Panama Travel Guide

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In the past couple of years Panama has become Central America's hottest destination. Beyond its famous canal (which, 100 years after its completion, still astonishes all who visit), scads of travelers are discovering vast jungles that hold amazing biological diversity, idyllic islands ringed with coral reefs, and mountain forests filled with exotic birds. Panama City is the exciting, and rapidly developing, hub from which to explore–-a vibrant and diverse metropolis with excellent dining, lodging, and nightlife, and an abundance of day-trip options.

Best of Panama: Panama City Travel Guide

2019 2019 Fodor’s Go List Destination

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Panama Gallery

tonisalado / Shutterstock 1/62Bocas del Toro, Panama;

Cienpies Design / shutterstock 2/62Panama Cathedral;

Sixdrive | Dreamstime.com 3/62Handmade textiles at a Panama City market.

Vilainecrevette / shutterstock 4/62Old fishing boat in foreground with skyscrapers in background, Panama City , Panama, Central America

Diego Cervo / Shutterstock 5/62Panama City, Panama - March 22, 2015: view of the entrance of Parque de la Biodiversidad, or Biodiversity Park, a museum of natural science located in the Amador or Causeway island

The Visual Explorer / Shutterstock 6/62PANAMA CITY, PANAMA, DECEMBER 20 2006. Old building in the old part of Panama City, on December 20th 2006. ; Shutterstock ID 158884721; Project/Title: Photo Database Top 200; Downloader: Jesse Strauss

Noraluca013 / shutterstock 7/62Modern city view - skyscrapers and luxury yachts with water reflection - Panama City;

Dean Fueroghne Photo / shutterstock 8/62Old Panama Ruins - Ruins of La Vieja in Old Panama City, Panama;

Alfredo Maiquez / Shutterstock 9/62Skyscrapers at Cinta costera former Balboa avenue, Panama city,Panama,Central America

Borja Laria / Shutterstock 10/62House and jetty in Isla Colon Panama;

dazgee / shutterstock 11/62Panama Canal;

Angel DiBilio / shutterstock 12/62Beach Scene at Twilight. Chiriqui, Panama (

Amaiquez | Dreamstime.com 13/62Field containing drills of Onions growing, Cerro Punta village, Chiriqui province, Panama, Central America.

Vilainecrevette / shutterstock 14/62Beautiful Caribbean houses over the water in Bocas del Toro, Panama; Shutterstock ID 68912794; Project/Title: Photo Database Top 200; Downloader: Jesse Strauss

tonisalado / Shutterstock 15/62Bocas del Toro, Panama;

Jolandapattijn | Dreamstime.com 16/62The beautiful sea at the islands of Bocas del Toro, a popular touristic destination in Panama.

Peter Guttman/Peterguttman.com 17/62Amongst an archipelago of the San Blas Islands, a Cuna girl bedecked with a gold nose ring peers though a cleft of fabric, an assortment of inverted appliques known as molas.

Simon Dannhauer / Shutterstock 18/62Paradise beach;

Adeliepenguin | Dreamstime.com 19/62Cruise ship passing through locks in the Panama Canal, a major waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Deverm | Dreamstime.com 20/62The Gamboa Rainforest Resort grounds with swimming pool and the Rio Chagres in the background.

Blueice69caddy | Dreamstime.com 21/62View on a Panama canal's Gatun lake, famous place for birdwatching, with beautiful cloudscape in background. .

Borja Laria / Shutterstock 22/62House and jetty in Isla Colon Panama;

Deverm | Dreamstime.com 23/62White heron in Panamanian swamp on Isla Galeta, Colon.

Ramunas Bruzas / Shutterstock 24/62The cathedral in Colon port-city (Panama).;

Koubatian | Dreamstime.com 25/62Colonial fort of Portobelo. Panama

Gualberto Becerra / Shutterstock 26/62Saint Geronimo's Castle at Portobelo, Colon- Panama;

Triciadaniel | Dreamstime.com 27/62Fort San Lorenzo in the province of Colon Panama.

Amaiquez | Dreamstime.com 28/62Cannon battery in San Jeronimo colonial spanish fortress. Portobelo village, Colon province, Panama, Central America.

Diego.cervo | Dreamstime.com 29/62View of church in central square in Isla Taboga, Panama, Central America.

Yultzitl | Dreamstime.com 30/62Ocean´s landscape in Playa Bonita, Panama.

Chrishowey | Dreamstime.com 31/62This image shows Playa Blanca, Panama.

Gualberto107 | Dreamstime.com 32/62Panoramic view of the volcano crater of El Valle de Anton, Panama.

Mark52 | Dreamstime.com 33/62Santa Catalina, Panama - December 5, 2014: People are learning kite surfing on the beach in Santa Catalina in Panama on December 5, 2014.

Amaiquez | Dreamstime.com 34/62Mangrove swamp at Coiba National Park. Coiba Island, Veraguas province, Pacific ocean, Panama, Central America.

Karandmeleventos | Dreamstime.com 35/62Front of the Grand Hotel Nacional in David - Panama Republic.

Amaiquez | Dreamstime.com 36/62View of valley and town of Boquete, Panama, Central America.

Amaiquez | Dreamstime.com 37/62Cloud Forest Tree roots, Volcan Baru National Park, Chiriqui province, Panam,Central America.

Amaiquez | Dreamstime.com 38/62Field containing drills of potato plants growing, Cerro Punta village, Chiriqui province, Panama, Central America.

Mark52 | Dreamstime.com 39/62Landscape in Fortuna Natinal Park in Panama on January 4, 2014.

Vilainecrevette / Shutterstock 40/62Colorful Caribbean buildings over the water with boats at dock, Colon island, Bocas del Toro, Panama

Vilainecrevette | Dreamstime.com 41/62Tropical coast with coconut palm trees and colorful kayaks with a small boat awaiting tourists, Caribbean, Carenero island, Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Vilainecrevette | Dreamstime.com 42/62Caribbean village of Old Bank with tropical vegetation on the coast of Bastimentos island, Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Ianwool | Dreamstime.com 43/62Waves crashing on Red Frog beach Bastimentos Island Bocas Del Toro Panama

Ianwool | Dreamstime.com 44/62Red Frog beach Bastimentos Island Bocas Del Toro Panama

Vilainecrevette | Dreamstime.com 45/62Pristine Caribbean island with lush vegetation in the marine park of Bastimentos, Cayos Zapatilla, Bocas del Toro, Panama.

The Visual Explorer / Shutterstock 46/62PANAMA CITY, PANAMA, DECEMBER 20 2006. Old building in the old part of Panama City, on December 20th 2006. ; Shutterstock ID 158884721; Project/Title: Photo Database Top 200; Downloader: Jesse Strauss

Oliviermeerson | Dreamstime.com 47/62View of the national theater, casco viejo, Panama City famous building

VanHart / Shutterstock 48/62Cathedral in Casco Viejo, Panama

Noraluca013 / Shutterstock 49/62Modern city with high skyscrapers and the empty path - Panama City

Dean Fueroghne Photo / shutterstock 50/62Old Panama Ruins - Ruins of La Vieja in Old Panama City, Panama;

Jacek_Kadaj / Shutterstock 51/62Panama Viejo Ruins, Panama City, Panama, Central America

Jacek_Kadaj / Shutterstock 52/62Panama Viejo Ruins, Panama City, Panama, Central America

tonisalado / Shutterstock 53/62Bocas del Toro, Panama;

Vilainecrevette / shutterstock 54/62Beautiful Caribbean houses over the water in Bocas del Toro, Panama; Shutterstock ID 68912794; Project/Title: Photo Database Top 200; Downloader: Jesse Strauss