The Ultimate Panama Bucket List
The Ultimate Panama Bucket List
Panama will always have a very special place in my heart for different reasons. Because it was in my bucket list for a long time. Because it has stunning landscapes, a rich natural wildlife and the most welcoming people. And also because it was my last trip before COVID-19 pandemic started and changed the whole world in an unprecedented way.
Whenever I look back and think about the amazing week that I had in Panama, it also reminds me of the freedom of traveling the world that we have lost for some time, and I realize how lucky we were in the past when we didn’t question all the things that we took for granted like taking a plane and landing in a new destination ready to discover, without all the concerns caused by this new reality.
This Central America country located on the isthmus of Panama connects the North and South of America and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Being in the intersection of one continent and two seas, it is easy to understand its rich History, culture and vibrant diversity which makes it a unique country and a great place to explore.
Due to its location, it is also renowned by Panama Canal, one of the biggest engineering projects ever. It was built in the beginning of the 20th century to reduce in more than 8000 kilometres the distance that ships had to travel to pass between the two Oceans.
There are many things to do in Panama. I had planned to visit Panama City, Bocas del Toro and San Blas, but I had to change my plans due to COVID-19 situation and I couldn’t go to San Blas and some areas of Panama City. But still it was an amazing week.
What to visit in Panama? In this blog post I will share tips about the places that I was able to visit and I will refer the ones that are already in my list for an upcoming trip to this beautiful country.
Panama City
Panama City is a vibrant and lively city located in the shores of the Pacific Ocean that perfectly merges the past and the future in a melting pot rich of History and Culture.
Crossing this Central American metropolis you will feel sometimes that you are traveling back in time a few centuries ago, but only a few kilometres away you will be pulled into the future in the new area of the city full of skyscrapers and modern buildings.
You can easily spend a few days in Panama City to explore the many things it has to offer so I recommend to plan your trip accordingly. I stayed there one day and a half when I arrived to Panama before going to Bocas del Toro, and two days after my island getaway before getting back to Portugal.
In both periods I stayed in the modern part of the city. There are many hotels in Panama City. I stayed in two different great hotels Hard Rock Hotel and JW Marriot. From that area you can very easily take a taxi or a Uber to the other parts of the city.
So what to see in Panama City?
Casco Viejo
I recommend to start your visit to Panama City in Casco Viejo, a colonial style neighbourhood with Spanish influences that is a UNESCO site and the historical centre of the city.
Visit the Cathedral located at the heart of Casco Viejo and then get lost walking around its narrow streets getting energised by this vibrant area.
Head to Paseo de las Bovedas from where you will have the greatest view to Panama skyline, the Bridge of the Americas and Amador Causeway, a strip of land connecting Panama City with the Amador Islands.
Casco Viejo is full of new boutique hotels, restaurants, terraces and coffees. After wandering around just chill out and take some time having a drinking and experimenting the tasty local food. It is also a great option to stay there instead of the modern area of Panama City.
If you are craving for fresh fish or seafood don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Fish Market, walking distance from Casco Viejo and opened every day until 5pm.
Cinta Costera
From the Fish Market you can start walking in Cinta Costera, a waterfront boulevard with 9 kilometres that was built in 2009.
It is now one of the favourite areas for locals and travellers to outdoor activities and to admire some of the most beautiful views of Panama City panorama.
You will find in the middle of this boulevard the famous and colourful Panama sign.
Panama Viejo
This UNESCO heritage site is the ruins of the old city of Panama founded in 1519 and it is also the oldest monument in the city. It is located in the suburbs of the capital.
Biomuseo
Located in Amador, this is the most famous museum in Panama City and it was designed by the famous architect Frank Gehry.
It is composed by an area with different galleries to showcase the origin of the Panama isthmus and its impact in biodiversity. It also has a botanical park with endemic and native plants that is an extension of the exhibitions.
The building itself is outstanding with a unique style and a colourful facade and roof.
Together with Panama Canal, this was one of the places that I had planned to visit after Bocas del Toro, but unfortunately due to the evolution of COVID-19 situation, I didn’t have a chance to do that. But I strongly recommend you to visit while in Panama.
Panama Skyscrapers
The modern area of Panama City is also famous by its skyscrapers with awesome views to the city and the Pacific. The most famous one is El Tornillo, located in the financial district, which is know by its singular shape.
In this area there are lots of good restaurants, bars and rooftops. I am a rooftops lover so I visited several. My my favourites were the one at Hard Rock Hotel and Panaviera.
I also had the opportunity to spend two days in JW Marriot which has one of the most amazing infinity pools with Pacific views. I enjoyed there the most beautiful sunrise ever in my last day in Panama.
Panama Canal
This is undoubtedly a must see place (even if unfortunately I didn’t go there) in Panama. The construction of the canal is one of the most spectacular engineering projects ever, allowing ships to quickly transversing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and hugely impacting the world trade.
The easiest way to visit is going to the Panama Canal Locks – Miraflores Locks, located 20m drive from the city. You can take a taxi, Uber or bus. In the Miraflores Locks Visitor Centre you can visit several exhibitions to understand how the canal works, as well as some view decks.
Gamboa Rainforest
Just 30m away from Panama City, I suggest to visit Gamboa to have a real rainforest experience.
You can stay there as it is also a resort, or do a day trip and enjoy some of the many activities it has to offer like boat tours to see the rainforest amazing vegetation and wildlife, safaris or tours to indigenous villages.
Bocas Del Toro
Bocas del Toro is an archipelago located in the North of Panama next to the border with Costa Rica in the Caribbean Sea, just 9 degrees above the equator line.
Its tropical vibe, awesome turquoise waters, rich wildlife and vegetation makes it a perfect beach holiday destination. It consists of 6 islands and many small islets.
How to get from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro? You can go by bus (more than 10hours ride) or by plane which is the most convenient and quick option as it is only a 1h flight. Bocas deu Toro airport is located in Bocas Town, in the main island.
There are many things to do in this archipelago and different places to stay. It depends on the experience you want to have. You can choose to stay in the main island, Isla Colon, and do some island hoping if you want to be close to shops, bars and restaurants. Or you might prefer to stay in one of the other islands that are even more secluded and remote.
I decided to stay 2 nights in Isla Colon (in Playa Tortuga Hotel and Beach Resort, located just 10m drive from the town) and 2 other nights in Bastimentos Island, which is around 45m by boat and it is a paradise.
Isla Colon & Bocas Town
Isla Colon is absolutely beautiful and it is a very good option to explore Bocas del Toro.
You can spend your days at the beach or island hoping, and go to Bocas Town at night for dinner in one of the great restaurants there or to have a drink in a bar with views to the pier.
With its picturesque colourful houses built on stilts over the water, Bocas Town has a Caribbean charm that shouldn’t be missed.
Be aware that in Bocas Town there aren’t any beaches, but you can easily take a bus, a taxi ride or a boat tour to visit some of the most stunning beaches you’ve ever been. I assure you that.
There are many Bocas Del Toro tours. The most famous are the ones from Bocas Town are Zapatilla Cay & Coral Cay, Bastimentos Island, Bocas del Drago & Starfish Beach, Sloth Island, visit a chocolate farm or take a boat to do some snorkelling.
Starfish Beach
There are many beaches in Bocas del Toro, but my favourite one in Colon Island was Starfish Beach, located in the north side of the island.
There is a bus from Bocas to get there. Another option is to negotiate a good fare and hire a taxi for the day, which will give you much more flexibility – that’s what I did for around 40 dollars.
No matter it you go by bus or by taxi, you will arrive to Bocas del Drago Beach (another beautiful beach). From there you can either walk around 15m by the mangroves or to take a boat which costs a few dollars per person and it is a scenic experience.
Starfish Beach is a small piece of paradise lost in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and it is the perfect place to relax and to have a great beach day.
It has unbelievable crystal clear and calm waters and it is famous by the starfishes the beach was named. The starfishes are beautiful but please don’t touch them or take them out of the water, they will die if they are outside even it is only for a few seconds. So just admire their beauty to protect them.
In this beach there are facilities with tasty local food and refreshing drinks and it’s possible to hire an umbrella and a sunbed for the day.
Bastimentos Island
There are no words to describe Bastimentos Islands, so I will just tell you this is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been – I really mean it!
I decided to stay 2 days in Azul Paradise, a secluded Bocas Del Toro resort completely lost in a remote area of Bastimentos, 45m by boat from Bocas Town. I stayed in a water-villa which was an amazing experience.
Bastimentos is absolutely stunning and its desert beach has pristine waters with thousands of shades of blue just for yourself. It is the perfect place to relax, chill out, enjoy the surrounding nature and recharge your energies.
You can also do a boat tour in the mangroves of the island and if you are lucky enough you might see the famous sloths.
And last but not least, don’t miss the sunset – as everything else in this island it is an unreal experience.
San Blas Islands
San Blas is an archipelago located in the Northern Coast of Panama and it has some of the most beautiful beach destinations in the world. Even if it is part of Panama, it remains having political autonomy from the mainland and it is governed by the Guna Yala people.
It is not easy to get there as you need to go by car (around 3h drive) and then take a speedboat. So you should stay for at least one night, but be ready to stay in a very basic accommodation with no luxuries. Nevertheless it is totally worth it.
Unfortunately I couldn’t go to San Blas and it is probably the biggest regret of my Panama trip. I had planned to go there after Bocas del Toro but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the islands were closed to tourism just 2 days before my planned arrival. I guess I have a very good reason to go back to Panama.
For some more travel inspiration in the Caribbean, check my blog post about Aruba – Top Things to Do in Aruba.
