Amy: Panama has been a travel destination on our list and with direct flights on Copa Airlines from Denver to Panama City, we took the opportunity to visit. A bonus was being able to add on a stop to one of our favorite destinations of the past in Costa Rica.
Before kicking off our flight, we enjoyed Denver’s new Capital One Lounge with free beer and tasty snacks. After the overnight flight and long wait for the ride to our lodging, we were pleased when we arrived in Casco Viejo or the “Old Quarter” of Panama City. We relaxed at the Central Panama Hotel, a historic building about 150 years old in the heart of Panama City, facing the Plaza de la Independencia.
After relaxing and breakfast, we explored the area situated on a peninsula south of the towering buildings in the modern area of the city. Classic architecture, narrow alleys, tourist shops, palm trees, and flowers lined the streets of the Old Quarter.
We explored the numerous squares nestled throughout and found a rooftop at CasaCasco to catch sweeping views of the city and bay. After dinner at La Rana Dorada Brewery, we made our way back to the hotel to rest before our upcoming tour the next day.
We booked a tour with Safe Transportation Panama to visit the Panama Canal and take a boat trip on the Canal to the area known as Monkey Island. Our guide, Dan, shared some history of the area as we made our way to the Miraflores Visitor Center directly in front of canal locks that raise and lower vessels. No boats were coming through at the time, but we could see a massive ship that had recently passed.
After an Imax movie detailing the history of the Canal, we traversed road construction to the narrow boat to take us on a ride down the waters of Canal. This area is part of Lake Gutan, a freshwater artificial lake that forms a major part of the Panama Canal. When the lake was created, numerous islands were formed and wildlife has remained living on those islands. We spotted a few monkeys, iguanas, and birds from afar, and enjoyed the colorful and lush trees on the islands.
When we returned to Casco Viejo, we found another rooftop at the Sama Sky Lodge, looking out toward the city and on the classic rooftops below. To get a taste of local cuisine we grabbed dinner at Restaurante El Nacional Sabores de Panamá, along with the national Panama beer.
Waking for a 4:30am pick-up the following day, we traveled with “Sea San Blas” to Guna Yala, an indigenous territory governed by the Guna indigenous group. On the Caribbean side of the country with an archipelago of 365 islands, the Guna support tours to the islands and pristine waters of the area. After a very long ride in a 4×4 vehicle on winding mountain roads, we got access to the islands from a small, packed boat. Sitting in the back of the boat, the waves and intense ocean spray totally soaked us on the 30 minute ride out to the islands.
With some dark clouds overhead initially, I was wondering if it would be worth the significant travel to get there. It totally was WORTH IT. We ended up with perfect blue skies while visiting three beautiful islands, having lunch prepared by local Guna people, and floating in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
We got back to our lodging (after sadly needing a car sickness bag on the drive back through the mountains, ugh) and prepared for a short flight to Costa Rica the next day. Our few days in Panama were delightful and well worth the visit.
(Dates: February 21-25, 2024)
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We had a great time in Panama! Share a comment if you have visited or would like to!
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