Panama’s attractions – beach, city, jungle


Beach, city and jungle – highlights of my Panama trip

Oh how beautiful is Panama – and the most famous sights in Panama? Janosch was right. Panama is the country with the lush, bright green rainforest, over 1518 beautiful islands, a thriving capital Panama City and of course the Panama Canal. The sensational nature of Panama makes it an increasingly popular eco-destination.

Most of the highlights and sights are clustered around Panama City in Panama. Within a few hours, you can reach the paradisiacal Caribbean islands of San Blas from Panama City in the south and in less than an hour you are in the Soberania National Park (Gambao) directly on the Panama Canal and Lake Gatun.

You never have to drive far to reach the next highlight of the country, which is no bigger than Austria. Except Bocas del Toro, popular backpacker spot is a day trip away. Here you can get by bus or plane.

Many travelers are just passing through Panama. Either by car on the Panamericana or with the backpack on an extensive Central America tour. No matter if only a week or for a longer trip – Panama is great!

I visited these places on my first Panama trip:

Panama City, the vibrant capital

The capital of Panama is one of Latin America’s liveliest capitals. The best way to experience this in the partly renovated partly ruined district Casco Viejo (“Old Protection Wall”). The neighborhood reminds me a lot of Havana (Cuba). Although the ongoing “renovation measures” are not entirely legal measures to owe – so they say – I really liked it here.

Especially at night, the skyline shines imposingly – here from the perspective of the long waterfront promenade

The largest skyline in Central America is also waiting for you in Panama City. So imposing I would not have expected this. The capital, inflated by dubious financial transactions, is just a first impression that somehow reminds me of Miami. The best views of the skyline you have above the Plaza de Francia and along the waterfront of the Avenida Balboa.

Tips for accommodation in Panama City

Tantalo Hotel Kitchen Roofbar (with a great roof terrace, sunset tip) or American Trade Hotel with a great jazz bar (both in Casco Viejo). Unfortunately we were only here for lunch. We stayed at the Avenida Balboa in the Hard Rock Hotel Panama Megapolis and Intercontinental Miramar Panama in the same street. Both hotels offer a great view of the Panama Canal. I would still prefer to stay in Casco Viejo next time I visit.

A detailed Panama City report will follow shortly.

Great view from the hotel: the waiting ships to enter the Panama Canal

Panama Canal, the most famous abbreviation in the world

Thanks to the 81.6 km Panama Canal, Panama City is by far the richest city in Central America. The most famous abbreviation of the world converts daily over 3 million euros. The canal connects the two oceans Pacific and Atlantic and is considered one of the most important structures of shipping, as the ships thereby save a long detour over Cape Horn.

Take a boat tour on the Panama Canal and drive past the impressive container ships.

If you want to learn more about the history of the Panama Canal, visit the Visitor Center in Miraflores. In Miraflores you can also visit the huge locks, which raise the ships to 16m.

In my imagination, the channel had to be huge and impressive. It was not all that on the ground. Neither spectacular – ok the locks and gates are powerful – but the Panama Canal itself I had imagined somehow bigger. But I was impressed that the channel leads through the middle of a rainforest and you can see not only crocodiles, but also monkeys, toucans and sometimes even sloths.

By the way: The canal opens in the morning in one direction and in the afternoon in the other direction. Therefore, day after day long lines form at the entrance to the Panama Canal. From my hotel room I was able to watch the spectacle especially in the evening, when many small lights revealed how many ships were waiting at the entrance.

Soberanía National Park (Parque Nacional Soberanía)

Only 30 minutes drive from Panama City and thus ideal destination is the tropical rainforest in the National Park Soberania. Over 525 species of birds are known here.

The park stretches along the Panama Canal and the man-made Gatún Lake, through which the canal flows for 12 km. We visited the park at Gambao, a small town in the Soberanía National Park.

Here is the only accommodation in the national park: the Gamboa Rainbow Resort. Take a boat trip on the Rio Chagres over the Gatúnsee and further into the Panama Canal. Amazement about the nature that surrounds you around the canal. Capuchin monkeys and numerous crocodiles – in our case the cute baby crocodiles were in the majority – you can see here.

In the middle of the national park there is also a lookout tower to which you can reach via a nostalgic gondola (Aerial Tram Tour), from where you can overlook the rainforest and with luck discover toucans, sloths and other capuchin monkeys. A ranger of the National Park accompanies you, explains the flora and fauna and warns you of poisonous snakes (see picture below) that can suddenly appear above your head;)

Tip for an accommodation: Either in Panama City (see above) or the only hotel in the middle of the rainforest, the Gamboa Rainforest Resort with a unique view over the Rio Chagres, which feeds Lake Gatún.

View from the Gambao Rainforest Resort to the Rio Chagres

Kuna Yala – Paradise San Blas Islands

Whether Kuna Yala, Isla Aroma, Isla Perro / Achutupu, Isla Waily, Isla Pelicano or Isla Corbiski. The names do not only sound fantastic, the islands are too.

Whether a snorkel trip or cultural with the Guna Indians. You can not lie on the beach, you do not have to. There is a lot to see.

Panama Attractions: Suggested route for 1 week Panama

Panama City with Gamboa and Soberania National Park (at least 3 days) – Kuna Yala (San Blas Islands (3 days) – Panama City

Goals for my next visit to Panama:

  • Santa Catalina
  • Boquete: The highlands with pleasant climate scores me its thermal springs, coffee plantations, extinct volcanoes and cloud forests. Hiking, rafting, climbing and ziplining. Here we come outdoor freaks at our expense.
  • Bahia de las Dams With Isla de Coiba and Isla Jicaron.
  • Bocas del Toro: Country’s favorite bathing destination with Caribbean charm.

More articles for your Panama trip

The best credit cards to withdraw money without foreign fees:

With the 1plus Card of the Santander Bank, you will be reimbursed all foreign fees for withdrawing cash at DKB Bank.

Backup credit cards: The comdirect VISA credit card (also without annual fees) or the likewise free Number26 (Mastercard). With these you can also withdraw cash worldwide, without having to pay foreign fees. I use all three. I use the Number26 as a backup if one of the credit cards is lost or not accepted.

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Christina Cherry
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