Places of Interest in Panama City
PANAMA CANAL: ESCLUSAS DE MIRAFLORES/MIRAFLORES LOCKS
ATTENTION: BEST TIME TO VISIT CANAL 9am-11am and 2pm-4pm!!!
Take bus opposite of Supermercado REY which says TERMINAL/TERMINAL DE ALBROOK/ALBROOK. At BUS TERMINAL, take bus to SUMMIT, GAMBOA or PARAISO and tell the driver to let you off at ESCLUSAS DE MIRAFLORES. From the busstop you have to walk about 400 meters to get to the VISITORS CENTRE.
Entrance fee: Only Plattform: $5; Plattform and Museum $8 -Studentdiscounts available!!! Taxi to Plaza 5 de mayo $1.50 to 1.75. Taxi to Miraflores $ 8 -10 On way back take any bus to Panama City!
CASCO VIEJO (Old Town)
Take bus opposite of Supermercado Rey which says CALLE 12. Get off at PARQUE SANTA ANA (big PAVILLION AND CHURCH!) at end of pedestrian zone (PEATONAL or AVENIDA CENTRAL). From there it is just a few meters to OLD TOWN (just follow CABLE CAR TRACKS!).
Alternatively take bus to PLAZA 5 DE MAYO. Get off at 5 de mayo and walk from there to end of pedestrian zone! By Taxi $2.
CAUSEWAY/CALZADA DE AMADOR/AMADOR
Nice 5 km long boulevard which links 3 small islands located right between the Panama Canal and the Bay of Panama. Perfect for Inline skating, riding a (rented) bike or for jogging. It is also a wonderful place to relax, eat & drink in Bars and Restaurants and to enjoy a beautiful view of the whole city and the Bridge of the Americas and watching the sunset.
To go there take a bus in front of MAC DONALDS to PLAZA 5 DE MAYO. There take a Minibus in front of DYNASTY (Sportswear store) to CAUSEWAY. You can also take a Taxi which will cost between $3-6 depending on where you get off.
CERRO ANCON
Hill where the huge Panamanian Flag is waving. Nice few over the Canal, the Causeway, the Old Town and the rest of the City.
By Taxi from PLAZA 5 DE MAYO $1 or from Zulys $1,75 to “ENTRADA DE CERRO ANCON”. 20-25 minutes walk up to the hill.
PANAMA VIEJO
Visit the RUINS OF PANAMA VIEJO, the place where Panama City was originally founded. Only recommendable for people who are really interested in ruins! To visit museum and tower there´s a fee of about $3 but most of the area can be visited for free!
To go there take Bus which says PANAMA VIEJO either in CALLE 50 or in AVENIDA BALBOA (WATERFRONT!)!
ISLA TABOGA
Small Island , 45 minutes by boat from Panama City. Boat leaves from CAUSEWAY/LA PLAYITA. Return ticket $10. Very, very calm Island with a small Beach and a few Restaurants. Nice boat ride.
Monday:
Panama-Taboga 8.30am and 3.30 pm
Taboga-Panama 9.30am and 4.30 pm
Tuesday:
Panama-Taboga 8.30am
Taboga-Panama 4.30 pm
Wednesday:
Panama-Taboga 8.30am and 3.00 pm
Taboga-Panama 9.30am and 4.30 pm
Thursday:
Panama-Taboga 8.30am
Taboga-Panama 4.30 pm
Friday:
Panama-Taboga 8.30am and 3.00 pm
Taboga-Panama 9.30am and 4.30 pm
Saturday and Sunday and Holidays:
Monday:
Panama-Taboga 8.00am and 10.30am and 4.00pm
Taboga-Panama 9.00am and 3.00pm and 5.00pm
CINTA COSTERA
NICE NEW PARK in Avenida balboa (WATERFRONT), good for Walking, Running, In-line skating, cycling. Nice few over Ocean! 15 minutes walk from Hostel!
CLOSEST BEACHES
Unfortunately there is a very, very limited number of nice beaches close to Panama City. Recommendable beaches (CORONADO, SAN CARLOS, SEA CLIFF, SANTA CLARA (beautiful!) are already between 90-110 km from the city (90-120 minutes by bus from ALBROOK BUS TERMINAL-$3 one way).
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Places of Interest in the rest of Republic of Panama
EL VALLE located about 90 minutes from City is a nice place to enjoy the nice climate and the hotsprings. Also good for hiking.
BOQUETE Mountainous region with nice climate located close to the border with Costa Rica on the pacific side. Good place for hiking (Volcano Barú 3450m), River Rafting!
BOCAS DEL TORO Archipielago close to the border with Costa Rica on the caribbean coast. Very touristy on main island ISLA COLON with many restaurants and bars. Nice beaches on ISLA BASTIMENTOS.
For SAN BLAS ISLANDS please see special section
Beaches on PAZIFIC COAST of CHIRIQUÍ PROVINCE LAS LAJAS y BOCA BRAVA
Here you find still relatively unspoiled nature far away from mass tourism! In rainy season (May to December) sometimes difficult to access!
SURFBEACHEAS IN PANAMA
There is 2 famous SURF BEACHES on the Pacific.
*Playa Santa Catalina (http://www.santacatalinabeach.com/index.html) located 6 hours from capital in province of VERAGUAS. Place very international surf competitions take place. Recommended for professionals
*Playa Venado (http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Central_America/Panama/playa_venao/) on Peninsula Azuero 6 hours from Capital. Many Surfers say that this is the best place for Surfers in Panamá. Recommended for professionals.
*another surf beach also for beginners is Playa EL PALMAR (http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Central_America/Panama/el_palmar_point/) in San Carlos 90 minutes from capital.
On the Carribbean side there is surf spots located in BOCAS DEL TORO.
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