Panama City

The capital of Panama and the largest city in Central America — around 1.5 million people in the metropolitan area on the Pacific coast. A unique city: the only capital in Latin America with a working high-rise skyline (on the Pacific coast) and one of the world's great engineering wonders — the Panama Canal. Dollarised economy (since 1904), the region's main financial hub. Casco Viejo (the Old City) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Top sights

• Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo) — UNESCO World Heritage Site, historic centre dating from the 17th–19th centuries, restored pastel-coloured buildings, the city's main tourist district with bars and restaurants.
• Panama Viejo (Old Panama) — UNESCO World Heritage Site, ruins of the original Panama City (1519), burned by the privateer Henry Morgan in 1671.
• Panama Canal — the great engineering marvel. Best viewpoints: Miraflores Locks Visitor Center (terrace with live ship-watching), Agua Clara Locks (new locks opened 2016), canal cruise (full or partial transit).
• Biomuseo — explores Panama's biodiversity and the joining of North and South America; the building was designed by Frank Gehry.
• Cinta Costera — waterfront promenade with walking and cycling lanes.
• Cerro Ancón — hilltop panorama over the city and canal, with tropical forest right in the centre.
• Metropolitan Natural Park — the first national park within a capital city zone; monkeys and toucans ten minutes from downtown.
• Isla Taboga — beach island an hour away by ferry, known as the "Island of Flowers."
• San Blas Islands — archipelago of 365 coral islands in the Caribbean, home to Guna Yala culture, about two hours from the city.
• Portobelo and Fort San Lorenzo — UNESCO World Heritage Site, Spanish Caribbean forts from the 17th century.
• Emberá Village — an Emberá indigenous village roughly one hour by road and boat from the city.

Food and prices

Panamanian cuisine: sancocho (the national chicken and yuca soup), corvina (sea bass), tamales (different from their Mexican counterpart), patacones, ropa vieja, and Ron Abuelo rum. Strong Caribbean and Colombian influences. Lunch at a café costs $10–18, dinner at a restaurant $25–50. Local beers Atlas or Balboa run $2–4. A litre of petrol is around $1, fixed-rate taxi within zones $3–8, Uber $4–12, metro (single line) $0.50–1.

Getting there and around

Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is the largest hub in Latin America (home of Copa Airlines), with direct flights from Miami, New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Istanbul. A Metrobus to the centre costs $5; a taxi runs $25–30. Around the city: Uber, metro (single line), Metrobus, and taxis. Casco Viejo is easily explored on foot.

When to go

December–April is the dry season, temperatures 24–32 °C. The rainy season (May–November) brings short, heavy afternoon downpours with clear mornings. Carnival (the four days before Lent) is the city's biggest celebration. One constant to know: the city sits close to the equator — high humidity year-round.