Panama is a destination that is often shadowed by some of its more well-known and popular neighbors such as Costa Rica and Colombia. But there are amazing places to visit in Panama, from tropical island getaways and UNESCO World Heritage Sites to marvels of engineering and national parks.
We’ve selected 13 of the many, many amazing things to do in Panama to help you get started on your trip!
13 Amazing Places To Visit In Panama
No matter which kind of traveler you are, this list of 13 amazing places to visit in Panama will offer something that’s right up your alley. Enjoy!
1. Panama City
Panama City is the capital city as well as the largest city of Panama. When you travel to this country from the United States or elsewhere in the world, Panama City will likely be your point of entry. It’s a big, modern city.
In fact, it’s one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Central America, with a population of just under 500,000, and it’s a great gateway to other places in this beautiful country. It’s mostly known for its proximity to the Panama Canal, but there’s a lot more to it.
Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo, also known as San Felipe or Casco Antiguo, is the historic district of Panama City. It was built in 1673 on the ruins of Panama Viejo, the old Panama City, after it was completely destroyed in a pirate attack in 1671.
Today, the old quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a great place to go for a stroll through the historic streets paved with bricks and lined with colorful buildings and plentiful murals. Even the president of Panama lives here, in the Palace of the Herons, which, for security reasons, can only be admired from afar.
In the heart of Casco Viejo, you’ll find the Plaza de la Independencia, where history unfolded when Panama declared independence from Colombia in 1903. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, admire the colonial style buildings, and enjoy a performance by one or more street performers. Casco Antiguo is also home to Panama City’s first-ever luxury hotel, the Central Hotel Panama.
Ancon Hill
For the best views of Panama City and the entrance to the Panama Canal, head to Ancon Hill. Ancon Hill is, you guessed it, a hill. But it’s one that’s 653 feet high and overlooks the city. Take a 30 minute hike to the top and enjoy this very Instagrammable spot!
Monkey Island Tour
Panama’s incredible wildlife is the main reason to visit this country. Monkey Island is an easy outing from Panama City, but you do have to join a tour since you will be transiting part of the Panama Canal by boat, and access is very restricted.
Monkey Island, or Isla Gatun, is an island inside Lake Gatun that is home to four species of monkeys: mantled howler monkeys, Panamanian white-faced capuchins, lemurine owl monkeys, and Geoffroy’s tamarins.
Lake Gatun is an artificial freshwater lake and a part of the Panama Canal. Many boats that do not transit the Canal in one day use the lake to anchor overnight and continue their journey the next morning.
On your tour, don’t get any ideas of taking a refreshing dip in the lake. There are many crocodiles, and they don’t mind the taste of tourists.
Panama Canal Tour
The Panama Canal was one of the great engineering feats of its time, and a tour is one of the best things to do while in Panama City. Learn about the operation of the locks and visit Gatun Lake. It’s super interesting, and a day trip on a boat is never a day wasted!
You may even see cruise ships transfer the Canal. Before you head out, visit the Miraflores visitor center by the Miraflores locks. Wander through the exhibition halls, watch boats and ships transit the Panama Canal from the terrace and the first-floor bleachers, a popular place to take pictures, and stop at the IMAX Theater and watch a movie about the Panama Canal’s history.
Go To A Local Market
A local market is the perfect place to buy gifts for yourself or your loved ones at home. The most popular Panamanian souvenirs to bring home can be found next to the visitor center at Panama Viejo, at the Mercado Nacional de Artesanías, the national handicraft market.
Panama hats are for sale, as well as replicas of ancient artifacts, and other crafts. Molas are a popular craft. They are part of the traditional Panamanian dress, but in the markets (and also in places like the San Blas Islands) you will be able to just buy pieces of this rich embroidery, sometimes framed, sometimes not. Watch the artists at work in their stalls and pick something nice to buy straight from the maker.
Amador Causeway
A massive rock was extracted during the building of the Panama Canal. This rock was used to build the Amador Causeway, a 3.7-mile-long road that stretches straight into the Pacific Ocean.
It connects the mainland with the islands of Perico, Naos, and Flamenco. It’s a gorgeous green area where you can recreate at your heart’s content, ride a bike, walk, rent a kayak or SUP, enjoy views of the Panama Canal entrance and the Panama City skyline, or have a look at the many shops and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.
Punta Culebra Nature Center
The Punta Culebra Nature Center is located just over 2 miles from the entrance to the Amador Causeway. Operated by the Smithsonian Institute, it allows visitors to discover Panama’s natural world in a nutshell.
There’s lots to see, so make sure to plan enough time for your visit. There’s the Fabulous Frogs of Panama Exhibit, the Panama Coastal Fish Aquarium, the Panama Freshwater Ecosystems Exhibit, indoor aquaria featuring colorful marine creatures who live in the Pacific Ocean, the Indo-Pacific, the Caribbean Sea, and in tropical freshwater.
Take advantage of the two walking trails, which lead you through a dry tropical forest. Maybe you’ll spot an iguana, a sloth, or a few tropical birds!
The Punta Culebra Nature Center is open Wednesday – Friday from 1 pm through 4 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am until 4 pm.
Cinta Costera
Along Panama Bay runs the coastal beltway, or cinta costera. Take a walk or rent a bike, visit some of the gardens along the way, or stop to have lunch at one of the restaurants. There’s a fish market nearby that’s well worth a visit!
Enjoy The Sunset From A Rooftop Bar
A rooftop bar offers the chance to enjoy cocktails and nibbles in the pleasant evening climate, along with fabulous views. Here are a few rooftop bars worth considering:
- Selina Rooftop is one of the city’s hotspots, with a pool, live DJs, and a selection of cocktails and craft beers
- Sama Sky Lounge offers incredible views of Panama City’s skyline and the ocean, as well as live performances
- Tantalo Roofbar boasts great views of Casco Viejo, as well as crafted cocktails
- El Faro del Casco Antiguo is a modern rooftop bar featuring stunning 360 degree views
- Visit the highest rooftop bar in all of Central America: the Panaviera Sky Bar. An infinity pool, panoramic views, and fusion food – what more could you want?
2. Bridge Of The Americas
The Bridge of the Americas is a road bridge which crosses the approach to the Panama Canal on the Pacific Ocean side. It was built by the United States, completed in 1962, and connects North and South America (hence the name).
You can walk across the bridge, though the walk itself may not be terribly pleasant due to the amount of traffic crossing the bridge at any given time. However, it’s worth to walk out at least a bit to enjoy the spectacular Insta-worthy views.
3. Tour Coffee Plantations in the Chiriquí Highlands
Just like its neighbor Costa Rica, Panama is famous for its coffee production. In the Chiriquí Highlands (also called the Napa Valley of coffee) farmers grow geisha beans, which is one of the most expensive coffee varieties worldwide. Here is a list of farms offering tours in this area:
- Finca Lerida, Boquete
- Finca Café de Eleta, Renacimiento
- Janson Coffee Farm, Tierras Altas
Tours of coffee plantations are very educational. Most people indulge in the dark brew daily and can’t imagine starting the morning any other way. But few know what goes into coffee farming, harvesting, roasting, and how it makes its way into your kitchen. The best part? There will be a tasting!
4. Baru Volcano National Park
Hikers visiting the Chiriqui region should not miss out on Baru Volcano National Park. At 11,398 feet, Baru Volcano is the 12th highest peak in Central America, but that’s not all: there isn’t another place in the world where you can see both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean at the same time – if you are lucky and have a clear day.
Baru Volcano is an active stratovolcano and the highest point in Panama. There are easy and challenging trails, making it a perfect destination for hikers of all skill levels.
5. San Blas Islands
The San Blas islands are the ultimate island getaway for those looking for destinations off the beaten path. Surrounded by the pristine waters and ecosystem of the Caribbean Sea, these remote islands are the place to go for ecotourists, and it is popular for sailing.
This archipelago of 365 islands, only 49 of which are inhabited, is home to the Guna people, an indigenous people of Panama and Colombia.
A trip to the San Blas is the furthest from a resort vacation you can imagine. Think of no internet access, no possibility to pay with a credit card, and lodging is usually a hut rather than a cozy hotel room, or sometimes even just a tent or a hammock.
But there’s a lot to be said for this kind of getaway. Our world has become so fast. We have to be constantly available, constantly checking our emails, and social media, or staring at something or other on our smartphones. In a place like these islands, you have the chance to truly disconnect and recharge.
Instead, live in the moment, enjoy the straight-out-of-a-travel-brochure white sand beaches, swim, snorkel and meet the rich marine life, get to know the local culture, and watch the out-of-this-world sunsets.
6. Pearl Islands (Las Perlas)
Panama has an abundance of beautiful islands. The Las Perlas are a group of over 200 islands and islets in the Pacific Ocean, about 30 miles off the Panamanian coast, many of them uninhabited. They even have a claim to fame: in 2003 and 2006, the TV show Survivor was filmed there.
As opposed to the San Blas islands, which offer the ultimate off the beaten path island getaway, the Las Perlas offers a relaxed, resort-style holiday. On a small plane, you will get there in a hop, skip and a jump (approximately 20 minutes) from Panama City.
Isla Contadora is the most developed island in this archipelago, despite its size: only half a square mile! Yet it offers hotels and B&Bs, tours, daily flights, and 11 beaches from which you can explore the rich marine life.
Speaking of marine life: Panama is one of the few places worldwide that is a migration destination for humpback whales from both the southern and the northern hemisphere! The best time to see these gentle giants is from July through October. Sport fishing is another activity which is popular in this area.
The only other island which offers accommodations is the privately owned Isla San José. For those who prefer to stay at a luxury resort, Hacienda del Mar is a place to consider.
7. Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro town, or just Bocas town, is located in the Caribbean Sea, on Isla Colón. Bocas town has a little bit of everything. There are beautiful beaches lined with palm trees, where you can soak up the sun, surf, swim, snorkel, or enjoy other water sports, with an average water temperature of 79 degrees making it perfectly pleasant to spend all day in the crystal-clear waves.
The Bocas archipelago, with nine islands and thousands of islets, was chosen by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as a place to restore coral reefs, and snorkeling or diving there are just a dream.
Playa Estrella is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Panama. Another of the best beaches in the area is Starfish Beach, but there are many to choose from. Playa Estrella is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Panama.
Go on a chocolate tour! Visit Green Acres Chocolate Farm, and learn how their 100% organic cocoa is grown and how it becomes organic chocolate. They have a botanical garden as well, and you have a good chance to see some wildlife such as howler monkeys or sloths.
Bocas Town itself reflects Afro-Caribbean culture, and you will hear reggae and calypso music from every corner. The colorful houses, local cuisine, and relaxed atmosphere allow you to truly slow down.
8. Isla Bastimentos
Isla Bastimentos is a beautiful place. It’s only a ten minute boat trip from Bocas town. Water taxis are readily available. You can visit for the day, or stay on Isla Bastimentos, which is a place that will dazzle you with its tranquility and natural beauty.
Enjoy a slow-paced vacation, or just a day, on the largest island in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Hang out on Red Frog Beach, which is stunningly beautiful, and watch out for the red frogs it is named after along the way.
Tour the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, where you will see Panama’s largest Caribbean mangrove swamp, and coral reefs where you can explore the underwater world and see angel fish, lobsters, moray eels, groupers, and, if you are in luck, one or more of the four species of endangered sea turtles.
9. Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina on Panama’s Pacific coast in the Veraguas province is every surfer’s paradise. No matter if you are a surf pro or a beginner, or if you have never set foot on a board and are eager to learn, in Santa Catalina you will find just the right spot to hit the waves.
Santa Catalina is a relatively small town, with just a few restaurants and accommodations. The hotels generally provide meals, as do some hostels, and sometimes there’s even a kitchen for you to cook your own meals. You will be able to buy all necessities at the grocery store in town.
If you are a newbie surfer, consider taking lessons at Waluaa Surf Camp. More experienced surfers can book a day or half day boat trip with this surf school and go chase the waves. Professional photo shoots are also available, and wouldn’t those pictures make amazing souvenirs?
The best way to get to Santa Catalina is by bus from Panama City. Take the bus to Sona, and from there, either take a cab or switch to the bus that takes you all the way to the village. The ride takes between five and six hours.
10. Coiba National Park
From Santa Catalina, it’s not far to Coiba National Park, a marine reserve in the Gulf of Chiriqui which includes Isla Coiba and 38 other islands. In 2005, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site to protect the incredible biodiversity, which is some of the greatest in the world. Isla Coiba used to be a penal colony, and therefore the marine world was largely undisturbed and had a chance to grow into the wonder it is today.
It is a prime destination for divers who can explore the largest reef on the western coastline of the American continent, the Bahia Damas Reef. Not a diver? No worries, snorkeling is also possible.
You can also go whale watching, or hike and be on the lookout for the 147 different species of birds who live there, as well as iguanas, monkeys, and even crocodiles.
You need a permit to visit the park. The best way to go about it is simply to book a guided tour and go with a group and a local guide.
11. Soberania National Park
Parque Nacional Soberanie, or Soberanie National Park, is THE place to go for bird watching. On top of that it offers one of the best accessible forests in Panama, which makes it a prime destination for nature lovers.
Cloud forests are rainforests located at an altitude of between 3,000 and 8,000 feet. While Costa Rica’s national parks and their cloud forests are quite developed and easily accessible, Panama won’t offer quite the same tourist experience.
This national park, however, has a nice gravel trail, the Camino de Oleoducto, which makes for easy walking without the danger of snatching your foot and falling while looking for rare birds and other wildlife.
There are several other developed hiking trails, and you could book a tour with a naturalist to learn about flora and fauna. Soberania National Park is accessible by bus from Panama City.
12. El Valle de Anton
El Valle de Anton, or Anton Valley, is a beautiful mountain town in central Panama. It is surrounded by cloud forests and mountains, and located inside an extinct volcano. El Valle de Anton lies at an altitude of 1929 feet where temperatures are milder than they are at beach destinations, which can get scorching hot.
The region offers many outdoor activities. It is a wonderful place to hike. One of the most popular view hikes is La India Dormida, the ‘sleeping Indian’ hike, which takes about 1.5 hours to complete. Experienced (and fit!) hikers should opt for Cerro Gaital, the toughest hike in all of Panama.
Go horseback riding, and see wildlife. It is one of the few places where you have a chance to see the Golden Frog, which is nearly extinct.
El Valle de Anton has a very nice local market, where you can buy handicrafts straight from the local artisans. You can go ziplining by the largest waterfall in this region of Panama, the Chorro El Macho, and take a trip to Pozo Azul waterfall canyon.
13. Azuero Peninsula
The Azuero Peninsula is located in the south of Panama. It is known for farming, well-preserved traditions and architecture, but also sport fishing, partying, and some of most beautiful beaches in the country.
One of the most in-demand places on the Azuero Peninsula is Playa Venao. It’s a very picturesque but less developed town, which means you have the chance to be away from the crowds and enjoy a laid-back time on the black sand beaches. It’s a great place to surf, and you’ll meet many who come here for just this purpose.
In Chitre, admire the San Juan Bautista de Chitré Cathedral, an important cultural place that’s over 100 years old. La Arena is famous for its colorful pottery, a great place to buy a souvenir or two to bring home.
In the small town of Pese, you can go on a rum tour, complete with an ox cart ride through the countryside. In Pedasi, you can go tuna fishing or take a 20 minute boat ride to the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, where you can keep the iguanas company on a nice dip in the ocean.
Take a tour of Isla de Canas, a very important nesting site for sea turtles.
In Summary
Any of these amazing places to visit in Panama guarantees a fantastic travel experience. From city life to laid-back beach vacations, it can all be had in this beautiful country. Book your ticket today!
This is a post by Guest Contributor, Jenny Durnan
Author’s Bio: Jenny is a sailor turned landlubber, a dedicated dog mom to Moose and Hera. She is a reader, writer, and editor for Girls Who Travel, a lover of words and adventures.
