At the meeting of two continents and two oceans, Panama is a small country full of history, wildlife and culture. Earlier this year, I visited Panama City as an extension to my FAM trip to Costa Rica, which you can read about here.
I travelled on Llama Travel’s Best of Costa Rica + Panama City 14-day tour, and by the end of my time in Costa Rica I felt like I'd already experienced so much that I wasn't sure how Panama could compare. If I'm honest, before visiting I knew very little about the country beyond the Panama Canal (although I quickly learnt just how important it has been to Panama's history and economy) and Panama hats, which, despite their name, actually originate in Ecuador.
It's safe to say Panama City and the Panama Canal completely exceeded my expectations. More than anywhere else I visited in Central America, Panama felt like a fascinating mix of old and new, where modern skyscrapers sit alongside colonial streets, and Latin American culture blends with North American influence. Having travelled through Costa Rica before ending my trip there, I found when I arrived that Panama was definitely different from its neighbours. Here is a brief rundown of my time in Panama.
Panama City
As soon as I arrived in Panama City, I was surprised by the number of skyscrapers. I knew it was a major financial hub, but it definitely wasn't what I'd imagined when I thought of Panama. I stayed in the heart of 'Casco Viejo' ('Old Town'), which was the perfect base for exploring the city. Originally founded in 1519, the original Panama City was attacked and destroyed in 1671 by the privateer Henry Morgan. The city was then rebuilt a few miles away in what is now known as Casco Viejo, the historic district and one of the most interesting areas.
Panama City
Cities aren't for everyone, but Panama City quickly became one of my favourites (although I've always been a fan of big cities!). What makes it so unique is the contrast between old and new. On one side of the bay, you'll find an impressive skyline, with modern skyscrapers, hotels, rooftop bars and restaurants. Turn around, though, and you're back in ‘Casco Viejo’, surrounded by colourful colonial buildings and cobbled streets. The government is investing heavily in restoring this historic area, so you'll see beautifully renovated buildings sitting alongside others that are still being restored. Personally, I think it adds a really unique character to the neighbourhood.
I spent most of my time simply wandering around ‘Casco Viejo’. From ‘Calle 13’ (‘13th street’) and ‘La Calle de los Sombreros’ (‘Hat Street') to ‘Plaza Simon Bolivar’ (‘Simon Bolivar Square’), where you'll find 'Iglesia San Francisco de Asis' (‘St Francis of Assisi Church’) and its iconic bell towers.
St Francis of Assisi Church, Hat Street & Calle 13 - photos taken by Nathalia on a Llama Travel trip
I visited ‘Plaza de la Independencia’ (‘Independence Square’), home to the cathedral and the Panama Canal Museum. Even after visiting the Miraflores Locks, I still thought the museum was well worth a visit, as it gave me a much better understanding of how the canal was built and the impact it has had on Panama and the rest of the world. It's also worth stepping inside the ‘Catedral Basílica Santa María la Antigua’ (‘Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary the Ancient’), which is just as impressive inside as it is from the outside.
Panama City's Old Town, Cathedral and Coastal Beltway
Central Hotel, Llama Travel’s Superior hotel, is also located in ‘Plaza de la Independencia’. It was Panama City’s first hotel and is full of history and character. As well as being in a fantastic location and having great facilities, it is known for its beautiful staircase, designed by the same architect who worked on the famous staircase aboard the Titanic. It was quite nice to see an example of his work first-hand and learn more about the building’s history.
Central Hotel Panama Casco Viejo
From there, I wandered along 'Paseo Las Bovedas' ('The Vaults Promenade'), a waterfront walkway that follows the old colonial walls and offers fantastic views across the bay towards the modern skyline. It's then an easy walk along the 'Cinta Costera' ('Coastal Beltway'), which runs beside Panama Bay and leads to the 'Mercado de Mariscos' ('Fish Market'). If you're a seafood lover (I definitely am!), I'd 100% recommend stopping here for lunch. There are plenty of small stalls serving fresh local dishes, and I had what was probably my favourite ceviche of the whole trip
Panama Canal
No trip to Panama City would be complete without visiting the Panama Canal, before travelling to Panama, it was probably the one thing I associated most with the country.
The canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is one of the world's greatest engineering achievements. Every day, around 27 ships pass through its locks, carrying everything from containers to cars between the two oceans. Watching these enormous vessels being carefully raised and lowered through the locks really puts the scale of the operation into perspective. The ships also pay significant tolls to cross, with the largest paying well over US$1 million.
As part of Llama Travel's tour, we visited the Miraflores Visitor Centre, where you can watch the canal in action. Before heading to the viewing platform, we watched a short film narrated by Morgan Freeman, which I found genuinely fascinating. It tells the story of the canal's construction, from the French's ambitious but unsuccessful attempt to the eventual completion of the project by the United States, while also explaining the enormous human cost, including thousands of lives lost to yellow fever and malaria. Having that background made seeing the canal in operation even more impressive, and gave me a much greater appreciation for its role in shaping Panama's history and global trade.
Miraflores Lock & Visitor Centre
Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Panama. I loved the food, especially the fresh seafood and ceviche, and it was a great contrast to Costa Rica. Panama combines history, culture and city life with beautiful natural surroundings, making it a great extension for anyone who enjoys wildlife and nature but also likes exploring cities.
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