3 Best Hotels in The Canal and Central Panama, Panama

Panoramic views of the Chagres River and surrounding rainforest, abundant wildlife, a selection of outdoor excursions, and amenities such as a spa and massive pool make this hotel a great place to experience the rain forest without sacrificing comfort. The lobby is impressive, with giant windows overlooking the jungle panorama, life-size crane sculptures hanging overhead, and a stream cascading through a three-story tropical atrium. The bright guest rooms have wicker furniture, hammocks, colorful tropical decor, and balconies. Junior suites, with two additional queen beds in a loft, are an option for families. Garden views are disappointing—stick with rooms with numbers in the 300s or 400s. Activities include bird-watching, an aerial tram, a boat trip to Monkey Island, kayaking, and fishing. Day passes for nonguests cost $65 and include drinks, breakfast, lunch, and access to the swimming pool (nature tours cost extra).

This lovely collection of houses and rooms surrounded by manicured gardens, great trees, and a babbling brook has a tranquil, homey feel. Owners Lionel and Monica Alemán transformed their vacation home into a B&B upon retiring, and the accommodations are certainly homey, with frilled curtains and bedspreads, knickknacks, and cement ducks on the lawn. Ideal for families is either the two-bedroom Linda Vista cottage with a full kitchen, gas grill, fold-out couch, and an adjacent room with a bunk bed, or the suites with three beds. Two rooms in the back of the original home are less expensive: Limoneros, a yellow room, has a lovely private terrace, and the very pink La Vie En Rose has a slightly smaller patio. The policy here is to pamper, as is apparent in the sumptuous breakfasts, and attention provided by the charming, bilingual owners.

Panama's largest, and one of its most attractive, beach resorts offers good deals outside of the peak season, but also the food and service problems typical of all-inclusive resorts. Its 852 rooms are in 50 four-story buildings scattered along 2 km (1 mile) of beach, amidst luxuriant grounds. They are bright and colorful, with large bathrooms and balconies or terraces. Few have ocean views—it's worth paying extra for one. The resort has an 18-hole golf course, 10 pools, eight restaurants, 11 bars, a dance club, casino, game room, spa, gym, and legions of beach chairs. Meal options range from massive buffets to restaurants specializing in seafood, Japanese, Thai, or Italian cuisine, but don't expect memorable meals. Free activities range from kayaking and tennis to volleyball, but golf, fishing, snorkeling and other tours are extra.