The Best 24 Hour Panama City Itinerary

I only spent a short amount of time in Panama City on my recent trip. As the most developed city in Central America, its a popular transit point for flights in the area, so if you’re travelling anywhere around the region, chances are you’ll at least pass through here. As the capital city of Panama however, I was keen to get a feel for the country, so I jumped at the chance to stay for a few days. While the city isn’t filled with tourist attractions like some destinations, there’s still enough to keep you busy as a first time visitor. In this post, I’m going to provide you with the basics before diving into my recommended Panama City itinerary if you’ve only got 24 hours for sightseeing.

When to Go to Panama City

One thing I got a lot of during my stay in Panama was rainfall. I was in Panama City in August, which happens to coincide with the wet season. Spanning from June to mid December, afternoon showers are quite frequent. I did get good weather during the mornings and early afternoons though, which seems to be common, and by evening the wet had cleared up as well. If you’re after blue skies and sunshine all the time though, you should aim to visit Panama between January and May.

Regardless of when you visit Panama, you’ll experience a hot and humid tropical climate. Panama is just north of the equator, so you can expect daytime temperatures to consistently average in the early 30s (Celsius). At night, the temperature will only drop into the 20s.

The most popular time for tourists to flock to Panama is during the Carnaval season (February), but in saying that, its not a place that tends to be too overcrowded. Just pick your time based on when you can get to Panama and you’ll have an enjoyable trip.

How to Get to Panama City

The main airport servicing Panama City is Tocumen International Airport (PTY), which is about 35 kilometres northeast of the city centre. Its a major hub for Copa Airlines, which connects the city to destinations throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. Other airlines also operate out of Tocumen, offering connections to the same regions, as well as further afield to Europe and China. Domestic flights via Air Panama run from Tocumen, as well as Albrook Airport (PAC), a smaller terminal near the Panama Canal.

Once you land in Panama, you’ll need to clear customs (which was fairly quick in my experience) before heading into the city. You can get to your accommodation by taxi, which will cost you roughly $30.00 USD. Uber also operates in Panama City and will set you back about $25.00 USD. Depending on the time of day, your journey can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours (rush hour traffic from the airport can be rough) Whatever you do, don’t be solicited by one of the many unofficial ‘drivers’ that will offer to take you to your hotel when you exit the terminal – they’re well known for charging exorbitant amounts.

As always with international travel, check Panama’s entry requirements. Visitors from most western nations won’t need a visa to enter Panama. Make sure you have a valid passport and you should be granted entry for 90 days on arrival (which can be extended if you’re planning a lengthier stay).

Where To Stay in Panama City

Panama City is filled with affordable accommodation options. With that said, the city does have some rather seedy neighbourhoods. I would recommend staying in the Casco Viejo. This is the historic old town, filled with colonial buildings, and is where most tourists will be based. Its a relatively safe area, but steer clear of the surrounding poorer slums such as El Chorillo (I was told this by several people, and having passed through the area in an Uber, I can understand why).

I actually stayed further out at the Radisson Hotel Panama Canal. Considering the luxurious stay, it was extremely affordable. I picked the hotel based on its location near the famous canal, but its actually a fair distance from the main visitor’s center. Geographically, the hotel is closer to the Amador Causeway, which contains a few tourist sights, but even so, I had to Uber to them because its so sprawling. Having known what I know now, I would have stayed in the old town if I was planning it over again.

As a general guide, you can expect to pay the following prices for a double room in high season in Panama City: (per night)

• Budget: less than $60.00 USD.
• Mid-range: $60.00 to $130.00 USD.
• Luxury: more than $130.00 USD.

Overall, I found Panama to be a very affordable destination.

Getting Around Panama City

Panama City’s main sights are fairly spread out, so you’ll need to get around if you plan on seeing the best it has to offer in 24 hours. While the Casco Viejo district itself is compact, you’ll need to rely on some form of transport to get further afield (and as I mentioned, you don’t want to be walking through the ghettos surrounding the old town). I mainly used Uber to get around the city. Its extremely cheap in Panama, although I did find that you sometimes had to wait a while for a driver to connect with you (probably owing to there being less Uber drivers than in other major cities).

If you’re trying to save money further, I understand that Panama City has a fairly decent public transport system. Buses are modern and air conditioned, with rides costing up to $1.50 USD. To use them however, you’ll need to buy a Rapi-Pass ($2 USD) as cash isn’t accepted. The pass can be purchased at the Albrook Terminal or at supermarkets and some bus stops). Alternatively, the El Metro train network passes through the city centre, but to my knowledge doesn’t really get to the main tourist destinations.

Overall, I think Uber is best suited if you plan on following this Panama City itinerary.

Other Things to Know About Panama City

Panama actually has two official currencies – the Panamian Balboa (PAB) and the US Dollar (USD). They are pegged directly against one another (1:1 exchange rate), so you’ll be fine using US Dollars throughout the country. ATMs are reasonably well available (though I was surprised that my hotel didn’t have one in the lobby). Most tourist areas will also accept credit cards.

Spanish is the official language of Panama. Its definitely helpful to know some basic phrases. Some key phrases that will help you get by are:

• Hola = hello
• Que tal? = how are you?
• Estoy bien = I am well
• Disculpe = excuse me
• Gracias = thank you
• Si = yes
• No = no
• Habla usted ingles? = do you speak English?

This isn’t a sponsored post at all, but if you’re interested in learning Spanish, I highly recommend the language podcast course offered by Coffee Break Languages.

For the most part, Panama City is a reasonably safe metropolis, but you do need to have your wits about you. Always be aware of your surroundings, don’t flash valuable items and watch out for pick pockets. Bag snatching can also be a problem, so don’t set your belongings down unattended. The main thing to remember is to stay away from the more troubled neighbourhoods. Most are well away from the parts of the city that you’ll be visiting, but be mindful that you don’t wander into El Chorillo with its proximity to the Casco Viejo.

24 Hours in Panama City

Spending 24 hours in Panama City gives you enough time to see the best it has to offer. Ideally you’d spend a few more days, but if you’re short on time, this Panama City itinerary has you covered. I actually followed this Panama City itinerary to the tee on one of my days in the metropolis, so I’m confident in saying it works out well. Note that Panama City’s tourist attractions currently have strange opening hours. This Panama City itinerary works best on a weekend. Many of the city’s attractions close in the early part of the week. Depending when you’re coming, you might need to shuffle things around.

You’ll want to start your morning with breakfast before taking an Uber out onto the Amador Causeway. It is a rather picturesque spot. Lined with palm trees, it connects a series of small islands to the mainland at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. While you’re on the Causeway, you can’t miss the incredible panoramic views of Panama’s modern downtown skyline – something many locals will attest to as they come here for their morning jog. Take it all in en route to your first destination.

Centro Natural Punta Culebra

• Where: Amador Causeway, Punta Culebra, Panama City
• When: 9.00am – 4.00pm Wednesday to Sunday.
• Admission: $8.00 USD for adults.
• Website: https://stri.si.edu/visit/punta-culebra

Punta Culebra actually seems to be overlooked on most Panama City itinerary posts that I’ve read. Personally I really enjoyed this nature park filled with trails, aquariums, and other animal exhibits. Its operated by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and is a great way to learn about the diversity of life that exists in Panama. Its location on one of the islands linked by the Causeway also guarantee spectacular surroundings as you wander through the reserve. The aquariums are nothing special (there’s better ones at our next stop), but if you’re not venturing further throughout the country, this is your chance to see Panama’s natural beauty – including the sloths that Central America is famous for. The reserve houses over 30 sloths which hang out in the tree tops. They can be tricky to spot, but the staff will help you.

Throughout the reserve there are a series of nature trails that take you through a tropical dry forest, as well as touch pools and other educational experiences. The very end of the park juts out into an overlook, where you can see the Panama Canal link up with the vast Pacific Ocean. You’ll only spend an hour or two at the most here, but its a beautiful destination.

• I’ve written about my trip to Punta Culebra Nature Center. You can read about it HERE.

BioMuseo

• Where: Amador Causeway 136, Panama City.
• When: 10.00am – 3.00pm Thursday and Friday; 11.00am – 4.00pm Saturday and Sunday.
• Admission: $18.00 USD for adults.
• Website: https://biomuseo.org/en/

Your next stop is a brief half hour walk along the Amador Causeway back towards the mainland. There’s no way you’ll miss the BioMuseo on your approach. Arguably Panama’s most famous museum, the building is multicoloured and abstract in design, created by Frank Gehry himself. The Museum, hence its name, is all about the vast biodiversity found throughout Panama, owing to its position as the land bridge between North and South America. Throughout the BioMuseo, you’ll see a series of exhibits that showcase the way in which different species evolved after meeting in this region. One of the most impressive halls contains the Worlds Collide display – a massive series of sculptures depicting the great migration of 97 species intermixing in Panama.

I touched on the aquariums at Punta Culebra being underwhelming, and the BioMuseo definitely puts them to shame. A memorable hall of this Museum contains side by side tanks depicting the differences between the Pacific and Caribbean water bodies, again emphasising the spectrum of life present in Panama. There’s also exhibits that provide information on extinct species, as well as the way in which human life has impacted on the world’s biodiversity. Its worth spending at least an hour or two in the Museum to get the most out of it.

• I was really impressed with the BioMuseo. Read about it HERE.

Panama Canal Miraflores Visitors Center

• Where: Miraflores Locks, Panama City.
  • When: 8.00am – 5.00pm daily.
  • Admission: $20.00 USD for adults.
• Website: https://visitcanaldepanama.com/en/points-of-interest/miraflores-visitor-center/

Alright, you’ve spent your morning learning about Panama’s natural beauty, its time to visit the manmade landmark that the country is best known for. The Panama Canal needs no introduction. An engineering Wonder of the World, the opening of this channel really put Panama on the map. Extending some 80 kilometres from the Pacific to the Atlantic (spanning the entire width of the country in the process), the Panama Canal grants passage to nearly 15,000 every year. Modern ships have traditionally been built to meet the Canal’s specifications, as passing through the Canal is much quicker than having to travel all the way around South America!

The Miraflores Visitors Center gives you the opportunity to see the Canal in action. Overlooking the Miraflores Locks (one of three sets of locks throughout the Canal), the site contains a museum dedicated to the Canal’s history and workings, before taking you onto a terrace overlooking the water channel itself. Make sure you time your visit to coincide with one of the times of day that the boats actually pass through. Ships go west to east between 9.00am to 11.00am, while the westbound traffic comes about mid-afternoon (I witnessed it at about 2.30pm). On-site guides will give a talk at peak passage times, explaining everything you need to know about the Canal. Expect to spend a good hour or so watching the locks in action. The process of changing water levels throughout the Canal is surprisingly fascinating.

Note that the Visitor’s Center is about 20 minutes from the BioMuseo by Uber.

• Seeing and understanding the Panama Canal with a trip to the Miraflores Visitor’s Center is essential, and you can read about it in more detail HERE.

Casco Viejo

After a fun filled day exploring Panama City, the historic old town is the best place to relax during the late afternoon and evening. This historic district is filled with Spanish plazas and architecture, making strolling about a pleasant experience. Its a charming place to wander, and has actually been recognised as a Unesco World Heritage site since its restoration. I enjoyed wandering about the streets, checking out the historic buildings such as the National Theatre and the various cathedrals.

There’s numerous maps that will help you find all the notable buildings and monuments throughout the neighbourhood. Spend a bit of time checking out the stores for authentic souvenirs before enjoying some incredible Panamanian cuisine to top off your 24 hour Panama City itinerary. Speaking of food, I can certainly vouch for both Lo Que Hay and Restaurante Casablanca in the area – both were DELICIOUS. Afterwards you might want to enjoy the general ambience in one of the main squares. You’ll no doubt find a street performer putting on a show, which makes for an entertaining end to a day in Panama City.

• You can read more about the sights of Casco Viejo in my guide to the plazas and churches of the Old Town HERE.

More Time in Panama City?

Spending more than 24 hours in Panama? Luckily for you, there’s lots more in the city that I would have liked to have seen. Panama Viejo (not to be confused with Casco Viejo) is the UNESCO protected ruins of the original Panama settlement, which was attacked and plundered by Sir Henry Morgan in the late 17th century. I didn’t realise this at the time of my visit, but it was actually the first European city on the Pacific Ocean!

Meanwhile, those wanting to delve deeper into Panama’s cultures will enjoy a trip to Mi Pueblito, an open-air museum village filled with replica buildings indicative of various colonial and indigenous styles. Those craving more nature might consider a tour out to Monkey Island in the Panama Canal itself, for monkey and sloth spotting adventures. If you’re more about beaches, Taboga Island is an easy 30 minute ferry ride out of the city .There’s also a number of other museums and galleries scattered throughout the old town and other parts of the city worth checking out, if you’d rather stay closer to the city’s heart.

24 hours means you won’t see everything that this vibrant and energetic city has to offer, but it will give you enough time to take in the highlights, as contained in this Panama City itinerary. With an extra day, you can see a lot more, so I highly recommend extending your stay if possible. For a destination so often overlooked, Panama City is a great place to spend some time, particularly if you’re venturing further throughout Central America.

Are there any places you’d recommend spending time at that I’ve missed in this Panama City itinerary?