PatSchenkel

I will in Panama for a week on a business trip and I have two days off.. What would you recommend to do?

So far, one person from work recommended the Canal, of course.. and a 1 1/2 hour tour to the Casco Viejo.

All tips are welcome!
I will be there by myself..

Thanks! I will be leaving on March 27.

cmcfong

Go into the old Zone to visit the craft market, see if you can visit the Canopy Tower for a hike and some birdiing, take a day and go to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort for some lazing around, have a wonderful time. Panama is beautiful.

ojoy

Hire a guide for the day and tour Panama City, Old town, Balboa (have your guide wait while you check out the craft market behind the old YMCA in Balboa, have him drive you out to the end of the Amador Causeway (spectacular view of the Bridge of the Americas spanning the entrance to the Canal on one side and a panoramic view of Panama City on the other); then have him take you on a tour of the Miraflores Locks, then do the Metropolitan Zoo and Park. Another option: Go out to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort and hike the trails down the road from there into the rainforest--early am is best--lots of monkeys, etc., and their Los Lagartos restaurant at the Marina is a great spot for lunch on the river with crocs, birds, turtles, etc. Could even rent a boat and go out to Monkey Island. See if you can pay to just laze away the afternoon at their wonderful pool.

AndrewGW

Another thing I would add in Casco Antiguo (Casco Viejo) is a visit to the Canal Museum...
If you want a beach day - head out to Santa Clara - only about 1-1/2 hours away on the Pacific side...
During the week the train from Panama to Colon is super - hire a taxi to take you around the sites on the Caribbean side - Gatun locks, Spanish forts in Portobelo and then back on the train.
If you are a nature/culture type person, a day trip to see the Embera Drua indigenous trip would be fascinating...

Cheers,
Andrew

PatSchenkel

"Hire a guide for the day".
How would I do that?
Any recommendation?

ojoy

Well, if you like your taxi driver from the airport and he speaks good English or you speak good Spanish--work out a deal with him. Your hotel could probably also offer some guides. Ancon Expeditions in Panama City is an excellent tour company. Seems like almost every taxi driver considers himself a guide. There were some posts on TripAdvisor and/or Lonely Plant (Thorn Tree) forums that recommended guides and gave their phone numbers, etc.

wapanda10

Mario Wong is good guide, write me off and I will give you his phone and email

[email protected]

Good lucks,

Nelle

We just returned from Panama and used Roberto Cedeno (517-642-9954) as our driver and guide in the city of Panama. We saw the old city ruins, a nice craft market there with people working on their art, the old town and the Canal Museum there, Miraflores Locks, and the causeway...all in a day. Roberto was absolutely great. We hired him to take us shopping the next day and he took us to and from the airport. ´Highly recommended. Got his name from The Bristol.

BigBadTea

Go up to Playa Langosta, Portobelo, &/or take a water-taxi over to Isla Grande. You can see the Pacific & the Caribbean in the same day. It's roughly 2.5 hrs by bus. If you want to stay on the Caribbean for the night try www.bananasresort.com. Have fun

PatSchenkel

I just came back and I had so much fun!!! Thanks for the postings..

I hired the taxi driver that was sent to take me at the airport for the whole afternoon. He picked me up at the Hotel at 1:30 and we did Panama Viejo (ruins), Casco Antiguo/Viejo, caft market, crossed the Brigde of America to take a nice picture and then Canal de Panama.. It was GREAT and I payed only 50 dolares.
He dropped me at MultiCentro shopping and from there I took another cab (1 dolar) to my hotel.

Next day at night, with people from work we had dinner at Alberto's.. at Isla Flamenco (Amador Causeway). WONDERFUL!!

On Friday I had lunch at another restaurant at the Causeway, so I had the beautiful view as mentioned on other posts.

It was a big surprise for me.. I loved the people, food, places to visit... I had a great time!!!

cmcfong

Sounds wonderful, Pat. Thanks for posting the trip report, glad it was a good time for you.