50 Best Places to Visit in Panama: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Panama, the vibrant narrow bridge connecting North and South America, is a paradise where modern cosmopolitan energy seamlessly meets pristine tropical nature. Famous worldwide for its historic engineering marvel, the Panama Canal, this diverse Central American country offers far more than its maritime passage. From the modern skyscrapers and charming historic streets of Casco Viejo in Panama City to idyllic Caribbean archipelagos, cloud-forested mountain highlands, and untouched Pacific marine reserves, Panama delivers an unforgettable tropical adventure.

Why Visit Panama

Visiting Panama offers front-row access to extraordinary natural biodiversity, rich indigenous traditions, and historical landmarks. Here is why it belongs on your travel bucket list:

• The World-Famous Panama Canal: Marvel at one of mankind's greatest engineering achievements up close at Miraflores and Agua Clara locks.
• Tropical Island Paradises: Explore turquoise Caribbean waters and palm-fringed islands in San Blas (Guna Yala) and Bocas del Toro.
• Highland Cloud Forests: Hike scenic volcanic trails, go coffee tasting, and spot rare resplendent quetzals in Boquete.
• Rich History & Culture: Wander cobblestone streets in UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo and connect with indigenous Guna and Emberá communities.

Quick Facts

50 Best Places to Visit in Panama

1. Panama Canal & Miraflores Locks

• Location: Panama City
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Engineering Marvel / Landmark
• About the Place: A world-famous engineering feat connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Visitors can watch massive cargo ships navigate the locks from multi-story observation decks.
• Travel Instructions: Located a short 20-minute taxi or ride-share drive from downtown Panama City center.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Panama Canal & Miraflores Locks

2. Casco Viejo (Historic District)

• Location: Panama City
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round
• Category: UNESCO World Heritage / Cultural District
• About the Place: Panama City’s historic colonial quarter, featuring cobblestone streets, colorful Spanish colonial architecture, rooftop bars, historic plazas, and boutique hotels.
• Travel Instructions: Situated along the Pacific waterfront in Panama City, easily reached by taxi or metro.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Casco Viejo

3. San Blas Islands (Guna Yala)

• Location: Guna Yala Indigenous Comarca
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Tropical Archipelago / Indigenous Heritage
• About the Place: An archipelago of over 360 pristine coral islands governed by the indigenous Guna people, offering palm-fringed sandbars and turquoise waters.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 2.5 hours by 4x4 from Panama City to Cartí port, followed by a local motorboat ride to the islands.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to San Blas Islands

4. Boquete Highlands

• Location: Chiriquí Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Mountain Town / Eco-Tourism
• About the Place: A mountain town set in a verdant valley, famous for Geisha coffee plantations, cloud forest hiking trails, zip-lining, and cool mountain air.
• Travel Instructions: Fly from Panama City to David (Enrique Malek Airport), then take a 45-minute bus or taxi drive uphill.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Boquete Highlands

5. Bocas del Toro & Isla Colón

• Location: Bocas del Toro Province
• Best Time to Visit: September to October & February to April
• Category: Caribbean Archipelago / Beach
• About the Place: A vibrant Caribbean island chain known for colorful overwater wooden buildings, reggae culture, coral reef snorkeling, and surfing spots like Red Frog Beach.
• Travel Instructions: Fly 45 minutes direct from Panama City to Bocas Town (BOC) or take a water taxi from Almirante.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Bocas del Toro

6. Coiba National Park

• Location: Veraguas Province (Pacific Coast)
• Best Time to Visit: December to April (or July-Oct for humpback whales)
• Category: UNESCO World Heritage Site / Marine Reserve
• About the Place: Central America’s largest island, a former penal colony turned marine sanctuary teeming with whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and untouched rainforest.
• Travel Instructions: Take a 1.5-hour boat excursion departing from the coastal town of Santa Catalina.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Coiba National Park

7. Volcán Barú National Park

• Location: Chiriquí Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Highest Peak / Volcano Hike
• About the Place: Standing at 3,475 meters, Panama’s highest point offers a thrilling sunrise hike where on clear days you can view both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans simultaneously.
• Travel Instructions: Trailheads begin near Paso Ancho or Boquete; accessible via 4x4 or guided overnight treks.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Volcán Barú

8. Pearl Islands (Islas de las Perlas) & Contadora

• Location: Gulf of Panama (Pacific)
• Best Time to Visit: December to April (or July-Oct for whale watching)
• Category: Archipelago / Resort Island
• About the Place: A scenic Pacific archipelago famous for white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, sport fishing, and humpback whale watching tours.
• Travel Instructions: Take a 1.5-hour ferry from Panama City's Amador Causeway to Isla Contadora or Saboga.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Pearl Islands

9. Soberanía National Park & Pipeline Road

• Location: Colón / Panama Provinces
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Rainforest / Bird Watching
• About the Place: A pristine tropical rainforest reserve famous worldwide among birdwatchers, home to toucans, sloths, monkeys, and the famous Pipeline Road trail.
• Travel Instructions: Located just 45 minutes north of central Panama City near Gamboa.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Soberanía National Park

10. Santa Catalina

• Location: Veraguas Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Surf Village / Fishing Port
• About the Place: A laid-back Pacific fishing village world-famous for world-class point-break surfing and serving as the primary launching hub for trips to Coiba Island.
• Travel Instructions: Drive roughly 5 hours southwest from Panama City via the Pan-American Highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Santa Catalina

11. Emberá Indigenous Village (Chagres National Park)

• Location: Chagres River Basin
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Cultural / Indigenous Heritage
• About the Place: Experience rich traditional music, dance, temporary body painting, and dugout canoe trips with the indigenous Emberá people along the Chagres River.
• Travel Instructions: Take a 1-hour drive from Panama City to Puerto El Corotú, followed by a traditional motorized dugout canoe ride upriver.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Emberá Village

12. Portobelo & Fort San Lorenzo

• Location: Colón Province (Caribbean Coast)
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: UNESCO World Heritage Ruins
• About the Place: Historic 16th and 17th-century Spanish colonial fort ruins built to protect gold shipments from pirates, set along a jungle-backed Caribbean bay.
• Travel Instructions: Located a 1.5-hour drive north from Panama City along the Transisthmian highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Portobelo & San Lorenzo

13. El Valle de Antón

• Location: Coclé Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Volcanic Crater Town / Nature
• About the Place: Nestled inside the crater of an extinct volcano, offering cool mountain air, thermal hot springs, Sunday handicraft markets, and waterfall hikes.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 2 hours southwest from Panama City along the Pan-American Highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to El Valle de Antón

14. Amador Causeway & BioMuseo

• Location: Panama City
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round (late afternoon)
• Category: Urban Waterfront & Museum
• About the Place: A scenic roadway built from canal-excavated rock linking four small islands, home to Frank Gehry’s colorful BioMuseo and skyline views.
• Travel Instructions: Situated at the southern Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal; short taxi drive from Casco Viejo.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Amador Causeway

15. Panamá Viejo (Old Panama Ruins)

• Location: Panama City
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round
• Category: UNESCO World Heritage Archaeological Site
• About the Place: The stone ruins of the original European city established on the Pacific coast in 1519, destroyed by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671.
• Travel Instructions: Centrally located in eastern Panama City, easily accessible by taxi or public transit.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Panamá Viejo

16. Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park

• Location: Bocas del Toro
• Best Time to Visit: September to October & February to April
• Category: Marine National Park / Rainforest
• About the Place: Protects pristine mangroves, coral reefs, and dense rainforest home to colorful poison dart frogs, sloths, and famous Red Frog Beach.
• Travel Instructions: Take a 10-minute water taxi ride from Bocas Town on Isla Colón.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Isla Bastimentos

17. Isla Taboga (Island of Flowers)

• Location: Gulf of Panama
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Island Day Trip
• About the Place: A peaceful island village located just off Panama City, featuring colorful historic homes, sandy beaches, hiking trails, and historical churches.
• Travel Instructions: Board a 30-minute passenger catamaran ferry departing daily from Amador Causeway in Panama City.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Isla Taboga

18. San Lorenzo Fort & Chagres Protected Area

• Location: Colón Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: UNESCO Fortress / Nature
• About the Place: Perched high on a cliff overlooking the mouth of the Chagres River, this 16th-century fortress offers panoramic Caribbean vistas and wildlife viewing.
• Travel Instructions: Located a 20-minute drive from the city of Colón or 1.5 hours from Panama City.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Fort San Lorenzo

19. Pedasí & Playa Venao

• Location: Los Santos Province (Azuero Peninsula)
• Best Time to Visit: December to April (or July-Oct for turtles)
• Category: Surf Beach / Coastal Village
• About the Place: A traditional Panamanian town leading to Playa Venao—a crescent-shaped bay world-famous for consistent surf breaks, beach resorts, and turtle nesting.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 4.5 hours southwest from Panama City across the Azuero Peninsula.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Pedasí & Playa Venao

20. Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge

• Location: Off Pedasí, Azuero Peninsula
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Wildlife Sanctuary / Island
• About the Place: An uninhabited island refuge ringed by white coral sand beaches, crystal-clear snorkeling reefs, black iguanas, and nesting frigatebirds.
• Travel Instructions: Take a 20-minute panga boat ride from Playa El Arenal in Pedasí.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Isla Iguana

21. La Amistad International Park (PILA)

• Location: Chiriquí / Bocas del Toro (Border with Costa Rica)
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: UNESCO World Heritage Reserve
• About the Place: A cross-border bi-national park protecting vast mountainous cloud forests home to pumas, tapirs, jaguars, and hundreds of bird species.
• Travel Instructions: Accessible via hiking ranger stations near Cerro Punta in Chiriquí.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to La Amistad Park

22. Metropolitan Natural Park

• Location: Panama City
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round (mornings)
• Category: Urban Tropical Rainforest Park
• About the Place: The only tropical rainforest park located within a major capital city's boundaries, featuring nature trails, sloths, monkeys, and city skyline lookouts.
• Travel Instructions: Located just 10 minutes by taxi from central downtown Panama City.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Metropolitan Natural Park

23. Playa Blanca & Farallón Coast

• Location: Coclé Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Beach Resort Area
• About the Place: Panama’s premier Pacific all-inclusive beach resort strip, featuring long golden sand beaches, calm swimming waters, and golf courses.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 1.5 hours west from Panama City along the Pan-American Highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Playa Blanca

24. Santa Fe & Santa Fe National Park

• Location: Veraguas Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Mountain Village / National Park
• About the Place: A peaceful mountain town surrounded by pristine cloud forests, orchids, river tubing, and dozens of hidden cascading waterfalls.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 1 hour north along paved mountain roads from Santiago city.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Santa Fe

25. Isla Zapatilla (Cayos Zapatilla)

• Location: Bastimentos Park, Bocas del Toro
• Best Time to Visit: September to October & February to April
• Category: Uninhabited Islands / Snorkeling
• About the Place: Two breathtaking uninhabited coral islands featured in TV survival shows, surrounded by ring reefs, turquoise lagoons, and white sand.
• Travel Instructions: Accessible via organized 45-minute day boat tours from Bocas Town.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Cayos Zapatilla

26. Cintura Costera & Mercado de Mariscos

• Location: Panama City
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round
• Category: Urban Park & Fish Market
• About the Place: A scenic coastal parkway ideal for walking and biking, leading directly to the vibrant fish market for fresh local ceviche.
• Travel Instructions: Runs along Panama City’s waterfront bay connecting downtown to Casco Viejo.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Cinta Costera

27. Cerro Punta & Volcán

• Location: Chiriquí Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Agricultural Highlands
• About the Place: High-altitude agricultural villages surrounded by terraced strawberry farms, flower gardens, and cloud forest hiking trails.
• Travel Instructions: Located a 15-minute mountain drive past Volcán town in western Chiriquí.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Cerro Punta

28. Agua Clara Locks (Gatun)

• Location: Colón Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Engineering Visitor Center
• About the Place: The modern visitor center overlooking the expanded Panama Canal locks on the Atlantic side, offering views of massive Neopanamax vessels.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 1 hour north of Panama City to the outskirts of Colón city.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Agua Clara Locks

29. Altos de Campana National Park

• Location: Panama Oeste Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: National Park / Viewpoint
• About the Place: Panama’s oldest national park (established 1966), offering cool mountain trails, cliffs, and sweeping vistas overlooking the Chame point and Pacific.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 1 hour west from Panama City along the Pan-American Highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Altos de Campana

30. Playa Coronado

• Location: Panama Oeste Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Beach Community
• About the Place: A popular coastal resort town featuring distinctive black and gold volcanic sand beaches, golf courses, and full vacation amenities.
• Travel Instructions: Located an easy 1-hour drive southwest of Panama City.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Playa Coronado

31. Gatun Lake & Monkey Island

• Location: Panama Canal Basin
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Lake / Wildlife Tour
• About the Place: A massive artificial lake forming part of the Panama Canal, where boat tours take visitors close to forested islands home to capuchin and howler monkeys.
• Travel Instructions: Boat tours depart from Gamboa Rainforest Resort dock, 45 minutes from Panama City.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Gatun Lake

32. Isla Carenero

• Location: Bocas del Toro
• Best Time to Visit: September to October & February to April
• Category: Island / Relaxed Beach
• About the Place: A small island located right across from Bocas Town, famous for overwater seafood restaurants, chill beaches, and surf breaks.
• Travel Instructions: Take a quick 2-minute water taxi ride from Isla Colón.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Isla Carenero

33. Gulf of Chiriquí National Marine Park

• Location: Chiriquí Province (Pacific Coast)
• Best Time to Visit: December to April (or July-Oct for humpback whales)
• Category: Marine Reserve / Islands
• About the Place: Protects 25 uninhabited islands featuring white sand beaches, coral reefs, howler monkeys, and prime humpback whale calving waters.
• Travel Instructions: Take a day boat trip departing from the coastal fishing town of Boca Chica.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Gulf of Chiriquí

34. Chitré & Sarigua National Park

• Location: Herrera Province (Azuero Peninsula)
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Cultural Town / Arid Park
• About the Place: Sarigua is a unique pre-Columbian archaeological area featuring arid, desert-like salt flats and soil erosion landscapes near colonial Chitré.
• Travel Instructions: Located 3.5 hours southwest of Panama City, short drive from Chitré town center.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Chitré & Sarigua

35. Isla Solarte & Hospital Point

• Location: Bocas del Toro
• Best Time to Visit: September to October & February to April
• Category: Island / Snorkeling Site
• About the Place: A quiet rainforest island featuring historic United Fruit Company hospital ruins and exceptional wall-snorkeling at Hospital Point.
• Travel Instructions: Board a 5-minute water taxi from Bocas Town.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Isla Solarte

36. San Francisco de la Montaña

• Location: Veraguas Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Historic Architecture
• About the Place: A tranquil foothill village featuring a famous 1727 Baroque colonial church containing hand-carved wooden altars created by indigenous artists.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 20 minutes north of Santiago along the road to Santa Fe.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to San Francisco de la Montaña

37. Las Lajas Beach (Playa Las Lajas)

• Location: Chiriquí Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Pacific Ocean Beach
• About the Place: One of Central America's longest palm-lined sand beaches, stretching over 12 kilometers with warm Pacific waves and rustic beach shacks.
• Travel Instructions: Located 1.5 hours east of David along the Pan-American Highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Las Lajas Beach

38. Darién National Park

• Location: Darién Province (Border with Colombia)
• Best Time to Visit: January to April
• Category: UNESCO World Heritage Wilderness
• About the Place: A untamed wilderness gap connecting Central and South America, home to rare Harpy eagles, tapirs, and indigenous Emberá and Wounaan communities.
• Travel Instructions: Requires official permits, specialized eco-tour guide expeditions, and 4x4 / riverboat transport from Panama City.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Darién National Park

39. Isla Grande

• Location: Colón Province (Caribbean)
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Caribbean Island
• About the Place: A colorful Caribbean island known for coconut palms, Afro-Panamanian culture, seafood restaurants, and a historic 1893 lighthouse.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 2 hours north from Panama City to La Guaira port, followed by a 5-minute boat ride.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Isla Grande

40. Punta Chame

• Location: Panama Oeste Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April (windy season)
• Category: Peninsula / Kitesurfing
• About the Place: A long narrow sand peninsula extending into the Pacific, famous as Central America's premier destination for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 1.5 hours southwest from Panama City off the Pan-American Highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Punta Chame

41. Las Olas & Playa La Barqueta

• Location: Chiriquí Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Coastal Beach
• About the Place: A long dark volcanic sand beach near David city, featuring marine turtle nesting grounds and coastal resort amenities.
• Travel Instructions: Located a 30-minute drive southwest from David city center.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Playa La Barqueta

42. Playa Starfish (Playa Estrella)

• Location: Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro
• Best Time to Visit: September to October & February to April
• Category: Beach & Marine Wildlife
• About the Place: A calm turquoise bay on Isla Colón famous for clear water and dozens of large, bright red and orange starfish visible right off the shore.
• Travel Instructions: Take a 45-minute public bus or taxi from Bocas Town to Boca del Drago, followed by a 15-minute coastal trail walk.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Playa Starfish

43. Las Tablas

• Location: Los Santos Province
• Best Time to Visit: February (for Carnival) or November
• Category: Cultural / Folklore Hub
• About the Place: The cultural heart of Panamanian folklore, world-famous for throwing the country’s most extravagant and energetic Carnival celebrations annually.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 4 hours southwest from Panama City on the Azuero Peninsula highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Las Tablas

44. Chagres River National Park & Alajuela Lake

• Location: Panama / Colón Provinces
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: National Park / Watershed
• About the Place: Protects the critical watershed supplying water to the Panama Canal, featuring pristine rainforest rivers, waterfalls, and lakes.
• Travel Instructions: Located 1 hour north of Panama City; accessible via guided river tours.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Chagres National Park

45. Isla Escudo de Veraguas

• Location: Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé
• Best Time to Visit: September to October (calm sea hours)
• Category: Remote Island / Wildlife Reserve
• About the Place: A remote, untouched Caribbean island paradise famous for turquoise crystal coves, wild mangrove roots, and the rare pygmy three-toed sloth.
• Travel Instructions: Requires a specialized 2-hour boat charter departing from Cusapin or Bocas del Toro.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Escudo de Veraguas

46. Ancon Hill (Cerro Ancón)

• Location: Panama City
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round (mornings)
• Category: City Viewpoint / Nature Reserve
• About the Place: A 199-meter high forested hill in central Panama City topped with a giant Panamanian flag, offering views of Casco Viejo, skyscrapers, and the canal.
• Travel Instructions: Located near Casco Viejo; accessible via a 30-minute paved uphill walk.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Ancon Hill

47. Boca Chica

• Location: Chiriquí Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Coastal Fishing Village
• About the Place: A tranquil Pacific fishing village serving as the primary gateway for boat charters into the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine Park islands.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 50 minutes east of David city along the coastal highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Boca Chica

48. San Carlos & El Palmar

• Location: Panama Oeste Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Surf Beach / Coastal Village
• About the Place: A relaxed Pacific coastal town featuring El Palmar beach, popular for beginner surf schools, oceanfront seafood shacks, and weekend breaks.
• Travel Instructions: Located 1.5 hours southwest of Panama City along the Pan-American Highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to El Palmar

49. Natá de los Caballeros

• Location: Coclé Province
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Historical Town
• About the Place: Founded in 1522, one of the oldest continuously inhabited European towns in the Americas, home to the historic 16th-century Church of Santiago Apóstol.
• Travel Instructions: Drive 2.5 hours southwest from Panama City along the Pan-American Highway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Natá de los Caballeros

50. Isla Saboga

• Location: Pearl Islands
• Best Time to Visit: December to April
• Category: Island / Nature
• About the Place: A quiet, traditional island neighboring Contadora in the Pearl Islands, offering secluded coves, jungle walking trails, and uncrowded beaches.
• Travel Instructions: Accessible via ferry from Panama City's Amador Causeway.
• Explore More: Read our full guide to Isla Saboga

Featured Image

Panama Canal and Skyline View