Things To Do in Panama City
Walking Tour of Casco Viejo - One of the best things to do in Panama City is to take a morning stroll through Casco Viejo. The Casco Viejo Walking Tour is the best way to check out the Presidential Palace, Plaza Bolivar, el Teatro Nacional, Plaza de Francia, Casa de la Cultura (which was recently used for filming of the newest James Bond movie), the Plaza de Independencia and Catedral Metropolitano, the Canal Museum, the ruins of Santo Domingo, Plaza Herrera, and la Iglesia de San Merced all is one relaxing stroll. If you want to keep on walking, you can follow Avenida Central all the way up to Plaza Cinco de Mayo, where you will find an artisan market and access to the city bus system. A great place to start the tour is at Luna’s Castle Hostel, located on 9th street, right after the entrance to Casco Viejo. If you want one of their free maps, just walk upstairs to the Reception Desk
Check out the Panama Canal – The Panama Canal is the most famous ditch in the world…and quite impressive at that. Take a trip to Miraflores Locks and watch as the ships are raised and lowered to sea level. Also check out the attached museum that lays out the history of the canal. If you are interested in learning more about the canal, an excellent book called The Path between the Seas was written by David McCullough. The Panama Canal Visitors Center costs $8 and offers comprehensive information about the building of the canal. Boats are usually only going through between 9am and 11:30am and again between 3:00pm and 5:00pm. For more information, check out the Panama Canal Website.
Panama Vieja – Panama Vieja, or Old Panama, was the original city, founded by Spain in 1519. The famous pirate Captain Morgan sacked the city, igniting its gunpowder stores and setting the city on fire. The city was then relocated to the current day Casco Viejo, which provided more protection for the city. The centerpiece of these extensive ruins is the Torre Principal, which provides great views of the ruins and surrounding city. There is also a museum and an artisan market on site, and general admission is $4, $2 if you are a student.
Cerro Ancon – This picturesque hill is located directly between the Panama Canal, Casco Viejo and the new part of the city. The hike up is definitely worth it because the 360 degree views from the top are breathtaking. Be sure to check out Mi Pueblito at the base of Ancon, where they have replica villages from the turn of the century from 4 different Panamanian indigenous groups. The hill is open daily from 6am to 6pm.
The Causeway – The Causeway is a point of pride for many Panamanians and offers a variety of shopping and dining options, as well as amazing views of the city skyline. There are great family activities including bike rentals near the entrance to the Causeway (check out the sweet golf cart style bikes, lots of fun!), but you might be surprised at the lack of activity during the day. If you have time, be sure to check out the aquarium and Marine Park at Punta Culebra, run by Smithsonian Institute.
Isla Taboga – Isla Taboga offers the perfect escape from the bustle of the city. Isla Taboga is a quaint island with only a few beaches so don’t go there looking for excitement as its main draw is the laid back feel and the slow Panamanian pace. You can catch a ferry to Isla Taboga from Isla Naos on the Causeway. The ferry ride out to the island is a great way to see the beautiful Panama City skyline. The trip costs $10 round trip and takes about 45 minutes. Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is an 8:00am and a 3:00pm boat, other weekdays there is only the 8:30am ferry. Weekends and holidays there is an extra ferry at 10:30am so you can sleep in! If you have any questions, or if you want double check the ferry schedule, give them a call at 314-1730.
Go Shopping - Panama City is known to have the best shopping opportunities in all of Central America. There are several metropolitan malls, street vendors and artisan stores, located all over Panama City. Artesanias: Casco Viejo is a great place to find shops selling crafts and souvenirs from around the country. Other great places to shop include Plaza Cinco de Mayo, which is only a short walk from Casco Viejo, up Avenida Central. There are also vendors at Panama Vieja, and Mis Pueblitos . There are also numerous malls in Panama City, the best being Albrook mall, if you are looking for a variety of stores with a wide range of prices. For a truly metropolitan mall experience, the Multiplaza Mall offers the finest (and most expensive) shopping in the city.
Ride the Train to Colon – The historic Panama Canal Railway connects Panama City and Colon. The train is a restored locomotive complete with an observation car, ideal for taking in the beautiful views of the canal and jungle along the way. The line flanks the Panama Canal passing through lush rainforests, alongside the Canal’s locks, and passes through the historic Gaillard Cut and causeways in Gatun Lake. If you are looking for somewhere to go from Colon, Portobelo is a great option. The train ride lasts about 1 hour and costs $22 (one-way), which includes a snack box and coffee. Bring a jacket as the train (like most buses in Panama) is overly air-conditioned. The train departs from Corozal Station (just north of the Miraflores Lockes) to Colon, Monday – Friday at 7:15am and departs from Colon in the evening at 5:15pm. Get more info at www.panamarail.com.
Go the Beach – There are a few beaches that are easily accessible from Panama City, the closest being Veracruz, which is a short 20min bus ride from the city. Veracruz isn’t the nicest beach in the world but it is a great way to experience a local beach vibe. There are great local restaurants on the beach so be sure to bring your appetite. Other good beaches include Coronado, Gorgona or Santa Clara which are strung along the coast about an hour outside Panama City. Playa Gorgona is the first in a string of beaches in the Cocle region, located an hour west of Panama City. Gorgona is a black sand beach with a few cabins for rent, but the sand can get quite hot. Playa Coronado and Malibu beach are salt and pepper beaches with a good surf and at least one place to sleep and eat. Playa El Palmar is a nice white sand beach with a good point break. There are a few places to stay that offer camping and rooms for reasonable prices. Playa El Palmar is a good surfing beach. Playa Santa Clara is a bit farther, but a very nice white sand beach with camping and cabins/rooms for $40 with four beds.
Visit a National Park – There are three main parks near Panama City: Parque Omar Torrijos, Parque Metropolitana, and Parque Soberania. All of these parks provide an easy escape into nature if you are looking to get out of Panama City’s concrete jungle. Parque Omar Torrijos is a very open park with lots of playgrounds and sport facilities. There are soccer and futbol fields, basketball courts, a roller hockey rink, a swimming pool, weight room and much more. The National Library can also be found here. Parque Metropolitana offers some of the nicest hiking trails in the city, and a variety of wildlife that can be seen if you arrive at the right time. Parque Soberania is a bit outside of town, but can be reached easily by bus from the Albrook Terminal. Soberania is the largest park near Panama City and is home to the original pipeline trail that the Spanish used to transport Incan treasure from the Pacific to Caribbean Ocean. Parque Soberania is also home to an abundance of wildlife, including 525 species of birds, 105 species of mammals, 55 species of amphibians, and 79 species of reptiles. There is also a tropical zoo with exotic animals and birds unique to Panama’s jungles. This zoo is located in an amazing 80 year old botanical garden. All of these parks can be reached by taxi in 40 minutes or less.
Enjoy a Panamanian Sporting Event – A great way to experience any culture is to attend local sporting events, and this definitely holds true in Panama. Whether you want to spend the afternoon at the Horse Races, a baseball game, afútbol game or a local boxing match, you are sure have a great time cheering alongside the locals. There are numerous sporting events going on in Panama City at any given time but be sure to check La Prensa newspaper to find out which sporting events are in season. The Hipódromo Presidente Remon track is open Thursday (5pm – 9pm), Saturday and Sunday in the Juan Diaz area on the way to the airport (217-6060). During baseball season, games take place at the Rod Carew Stadium about 3-4 times a week and cost as little as $4. When baseball season is over, fútbol usually dominates the Panama sports scene. Boxing and other major sporting events usually take place at the Atlapa Theater and are a rarer event. You can see around 8 fights for the $6 general admission fee, and if you are lucky you might even see some great international fighters.
Embera/Wounan Village Visit – The Embera and Wounan tribes live relatively close to Panama City, and many of these villages have set up tourism projects encouraging travelers to learn more about their culture and participate in some of their traditions. The closest villages are in the Changres National Park, which is located about 45 minutes from Panama City. To get to the village, you take a canoe up the river. When you arrive, the villagers show you their native dances, display their hand-made crafts and take you on a hike through the jungle. You can also get painted with the traditional Jagwa fruit, which will dye your skin blue for up to a week. Trips can be arranged through a tour company (Gamboa being one) for around $90, or if you are comfortable going on your own for $20 (Spanish needed) you can arrange it through the village chief 6637-9503 or 6653-9392.
Visit a Museum or Art Gallery – Panama City has an abundance of Museums representing the history of Panama, the Panama Canal and the biodiversity of this region, as well as a large art scene represented in art galleries all over the city. Here is a list of some of the museums in Panama City:
* Museo de Antropologia
* Museo Afro-Antilliano
* Museo de Ciencias Naturales
* Museo de Historia Panamena
* Museo de Arte Religioso
* Museo de Panama Viejo
* Museo de Arte Contemporario
* Museo del Canal de Panama