Personalized Tour of Panama City and the Panama Canal
Discover the capital’s top attractions including the Panama Canal – an engineering wonder – accompanied by a naturalist guide. Drive to the Ancon Hill viewpoint to take in spectacular views of the city keeping an eye out for native wildlife including armadillos, tamarins, and sloths. Bike or drive along the Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador), which connects the mainland to the small manmade islands of Naos, Perico, and Flamenco. Explore the Punta Culebra Nature Center on Naos Island, hunt for local handicrafts at Centro Artesanal, or tuck into local cuisine at one of the restaurants in the area. Explore the landmarks of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Casco Viejo as you listen to your knowledgeable guide narrating its colorful history. At the historic Panama Canal, watch the Miraflores Locks in action with ships being raised and lowered between sea level and the Miraflores Lake. Later, enjoy interactive displays exhibited at the Miraflores Visitors Center. (Available from Tuesdays to Sundays; Full Day; Start Time: 0830 hrs; End Time: 1500 hrs; Private Activity & Transfers; Lunch included; Fitness Level: Easy; Please bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses & sun hats. Don’t forget your camera).
Explore Panama City on your own
Begin your day in Panama City with a hike in Parque Natural Metropolitano, home to sloths, tamarin monkeys, and exotic birds. Visit the Miraflores Locks and the Agua Clara Visitor Center to watch cruise liners and container ships traverse the Panama Canal that connects the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Wandering about the historic heart of Casco Viejo, admire a bunch of colonial-style churches overlooking atmospheric plazas, and cobblestone streets flanked by beautifully restored buildings. Browsing the iconic, kitsch ‘Lipstick Mami’ murals, drop by Pedro Mandinga to socialize over artisanal rums, and Bajareque Coffee House to sample the prized Geisha. See handcrafted Molas at the local market, and stroll about the pedestrianized Avenida Central. Take in panoramic vistas of Panama City’s skyline from Amador Causeway and the four islands in Panama Bay. Learn about Panama’s natural history at the color-blocked Biomuseo designed by Frank Gehry, and people watch with a raspao in hand at the Conta Costera waterfront park. You could also set out to explore the 16th century ruins of Panamá Viejo, and the mangroves nearby. (Full Day; Self-exploring Activity & No transfers)
