Panama is where two oceans meet, a nation shaped by Indigenous cultures, Spanish colonial trade, and the 20th‑century engineering feat of the Panama Canal. In a single day you can wander 17th‑century plazas, spy howler monkeys in canal-side rainforest, and sip a rooftop cocktail watching the skyline glow like a miniature Manhattan.

Beyond the headlines, Panama is a place of texture: Guna Yala (San Blas) cays where turquoise water laps sugar-white sand, cafés pouring award-winning Geisha coffee, seafood markets hawking briny ceviche, and causeways built from Canal excavation rock turned into waterfront promenades. It’s compact, exciting, and surprisingly easy to navigate.

Practical notes: Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is a major Copa hub with nonstop flights from North and South America. The U.S. dollar is legal tender (locals call it the “balboa”), tap water is potable in Panama City, and Uber is widely used. Dry season runs roughly December–April; rainy season (May–November) brings afternoon showers—pack light layers, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent for rainforest and islands.

Panama City

Panama City is a study in contrasts: glass towers and a colonial peninsula called Casco Antiguo (Casco Viejo), mangrove-fringed causeways and a jungle literally within city limits. The city’s heartbeat is culinary—try contemporary Panamanian plates, Peruvian-Nikkei, and street-side ceviche—fueled by some of the best coffee in the Americas.

Top sights include the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal, the Biomuseo by Frank Gehry, the Cinta Costera seafront, Metropolitan Natural Park, and the Amador Causeway. Casco Viejo’s pastel facades hide jazzy rooftops and rum bars—perfect for golden-hour wanderings.

• Stay (Panama City): Boutique and business choices with easy access to sights.
  • The Bristol Panama (service-forward, elegant rooms in the banking district): Check availability
  • Hotel Casa Panamá (stylish Casco Viejo base with a rooftop vibe): Check availability
  • Wyndham Panama Albrook Mall (family-friendly, shopping attached; great for rain days): Check availability
  • Browse more stays: Hotels.com Panama City | VRBO Panama City
• Getting here: Fly into PTY. Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Nonstops: Miami ~2.5–3h, NYC ~5h, Houston ~4h, LAX ~6.5–7h (times approximate).
• Food & drink hits: Maito (modern Panamanian tasting menus—reserve), Fonda Lo Que Hay (creative “fondita” plates), El Trapiche (sancocho, carimañolas), Nazca 21 (Peruvian), Mahalo (brunch garden), Mercado de Mariscos ceviche stands, Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar (raspadura rum cocktails), La Rana Dorada (craft beer).
• Coffee to seek out: Café Unido (Geisha flights), Mentiritas Blancas (micro-roaster), Kotowa Coffee House (Boquete beans).

Playa Bonita

Just 25–35 minutes from downtown, Playa Bonita fronts the Pacific with jungled hills behind and ships queuing for the Canal offshore. It’s the easiest beach escape from the city—ideal for unwinding after a few sight-packed days.

Spend mornings by the pool or paddleboarding in the bay, then slip into a spa ritual. For a local-lunch detour, the nearby fishing village of Veracruz serves whole fried fish with patacones at seaside fondas, while the Amador Causeway teems with breezy waterfront eateries and sunset views.

• Stay (Playa Bonita):
  • The Westin Playa Bonita Panama (large pools, kids’ club, multiple restaurants): Check availability
  • Dreams Playa Bonita Panama (all-inclusive, oceanfront rooms): Check availability
  • Browse more stays: Hotels.com Playa Bonita | VRBO Playa Bonita
• Getting from Panama City to Playa Bonita: Morning transfer by Uber/taxi takes ~30–40 minutes (about $20–35). Private transfers run ~$50–70 one way depending on group size. Renting a car for a beach stretch is ~$35–55/day from PTY via Trip.com partners at the airport.

Day 1: Arrival, Casco Viejo Stroll, Rooftop Sunsets

Afternoon: Land at PTY, transfer to your hotel. Shake off jet lag with a gentle loop along the Cinta Costera for skyline views, then enter Casco Viejo through Plaza Herrera to admire French balconies and bougainvillea-draped lanes.

Evening: Join a story-rich walking tour of the old quarter—ghosts, pirates, and independence tales included.

Legends of Casco Viejo Tour: Uncover Hidden Gems

Expect 2–2.5 hours of history and hidden courtyards with a local guide. After, dine at Fonda Lo Que Hay (reservations recommended) for seasonal Panamanian plates, or Santa Rita for hearty Latin grills. Cap the night with a rum cocktail at Pedro Mandinga or a rooftop view at Tantalo.

Day 2: Panama Canal, Biomuseo, and the Causeway

Morning: Make the Canal the star today with a partial transit boat journey—feel the surge as water lifts you through Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks.

Panama Canal Partial Tour - Southbound Direction

Typically 4.5–6 hours depending on Canal traffic; budget ~$95–150 per person. Boats often depart in the morning—eat an early bite at Café Unido (try a Geisha pour-over and a guava croissant).

Afternoon: Visit the vibrant, Gehry-designed Biomuseo to trace Panama’s role as a biological land bridge. Taxi to the Amador Causeway for a breezy lunch—Mi Ranchito’s whole fried fish with patacones is a local classic—and rent bikes for an easy seaside roll with views of ships staging for the Canal.

Evening: Dinner at Maito (contemporary Panamanian tasting menus; book ahead) or Nazca 21 for Peruvian ceviche and lomo saltado. Nightcap at La Rana Dorada for craft beer, or a quiet stroll through Plaza de la Independencia.

Day 3: Jungle and Wildlife by the Canal + City Bites

Morning: Head to Gatun Lake for a wildlife-rich boat safari. Your guide will nose into islets to spot capuchins, howlers, and tamarins—plus crocodiles and herons.

Boat Animal Safari by the Channel + Fruit Market

Plan on ~4 hours door-to-door; tours typically include hotel pickup. Bring a light rain jacket and binoculars.

Afternoon: Refuel with ceviche at the Mercado de Mariscos—corvina, shrimp, and octopus are standouts—followed by a short hike in Metropolitan Natural Park for city-meets-jungle panoramas. Coffee stop at Mentiritas Blancas for a flat white and a slice of banana bread.

Evening: Dinner at Intimo (chef-driven seasonal plates) or Azahar (romantic terrace, sushi-meets-Med menu). If you’re feeling social, sample Casco’s bar scene: try Negronis at Amano and live music at Danilo’s Jazz Club nights.

Day 4: Full-Day Escape to the San Blas (Guna Yala) Islands

Day Tour in San Blas Islands All Included Visiting 4 Islands

Early 4:30–5:30 a.m. pickup for a 2.5–3 hour drive to the Caribbean coast, then a short boat hop to palm-fringed cays. Expect swimming, snorkeling (gear usually included), and a simple island lunch. Budget ~$150–180 per person plus Guna entrance/environmental fees (~$20 cash). Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, cash, and a dry bag. Return to your hotel in the evening and grab a casual bite—arepas at Café Coca-Cola or a burger at La Fabrica for something easy.

Day 5: Transfer to Playa Bonita and Unwind

Morning: Depart Panama City after breakfast for Playa Bonita (~30–40 minutes). Check into The Westin Playa Bonita or Dreams Playa Bonita. Claim a lounger and decompress—watch container ships glide by like slow-moving sculptures.

Afternoon: Pool-and-beach time. If you’re curious, taxi 10 minutes to the village of Veracruz for a late seafood lunch—think garlic prawns, whole fried snook, and limey slaws—paired with icy Balboa beers.

Evening: Back at the resort, book a spa slot or sunset yoga. Dinner on-site (Westin’s Asiana for pan-Asian or Oceanica’s seafood buffet; Dreams’ Portofino for Italian). Sip a nightcap on the terrace under a canopy of stars.

Day 6: Island Hop or Canal Views at Leisure

Morning: For an easy adventure, head to the Amador Causeway for a catamaran cruise around Panama Bay or a ferry to nearby Taboga Island (known as the “Island of Flowers”)—golden beaches, a tiny hilltop church, and a laid-back village await. Alternatively, rent kayaks/SUPs from the resort and paddle the calm bay.

Afternoon: Lunch along the Causeway—grilled corvina and coconut rice at a waterfront eatery—then browse bio-diverse exhibits in the Biomuseo gardens if you skipped it earlier. Return for pool time and a siesta.

Evening: Celebrate your last full night with a table timed to sunset. Back in Casco Viejo, consider a progressive dinner: starters at Tomillo’s courtyard, mains at Casa Escondida, and gelato at Granclement. End with a quiet stroll through Plaza Bolívar.

Day 7: Slow Morning by the Sea and Departure

Morning: Sunrise walk on the beach and a long breakfast—try tropical fruit, hojaldres (fried bread), and local coffee. Enjoy one last swim.

Afternoon: Check out and transfer ~45–60 minutes to PTY depending on traffic. One last look at the Canal’s Pacific entrance as you cross the Bridge of the Americas—then wheels up. Search flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com for best timing.

Optional Swap: Embera Village & Waterfall (Culture + Nature)

If you’d like to trade the San Blas day for an in-depth cultural visit, consider an Embera village experience in Chagres National Park—canoe upriver, swim by a waterfall, learn about traditional crafts and music, and share a community-cooked lunch. It’s a powerful, respectful window into living Indigenous culture close to the capital.

Good to know: In Casco Viejo, stick to well-lit streets at night and avoid wandering toward El Chorrillo. Bring small bills for markets and island day fees. Reef-safe sunscreen is recommended for all marine activities.

Trip summary: In one week you’ll taste Panama’s capital, ride a boat through the Panama Canal, spot monkeys on Gatun Lake, swim in Caribbean-clear shallows, and finish with a restorative beach stay. It’s a compact, high-reward itinerary that balances culture, nature, and plenty of time to savor Panamanian flavors.