I love Central America. From the cuisine to the culture to the beaches it keeps me coming back. The fact that it is a fairly quick flight from anywhere on the East coast with no time change makes it an easy place to explore.
Panama is unique for a few reasons. One being that it is the land link between Central and South America. The famous Panama Canal cuts through the country linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The city itself is filled with modern skyscrapers and night clubs but also boasts well preserved colonial architecture all while being surrounded by rainforest. You get a lot of diversity in a relatively small area.
Panama City
I stayed in Casco Viejo district which is the historic district. This is where a lot of the nightlife is and is very walkable. I stayed in a Selina Hostel, but the company has since had financial issues and the location is in the middle of being converted into a Socialtel. Which is a similar concept.
For me Casco Viejo was the best area to stay in as a solo traveler. It was easy for me to walk to most places and when I was out at night the streets were very busy. I never worried about walking around.
The biggest plus? All the street food! Casco Viejo’s streets are filled with food vendors at night and the streets really come a live.
I did a pub crawl right in the Casco Veijo district. You can find it here. A local took us around to some fun spots including Chupitos 507. Chupitos means shots in Spanish and they have over 507 listed on their walls. It was a great way to experience some local places without being alone. I ended up meeting some people and we went out a few times while we were in town. A perfect way to turn a solo trip into a trip with friends.
Walking tour + Panama Canal
The Panama Canal was first under construction by France in the late 1880’s. Eventually the US took over and construction was completed in 1914. It was built to make a quicker trade route from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. Around 30,000 people died while building the canal. Most of them being West Indian laborers who were subject to diseases like Malaria and Yellow Fever as well as extremely unsafe working conditions.
The United States controlled the canal for nearly 100 years and benefited financially. The control was finally given to Panama in 1999. Panama saw a huge economic growth spurt after this. Turning Panama City into a more modern city.
You can find a lot of tours that will combine a historical walking tour with the canal. Most of the city sights are within walking distance of each other but you do need transportation to get to the canal.
The Miraflores Visitors Center is where the canal is located. It is open every day from 8am to 5pm. There you can watch a movie about the building of the canal narrated by Morgan Freeman, watch the passage of ships thru the canal and even take a guided tour.
A general admission ticket to the canal thru the visitor center is $17 for adults and $7 for children ages 6 to 12.
Salsa Safari
Salsa dancing is popular in Panama as it is in a lot of Central America. Even though I am not the most coordinated person I figured it would be a fun night out. Salsa Safari, you meet for a class to learn the basics. You get about an hour of practice and then you head out to a local salsa club. The place was packed, and the locals were so inclusive. Pulling us up to dance and not caring that we barely knew what we were doing. It was a fun way to immersive myself in local culture.
For a lesson with a night out it is $30.
Monkey Island & Gatun Lake Tour
Located in a protected nature preserve Monkey Island is a big tourist destination. It has three species of Monkeys (Capuchin, Tamarin, and Howler). You do get up close with these monkeys.
The tour is a boat ride thru the preserve. At various points the monkeys will jump on the boat and climb around. I wasn’t sure what to expect and I don’t always feel comfortable participating in animal tourism. They do lure the monkeys on the boat with fruit, but you are not allowed to touch them. Simply observe them.
Half day tour starts at $50
Catamaran to Taboga Island
Taboga Island, also known as “Island of Flowers”, is just 12 miles from Panama City. Depending on the boat you take the tour is about 6-8 hours. This one included lunch and an open bar. You get to enjoy the city skyline and the Bridge of the Americas as you head out. We did two snorkeling/swimming stops before spending time on the Island. Either relaxing on the beach, exploring the shops or if you have time there is a hike, Cerro de la Cruz, with stunning views of the surrounding area.
The average cost for a 6–8-hour tour is $99. Check out tours here.
Bocas del Toro
This archipelago is about an hour flight from Panama City. They have several flights a day to (and from) Isla Colon and they are relatively inexpensive. Otherwise, you’d have to take a bus from Panana City to Isla Colon which is approximately a 10-hour drive. Prices vary on flights from about $70 to $150 this can depend on time of year, when you book and when you fly.
I stayed in Bocas Town in Isla Colon. It is a very walkable town with lots of restaurants, cafés and nightlife. I felt very safe the whole time and was often wandering alone at night.
This is the perfect place for late mornings, beach time and parties at night. Bocas town had so many great little cafes and breakfast spots. If you are looking for a coffee, meal or a party check out my post on where to eat in Bocas Del Toro here.
Star Fish Beach + Bird Island
A popular day trip where you can see some of the biggest star fish around and hang out on the beach as well as cruise around Bird Island to see many species of birds. Unfortunately, the day I went it was raining quite hard. The star fish were still amazing to see close but instead of hanging out on the beach I drank a beer under a canopy.
I booked a tour locally for Star Fish Beach, but you can also take a bus to Boca del Drago. The fare is $2.50 each way and takes about 40 minutes. From there you can take a water taxi which is $1 or walk. It is about a 20-minute scenic walk.
Zapatilla Beach Hoping
Zapatilla Cays is located within the Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park. The islands are uninhabited and known for their white sand beaches, clear waters and vibrant coral reefs. Many people come to Bocas del Toro for the snorkeling and surfing. You could keep yourself busy daily with just those activities.
Here you can spot a dolphin, go snorkeling or just soak up the sun on the beach.
These tours last about 6-7 hours and cost around $60.
Bioluminescence Tours
Bioluminescence is a chemical process through which marine vertebrates and invertebrates, fungi, and fireflies produce and generate light. This relatively rare worldwide phenomenon occurs in the Caribbean waters. And it occurs right in Bocas del Toro as well!
It is an incredible experience. I have done them in a few countries, and they never fail to be impressive. These tours allow you to get up close in the water to experience the bioluminescence.
Bioluminescence tours last about 3 hours and the cost is around $50
Filthy Fridays
I wrote about this in my “Where to Eat in Bocas Del Toro” post even though it doesn’t have to do with food. It is a drinking experience. Quite an experience at that. It is literally hundreds of people island hoping and drinking all day. It starts early but you can leave at any time which is nice for those of us who want to day drink and not stay out all night.
The ticket to Filthy Fridays costs $40 dollars and includes transportation to all the islands, entrance to the evening club, shots at each bar and a commemorative tank top.
Have you been to Panama?