Find places in Panama

Must-Haves

• Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo)
  The restored colonial quarter of plazas, churches and sea walls is the heart of any first visit.
• Panamá Viejo (Panamá Viejo)
  The ruins of the first Spanish city on the Pacific, with a climbable cathedral tower and a museum.
• Iglesia de San José (Casco Antiguo)
  Home of the Golden Altar, said to have been hidden from the pirate Henry Morgan.

Fun for Everyone

• Biomuseo (Amador Causeway)
  A colourful Frank Gehry building that tells how the isthmus rose from the sea and changed the planet.
• Museo del Canal de Panamá (Plaza de la Independencia)
  The story of the Canal, from the failed French attempt to the handover to Panama.

Must-Haves

• Miraflores Locks Visitor Center (Miraflores)
  Watch giant ships rise and fall through the Panama Canal locks from viewing terraces.
• Agua Clara Visitor Center (Colón)
  A view over the newer, larger expanded Canal locks on the Atlantic side.

Fun for Everyone

• Amador Causeway (Amador)
  A seaside promenade linking three islands, great for bike hire and watching ships queue for the Canal.

Off the Beaten Path

• Isla Taboga (Ferry from Amador)
  The island of flowers, a short ferry ride away, with a sleepy village and a calm beach.
• Portobelo (Colón Province)
  Spanish forts, cannons and the Black Christ church on a sleepy Caribbean bay.

Must-Haves

• Cerro Ancón (Ancón)
  A short climb to a giant flag and the best view over the skyline, the Canal and Casco Viejo.

Fun for Everyone

• Parque Natural Metropolitano (Curundú)
  A rainforest reserve inside the city with sloths, toucans and a lookout over the bay.
• Cinta Costera (Bella Vista)
  The waterfront park for sunset walks, cycling and skyline views along the bay.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pipeline Road (Soberanía National Park, Gamboa)
  One of the most famous birdwatching trails in the world, an easy drive from the city.
• Monkey Island boat trips on Gatun Lake (Gamboa)
  Small boats glide past capuchins and howler monkeys beside passing ships.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado de Mariscos (Avenida Balboa)
  The city's fish market, where stalls serve cups of fresh ceviche and fried fish.
• El Trapiche (Vía Argentina)
  A long-running spot for classic Panamanian breakfasts, sancocho and tamales.

Great for Date Night

• Donde José (Casco Antiguo)
  A tiny tasting counter where chef José Olmedo Carles reinterprets Panamanian ingredients.
• Maito (Coco del Mar)
  A creative kitchen built on Panama's mix of Afro Caribbean, Indigenous and Chinese influences.

Must-Haves

• Fonda Lo Que Hay (Casco Antiguo)
  A playful, informal take on Panamanian fonda cooking from the team behind Donde José.

Must-Haves

• Café Unido (Casco Antiguo)
  A Panamanian coffee bar pouring local Geisha and other single origin beans.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bajareque Coffee House (Casco Antiguo)
  A small café serving coffee from a family farm in Boquete, brewed with care.

Fun for Everyone

• Granclement (Casco Antiguo)
  French style ice cream and sorbets in tropical flavours, ideal for a hot afternoon.

Great for Date Night

• Casa Casco (Casco Antiguo)
  A multi-level venue with a rooftop pool bar and skyline views.

Fun for Everyone

• La Rana Dorada (Casco Antiguo)
  A friendly brewpub with Panamanian craft beer and a lively terrace.

Off the Beaten Path

• Calle Uruguay (Bella Vista)
  The street where locals go out, packed with bars and clubs on weekend nights.

Must-Haves

• Mercado de Artesanías de Panamá Viejo (Panamá Viejo)
  Molas, Emberá baskets and carved tagua nuts sold by the people who make them.

Fun for Everyone

• Albrook Mall (Albrook)
  One of the biggest malls in the Americas, next to the main bus terminal.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Avenida Central (Santa Ana)
  The busy pedestrian shopping street for cheap clothes and street food; watch your bag.

Must-Haves

• Panama Carnival (City streets and Cinta Costera)
  Four days of parades, music and water trucks before Ash Wednesday.
• Independence parades (Across the city)
  Early November brings marching bands and flags for the national holidays.

Fun for Everyone

• Panama Jazz Festival (City of Knowledge)
  An annual January festival with free outdoor concerts and workshops.

Great for Date Night

• American Trade Hotel (Casco Antiguo)
  A beautifully restored landmark hotel with a jazz club on the ground floor.

Must-Haves

• Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo)
  Luxury rooms and a rooftop facing the bay on the edge of the old town.

Off the Beaten Path

• Canopy Tower (Soberanía National Park)
  A converted radar tower turned birding lodge in the rainforest canopy.

Must-Haves

• Starfish Beach (Boca del Drago, Isla Colón)
  Calm shallow water where starfish rest on the sand; look but never touch.
• Cayos Zapatilla (Bastimentos National Marine Park)
  Two uninhabited islands with white sand and reef, the highlight of island tours.

Fun for Everyone

• Red Frog Beach (Isla Bastimentos)
  A jungle-backed beach where tiny red poison dart frogs live in the forest.

Off the Beaten Path

• Wizard Beach (Isla Bastimentos)
  A long wild beach reached on a jungle trail; strong currents, so admire rather than swim.
• Playa Bluff (Isla Colón)
  A long surf beach where turtles nest in season, reached by bike or taxi.

Fun for Everyone

• Dolphin Bay (Bahía de los Delfines)
  Bottlenose dolphins often swim alongside boats in this sheltered bay.
• Hospital Point (Isla Solarte)
  An easy snorkelling spot with a wall of coral close to shore.

Must-Haves

• Coral Cay (Isla Bastimentos)
  Snorkel over coral gardens, then eat lunch at a restaurant on stilts.

Off the Beaten Path

• Old Bank (Isla Bastimentos)
  An Afro Caribbean village of wooden houses, Guari Guari creole and coconut cooking.

Great for Date Night

• Bibi's on the Beach (Isla Carenero)
  An overwater restaurant with fresh seafood and sunset views back to town.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Johnny cake and patí vendors (Bocas Town streets)
  Caribbean coconut bread and spiced meat pastries sold fresh in the mornings.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Bocas del Toro (Bocas Town)
  A wooden hotel on the water in the middle of town.

Great for Date Night

• Tranquilo Bay (Isla Bastimentos)
  An eco lodge for wildlife lovers, set between rainforest and reef.

Fun for Everyone

• Día de Bocas (Bocas Town)
  Mid November festivities with parades and music celebrating the province.

Must-Haves

• Sendero Los Quetzales (Volcán Barú National Park)
  The cloud forest trail where the resplendent quetzal is often seen.
• Volcán Barú (Volcán Barú National Park)
  A night hike to Panama's highest summit for a sunrise view of two oceans.

Fun for Everyone

• Lost Waterfalls (Alto Quiel)
  Three cloud forest waterfalls on a short but steep trail.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pipeline Trail (Alto Chiquero)
  A gentle stream walk to a giant fig tree and a quiet waterfall.
• Caldera hot springs (Caldera)
  Natural thermal pools beside a river, a short drive below Boquete.

Fun for Everyone

• Boquete Tree Trek (Palmira)
  Hanging bridges and ziplines through the forest canopy.
• Chiriquí river rafting (Chiriquí and Chiriquí Viejo rivers)
  Whitewater trips through gorges for beginners and experienced rafters.

Must-Haves

• Finca Lérida (Alto Quiel)
  A historic coffee estate offering tours and birdwatching above town.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kotowa Coffee (Boquete)
  Tours explain coffee growing and roasting on a family estate.

Must-Haves

• Feria de las Flores y del Café (Boquete fairground)
  January's flower and coffee fair along the Caldera River.

Fun for Everyone

• Café Ruiz (Boquete)
  A long-established coffee company with tastings and tours.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Municipal fondas (Town centre)
  Hearty set lunches of rice, beans and stews at the market.

Great for Date Night

• Finca Lérida Coffee Plantation and Boutique Hotel (Alto Quiel)
  Stay on a coffee estate with forest trails on the doorstep.

Must-Haves

• Valle Escondido (Boquete)
  A resort-style hotel in a gated valley close to town.

Must-Haves

• Isla Perro (Assudub) (Carti area)
  Snorkel a sunken boat just off the beach of this tiny palm island.
• Cayos Holandeses (Outer islands)
  Remote reefs and sandbars with some of the clearest water in Guna Yala.

Fun for Everyone

• Piscina natural sandbar (Carti area)
  A waist-deep sandbar in the open sea where starfish dot the bottom.

Must-Haves

• Isla Chichime (Western Guna Yala)
  A popular overnight island with simple cabins and a calm lagoon.

Must-Haves

• Carti Sugdub (Carti)
  A crowded community island where you can see daily Guna life with a local guide.

Must-Haves

• Mola sellers (Across the islands)
  Buy molas directly from the Guna women who stitch them.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sailing trips through the islands (Guna Yala)
  Multi-day sailboat trips hopping between anchorages.

Must-Haves

• Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge (Off Playa El Arenal)
  A protected island with white sand, coral reef and nesting seabirds.

Fun for Everyone

• Playa Venao (South of Pedasí)
  A curved surf bay with beginner-friendly waves and beach bars.

Off the Beaten Path

• Isla de Cañas (Los Santos)
  A community-run refuge where olive ridley turtles nest in season.
• Cambutal (Tonosí)
  A wild beach and surf village at the far south of Azuero.

Must-Haves

• Whale watching trips (Pedasí coast)
  Humpback whales pass close to shore from about July to October.

Fun for Everyone

• Pedasí panaderías (Pedasí)
  Small bakeries selling fresh bread and pastries each morning.

Must-Haves

• Las Tablas (Los Santos Province)
  The town of the pollera dress and Panama's most famous Carnival.

Fun for Everyone

• Museo de la Nacionalidad (La Villa de Los Santos)
  The house where Panama's first cry of independence from Spain was made.

Must-Haves

• Carnaval de Las Tablas (Las Tablas)
  Rival streets battle with floats, queens and water trucks before Lent.

Off the Beaten Path

• Festival de la Mejorana (Guararé)
  A September festival of folk music, dance and traditional dress.
• Corpus Christi and the Diablicos Sucios (La Villa de Los Santos)
  Masked devil dancers fill the streets in a centuries-old tradition.

Low Cost and Authentic

• La Arena pottery workshops (Chitré)
  Family workshops making traditional clay pottery.

Must-Haves

• Chorro El Macho (El Valle de Antón)
  A tall waterfall in the forest, with walking trails and a canopy line.

Fun for Everyone

• India Dormida (El Valle de Antón)
  A ridge hike shaped like a sleeping woman, with views over the crater.
• El Nispero Zoo (El Valle de Antón)
  A small zoo and amphibian rescue centre focused on golden frogs.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pozos Termales (El Valle de Antón)
  Small thermal pools and healing mud masks.

Must-Haves

• El Valle Sunday Market (Town centre)
  Crafts, plants, soapstone carvings and fresh produce, busiest on Sundays.

Off the Beaten Path

• Piedra Pintada (El Valle de Antón)
  A boulder covered in ancient petroglyphs beside a stream.

Fun for Everyone

• Canopy Adventure (El Valle de Antón)
  Zipline over the Chorro El Macho waterfall.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Market fondas (Town centre)
  Simple local food stalls next to the market.