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Outside Panama CityOur Top Ten of things to do in Panama outside Panama City. You can click on pictures to make them bigger. Go to the Transportation page for tips on getting around. 
(click on areas of the map for a description)
1. San Blas
An idyllic archipelago of islands (now called by the Kuna name of Kuna-yala) governed independently by the Kuna Indians, 45-60 minutes away by small airplane. Beautiful beaches and snorkelling (although diving only on the fringes). Each "resort" is located on a small island about the size of the one in the picture above, and consists of a few small palm-roofed huts (kind of an adventure, very very far from the Four Seasons). Usually you get to the island via canoe from the airport (just a strip in the middle of the jungle), and the hotel or tour will take you to visit a Kuna village (or you can swim to one, as some of the islands can be quite close). Resorts include Dolphin Island Lodge and Sapibenega. There's a new one called Coral Lodge.
2. Bocas
An old Caribbean style town turned backpacker hangout, also 45-60 minutes by small airplane, on an island that sits near the edge of a Marine Reserve. There's a luxury resort with cabins on top of the water or you can stay in one the waterfront local hotels in town like we did and soak up the ambiance. Eat in one of the restaurants atop the water, or tour around the islands in the marine reserve that have been used by 12(!) European "Survivor" TV shows (among them France, Spain, Russia, England, Italy and Portugal, although the American one was in the Pearl Islands, see below). Don't miss the Cayo Zapatillas deserted island (where we took the pic above). Dolphins actually do show up daily at Dolphin Bay. Lots of info here.
3. Coiba
This island (the biggest in Panama) was a penal colony until it was converted into a protected marine park a few years ago. The Lonely Planet calls it "the second-largest eastern Pacific coral reef and the finest diving and snorkeling to be found along the Pacific coast from Colombia to Mexico". Because of its remoteness and underdevelopment the place is teeming with wildlife above and below the water. There is still no real permanent population, and the only place to stay is the ranger station. There is only one dive operator (a German with the improbable name of Herbie Sunk) permanently in the area, although others do live-aboard trips there. When we went there 2 years ago they hadn't figured out yet where most of the dive sites were, so lots to discover! Recently a new hotel opened. Definitley not the easiest place to get to, you have to travel to the tip of Azuero Peninsula to Santa Catalina and take a boat ride. The tour or dive operator should be able to arrange things.
4. Azuero Peninsula
The Heartland of Panama in terms of tradition and agriculture. The most famous place to celebrate the Panamanian Carnival (Los Carnavales), which in 2006 happen on the week of ___! Check out the small towns along the way steeped in tradition or stay at the tiny La Playita Resort. Driving is the only way of getting there, hang South after Santiago in Veraguas.
5. Volcan & Boquete Quetzal
Trail
Next to the border with Costa Rica, these Panamanian highlands on the sides of an extinct volcano provide cool weather, rivers for whitewater rafting, log cabins, beautiful scenery and fresh fruits and vegetables everywhere. It's become somewhat of a famous place for Europeans and Americans to buy retirement property. There is a famous trail called Los Quetzales that links Volcan and Boquete. Among the many hotels is this one. Info from TripAdvisor and PanamaInfo. You can fly to David, or drive down the Interamerican Highway (around 6-7 hours). For an all-inclusive beach resort, my cousin Marisin recommends Las Olas Resort. On the coast of Chiriqui there is some serious surfing too: 
6. Portobelo San
Lorenzo fort in Portobelo
What used to be one of the richest cities in the Americas until it was sacked by pirates, makes for a nice day-outing (around 1.5-2 hours each way) from Panama City. Also nearby is Isla Grande, a Caribbean town with awesome seafood and some small resorts.
7. El Valle
El Valle de Anton, or "The Valley", only about 2 hours away by car, has been a favorite place for Panama City-dwellers to escape the bustle and heat of the City. A number of B&Bs and new restaurants have opened there recently. Visit the market or go hiking thru the jungle to a waterfall.
8. Pearl Islands Isla
San Jose (from Conde Nast magazine)
Mostly uninhabited archipielago of islands located relatively nearby south of Panama City with really not much to do but relax at the beach, which is the point. Two of the US Survivor shows have been set here. The newest resort is Hacienda del Mar which was featured in the magazine article. Flights here are less than 1 hour on Aeroperlas.
9. Pacific Coast Beaches The
beach at Decameron resort
Though not as pristine as the beaches of San Blas or Bocas, there are nice beaches here, particularly at the new all-inclusive resorts like the Decameron and Barcelo which are less than 2 hours away from the city by car.
10.Darien
The end of the road, literally: a jungle so untamed it is the only gap in the continuous road from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in Chile. Only for the truly adventurous. We haven't been there, but it's considered to have some of the best bird and wildlife watching, and fishing, in the world. Still mostly populated only by Indians, very much wild, untouched and remote. |
Guide to destinations Also has a list of the top attractions Great article from the Feb 2005 issue. Lonely Planet Panama guidebook The Lonely Planet Panama edition is actually pretty informative and has a great cover. |
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