Sightseeing and Leisure

Panama City, Panama’s glittering capital, is the perfect starting point for a trip to the country. The fusion of old and new here is both bewildering and fascinating. Of particular interest are the first, now abandoned village of Panama Viejo and the charming colonial quarter of Casco Viejo, where new boutique hotels are gracing the streets. Moreover, the capital will give you an unforgettable experience of crazy shopping, great food in restaurants and vibrant nightlife. And Panama’s stunning predawn landscape of crisp skyscrapers will leave you in no doubt that you are in the most beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Central America.

Much of Central Panama can be explored through the many day tours from Panama City. Rainforests, expanses of wilderness, colonial forts, beautiful hill towns and villages, beaches, tropical islands, and indigenous communities are all within easy reach of the capital. A trip to Panama would not be complete without a visit to the Panama Canal. Viewpoints will reveal a panorama of the massive and one of the greatest creations in the history of engineering.

The booming western province of Chiriqui is the economic center of the country. Tourists in this area are most attracted by the combination of flat tropics and delightful mountain scenery. Despite the variability of the climate and the resulting vagaries of the weather, travelers love to enjoy diving, fishing, surfing here, and going to Boquete, Volcan, Bambito, and Sierro Punta to admire nature and birdwatching in the unusually beautiful rainforest.

Made up of some 250 islands and islets scattered in the turquoise waters of Almirante Bay in northwestern Panama, the Bocas del Toro archipelago is designed for a quiet, laid-back vacation. There are plenty of options for fun activities: hiking through the rainforest, bird watching, surfing, diving, snorkeling, boating, visiting indigenous communities, and more. But don’t turn into a crazy tourist wanting to experience everything at once. Do not forget that this is hardly the most pleasant place in Panama where most days should be spent in a state of complete relaxation.

Eastern Panama, specifically the regions of Cuna Yala and Darien, is a completely different world. A trip here is not cheap and takes more time, and the high hotel rates do not always match the conditions. Nevertheless, few people regret such a trip. You can embark on an incredibly exciting adventure and experience the culture of the indigenous Kuna people. Colorful clothes of local residents on the background of coral beaches and beautiful islands cause associations with pictures from travel magazines and their traditions and way of life is so exciting that after a few days you will have difficulty believing that this was happening to you in reality. Another adventure is the dense, almost impenetrable forest of Darien, which represents a completely different nature of Panama. The wild conditions and proximity to the Colombian border preclude unguided hiking, but rest assured that this trip will be unlike any you have experienced before.