Thanks for the ongoing replies. I've been emailing places, reading a TON, and still trying to figure out what will be best for us.
I broke down and ordered a guidebook, Fodor's of all things, because it was the most recently published book. I'm hoping I'll be able to get a more cohesive perspective on where things are in the country because bopping all over the web is not really working for me.

Glover-Cala Mia looks beautiful, but yes, probably too far for this trip.

I'm still trying to decide what we're going to do.

Has anyone stayed at a newish hotel called the Toscana Inn in Panama City? It gets rave reviews on Trip Advisor and looks good online, but I'm wondering if the location is ok.
http://www.toscanainnhotel.com/en/inicio.html

I'm now thinking we'll spend two nights in Panama City then head to Soberania National Park, perhaps getting a last min reservation at the Canopy Tower or staying some place else.

I think I'd also like to spend a night in El Valle and probably the last night back in Panama City.

That leaves me 3 other nights for a beach somewhere. Island? Pacific Coast? I've been looking at Santa Clara beach, Isla Contadora, or on the Carabbean side, Isla Grande and checking out the ruins at Portobello. I don't think we'd have time to drive all the way to Santa Catalina which is what I originally wanted to do.

Kristina, I stayed a couple of blocks from there (Crowne Plaza) in April. As a solo female in her 50s, I found the location to be fine. The only "tourist attraction" really close is the Veneto casino (which I just walked past), but there are restaurants & shops, taxis are plentiful, and I felt safe walking there. Casco Viejo (old city) is fascinating, but definitely feels more sketchy.

Thanks for the feedback.

Did anyone get the Yellow Fever vaccine for Panama? The Fodor's guidebook says it's required, but the CDC site says it's only required for those coming from Yellow Fever countries and for areas of Panama we are not visiting.

I got a yellow fever vaccine before we went to Panama the first time, but only because we went to the jungle in the Darien. And my husband decided not to. Don't think you'd need one for anywhere else in Panama really. .. but these advisories change. . . Didn't have any problems with the vaccine and am now happy to have it under my belt as we travel other places . .

Yellow fever vaccine not needed unless you are going to Darien.
Hotels you might want to check:
Country Inn Amador
Holiday Inn City of knowledge.

Thanks for the replies about Yellow Fever.

Ok, here's what we'd like to do, but I know it's just too much. I just don't know what to cut or how to rearrange it.

2 nights Panama City
1 night Soberania (possibly Canopy Tower if Available)
3 nights Contadora Island
1 night El Valle
1 night Panama City

Yes, I know it's a lot of moving around. <i>I know.</i> But here's the problem; how do I pick between Soberania and El Valle? Both have their attractions and honestly, I don't think we can afford 2 nights at Canopy Tower.

Maybe we should take a day off Contadora and add it to El Valle?
Or should we just go to El Valle and forgo the Canopy Tower? How can I convince my husband he's not missing out?

What are you planning on doing/seeing in El Valle? And where are you staying? We stayed there for a couple (3?) nights a couple years ago in Feb. It's a lovely area and we enjoyed it, but it was our second trip to Panama - and a very long one. Yours will be a short trip, so just trying to help you clarify here. . Admittedly there are probably some nice hikes we missed in El Valle - because we had a lot of rain we when we were there. . . .

Glover, nothing planned yet for El Valle.

Now I'm considering putting those two nights together and trying to spend one at the Canopy Lodge and the other at Sierra Llorona which is nearby.

So it would be something like this:
2 nights Panama City
3 nights Contadora Island
1 night Soberania (possibly Canopy Tower if Available)
1 night Sierra Llorona
1 night Panama City

It looks like our tentative itinerary in my last post is going to be the winner. I wonder if we are doing ourselves a disservice by keeping it to such a small center of the country? It's kind of like someone coming to the US for the first time and only seeing LA, Santa Barbara and San Diego though right? Pretty limited representation.

au contraire - you've got some nice diversity in there - nature/rainforest, city/culture, and beach.

Were you able to make contact with Sierra Llorana? Sounds like a great place (especially for birds!)We wanted to go there on our last trip, but never could contact them. Think we sent an email but never heard back - despite being reasonably certain they were in business. Look forward to reading your report when you return!

Yes, I have a reservation confirmed at Sierra Llorona. They've been great about replying via email. Each one says "sent via blackberry" so perhaps they have better access to their email via phone now.

Starting to get excited. Bought the plane tickets today to Isla Contadora and most of the hotels are booked. The only things yet unknown are a 2 day car rental and a possible night at Canopy Tower.

In looking at car rental rates online, they look fairly reasonable until you start adding all the supplimental insurance and then the rate more than doubles. Not sure what to do about that.

I'm just starting to plan my panama tripnso this thread has been great.

My family were builders of the canal- great grandparents moved there back in 1907, father born and raised there - so I have great interest in the canal transit and old canal zone area as well as the beaches and nature.

We are going 9/29-104. Since we only have 5 nights, we are planning 2 nights in Panama City and then 3 nights at the beach. We are debating the pricier flight to bocas or just contadora island.

Kristin- where did you choose to stay on Contadora Island? We are early 50's budget, well-travelled, don't like cookie-cutter hotels but not too rustic either. Not really good with surf hostels.

What about Panama City? I've looked at Patty's Casitas, La Estancia and Balboa Inn but my relatives always stay at the Country Inn & Suites on the Canal. It looks a bit boring!

Can't wait to hear about your trip

Leslie

Leslie-

We just got home last night. On Contadora Island we stayed at the Perla Real B&B. It's quite nice, though not on the beach, so no views of the water. The only hotel on the beach there is expensive and gets horrible reviews.
One thing; don't make any of the islands your last day with a connection flight home. The little airlines which service them are subbect to the whims of the weather and "luck" as they say. We were stuck on Contadora due to a storm for a whole day and the day before that, the flight didn't go due to mechanical problems.

In Panama City, we stayed at the Toscana Inn hotel (great location, nice rooms, horrible breakfast) and at the Sheraton next to the Convention Center (nice rooms, far from everything).

I'll be writing a complete trip report soon.