| 8 mins read
Bryn Wied
Panama may be small, but as the perfect melting pot of Latin America, Caribbean and South American cultural influences, it packs in quite a punch! It’s relatively small size means you can see the sun rise on the Atlantic Ocean and set on the Pacific Ocean in the same day, and pack in plenty of Panama’s beauty, culture, and history in, in between without spending the majority of time on travel. Here’s a look at the top 7 ways to experience the best of Panama!
1. Visit the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is one of the most defining symbols of Panama; it’s impressive architecture helped connect two sides of the world to each other, and it has played a huge role in Panama’s history and economy for over 100 years. One of the best ways to appreciate the canal up close and learn more about it is to visit the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center. Admission is under $10 a person, and the pass gives access to all levels of the museum and the chance to get an up close look at the lock systems and the ships that transition from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean via the museum’s observation deck. Visitors can even see the entire canal and cross the continent through a tour of the canal.
2. Climb the Ruins of Panamá Viejo
Founded in the early 1500s, the original capital of Panama is the oldest permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast. This World Heritage Site was nearly burned to the ground, but one can still climb up the fully restored 4-storey bell tower of the city’s Old Cathedral for the best sunset views in Panama City; the breathtaking vista is well worth the effort! While each of the ruins carries a brief description, guides are not readily available at the site. So it might just be worth it to engage a Panama tour guide well in advance. The museum is a great place to start your visit before exploring the grounds, and the walk can be quite a bit in the hot and humid weather. Be prepared with your walking shoes and good supply of water!
3. Fish, Surf or Snorkel at Bocas del Turo
Bocas del Turo is famous for it’s beautiful coral reefs; the shallow, warm waters of the Caribbean are amenable for snorkeling for all skill levels. It is easy to rent or buy snorkel equipment from local vendors on the islands and swim out from shore. Carenero Island has great snorkeling spots easily accessible by water taxi. The island of Bastimentos is mostly a protected park, blessed with a shoreline is full of great snorkel opportunities. In fact, the island’s Polo Beach is well known as one of the best snorkeling spots in the Caribbean. There are 8 snorkel tour companies on the chain of Bocas del Turo islands. A tour often includes several stops among the different islands, which allows visitors to experience a variety of dive sites.
The best time for surfing the islands is during the winter months. Isla Colon has plenty of places to stay, and has several great breaks off the island’s coast. Dumpers and Inner Dumpers are both reef breaks for only the most skilled of surfers, with steep drop offs and coral reefs that create excellent waves but are dangerously sharp for surfers swimming to and from the beach. For beginning surfers, Playa Bluff’s beach break is as beautiful to look at, as it is to surf, with powerful breaks close to shore and a perfect sandy beach bottom.
Panama roughly translates to “an abundance of fish”; and the epithet still makes sense today. The best time to go fishing in Bocas del Turo is during the spring and fall, when the winds are calmer and the waters are easier to navigate. Fishing here is also much cheaper than on Panama’s Pacific coast, with an excellent selection of fish, including tuna, Kingfish, and Snappers.
The string of islands that make up the Bocas del Turo area is relatively easy to get to from the mainland. A water taxi ride from the mainland takes about 30 minutes and costs just a few dollars each way, while a flight direct from Panama City takes less than an hour.
4. Soak in the El Valle Panama Hot Springs
The best way to appreciate the thermal springs at El Valle is to first hike up the mountain trail. The hike takes around 3 hours, and is only for those in good physical shape. Those who are up for the challenge are rewarded with beautiful overhead rainforest canopy views, and equally breathtaking vistas from the top of the mountain. After hiking back down the mountain, hikers can soak their sore muscles in the thermal hot springs and enjoy spa like mud facial treatment for under $5 a person. El Valle is very family friendly as well; there are plenty of picnic tables, a playground, and even a child friendly tub as well. Weekends are usually crowded, so the best bet for avoiding tourist crowds is to head up mid-week.
5. Bike the Ambassador Causeway
Situated at the mouth of the Panama Canal, the Ambassador Causeway connects several islands to the mainland. This is a dream urban biker’s oasis, where one can easily rent a bike for the entire day for just a few dollars an hour. Bikers can look forward to enjoying beautiful views of Panama City and the famous Bridge of the Americas as well as the Museum of Biodiversity without the worry of running across traffic. The Causeway is also lined with plenty of wonderful hole in the wall restaurants and sidewalk pubs, ideal to ride up to, and grab a bite to eat or drink along the way.
6. Experience Indigenous Island Life
The San Blas Islands are still home to Panama’s Kuna Indians, the country’s indigenous native ethnic culture. The Kuna Indians originally lived on the mainland as well, but today they inhabit the 49 San Blas Islands. The Indians still remain largely their own nation, with their own government system and culture. The language, body art, and clothing of the Kuna’s is beautiful and unique, unlike any other culture still in existence today.
Tourists are only allowed on select islands, but several of the islands offer fun alternative places to spend the night. Visitors can stay the night in hammocks in open air shelters on Chichime Island for about $10 a night, or rent a tent on Diablo Island for $15 a night; the island offers boat tours of several of the islands. Those who wish to see more of the islands can book a sailboat tour of the islands from Panama City, and spend several days among the islands. Because of the island’s remote location and protected status, it is best to arrange for a Panama tour guide to navigate through the islands, book overnight accommodation, and arrange for activities on the islands.
7. Hike the Sendero Los Quetzales
Located just east of the town of Cerro Punta, Sendero Los Quetzales is one of Panama’s most beautiful hiking trails. Although it is only 5 miles long, hikers should be prepared to spend around half a day there. Best tackled with a hike from west to east, one can experience Panama’s diversity in its landscape; the trail winds along the Rio Caldera while crossing through densely packed cloud forests, open meadows, and the parque Nacional Volcán Barú. It’s very easy to get to the Sendero Los Quetzales trail; hail a taxi or ride a bus from nearby Boquete directly to the trailhead.
Bryn Wied is a full time travel writer/blogger from Lake Tahoe, California. She's authored several travel eBooks and her work has been featured on many travel websites and publications. When she's not writing, she's usually on the road traveling across the world with her hubby, Matt and their daughter, Jamison.
Image Details and Licenses: https://flic.kr/p/5PLY34 (Roger W, CC BY-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/4z2KgD (Rita Willaert, CC BY-NC 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/7KkDJb (Michael (a.k.a. moik) McC, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/2T7kQ5 (Steve Levi, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/8o2qfL (Nick Seers, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/gzVoqc (F Delventhal, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/4BcGBw (Rita Willaert, CC BY-NC 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/r4VZUn (descubriendoelmundo, CC BY-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/5iWDuN (Randal Sheppard, CC BY-SA 2.0)