Panama City is the Capital of Panama and receives close to two million visits each year. Panama City is known as The Dubai of Latin America due to its mix of colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers. You will also find white sand beaches with turquoise water, rainforests, volcanoes, toucans, sloths and monkeys, Geisha coffee, empanadas, and ceviche. Copa Airlines has a free stopover available for Panama City. Consider adding on a trip to nearby Cartagena Columbia or any South American destination. Continue reading for the best things to do in Panama City and a 3-day stopover itinerary.
There are many amazing things to do in Panama City! One of Panama City’s must-see attractions is the Panama Canal. If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience, be sure to visit San Blas Islands. If you love spending time outdoors and adventure sports you will not want to miss Monkey Island and rainforest ziplining. As you can see, you will have no problem filling your week in Panama City with amazing experiences. Enjoy your time out of the office!
How to Spend 4 Days in Panama City, a Stopover Itinerary
Day 1: Fly into Tocumen International Airport
Arrive at Tocumen International Airport and Uber to your hotel. I stayed at the Megapolis Hotel Panamá. I chose this property for its rooftop pool and view. The location is also close to the first stop of the Hop On Hop Off Tour Bus and there are many restaurants nearby.
Check into the hotel and relax at the pool. Consider attending the 7:30 Panamanian dinner and folk show
Day 2: Spend the day exploring Panama City
Panama City is hot and humid. One of the best ways to explore the city is by Hop On Hop Off bus tour. Catch the 9 am bus at Balboa Plaza to begin your tour. This narrated tour runs 2 hours from start to finish and allows you to get off at 13 points of interest. Do not miss the famous Panama Canal, skyline view from Ancon Hill and Casco Viejo (Old Town).
Day 3: Enjoy a beach day on nearby Isla Taboga
Purchase your $24 round-trip Taboga Express Fast Ferry to Tabogo Island online, tickets do sell out. Ferries depart from the Fuerte Amador Resort & Marina at 8 am, 9:30 and 11 am. The ride is 30 minutes and passes ships waiting to cross the Panama Canal. Arrive 1 hour before departure and bring a copy of your passport.
Exit the ferry and head to the left to check out the town before it gets too hot. Grab an empanada or fry bread from a vendor and cool off with a Raspao (Panama sno cone) or Pina Colada. Be sure to bring cash for souvenir shopping, there is not an ATM on Tabogo island. Take a walk along the water at Honda Beach or relax in a beach chair under an umbrella on Restinga Beach before returning to Panama City.
Day 4: Hand-feed monkeys on Monkey Island
Book an excursion to see the white-faced, marmoset and howler monkeys that reside on Monkey Island. Excursions can be combined with a visit to a sloth sanctuary, a visit to an Indian Village, or a rainforest hike.
Things to do in Panama City
- Visit the Panama Canal Miraflores Locks and watch a ship pass through
- Wander around Casco Viejo, the old town, enjoying the colonial architecture
- Stop for a soda at Café Coca-Cola, the oldest cafe in Panama City
- Go for a walk along the water
- Take a selfie with the Panama sign on the Amador Causeway and enjoy the city views
- Shop for souvenirs at Centro Artisan Market or Paseo Las Bovedas
- Say hello to a sloth at the Punta Culebra Nature Center
- Photograph the city skyline from Ancon Hill
- Enjoy a cocktail with a view at the JW Marriott 65 Floor
- Check out the Panama Viejo ruins and UNESCO archaeological site
- Learn Panama’s natural history at Biomuseo
- Stop by Mercado De Marisco Cinta Costera, the seafood market, at lunch for fresh ceviche
- Check out the Convent Santo Domingo and Independence Square
- Shop ‘til you drop at the Albrook Mall, the largest mall in Latin America
- Drive across the Bridge of the Americas
Be sure to check the Panama Office of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
Day Trips from Panama City
- Jump the express ferry to Taboga Island
- Feed the monkeys of Monkey Island
- Spend a day cruising the San Blas Islands and enjoying the white-sand beaches
- Support the rescue and rehabilitation of sloths at the Gamboa Sloth Sanctuary
- See sloths and monkeys during a hike on Pipeline Road in Soberania National Park
- Learn about indigenous people on a day trip to Emberá Drua Village
- Go for a hike or ride the aerial tram in the Gamboa Rainforest
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Booking Resources for Panama City Panama
Panama Travel Guide Books
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Panama City Panama Attractions and Day Tours
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