(rumour has it that this hotel is now closed but the website is still up and running so it is unconfirmed). The Taboga Express Fast Ferry takes 30 minutes from Panama City to Taboga. Victors is the most popular spot for purchasing a hat. Take a walking tour of Casco Viejo to see all the main sites and attractions. Even if you are not religious, this nativity scene in Iglesia San Felipe is impressive. For those who dont know, the San Blas Islands are a group of 378 remote islands off the coast of Panama. The best view we found of it was from the Hard Rock pool bar, but we also went for a walk to check it out up close. In fact, Metropolitan National Park in Panama City is the only protected national park located within a citys limits in Central America. In Casca Viejo, you can find many Panama Hats on sale at shops. Casco Viejo, (Old Town) is the historic center of Panama City that is being restored to its original glory. Wow, that architecture! Rooms here cost around $250 USD per night but are very luxurious! There isnt much to do at the top except admire the view, but the walk there is beautiful and this is easily one of the best things to do in Panama City! The hotel has really good reviews and the location is perfect. The city is safe, the people are friendly, and the wildlife is well, wild! For most people, including myself, it is the reason we ended up in Panama City. And thats precisely what makes these remote palm tree islands so special. We've actually been traveling non-stop for the last few years now, so we really are living a "destinationless" lifestyle! This city tour is a great introduction to Panama where youll visit many of the top attractions including the Miraflores Locks visitor center where youll skip the lines arriving as soon as they open. In Casco Viejo, you can find many of the best hotels in the city and stay in a safe and beautiful neighborhood. Thanks for sharing. Panama City is one of the most cosmopolitan capitals in Central America. In fact, Id say its the most beautiful one I have seen of the famous leader during my travels. As part of the UnCruise land extension for their Panama to Costa Rica cruise, Gatun Lake is an excellent way to see Panama wildlife such as iguanas, crocodiles, monkeys, toucans, and sloths. A fun day trip from Panama City is visiting Taboga Island or one of the Pearl Islands. The canal stretches over 82 kilometers (51 miles) and is made up of artificial lakes, and of course, those thin canals youve likely seen in photos. Our water taxi to Yanis Island, one of many remote islands in the San Blas archipelago. Just look for the bright and colourful building with futuristic architecture. It connects the landmasses of North America and South America. There is a large outdoor park where you can find iguanas and sloths and then also indoor enclosures featuring frogs, starfish and even turtles. They are located on the islands, so get your taxi to drop you at the end of the causeway if you want to do this. While there, plan to visit the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center and climb 174 steps to the top of the Observation Tower. For me personally, visiting this nature center was one of the most unique things to do in Panama City, Panama! We also share a few Panama City travel tips and lessons learned from our experience. It should only cost $45 to $50 USD each way for a taxi. Above it the ornate Catholic church Our Lady of Carmen, also known as Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Carmen. Ive picked up many a necklace from here, but you can also get masks, jewelry, Panama hats, and other nick nacks here. We saw 3 monkey species on our trip as well as a crocodile! I never like to complete a list of the best things to do in any place without mentioning some great local food to try. Cinta Costera is the beating heart of Panama City. Gamboa Rainforest Reserve is located on the edge of Soberania National Park. You can watch the cruise ships and cargo ships go through from the viewing platforms. Panama uses the USD currency. Also known as the Metropolitan Archcathedral Basilica of Santa Mara la Antigua, this beautiful church is located in the heart of Casco Viejo at Plaza de la Independencia. The ferry leaves from the Amador Causeway and costs $20 USD for an adult. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine, the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field. Panamanian white-faced capuchin spotted while on the Monkey Island Panama tour. Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner, Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. How you do it is up to you, but this unique attraction is well worth exploring! Entrance to the park is only $7 USD and if seeing a sloth is on your bucket list, then this is a convenient way to check that off without having to leave Panama City. What is so unique about this bridge? Not to be confused with Casco Viejo, Panama Viejo is a fascinating tour through the abandoned ruins of the original city. We decided to take a tour to Monkey Island for $70 USD. We spent many hours relaxing by the pool. However, after taking some time to explore this Central American city I began to realize the city has a lot to offer. Make sure to spend a few days exploring Panama City before you set out on your Panama Cruise or Panama tour, you will love it! You can also see sloths and monkeys in the park, but we werent that lucky! The tour through the river and lake was interesting. We did not stay at a hotel in Casco Veijo this time, but we will when we return to Panama City in the future. Amador Causeway is where you will find many of Panama Citys top activities and attractions. Please keep this in mind when researching your Panama vacation. These days, the ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the perfect place to visit to learn about the citys history and importance during that time. Its unique location bridges North and South America. The highway once ran directly through these historic monuments, but thankfully, it was diverted before it all disappeared. Located only 45 minutes from the city, Soberania National Park is a tropical paradise filled with wildlife. You can also stay overnight at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort and spend more time in the jungle. The walk to the top takes around 35 minutes at a steady pace and is almost completely shaded. As we walked up the path to the top of the hill the trees where alive literally! This trendy neighbourhood has a mix of old Spanish colonial and neoclassical architecture. The site has interpretive signs in both English and Spanish and only takes an hour or so to explore. The most iconic thing to do in Panama City, and something everyone should do, is to visit the Panama Canal! Thanks so much for reading and be sure to check out some of our other blogs from Central America and South America. The drive only takes about 20 minutes. Last on our list of the best things to do in Panama City is another attraction that gets you out of the city without actually leaving. Definitely, the most unique building in Panama City is the spiral skyrise of El Tornillo. Panama City is huge! There are several parks and grass sections here, so its an ideal place to let your kids run wild and burn off some energy. We typically stay in mid-range hotels when we travel as a family. The JW Marriott has a huge Casino attached to the main floor. Also, known as The French Plaza, Plaza de Francia is a monument dedicated to the 22,000 workers who died during the construction of the Panama Canal. What we loved about buying a Panama Hat in the shops, is that there is no bargaining. Located 35 miles from Panama City the island is easily reached by ferry with the company Ferry Las Perlas. On the old city part of the tour, we dove deep into the history, visited a famous coffee show, and learned so much that we were actually very impressed. Learn about Gamboa Rainforest Tours here. In fact, the park is known as one of the best places in Panama for bird watching! Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly. Dating back to 1673, Casco Viejo is worth visiting on a tour to learn about all the buildings, cathedrals, and history of the area. This Panama Canal expansion is located at Gatun Lake and is an interesting trip to the small town of Colon City. This stunning Gothic Church is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city! And then that lovely promenade on Paseo Las Bovedas. It is definitely the number 1 thing to do in Panama City. Contadora Island is located right next to Saboga Island and is home to many great hotels and restaurants (which makes it more popular for overnight trips.) In this quick Panama City travel guide, we highlight the top attractions we visited during our two week trip to Panama in February 2020. One of our favorite things to do in Panama was to walk along the walking trails of Cinta Costera taking in the views of the city. Yes, the island is protected and the monkeys are only fed bananas, but youll have to decide for yourself if this is the tour for you! The wildlife isnt as present as other parks and you do have to spend some time searching for them, but they are there is youre patient enough. If you plan to use a taxi, its safer to hire the taxi from your hotel, instead of flagging a random taxi on the street. Located 25 kilometers from Panama City, near the town of Gamboa, Soberania National Park is the perfect day trip from Panama City for nature lovers who want to experience the Panamanian rainforest. Of course, there are so many more interesting facts about the canal but, youll learn about them more when you go. The most impressive ruin is the Cathedral Catedral de Nuestra Seora de la Asuncin where you can climb up the bell tower for a panoramic view of Panama City. As mentioned above, I did a full-day guided tour that visited many attractions and included an in-depth walk of Casco Viejo, a visit to Ancon Hill, and a short stop at the Amador Causeway. Share your Panama City travel tips below. You should travel to Salamanca, Spain. Sign-up for our newsletter to receive free travel information and family travel tips. The Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic ocean with the Pacific ocean, is one of the Seven Industrial Wonders of the World and when you walk through the fabulous interactive Miraflores visitors center, youll understand why! This is one of those wildlife experiences that borders the line of being unethical. The second is Pipeline Road. From Casco Viejo, I took a short taxi ride to the park, and wow, was it beautiful! How to get to San Blas Islands from Panama City, Photos from Hotel Mar y Oro and Contadora Island, What you need to know before taking the Contadora Island Ferry, Photos from our visit to Monkey Island Panama, 2. When I told you about Casco Viejo, I said this was the old part of the city. Panama City was our first stop in Panama and we were excited to explore our first destination in Central America. However, the views on a sunny day are also amazing. There are several options to choose from. Follow your local guide to top-rated attractions such as Casco Viejo, The Causeway, and other parts of the city as you learn insider tips, such as the best places to eat, buy groceries and the easiest ways to get around. At Plaza Bolivar, there is a really cool statue of Simon Bolivar. Nor will you find mega cruise ships or mass tourism infrastructure. This is the launch point for many outdoor activities and tourist attractions. It is from the Amador Causeway that you can see the Bridge of the Americas. Its the 14th largest mall in the world and thats saying a lot. Visiting the San Blas Islands is most commonly done on a 3 to 4-night adventure from Cartagena in Colombia to Panama City (or vise versa.) The ferry from Panama City to Contadora takes 90 minutes (each way). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Yes - Subscribe me to your monthly newsletter! We spent a few nights on Contadora Island read about that experience here. This is where the southern entrance of the Panama Canal connects with the Pacific Ocean, making it an ideal spot to watch the huge container ships enter and exit Panamas famous canal. Fun Fact: It is here that youll see a plaque dedicated to the Cuban doctor Carlos J. Finlay, who discovered out how mosquitoes transmitted yellow fever. The monkeys here are supposed to be wild and I wasnt aware before that tour groups feed them. We loved the breakfast. The app you use in Canada or the US works fine in Panama City. Plus, of course, San Blas Islandswe have been wanting to sink our toes in that sand! You will likely find us hiking, scuba diving, eating as much food as we possibly can, or just drinking beer at a hostel. The road stretches over 6 km and links the small islands of Naos, Perico and Flamenco. These tours have you literally one a boat going through the canal. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Uber is available in downtown Panama City. Check out this city tour with GetYourGuide. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This is a much cheaper option and also more authentic. It only costs $5 USD to enter Pipeline road. Cheers for joining us on our adventures! One of the best in Panama, and a super authentic dish loved by almost the entire population, is Ropa Vieja. Its also a pretty cool and funky building! Looking for things to do in Panama City, Panama? The main international airport of Panama City is Tocumen Airport. We could hear all sorts of animals and saw a lot of lizards. Great information on how to get out to the islands. However, the highlight of my tour was of course the monkeys! Youll also see the Panama Canal Museum and the headquarters of the Municipal Council in Plaza de la Independencia. Save it to Pinterest for future travel planning. Its a 4 hour excursion that includes round-trip transportation with an English speaking guide. 24 Best Things to do in Panama City, Panama, 5. Panama City, Panama doesnt exactly have a reputation for being the most exciting destination in Central America. To get there, just get a taxi from Casco Viejo. He created what was known as the Gran Colombia that included Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Peru. The center is home to a museum and the best seat in the house to watch huge ships navigate the canal. This way you wont miss out on your taste of paradise. Its one of the best sunset views in the city! This highly rated tour takes you to Monkey Island where youll catch a riverboat to the Chagres River to see the monkeys of Monkey Island including white-face monkeys, howler monkeys and tamarinds on this island in Gatun Lake. But dont just take a snap from the outside, you can also enter the church to admire the inside too! Try to spend a few moments inside the cathedral to see its beautiful alter and artwork. Be sure to hike the Mirador Cerro Cedro trail, from there you get magnificent views of the city. I had no idea that the Panama Canal was intertwined with wide and vast waterways. Both the Gatun Lake and the Chagres River are actually part of the Panama Canal and you can often see ships making their journey through the canal. You can book San Blas Islands tours here. People often forget just how diverse this part of the world is, so I decided to do the tour to Monkey Island on the Chagres River and Gatun Lake. Its much more than a travel hub for the region.
However, the area of Casco Viejo (aka San Felipe) is the old part of the city and where much of the citys charm lies. Keep in mind, BITS is an outdoor and indoor bar and nightclub. Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO.
The tour includes a boat ride up and down the Panama Canal, so you get the added bonus of speeding past mega-ships as they sail through the canal. This rooftop pool and bar is one of the most chic areas in the city. Magnolia Inn If youre in the medium budget range then Magnolia Inn is the best option available within Casco Viejo.