10 BEST things to do in Panama City, Panama

The 10 BEST things to do in Panama City, Panama

I love Panama City! I think it’s the best country in Central America because all the activities you can do there are unforgettable.

I haven’t forgotten them to these days, and I want you to experience the same feeling I did.

If you’re planning your next trip to Panama, I highly recommend that you read this ultimate guide and add these things to your to-do list.

Today, in this blog post, we’ll learn about the top things to do in Panama City.

1. Visit Coiba National Park

Coiba National Park is the largest island in Panama.

The water here is crystal clear, making it an underwater wonderland and perfect for diving and snorkeling.

If you are a fan of adventure and marine life, it’s one of the top scuba diving destinations in Panama.

Here you can spot dolphins, hammerhead sharks, and white-tip sharks, and you can also see green sea turtles.

You can take a boat ride from Santa Catalina, which costs around $20. This is the closest point to Coiba National Park and is about an hour and thirty minutes away.

We’ve found the best tour for you, starting from Santa Catalina. It includes lunch, snacks, and visits to Coiba Island, Coco Island, Canales Afuera Island, Rancheria Island, and much more.

Book your Coiba National Park Boat Trip Here.

This is a full-service tour, covering transport, food, safety, and visits to 4 different islands, making it one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to explore Coiba National Park.

If you go to Panama and miss Coiba, then you haven’t really seen Panama.

2. Visit the San Blas islands

The second incredible place to visit is the San Blas Islands.

There aren’t just dozens, but hundreds, more than 350 small islands here, which look like a beautiful network when viewed from above.

Due to the large number of islands, it’s less crowded, and we spent a little time exploring each island.

The island is not very big, So it only takes around 10 minutes to walk the parameter. But don’t worry they pack the beauty in.

Personally, I visited 5 islands in San Blas, and each island offered a unique and beautiful experience.

This is why it’s included in our list of top fun things to do in Panama in this guide.

Each island has an entry fee of approximately $3 – $5 if it’s not included in your tour package.

Plus, there’s the Guna Yala Territory Tax: $22 USD (Foreigners) / $7 USD (Residents) – This has to be paid at the border.

Note: “Cash Only” rule – There are no ATMs in Guna Yala, so you have to carry all the cash from Panama City. Make sure you keep this in mind.

Top islands in San Blas:

• Isla Perro Chico (Dog Island) Best for snorkeling
• Isla Pelicano (Pelican Island)
• Isla Diablo (Devil Island)
• Cayos Holandeses (Dutch Cays)
• Isla Chichime

This was the one I liked the most, and I highly recommend Isla Perro Chico to anyone who enjoys snorkeling. It’s easily the top choice for it.

There’s a sunken gunboat shipwreck here, located very close to the beach, and colorful coral fish can be seen all around it.

Free tip: If you bring your own snorkeling gear, you can explore the shipwreck for free; you only have to pay the island’s entry fee.

3. The Panama Canal: A Tale of Two Oceans

Another great place to visit in Panama, Central America, is the Panama Canal.

This is an 82-kilometer-long artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

It also divides the continents of North America and South America. More than 10,000 people work at the Panama Canal.

Hundreds of ships pass through here every day, and people from all over the world come to see them; it’s a truly beautiful experience.

To visit the Panama Canal, you need to go to the Miraflores Visitor Center, which is about an hour and 15 minutes away from Casco Viejo.

If you want a local experience, you can take the bus. Alternatively, you can take an Uber, which I found to be a bit expensive.

After reaching The Miraflores Center, your ticket will cost you $17.22 USD for non resident if you are staying local, up to $3 USD. I know it is a bit expensive but trust me it is worth it.

And this $17 ticket also includes an IMAX movie narrated by Morgan Freeman. Absolutely fantastic—he shares so much fascinating information.

Now let’s talk about some of the nightlife. You can see the Salsa Club here at EL Tropicana. This is at the Hilton but if you go to Casco Viejo that’s really the main area for the nightlife.

Now here we have casinos, many of the hotels like Sortis Hilton even JW Marriott nearby there has some casinos.

My experience with the nightlife here is lots of dancing, lots of Latino style. You’re also going to get some of that Dominican registan music so really get ready to go out and party so do be sure to bring some nice clothes.

There’s plenty of them going around the Hard Rock area so hanging out at the casino is definitely something to do.

4. Visit Barú Volcano: Panama’s Highest Point

The Barú Volcano is the highest peak in the country, at a height of 1100 feet. It is a popular destination for hikers and adventurers, with several trails leading to the summit.

The hike to the top of the volcanoes is a challenging one, with a steep ascent through dense forests and across rocky terrain. 

Along the way, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape and possibly spot some of the region’s wildlife, such as quetzals, howler monkeys, and sloths.

The Baru Volcano is also home to a number of hot springs, which are popular with tourists and locals alike. 

The hot springs are believed to have therapeutic properties and are a great way to relax after a long day of hiking. 

This is not the cheapest thing to do but trust me guys it’s one of the best things to do in Panama.

5. Explore historical sites in Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo & Casco Antiguo is Panama city’s old historical part of town.

We stayed in the new side of town, which is where all the colorful tall buildings in Rasca Cielos were.

But this is an old historic town and it dates back to 1673. So, this is actually the second city in Panama City, the first one Panama Viejo was destroyed by pirates and the well-known captain Henry Morgan.

Which was a fun fact for us because he’s not just the guy on the run.

So, Casco Viejo and Casco Antiguo is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site today and it is where most of the tourists come to see Panama City.

We actually don’t see that many tourists in other parts of town and it’s very popular here.

Why Tourists Love Casco Viejo

As you walk through the area, you’ll notice:

• Bright, colorful colonial buildings
• Boutique cafes, rooftop bars
• Open European-style plazas and Historic churches

So, When you walk through Casco Viejo you’ll notice bright vibrant buildings, open European style plazas and a multitude of shops and restaurants.

If you Love European towns and their vibes then Here’s one of the Best U.S Towns that feel like Europe without leaving U.S

Something that I have actually noticed is that Casco Viejo reminds us and the new town where we’re staying really reminds us of the United States so you really have two in one.

This is the best thing that i have ever experienced, which is staying in Casco Viejo.

Where to Stay in Casco Viejo

We stayed at Central Hotel Panama in Casco Viejo, located right in the heart of the old city. It’s a comfortable option for two people and worked really well for us because everything in Casco Viejo was walkable. If you’re planning your stay, you can check current prices and availability for Central Hotel Panama here.

If you’re traveling on a budget, Luna’s Castle Hostel is another good and budget-friendly option to consider.

My favorite experience in Casco Viejo:

• The Miraflores Center
• Walking Tour in Casco Viejo
• Visit Mola Museum

6. Bocas del Toro

We found amazing things to do in Panama City, Panama.

Another one of the top places in Panama, Central America, is Bocas del Toro, which is known for its iconic beaches and is also quite famous for its fun activities.

These include overwater bungalows, scuba diving, and floating bars – these are bars built on the water that you can reach by boat.

The Floating Bars:

We had arrived at the floating bar, and it was lovely. I definitely recommend coming here. It’s so cooled the vibes are very chill.

I didn’t know if it was just because we were floating in the middle of the ocean, but it felt so good and I highly recommend doing it if you’re here in Boa Theo.

There’s also the Filthy Friday Bocas party which is the biggest island party. I think in North America it’s definitely something to check out if you’re a backpacker in town.

7. Geisha Coffee

The craze for Geisha coffee in Panama is immense; it’s a very special type of coffee. It originated in the Gori Gesha forest of Ethiopia.

It’s known for its unique taste and aroma, which is why it’s considered extremely premium and valuable there.

However, it is now cultivated in Panama by farmers using special techniques. And it is thanks to Panama that Geisha coffee has gained such popularity worldwide.

It is considered one of the most expensive and exclusive coffees in the world. Visitors to Panama City never miss trying this coffee; you should definitely try it too.

I have taken three cups of this famous Geisha coffee at Cafe Unido, priced at around $16 per cup (about $48 USD for three cups). It is honestly one of the best coffees in the world, with a very smooth taste and a soft chamomile floral note or a peach flavor.

I enjoyed it a lot, because it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in Panama City so far.

And I am pretty sure you will definitely drink this coffee.

Popular Cafe To drink Geisha Coffee:

• Sisu Coffee Studio
• Cafe Unido
• Mentiritas Blancas

8. Monkey Island Panama: A Wildlife Experience on Gatun Lake

A visit to monkey island is one of the highlight attractions in Panama kids and adults will love this experience equally.

There are a few islands on Lake Gatun in Panama that are inhabited by a large population of monkeys.

Now at the Gamboa Rainforest this is actually where monkey island is. You actually get a boat and a Barco and you go out to Isla Mono which is monkey island.

In Spanish depending on how many people are going to be on your boat the price is going to vary. But for a boat like this with just me and the tour guide it was like $75, and we were out on the water for about two hours.

Hot tip: make sure you bring some sunscreen um but also, you’re going to be going in and out of the Canal.

So, you go through the Canal where the big ships are and then you go off into these tributaries.

The best time to see the monkeys is in the morning because in the afternoon they’ve already been fed very well by all the other tour boats.

Types of Monkeys You’ll See

But you can see they’ve got three different types of monkeys here.

They’ve got a small Pakito or a peno monkey.

They’ve got a medium sized monkey.

And then they got the big howler monkeys typically.

You’ll see the small Pico monkey and the medium-sized monkey coming right up to you.

Just keep in mind these are wild animals, so if you do decide to actually feed them out of your hand keep in mind monkeys are wild animals and they can be unpredictable. So it does come with some sort of risk.

Also, while you’re out here you’ll see lots of different birds. It’s possible to see two cans even while you’re out here. We saw some but they were kind of tucked away in the trees.

I also saw some crocodiles or alligators. I’m not sure exactly what it was but it was a small Cayman.

I also saw a few Turtles while I was out here but mostly it’s going to be monkeys because after all it’s called Monkey Island yeah.

How to Visit Monkey Island Panama: Gatun Lake Tours and Wildlife Spotting Guide

Fortunately, there are a lot of companies offering to get you there up close to see the monkeys in their natural habitat.

Visiting on Your Own

You can do this tour if you can rent a car or if you hire an Uber.

It’s about 45minute ride out to the Gamboa Rainforest reserve.

And then there are boats lined up ready to take you for a fee of course to Gatun Lake and the main areas where the monkeys are.

Booking a Guided Tour: We recommend

On the other hand, we found a relatively inexpensive tour on Viator.

There is a similar one on Trip Advisor as well and this was very convenient for us.

They picked us up right from our hotels at the Ramada Residence Inn.

Supplied a pretty knowledgeable tour guide.

And dropped us back off at the hotel after the excursion.

The ride was in a comfortable airconditioned mini bus.

And we had a nice tour of Panama City while we zipped around picking up more people from about four more hotels.

Best times to booked this tour

There are two times for the tour we booked, 7:00 am, and 2:00 pm.

When we got to the Gamboa Reserve, we were directed to line up on the left to get onto a small boat. There were other boats lined up ready to roll as well.

But our group from the bus stuck together with our trusty tour guide.

He was very good and very knowledgeable and most of the time, gave us a history lesson about Panama as well as lessons about the wildlife we may or may not see.

9. Mercado de Mariscos: The Seafood Market

Mercado de Mariscos is a night fish market and another popular place to eat a variety of seafood. People like to come here, and there are around 27 different restaurants. You’ll also see a wide variety of seafood on display.

They have things like Lobster, Corvina fish, Octopus, Fish and shrimp ceviche.

I love that place!  I go and buy fish, get it cleaned and filleted, then pack in ice and newspaper for the trip home (remove the ice before you fly). 

Me and Corvina are best friends! I also tried Fish and Shrimp Ceviche which is around $2 USD.

It was slightly spicy, but the sauce gave it an amazing flavor, which I really enjoyed.

When you go inside, you can even order fresh fish and have it cooked at the restaurants. Whatever you buy inside the market, you can see the variety of seafood dishes they cook up.

You’ll notice that fishing out here in the Pacific is very common and popular. Fishermen usually go out at night, and this is their haul, which they bring into the market.

Like I mentioned, it’s a really popular place for both locals and tourists to visit. If you’re looking for fresh fish, this is exactly where you’ll find it, with a wide variety of seafood available.

My Advice: I went in the late morning for lunch. If you want to eat fresh food, you can also come in the early morning; that’s the best time for fresh food.

10.  Visit Albrook Mall

This is actually the largest mall in all of Latin America so let me guide you around here.

So, the Albrook mall has a really large food court.

It’s right next to Albrook Airport, which is a better option for domestic flights if you’re traveling to Bocas del Toro.

Then you’ll pass through Tocumen, Panama’s main international airport, and while you’re at the mall nearby, you’ll find many designer clothing stores and a wide variety of electronics shops.

So, if you need to do some shopping this one is one of the good malls although there are many different ones in Panama City. 

It is about a 15-minute drive from the financial district. Depending on traffic it can be more or less. There is also a very large Marriott hotel that’s attached to the mall.

For those of you who want to stay in this area you will save a little bit of money.

Tours I Personally Recommend

From my own experience, I’ve shortlisted some of the most popular and exciting tours for you—packed with adventure and rich marine life.

If you’d like detailed information about any of these tours, feel free to reach out anytime or drop your question in the comments below. I’ll personally help you with complete tour details. My contact

Have a doubt, a plan in mind, or just curious about something? I’m always here to help—don’t hesitate to ask.