The canal, a capital with a restored colonial quarter, cloud forest and two coastlines within a couple of hours.
Before you go
When to go
December to April is dry. The green season is wetter but far quieter.
- Dry Dec–Apr
- Green season May–Nov
- Warm year-round
- Cooler in the highlands
How long you need
Seven to ten days — Panama City, the canal, Boquete and an island group.
- 7–10 days
- Canal locks visit
- Boquete highlands
- Bocas or San Blas
Getting around
Domestic flights to the islands and Boquete; the city has a metro.
- Domestic flights
- City metro
- Hire car for the highlands
- US dollars used
What to see
The Miraflores locks, Casco Viejo, the San Blas islands and the Baú Volcano trail.
- Miraflores locks
- Casco Viejo old town
- San Blas by boat
- Coffee farms at Boquete
Highlights
The canal
Miraflores locks has a viewing platform and museum where you watch ships transit. Partial transit cruises let you go through the locks yourself.
- Miraflores visitor centre
- Check transit times before going
- Partial transit cruises
- Agua Clara on the Atlantic side
Panama City
Casco Viejo's restored colonial quarter against a skyline of towers, plus the Biomuseo designed by Frank Gehry.
- Casco Viejo rooftops
- Biomuseo
- Cinta Costera waterfront
- Metro is cheap and clean
The islands and highlands
San Blas for Guna-run island stays, Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean, and Boquete in the cool coffee highlands.
- San Blas: basic, spectacular
- Bocas for surf and diving
- Boquete coffee farms
- Quetzals in the highlands
Planning notes
Panama uses the US dollar and has the most developed infrastructure in Central America, which makes it an easy entry point to the region. The canal is genuinely worth the visit rather than a box to tick. December to April is dry; the green season is wetter but much quieter. San Blas is Guna Yala autonomous territory and visits are arranged through Guna operators.
Where this leads
Blog attracts, things to do informs, tours convert — in that order.
- Journal in Panama
- Things to do in Panama
- Tours in Panama
- Talk to a Cooee travel specialist