the city, you can find rivers, waterfalls, and mountains to hike. Thankfully, we had made a friend through Instagram prior to arriving. He and his friend took us to two waterfalls and a mountain hike. We visited Cascada Las Mesitas and Los Chorros de Olá.
We also hiked Cerro Los Picachos de Ola. That hill has a crazy 90-degree climb, and we did it in about 90-degree weather. However, the view was incredible, and the hike was worth it.
It only took us about 25 minutes to get to the top but longer to get down because you can easily slip, and we had to be careful. You can get here if you rent a car. Make sure to take water, sunscreen, and a bathing suit to stop at a waterfall/river afterward.
Visit Soberanía National Park
Soberanía National Park is one of the best spots for bird viewing in Panama. It is home to over 500 species, and it has many types of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. There is a lot of wildlife, and it is the perfect jungle paradise to explore near the city.
You can find it about 45 minutes from the city center, and you can have a taxi or Uber take you there. The other option is to schedule a tour through your hotel, and the tour company will pick you up and drop you off.
Two Day Trip to San Blas Islands
Sadly, on this visit to Panama, I didn’t visit San Blas because my goal was to relax in Panama City. However, San Blas is great if you have a few extra days to get away to an island. San Blas is a group of islands owned and inhabited by the local Guna Yala indigenous trip.
Getting there isn’t as easy, or as promoted, therefore there isn’t a lot of tourism going there. Part of the reason may be that it’s not cheap. It costs about $100 roundtrip per person and takes about 4 hours or more to reach.
Some people make a day trip, but you’ll be extremely exhausted if you drive 4 hours to get there and 4 hours back. It’s best to stay the night on one of the islands.
There is also a very popular route amongst backpackers, which is a 4-day San Blas island hopping boat that takes you all the way to Cartagena, Colombia. I met a couple in Colombia who did this, and they enjoyed it.
Where to Stay in Panama City
I recommend two main spots in the city, Casco Viejo and Marbella. Marbella is the central part of the city near the skyrises, hotels, restaurants, and cafes near Cinta Costera.
Casco Viejo is the old part of the city with a colonial feel. You can find friendly hotels and some hostels in both. Casco Viejo is an easier area to walk around and has a better nightlife scene. But, of course, it all depends on what you’re looking for. As a backpacker, Casco Viejo is probably a better option. But you can find some decent budget stays in Marbella too.
I left my backpacking soul behind on this vacation and stayed at The Executive Hotel. Its location was perfect, and it had a great breakfast and pool. It had an excellent price for a 4-star hotel (especially if you are coming with a decent budget). The hotel was actually cheaper for New Year than the hostel Selina in Casco Viejo.
If you are looking for a hostel vibe, you can stay at Selina Hostel. In Casco Viejo, you can also stay at Tantalo Hotel. If you’re looking for luxury with a nice ocean view and a pool with a view, you can stay at the JW Marriot. Panama has lots of incredible rooftop pools and views. Therefore, it’s a great city to splurge a little on accommodation.
How to Get Around
There are a variety of ways to get around Panama. The easiest is by Uber. Despite the higher prices in Panama, I thought Ubering was inexpensive. We paid about $3 from Marbella to Casco Viejo and about $7 to further places.
It is possible to walk from Marbella to Casco Viejo using the Cinta Costera, but it will take over an hour. We did it one day while exploring but took Uber for $3 the other times.
If you plan to move around a lot in one day, Uber rides do add up. In that case, I find renting a car can be cheaper. It costs about $30 a day if you decline the CDW insurance if your credit card covers it.
If not, you pay up to $60. It also depends on how you feel about driving in a big city and if you can split the costs with a friend. For me, it was okay because it was like driving in a busy U.S city like L. A or Phoenix. (It wasn’t crazy like in Colombia or Mexico City).
If you plan to go outside the city, definitely rent a car or take tours. Unfortunately, Panama doesn’t have a good connecting transportation system to get around to the beaches, rivers, and waterfalls nearby.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Panama City is between mid December to mid April. This is when it’s driest and less chances of rain.
However, if you want to see humpback whales orcas, and sharks, the best time is from August to September.
If you are looking for a budget friendly option, you can visit from April to December when there are higher chances of rain. Although you can still enjoy the city if you don’t mind random showers.
What to Pack
If you’re only visiting for a day, you only need to take a few essential items with you. Here are some items to pack in your day pack while exploring Cholula and Puebla.
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
The Best Things to do in Panama City
