Panama City Travel Guide | Things to do & Places to Visit

Destination content © William Friar, used from Moon Handbooks Panama, 1st edition.

Panamá City, Panama

Panama City surprises first-time visitors. When they cruise into Panama Bay or drive down Corredor Sur from the airport, they're stunned to see all the modern, closely packed towers rising out of the ocean. Panama City is far more cosmopolitan than many Latin American cities, certainly those in Central America.

But its vibrant modernity really shouldn't be surprising, given the capital's status as an international banking center and its location next to the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, the "crossroads of the world." Panama City has been important to world commerce since its founding nearly 500 years ago.

Because of all this, it's also in many ways an international city. The shops of Indian and Chinese merchants have been city institutions for generations. Any given day might find Colombian émigrés having a drink in a British pub, Japanese businessmen making a deal in a Brazilian steakhouse, and Canadian retirees looking for their place in the tropical sun.

The city's acceptance of its rich diversity can be seen in its houses of worship: Along with its Roman Catholic churches are synagogues, mosques, one of the world's seven Baha'i houses of worship, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitanate of Central America, a prominent Hindu temple, and gathering houses for every conceivable Protestant congregation.

The one faith that draws all these people together is business. Deals are being made everywhere at all times, from the kids hawking cell-phone accessories at congested intersections, to the developers determined to build on every square centimeter of open space. Life is fast-paced compared with the rest of Panama, and the city's residents are comparatively assertive, street-savvy, and no-nonsense. Panama City is to, say, the Azuero peninsula as New York City is to rural Nebraska. Everyone on the road is in a great hurry, and skyscrapers pop up seemingly overnight.

Still, by the standards of many other countries' capitals, Panama City is a mellow, fun-loving place. Any excuse for a party will do, and big celebrations, especially Carnaval, can shut down the whole city.

Those who come to Panama solely for its natural treasures will be tempted to blast right through the capital on their way to the country's forests, mountains, islands, and beaches. But it'd be a shame not to spend at least a day or two in Panama City. Hundreds of years of history live on in its streets, and its more modern attractions and international restaurants are especially appealing after roughing it in the wilderness for a while. Besides, it has its very own tropical forest. Even city streets aren't far removed from nature; an entire book has been written on the birds of Panama City.

Attractions and Places to visit in Panama City

Panama La Vieja

Panama La Vieja was the original location of Panama city as founded by the Spaniards. Although it was destroyed the ruins still remain for you to walk around and imagine who it was. You won't miss the tower of the former Cathedral of Panama. Right across there is a good restaurant called el Trapiche to taste nice Panamanian food. On the top floor of the facilities there is an artisanal market where you can buy molas and other things. In the same building you should not miss visiting the Museum with old artifacts of the city, maps, while doing so you will be supporting the maintenance of this historical place which is now in the list of UNESCO World Heritage.

Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo became the new location of Panama city after pirate Henry Morgan sacked and burnt Old Panama City (Panama La Vieja). Here you can find a good concentration of interesting places to visit. The whole area more or less became dilapidated after years of neglect but in the recent years it has received much attention and is being renewed little by little. The contrast of "abandoned" and "renewed" is quite striking. The old buildings are still preserved of course. You can start at the "Plaza" (the old town square) and visit the Cathedral of Panama. There nearby you can also visit (and you should) the Museum of the Interoceanic Canal.

From there make your way to the square of the former Hotel Colombia to visit the monument to Simon Bolivar, the visionary who created the Great Columbia. Then proceed to visit the Church of Panama called "Altar de Oro" (Golden Altar), this Jesuit church has a true golden altar. This was the altar that was in the church in Old Panama City. When Henry Morgan attacked the city the jesuits painted the altar in black so that it would escape the greedy eyes of the pirates and so it was spared thinking it was not worth anything. It was then moved to the new city.

Then move on to the sea side of Casco Viejo, walk on the promenade whose lower part used to be used in colonial times as a prison. There you can also visit the monument to Ferdinand Lesseps, the French visionary that began the construction of the Panama Canal and who was also responsible for the Suez Canal.

Once you are done there go around and admire the National Theatre which was re-opened some years ago after major renovation to preserve its original beauty.

There nearby on the sea side you will also want to visit (outside) the Presidential Palace of the Herons.

Calle Uruguay or 48th Street

Popular clubs and bars in the Calle Uruguay area fold and new ones pop up at a rapid rate, so it's impossible to say what will be there when you visit. The best bet is just to stroll around late on a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night and follow the crowds.

Mi Pueblito

A few kilometers before reaching the Bridge of the Americas there is a road that also leads to the former Canal Zone. Here you can visit Mi Pueblito which is a nice replication of a "generic" town on the country side. Not only can you walk into a house as if you were in the country side, you can see a wonderful exhibition of Polleras (National female dress) and have tasty dishes in the restaurant enjoying the view of Mi Pueblito and the city. This has been expanded to include an annex of a typical town of Afro-antillean Panama as well as similar one but of the Kuna indians.

Amador Causeway

Calzada Amador has been totally renewed in the past years and is now a Calzada Amador Panama City Causewayplace with hotels and a haven. It also has several good and cozy restaurants of all prices where you can sample the fantastic local cuisine. This place is popular among panamanians on their spare time, here people go for a long walk to breath sea air, see the ships entering the Panama canal, a good view of the Bridge of the Americas over the Panama Canal. You can also rent bicycles (long queue!) or just sit on the benches.

The Summit Garden

Summit Garden also known as Soberania National Park is nearby Albrook. It is a combination of Zoo and national park. Here you can not only see the animals but stroll in nature admiring the vegetation. There are picnic facilities as well as plenty of space for other activities such as skating, cicling, etc.

Camino de Cruces National Park

Camino de Cruces National Park located in the Gamboa Area. You can only enter with a guide, this is a national park. Camino de Cruces was the path through the jungle that was used by the Spaniards to move all the merchandise and riches coming from South America to the town of Portobelo, Colon . And from there it was shipped to Spain. Part of the Camino de Cruces was over the Chagres River. It was a perilous route in its time.

Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Near the junction of the Panama Canal and the Río Chagres (about 40km from Panama city) is the new Gamboa Rainforest Resort. The main building's attraction is its sweeping vistas of the jungle-flanked Río Chagres - an awesome panorama of river and rain forests seen through windows three stories high.

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Panama City Travel Guide | Things to do & places to visit