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Panama✨ 10 best things to do in Panama

Things to do in Panama

1. Watch ships at Miraflores LocksSee giant vessels raised and lowered through the Panama Canal.
2. Explore Casco ViejoStroll the restored colonial quarter of plazas, churches and rooftop bars.
3. Sail the San Blas IslandsVisit Guna Yala's palm-dotted islands and learn about Guna culture.
4. Surf and party in Bocas del ToroHop between islands, beaches and reefs on the Caribbean coast.
5. Hike Volcán BarúClimb Panama's highest peak to glimpse both oceans on a clear day.
6. Tour coffee farms in BoqueteTaste the prized Geisha coffee in the cool highlands.
7. Spot wildlife in Soberanía National ParkLook for toucans, sloths and monkeys along the famous Pipeline Road.
8. Visit Panamá ViejoWalk the ruins of the original city destroyed in 1671.
9. Explore Portobelo fortsSee Caribbean fortifications that once guarded Spanish treasure.
10. Eat sancochoTry Panama's comforting chicken soup with herbs and root vegetables.

Panama🗺️ Where to visit in Panama

Where to go in Panama

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  Panama CityPacific · capitalA skyline of towers beside colonial Casco Viejo and the canal.
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  Panama CanalCentral · engineering wonderOne of the world's great engineering feats, with visitor centres at the locks.
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  San Blas (Guna Yala)Caribbean · islandsHundreds of islands governed by the Indigenous Guna people.
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  Bocas del ToroCaribbean · archipelagoLaid-back islands with beaches, diving and nightlife.
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  BoqueteChiriquí highlands · coffeeCool mountain town for hiking, coffee and Volcán Barú.
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  PortobeloCaribbean coast · historyUNESCO-listed colonial forts in a quiet bay.
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  Pearl IslandsPacific · islandsBeautiful islands with whale-watching in season.
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  Coiba National ParkPacific · marine parkA UNESCO marine reserve with superb diving and wildlife.

Panama🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Panama

Best time to visit Panama

Panama is tropical, hot and humid year-round. The Pacific side has a clear dry season, while the Caribbean coast is wetter and follows a different pattern.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Panama City (approximate averages).

Panama🎉 Festivals & events in Panama

• February-March
  CarnivalFour days of water-throwing, parades and music, especially in Las Tablas.
• May-June
  Corpus Christi in La Villa de Los SantosColourful devil dancers perform in a centuries-old tradition.
• Carnival season
  Festival de Diablos y CongosAfro-Panamanian dances in Portobelo recall resistance and freedom.
• November
  Independence celebrationsSeveral patriotic holidays fill November with parades and marching bands.

Panama🧭 Panama itinerary ideas

How many days in Panama?

Panama🎒 Backpacking Panama – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $40–60 a day

• Panama City's Casco Viejo has many hostels, and buses from Albrook terminal connect the country cheaply.
• Bocas del Toro and Boquete are backpacker favourites with good hostels.
• Fondas (local diners) serve cheap set meals with rice, beans and meat.
• Book San Blas trips through hostels for good-value packages.
• Use the Panama City Metro and rechargeable cards to save on transport.

Panama🛡️ Safety & money in Panama

Emergency: 911 police, fire & ambulance

Panama🛬 Getting to Panama

Tocumen International Airport in Panama City is a major hub with flights across the Americas and Europe. Land borders connect to Costa Rica, while sailboats run trips between San Blas and Colombia.

✈️ Cheap flights to Panama: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Panama💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Panama

• In Panama, you can watch the sun rise over the Pacific due to the isthmus's curved shape.
• The Panama hat actually originated in Ecuador.
• Panama has used the US dollar as legal tender since 1904.
• Ships pay tolls based on size, and the canal saves thousands of kilometres compared with sailing around South America.
• Panama has more bird species than the US and Canada combined.

Panama❓ Panama travel FAQ

Panama travel questions