Panama City - Post Report Question and Answers
What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
San Blas. Watch the whales migrate south in August by traveling to Contadora Island in the Pacific. - Dec 2021
Beaches in Chame, Westin Playa Bonita, Pipa's beach, Portobelo beaches and little town, hiking around. - Oct 2018
San Blas! Beautiful! Snorkeling, scuba diving, boat trips, exploring ruins, tropical drinks. Dinner on the balcony at the Miraflores Locks. - Sep 2018
Cajones de Chame are awesome, and somewhat off the map.
Pedro Mandinga rum bar in Casco Viejo. - Mar 2017
Diving, beaches, beach resorts, touring the countryside, dining. - Oct 2015
Beaches, tourist places in the cities. - Jun 2015
It is interesting to do a tour of the canal and see the beaches. Every year, there is a three-day ocean to ocean cayuco regatta that is fun to either do or observe once. Casco Viejo is a nice area for dining out. - May 2015
Canal and beach overnights. - Sep 2014
The canal, San Blas, Coiba, Bocas de Toro, Volcano Baru, El Valle, Embera indigenous tribes, molas. - Jul 2014
Check out the Canal and everything related to it. It's easy to go into the jungle and see some cool wildlife (sloths, iguanas, howler monkeys, etc). Beaches are nice, although you do have to drive about 2 hours to get to any usable beaches. Our favorite is Las Veraneras at Playa Santa Clara, where you can drive up and rent a cabana (with table, chairs, and a hammock) for US$20/day. - Mar 2014
Too many to list. All kinds of outdoor activities from hiking, biking, sport competitions, boating, fishing (lake and deep sea), scuba/snorkeling, surfing, rafting, tourism, some decent dining, a nice outdoor aquarium, a small zoo, forts, Casco Viejo is a wonderful neighborhood. - Jan 2013
There is a endless amount of outdoors activities to do. Water sports of all kinds are the most popular. Ziplining and birdwatching are popular in the mountains of El Valle and Boquete. There are multiple street festivals of carnaval in the Azuero peninsula, remote virgin beaches to visit in Kuna Yala or the Bocas areas. Surfing is very popular. If you want to see how locals live you can befriend a Peace Corps volunteer and visit them or even stay with them - Sep 2011
The canal: it is fascinating in operation and history. There is good adventure up the canal, where the Smithsonian has a reserve. There is also some good fishing. For the families, some all-inclusive beach resorts are reasonable and great for a weekend getaway. - Apr 2010
active night life, lots of casinos, plenty of beaches within an hour drive - Dec 2009
Lots of wildlife here. Also El Valle de Anton which is about 2 hours away is lovely. - May 2008
Boating (expensive) visiting the beaches (although you either have to fly to the nice ones on the islands or travel across land via very poor roads to the nicer beaches on the Carribean side). - Apr 2008
