Three Days in Panama City, Panama
When my MBA class was told we’d be headed to Panama, I was excited for two reasons: 1) It’s a direct flight from SFO, and 2) I wouldn’t get wrecked by jetlag traveling to a faraway time zone. It’s safe to say, I was blown away by our experience. I did not expect to enjoy Panama City, the country, food, and the Panamanian people as much as I did. We left as Panama City was setting up for Pride 2018, so if, I mean when I do return, it would be for Pride in June (even though it was hot, hot, hot!).
Driving through Panama City, you’ll see the stark contrast between shanty towns and high rise hotels and condos. Although the country is thriving economically, it’s clear that the wealth is not being effectively distributed to the people. Yet, it is one of those places where you feel welcomed and feel the energy of people who love their country. Because Panama City is a major hub for air travel, I’d highly suggest extending your stay to more than just a layover to get a taste of what this lively city has to offer.
The financial district in Panama City is flooded with high-rise hotels. We stayed at the Bristol Hotel, which, for the price per night, is an exceptional value. It was clean with friendly staff, onsite bar and restaurant, and central to all the city has to offer. The only downside for me was the pool. It was a smaller dip pool, hence why we later decided to walk over to the Hilton Panama for their rooftop pool.
Exploring Casco Viejo: Casco Viejo is the “old quarter” of Panama City, known for its nightlife and dining scene. During the day, take a walking tour to visit the historic cathedrals, plazas, and architecture. The Catedral Metropolitan, built between 1688 and 1796, is an ornate, beautiful cathedral located in the Plaza de la Independencia, where Panama declared independence from Columbia in 1903.
If all this history makes you thirsty, stop for a cold beer (the local beer is called—you guessed it, or maybe you didn’t—Panama) at Capital Bistro. Bonus: Capital Bistro offers stunning views of the Panama City skyline from the bar.
After a morning exploring Casco Viejo, make your way back to the downtown area to hit up one of the many rooftop hotel pools to cool off. Some do charge admission for a day pass, but it may be waived if you let them know that you’ll be buying drinks. Here’s a list of the most stunning pools in Panama City. We decided on the Hilton for some mojitos, views, and pool time.
Panama has some incredible dining experiences, one of which is Azahar, located on the seventh floor of a modern building in downtown Panama City. This was one of the best meals I have had in my entire life, so if you’re willing to splurge (and not be disappointed), this is the spot. If you’re not in a food coma, there is an incredible karaoke spot in downtown, with a stage, TVs, and cheap drinks. We stumbled across El Karaoke trying to find a liquor store (typical), and I give it a 10/10 for karaoke bars!
The Panama Canal. Visiting the Miraflores locks, one of three sets of locks of the Panama Canal, is quite an incredible experience. From learning about the history of the canal in the museum, to watching the ships traverse through (and finding out the average toll to pass through the canal is $150,000 cash!), it’s a “touristy” attraction not to be missed. There are various observation decks, as well as a restaurant, fittingly named Atlantic & Pacific, Co, that is actually quite good. You’ll want to set aside a good 2-3 hours to take in all the Miraflores visitor center has to offer, and longer if you want to see a ship make its way through the locks. Note: it’s not guaranteed that you’ll see a ship passing through at the time you’re there, so be sure to check the schedule if you’re interested. One of the great things about Panama City is everything is pretty close together, from Casco, to downtown, to the canal, so it’s very easy to get around via taxi or Uber.
Delicious Tapas al Fresco.
For dinner, make your way back to Casco (trust me, you’ll want to be here once the sun sets! All those history lessons on the Panama Canal will make you hungry…and thirsty). Dine in the shell of an old brick building that is missing a roof. Sounds loco, but Tomillo Panama did a wonderful job creating a beautiful, unique atmosphere under the stars. And the food is amazing. Foodies, rejoice; Tomillo cannot be missed when visiting Panama City.
Casco Viejo Nightlife
You didn’t think I’d have a post that did not include a bar crawl, did you? I give the nightlife in Casco Viejo five stars; there’s a unique selection of dance clubs, bars, and rooftops within walking distance throughout the town. There’s also gay clubs, shot bars, and probably some other wild and crazy places I didn’t get to see.
On top of all this, Casco Viejo is home to my newfound favorite bar/club in the world: Tantalo. There’s two ways to enjoy Tantalo: 1) Golden hour before dinner or 2) Late night for rooftop dancing to a mix of top 40, hip hop, and latin. They also offer a reasonably priced bottle service (if that’s even a thing). The crowd was a mix of Panamanians and trendy tourists.
Check out a complete list of rooftop bars in Panama City here.
Besides Tantalo, Chupitos 507 cannot be missed. It’s a shot bar (HUH?!) with over 70 delicious, wild, shots. Reggaeton and reggae was bumping, and the bartenders were super friendly and fun. Get your night started right by coming here first.
Bar crawl. Let an organized bar crawl do the work for you. Panama Bar Crawl is a great way to meet people and check out some amazing spots in Casco Viejo. For $25, you’ll visit four bars, get four drinks, and end up at a club. Highly recommend!
Day 3 - Day Trip to the Caribbean. The Pacific side of Panama is not known to have the best water access, and fortunately, the clear, turquoise water of the Caribbean is only a short two-hour drive north of Panama City! The Caribbean side of Panama is sprinkled with gorgeous islands, including San Blas and Isla Grande.
On the way to the Isla Grande, stop in the old port town of Portobelo, a small, quiet fishing village and home to Iglesia de San Filipe and the Black Christ of Portobelo. Fun fact: each year in October, a festival is held to honor el Cristo Negro.
Once you leave Portobelo, you’ll head to the fishing village of La Guiara, where you’ll have to take a short boat taxi ride to Isla Grande. Enjoy the crystal clear waters, coconut trees, and laid back energy where you can cool off. Coconut Grove Lodge is an extremely chilled out, unassuming hotel where you can have lunch (fish escovich, yum!) and enjoy the Caribbean breeze. If you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, island hop the San Blas islands.
Overall, three days in Panama City is not enough, but it will give you a taste of the culture and people. Panama is a complex country facing many of the same issues of other neighboring Central and South American countries. But there’s just something about the Panamanian charm that makes it stand out.