r/travel • u/AutoModerator • Aug 06 '15
Destination of the Week - Panama
Weekly topic thread, this week featuring Panama. Please contribute all and any questions/thoughts/suggestions/ideas/stories about Panama.
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u/Davito32 Panama Aug 10 '15
Panamanian here to do my contribution:
There isn´t a whole lot to do in the city. Cheap shopping if you are into that (Albrook Mall), a decent nightlife, a day tour to the Panama Canal and that´s about it. In 2 days you can do whatever suits you. That said, other parts of the country are amazing.
You NEED to go to Bocas del Toro. It is by far the best experience for tourists. When you go there, don´t book hotels away from the Bocas Town like Playa Tortuga hotel. Book something in the middle of the town. You can take day tours to a lot of different islands and more, plus the nightlife is amazing.
San Blas offers a very different experience, but I would only recommend it if you like camping and no commodities. If you like wifi, hot showers and a roof, the Bocas is for you, not San Blas.
Boquete might also be a good stop if you are going to Bocas by road. 16C weather with some awesome sights. You can also do rafting and canopy over there if that´s your thing.
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u/bdrammel Belgium Aug 09 '15 edited Aug 13 '15
I can't believe no one has mentioned the San Blas islands so far. They were the most gorgeous islands I've ever been to. I'm on mobile right now but will update with more info and pics.
Edit: can't update with pics of my own, but I'll be sure to include some random google pics!
The San Blas islands are situated in the north of Panama, they're the little dots east of 'El Porvenir). As you see, they are situated on the Atlantic coast of Panama, as opposed to the capital which is on the Pacific. The San Blas islands are often a stopping point when going between Central America (Panama) and South America (Colombia). We visited these islands on one of those trips, coming from Colombia, but obviously you could visit them separately altogether as well.
We booked our trip with San Blas Adventures which was 375$, more or less 100$ cheaper than most of the other trips. There are two reasons why they are cheaper: they start from Capurgana, close to the Colombian/Panamanian border, making for a shorter route than the traditional ones starting from Cartagena, Colombia. You can see the difference clearly in this map.
The trip was incredibly fun, we slept on tiny islands, in hammocks with a fun group of 30 youngsters. Please google some pics of the islands, in reality they are at least as beautiful, I couldn't believe my own eyes. You're on your way for 4 days and you can snorkle, visit the local villages...
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u/upsidedownbat Where to next? 🐒🌴🍜 Dec 08 '15
Did you happen to need a Yellow Fever certificate for entering Panama this way? I see that technically you need one if you're entering Panama from a country where it's endemic, but Cartagena is fine and I'd like to save those $$$.
BTW this post was inspiration for me to add an extra week to my Colombia trip and take a boat to Panama. I am stoked.
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u/bdrammel Belgium Dec 09 '15
We did have a certificate of yellow fever when we started out our trip. Unfortunately it got stolen in Ecuador (among other things) so we didn't have to cross into Colombia and neither for Panama. I can't recall that someone ever required it. You should be fine!
Enjoy your trip, you should be stoked, it's so incredibly nice and beautiful there.2
u/Aggressive_Age8818 Feb 16 '24
Watch out for dengue. I know a Panamanian who got sick recently from it
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u/jorsiem Panama Aug 10 '15
hahah so I click "random subreddit" and I end up here, and the stickied post refers to my country.
Panamanian here, I can answer any question you want
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u/Darker_Zelda Aug 12 '15
I have been dying to go to Panama. The city itself is beautiful and I am a big fan of tropics, jungle, hiking, beaches, etc. If I were to go to Panama, would I stay in Panama city or somewhere else to try experience all of this? Are there recommended months to come by?
Another redditor posted a cool itinerary like Bocas Del Toro & El Valle De Anton. How do I book this itinerary? I also want to check out that gorgeous city.
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u/jorsiem Panama Aug 12 '15
The country is pretty small so there is no need to stay anywere other than the city.
I can recommend some things but I need to know of you're the nice hotel type of tourist or you're the I don't mind staying in a hostel type of tourist
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u/Darker_Zelda Aug 12 '15
Looking into Panama I want to go to Bocas del Toro and El Valle de Anton or Boquete. The city is nice but the countryside is gorgeous. I am a hostel guy, girlfriend is a nice hotel type. I have to do what the girlfriend wants.
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u/Cophorseninja Dec 08 '15
Did you travel yet? I'm in the same boat...looking to travel to Panama at the end of the month. Any tips or advice or places to stay that fit you guys?
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u/Darker_Zelda Dec 08 '15
Went to Costa Rica instead - it was amazing
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u/Cophorseninja Dec 09 '15
We might be doing that as well. Airfare to Panama is 2 grips, not like Costa Rica is much cheaper.
Hate to be annoying but do you have suggestions for a trip to CR? Lodging, activities and whatever else you can throw my way.
Thanks!
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u/Darker_Zelda Dec 09 '15
Yea no problem. We had an awesome full itinerary which was created by a travel company who gave us a car and booked the 3 hotel rooms for us throughout the county. We booked excursions thru http://www.costaricadescents.com/ and they have been awesome.
In arenal, stay at the arenal volcano lodge. Awesome beautiful resort where your front(back) yard is a view of the volcano. The rooms are like your own little townhouse. Don't buy food and drink their as it is expensive. Head into La Fortuna where the food is much cheaper and delicious. There was one Italian restaurant my girlfriend and I loved which was called Don Rufio I think that was very nice, well priced, and delicious.
We also stayed at the Parador resort in Manuel Antonio - Hotel was nice with a good free breakfast buffet but honestly you can choose whatever.
We went white water rafting in Bajo Rodriguez on a class IV and that was awesome. You can do zip-lining anywhere. We did it in Manuel antonio which was fun. We also does a hike call extreme cero chatto and it really is extreme. It was very difficult, long, and tough. Go see the La Fortuna waterfall as you'll be in awe up close to this giant powerful waterfall. Check out manual antonio national park as the wildlife is abundant there.
Check out the website for ideas. We had a great time driving, exploring the country, eating the food, and doing the adventures.
Oh and if you are in manuel antonio, we really liked the restaurant with a pirate symbol on it but forgot the name. They were also very very good and well priced.
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u/Cophorseninja Dec 09 '15
This is awesome and it's exactly what I needed. My girlfriend is a bit timid on adventures and winging it so this helps immensely.
What travel company did you use?
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Aug 16 '15
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u/jorsiem Panama Aug 16 '15
Hi
Dog friendly as in "your dog can come into the store" not so much, there are dogs allowed the outside tables at restaurants and cafes, always with a leash, though. But there are few places they'll be ok letting them in, now there's a bank here (Banco Panama) that just became dog friendly. Here. I found a (small) list of businesses that are now 100% dog friendly. (It's in spanish but you can translate using google. Let me know if you need directions to any of these places)
There are a lot dog related events and walks going on all the time, there's a lot of dogs here. Sundays in Clayton (former US army base) there's a lot of people playing fetch and jogging etc. with their dogs.
I'd live in the city, all day everyday.
(IN MY OPINION)
Must do's
- Miraflores Locks
- Causeway
- Cinta Costera
- San Blas (google it, it's gorgeous)
- Boquete (my favorite spot, quiet mountain lodges in the coffee producing region) (Better than el Valle de Anton IMO) (Stay at finca lerida, beautiful place)
- Pedasi if you have the time. (and Isla Iguana right next to it)
That's just off the top of my head..
Let me know if you need any more info.
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u/insanelymediocre Aug 07 '15
I have to say, Panama City gets boring fast. Don't spend 5 days there like I did. It was the end of my central American trip, so I had a plane to catch out of Panama, and didn't plan good enough ahead. 1 or 2 days is sufficient.
Also as to how much time to spend in the country. I didn't really know beforehand, so I set 3 weeks. Honestly it was a little too much. I didn't really find that many exciting destinations to go to online or in lonely planet, so I went the most popular 4 destinations. 2 weeks is more than enough. Add a couple of days and a destination if you're a huge beach person.
As for an itinerary, I would recommend the following. 3/4 days in Bocas del toro for drinking/island exploring/tropical beaches. 4 days in Boquete. Best coffee I've had hands down. You can do lots of things here: Coffee farm tour, horseback riding, rafting etc. 3 days in El valle de Anton. Cool town inside an old ingrown volcanic crater. The main activity to do here is hiking. You can hike up in the mountains or in the rainforest for wildlife spotting. 1-2 days in Panama city for a walk in both the old and new town, and a night of drinking.
Sorry for a mess of a post. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
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Aug 08 '15
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u/insanelymediocre Aug 09 '15
Holy shit, I heard about a Coiba, but not about whale sharks. I wanted to go, but it was really expensive from what I read. Had I known there would be whale sharks I would've splurged and lived of of ramen the rest of the year. Anyhow, was it troublesome to get to?
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u/ram1ner Aug 07 '15
Definitely felt the same way in Panama City. I paid for two weeks at the hostel (my second time ever staying in one) and after 3 days I had to let them know I was leaving, I was surprised they gave me back my money!
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u/Darker_Zelda Aug 12 '15
How do I book an itinerary like that?
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u/insanelymediocre Aug 12 '15
Plane ticket to Panama City and go from there. Easy to get by with bus/boat
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u/Darker_Zelda Aug 12 '15
I feel like a bus from Panama city to boca del toro would take ages. Looking into it, I might just rent a car from San Jose and drive to Boca. Feasible? Doable?
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u/insanelymediocre Aug 12 '15
If time is an issue, you can fly to David, and then bus to Boquete(1hr). From there it's a shuttle to Bocas(3.5 hours). Of course flying is more expensive, but the listings I see it's about ~45$ for PCY-DAV.
I did San Jose to Bocas by bus with a 2 day stop in Cahuita. Lovely little town, but the trip to Bocas from there is still ~7 hours total. There is no ferry that I now of, so you probably won't get the car to Bocas. Also you need to cross the border, which is a mess and takes some time, and even more so with a car.
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u/Darker_Zelda Aug 12 '15
I decided to fly into Boca from either San Jose or Panama, which ever becomes cheaper.
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u/insanelymediocre Aug 12 '15
Good for you. That's probably the best option if you're not going to visit Boquete
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u/vanessaanderson62 Aug 09 '15
For Bocas del Toro, I would suggest the following. Visit Greenacres Chocolate Farm (see on trip advisor) - a great tour around the plantation and the chance to eat unprocessed cacao - the most delicious product ever! See if you can get someone to take you to Rana Azul - a great jungle Pizzeria, but an hour boat trip from Bocas town - on sundays you can often find a boat going that way. They also have basic accomodation if you want to stay overnight. Hire a bike in Bocas Town and cycle along the coastal path - you'll find some stunning beaches, often desterted. Horse riding at Isla Cristobal, Bocas del Toro, Panama Phone:+507 6905-9659 is great too for an inland jungle adventure with experienced US equestrians Dave and Molly. Inland Boquete is worth a visit but apart from that and the usual trip to Panama City / Canal - there isn't much else to see. San Blas islands are beautiful - if you like sailing head to the marina at Bocas and see if you can hitch a ride. There's often someone heading that way. It has been a bit spoilt by so many visitors over last couple of years, but still worth a visit. There's a wide range of hotels in Bocas but if you go for the cheaper one's ask to see the room first so you don't get any surprises! There's a great Indian in Bocas - it's on the first floor - I can't remember it's name but you won't miss the smell, and Super Gourmet is a deli with lots of western treats!
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u/QUITELOST7 Aug 08 '15
I travelled to Panama City in October for a conference. It's really beautiful and interesting place. It's also fairly easy to visit from the U.S because the currency used is an American dollar and there are direct flights to Tocumen Airport from Texas.
The weather was really nice outdoors in Panama City at night time, about 70 degrees and somewhat humid. I stayed at the Marriott in new town. It has a rooftop pool which is pretty awesome. If I were to go back, I would consider staying in a hostel in Casco Antiguo, since that was the area where we explored the most. If you're on a budget it is also much less expensive to stay in a hostel than a hotel.
One night we walked on the grassy lit bike/walking path next to the water from our hotel to Casco Antiguo (I think it was about 3 miles) instead of taking a taxi. There are a bunch of families walking on the path. We watched people play sports at the various courts. There was a swing underneath one of the buildings along the way. We stopped for hand made mojitos at an outdoor market that was right off the path. There were a bunch of locals there. We also stopped for a photo opportunity because there was a great view of the city skyline behind us.
Casco Antiguo is beautiful and romantic. After stopping at a restaurant to get dinner, my friends and I sat in the gazebo structure in plaza de la Independencia and gazed at the Metropolitan Cathedral. There is a mix of crumbling abandoned buildings and well preserved buildings in the historic district. If you quietly pass by and aim a flashlight into those abandoned buildings, you may see the reflection of a pair of feral feline eyes glancing back in your direction, but not much else.
If I were to return to Panama, I would go to Boquete and I would be interested in climbing Volcan Baru. I have never been to Boquete or climbed the volcano but I heard a really good recommendation for it from a tour guide who was from there. (I am really active so I like hiking trips.)
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Feb 03 '23
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u/Acbonthelake Apr 18 '23
I know it’s probably too late but check out divers paradise boutique hotel. They have a scuba diving school and restaurant on the bottom so it’s all in one. I wanted to stay on the main island because that’s where most of the fun is. Instead of getting to a smaller island to stay and boating to the big island, I thought it was better to stay on the big island and I could do small day or half day trips. The hotel was clean and well kept, easy to get to with great views and prices but not on a part of town that too loud.
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Aug 20 '15
I'm a bit late to the party because I JUST got back from Panama. The comments thus far have excellent advice.
The one piece of advice I REALLY wish I knew before my trip... Half of the Panamerican Highway is under HORRIBLE construction. Plan for 12 hours instead of 7 to go from Panama City to David District.
For San Blas - I stayed on Isle Sol Y Playa. The Kuna (Tino) who runs the island there is the nicest Man I have ever met. You can call his brother to arrange everything at: +507-6154-3845. PM me if you want more information on getting to/from San Blas.
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Aug 06 '15 edited Aug 06 '15
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u/thisisrogue2 Ireland Aug 06 '15
But you can say that about most countries. What does Panama have that's unique? Even if it's unspectacular. I live in Ireland, which I'm always told is beautiful and vibrant, and is frequently rated as one of the top countries in the world to live in, but I just don't see it after three decades here. I know it has its charms and attractions, they're just dull to me after so long, but I understand that they're exciting when done or seen for the first time. Did you have a bad experience in Panama?
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Aug 06 '15
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u/dreamkonstantine Panamanian living in Boston Aug 06 '15
I understand that Panama is significantly more developed industrially than the rest of Central America, while maintaining its beautiful beaches and rain forests. I think what sets it apart is that it has both things. Panama City is completely urban and industrialized, but you can drive an hour and be at the beach. Also, of course, both oceans are easily accessible, which is nice because the Pacific has stronger waves, but the Atlantic has clearer waters and more marine life to look at.
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u/dreamkonstantine Panamanian living in Boston Aug 06 '15
Panamanian here. Expensive compared to what? Definitely not to the US (I've lived in both places). You can certainly find expensive places in Panama if you want to have a luxurious visit, but you can also have a variety of meals for $5-$10. Lastly, it's a rather bold claim to call Panama, or any destination "boring". What city did you go to, and what did you do?
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u/Acceptable_Bad5173 Jan 20 '23
Hi, is it worth going to panama from the US if you only have a short amount of time 4 -7 days? And what city should you go to if so?
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u/Saritaguti Jul 11 '23
Hi, I'm looking for recomendations on the type of vehicle to travel to San Blas puerto carti by ourselves, can we go on Any kind of SUV ? Also which Is the best agency to contract a Catamaran all inclusive tour to Taboga?
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u/Strict-Pilot-5797 Sep 06 '23
Should I cancel my trip? So I booked a ticket to Panama for May 2024, not realizing that its rainy season is April-November. Should I cancel my flight and find somewhere else to go? If I did go, what would you recommend I do in May? Can I go see the rainforest or hike, go on boats, snorkel? Thank you!
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u/dreamkonstantine Panamanian living in Boston Aug 06 '15
Panamanian here:
If you have any questions about Panama please let me know! :)
Edit: Panama is not extremely dangerous, but always watch out for your belongings. You're unlikely to be in danger, but if you leave your stuff unattended they might get stolen, especially if people can tell you're foreign.