The best time to visit Panama is Winter and Spring, when the weather is nice and the rains are less, but even then deluges can happen. Part of the downtown area is a bit of a bowl, so this is not an uncommon site.
Necessities: Bathing Suit, sunscreen, bug repellant, my new favorite ponchos, casual attire
If you aren’t on a cruise through the Panama Canal, then you are likely flying into Panama City. As a Marriott loyalist, I stayed at both the W and the Westin in downtown Panama City. There are many hotel choices and some great boutique hotels in Casco Viejo, which is the main tourist area and probably the best area to purchase souvenirs. Uber is incredibly cheap, so you will likely be happy in any location.
Things to do in Panama City
The Panama Canal and Monkey Island
Prior to building the Canal, ships had to choices to get from the Atlanta Ocean to the Pacific (or vice versa). They could take the long and dangerous journey around the southern tip of South America. Alternatively, ships could be disassembled, transported across land by train and then reassembled. Neither option was very timely. France began the work of building the Canal in 1881 but lacked the ability and money to continue. The United States took over the project in 1904 and opened the Canal in 1914. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty that led to the ultimate turnover of the Canal from the US to Panama.
The canal has had a great impact on the country and the Panama Canal museum goes into the history of the project. There are also areas where you can watch the canal in action. It is important to note that the canal is filled with fresh water to separate the salt water from the different plants and animals in each ocean. Gatun Lake sits in the middle of the Canal and is filled with fresh water that feeds rainwater and water from the rainforest into the canal. As a result, Panama is being depleted of their fresh water, something that is becoming more apparent with climate change.
We chose a get your guide tour that took us on a boat ride on the Canal through Gatun Lake and visit to monkey island, followed by a visit to a sloth sanctuary at Gamboa Rainforest Resort. The sanctuary was home to other rescued species as well, such as poison dart frogs. It turns out, their natural diet is what makes them poisonous. At the sanctuary, they are not provided with that particular type of food.
Downtown and around Panama
Geisha Coffee is one of the most expensive types in the world and can be found in Panama. One of the places you can try it without breaking the bank is at Café Unido.
You can take other tours around Panama that took pass Frank Gehry’s Biodiversity Museum and provides more views of the Canal, ending in Casco Viejo.
Panama Viejo
The ruins of the original Panama City are known as Panamá Viejo or, Panamá la Vieja. It was the first Spanish City built in Panama and was ultimately destroyed in 1671 by a pirate named Henry Morgan.
Isla Palenque
Isla Palenque is home to a beautiful, all inclusive (minus alcohol), high end resort of the same name. You can fly from Panama City to David and then transfer by van to Boca Chica where a boat will pick you up and take you to the island. The food at the resort is plentiful and delicious and the service is outstanding. There are monkeys on the island, along with poisonous trees and snakes. You can arrange mini excursions, including nature walks, rock fishing, kayaking and tide pooling. While tide pooling, our guide picked up an oyster and offered it to me to eat. I’ve never had such a fresh oyster.
I have also heard of visiting the San Blas Islands, something we did not have an opportunity to do. While it is still on my to do list, after experiencing Isla Palenque, I have no doubt we made the right choice.
