Best Things to Do in Panama

Panama sits at the narrowest point of the Americas, a country of 4 million whose geographic position has made it the most internationally connected and economically dynamic in Central America. The things to do in Panama span its natural and engineering marvels. The Panama Canal: one of the world’s greatest engineering feats, completed in 1914 after a French failure and American success spanning two continents; the Miraflores Locks Visitor Centre (8 km from Panama City) has a museum and viewing platform where you can watch supertankers transit the locks. Casco Viejo (Panama Viejo), the colonial district of Panama City, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautifully restored buildings, rooftop bars, and the ruins of the original city (Panama Viejo, sacked by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671) nearby. The San Blas Islands (Guna Yala): 365 small Caribbean islands inhabited by the autonomous Guna indigenous people, accessible by small plane or 4WD road from Panama City (4 hours); the San Blas are some of the most pristine and culturally authentic Caribbean islands remaining. Bocas del Toro: a Caribbean archipelago on the Costa Rica border with good snorkeling, surf breaks, and a backpacker scene. Boquete: a highland coffee-growing town in Chiriqui province with cloud forest hiking (Volcán Barú, Panama’s highest point at 3,474m), white-water rafting, and excellent birding (resplendent quetzal habitat).Best time to visitThe Pacific side of Panama (Panama City, Boquete): December through April is the dry season. The Caribbean side (Bocas del Toro, San Blas): the wet and dry seasons are reversed — September and October are drier; February-July is wetter. The San Blas are accessible year-round but February-April (Dry Season on the Pacific side) tends to have calmer seas for island hopping. The Jazz Festival in Panama City (January) is the country’s most prestigious cultural event.Getting aroundTocumen International Airport in Panama City is the regional hub, with connections to 90+ destinations including the US, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Within Panama City, Uber and taxis are standard; the Metro has two lines serving key areas. For San Blas, small planes (Air Panama) from Marcos Gelabert Airport serve the main islands (20-30 min); alternatively, the 4WD road to El Porvenir (4 hours) is an adventure. Bocas del Toro: air from Panama City (1 hour) or bus/boat from Costa Rica’s Puerto Viejo area.FAQHow do I visit the Panama Canal?The Miraflores Locks Visitor Centre near Panama City is the most accessible viewing point (8 km from the city, open daily). The four-level museum covers the canal’s history and mechanics; the roof terrace gives direct views of ships transiting the locks (Panamax and Neo-Panamax vessels). The Agua Clara Visitor Centre on the Caribbean side (near Colon) is equally informative and less crowded. Canal Authority transit tours (aboard the Panama Canal Railway or private transit) can be arranged for a full crossing experience; these are organized via Panama Canal Authority’s website.