Panama Beyond the Canal
Panama City
You’re almost certainly going to arrive here (and then go see the Canal) – but don’t skip Panama City in a rush to the beach or elsewhere.
Panama City is a very modern, international city of 1.3 million people, which is many respects rivals cities in the U.S in terms of facilities, infrastructure and cultural attractions.
Spend some time in Casco Antiguo, the historic centre of Panama City, a World Heritage Site ideal for exploring on foot and also buzzing with nightlife.
Enjoy a walk along the Amador Causeway boardwalk, explore the parks and visit Frank Gehry’s Biodiversity Museum.
For a taste of the outdoors, pay a visit to the town of Gamboa near the Panama Canal and known for its lush flora and fauna in Soberania National Park. This is a great location for experience Panama’s wildlife and is a great spot for birding in particular.
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Caribbean Coast
Panama’s Caribbean Coast offers several attractions.
Historic Colon, Panama’s second city is situated on Panama's Caribbean Coast, right at the entrance to the Panama Canal and is home to the largest set of locks.
It's quite a sight to admire the huge vessels entering and leaving the Caribbean Sea. There are also some beautiful beaches and resorts nearby. Amongst the traditional coastal cities nearby is Portobelo, founded by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the Americas.
Bocas Del Toro is a group of islands and islets with protected ecosystems, beaches, coral reefs and mangroves.
Bocas Del Toro is a paradise for divers and snorkellers and is home to Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park, inhabited by manatees and more than 200 species of tropical fish. Be sure to check out the unique eco-system of famous Red Frog Beach.
The town of Bocas Del Toro, on Colón Island, offers superb accommodation and is the perfect base from which to explore the islands and islets of the archipelago.
Guna Yala, is an indigenous territory in Northeastern Panama home to the 365 San Blas Islands and the Guna indigenous group, who have maintained their unique culture and traditions.
Diving, swimming, enjoying the sun and relaxing amidst the beautiful surroundings are the top things to do in the San Blas Islands.
The San Blas Islands have some great eco-lodges and some of Central America's very best beaches.
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Pacific Coast
Home to many All-Inclusive Resorts, luxury gated resorts and designer golf courses, Buenaventura appeals to visitors from the U.S more than anything.
Windsurfers meanwhile can take the 90-minute trip from Panama City to Punta Chame to enjoy some of the best windsurfing in Panama.
Veraguas is the only province in Panama with coasts on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean side.
Difficult to reach but very impressive, Coiba National Park is located in the south of Veraguas and protects three kinds of ecosystems: the islands, the reef and marine life.
Diving and snorkelling are popular in Granito de Oro and Bahía Damas, two famous spots for marine life.
Surfers will definitely want to head to Santa Catalina, which has world class surfing.
Rainforest
Panama has some great options for discovering the rainforest of Central America.
Just an hour’s drive from Panama City, Altos de Campana National Park offers impressive views of the Canal Zone. Its forests are home to many species of flora and fauna and some endangered birds. Explore the walking trails through the park.
Panama Highlands - Coffee and the Town of Boquete
Chiriqui province in the North West of Panama offers lush tropical forests, exotic fauna and flora, long stretches of beach and dozens of islands great for snorkelling and diving.
The highlands are Chiriqui's best kept secret, an ideal spot to enjoy nature and outdoor activities including rafting, kayaking, hiking and climbing.
The mountain town of Boquete with its fresh and cool climate serves as a hub for the Barú Volcano and the Sendero de los Quetzales trail.
A natural barrier between Central and South America, the Darien National Park, covers an area of 5,760 square kilometres and is possibly the planet’s most biologically rich area.
The Darien National Park is home to more than 500 species of birds, as well as rare and endangered species including jaguars, macaws and harpy eagles.
Here, indigenous communities live largely unaware of the modern world and some remote areas within the park are only accessible by boat or small plane.
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