Panama was the first of five countries I visited during my Central America backpacking trip, I trip I'd been manifesting since last summer.
I quit my job last July and decided to take what I coined an "adult gap year", given I was taking it aged 28, instead of the typical gap year age of 18. I went back and forth for months on exactly when I would go, which countries I would visit, for how long I wanted to travel, with whom I wanted to go - if anyone... and then this trip materialized and I can hardly begin to express my excitement levels for the stories itching to be told and the memories begging to be documented.
My Central America trip would turn out to cover five countries in five weeks; the first three (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua) with my partner Tobi and the last two (Guatemala, Belize) with Ina, one of my friends from Salzburg.
I seriously LOVED Panama. It would end up being my favourite country from my entire Central America trip. I absolutely wish I had had more time to explore, but you can only do so much with the time you have! So, here is my complete guide to Panama:
Currency
Panama uses both the Panamanian Balboa and the US dollar equally across the country and both are readily accepted. In fact, Panama is the only country in the world whose currency is pegged permanently 1:1 with the US dollar so you can use both currencies equally and interchangeably as they are worth exactly the same.
We paid for some accommodations in advance with card but the overwhelming majority of things were all cash only; buses, taxis, meals, tours, activities, shopping... We got a few hundred Balboas out at the airport in Panama city and then took out cash as we needed it across the country.
Visas
I traveled to Panama on my Canadian passport so that I would not need to get an ESTA for my layovers in New York each way. Canadians do not need a visa to enter Panama and can stay for up to 180 days visa-free. My partner Tobi has a German (EU) passport and he also did not need a visa and could stay up to 90 days visa-free.
I use Passport Index before every international trip to find out if I need a visa for a country and, as a multi-passport holder, which of my passports is the best to use to enter a specific country.
Panama passport stamps
Language
The official language of Panama is Spanish and you should absolutely have a basic grasp of the language not only to be able to do basic things such as order a coffee, buy bus tickets and ask for directions, but also as a sign of respect. Having said that, especially in big cities and in all "toursity" spots, you'll find people who speak English and can assist you.
Get Around
We traveled through Panama predominantly by public bus which we found to be well-organized, cheap and straightforward. Occasionally when public buses would require too many stopovers making our trips unnecessarily long, we booked a private shuttle. I will go into detail below.
You can also choose to travel through Panama with your own car. The infrastructure in Panama is generally excellent; it is the wealthiest country in Central America thanks to the flow of income from the Panama Canal and the roads reflect this. I don't have any experience with driving or parking in Panama so please do your own research here.
If you have limited time, you can also choose to fly domestically, such as between Panama City and Bocas del Toro.
A public bus in Panama
Safety
Central America can have, for some, a perception of being an unsafe part of the world to travel, particularly for young white women. However, I absolutely loved Panama. I can tell you honestly it is one of the safest countries I have traveled to, so long as you use the same common sense you would use elsewhere in the world.
Casco Viejo, Panama City
Arrive: We flew into Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City as the start of our trip through Central America. From here you can either take a taxi or a public bus into the city.
Get around: Panama City is quite a spread out city with a number of distinct neighbourhoods. I recommend exploring the city on foot. To travel further distances between neighbourhoods or get out to the Panama Canal, the metro and bus system in Panama City is excellent. Yellow taxis are also readily available.
Stay: There are a number of neighbourhoods to stay in when you visit Panama City. We booked into the Bodhi Hostel, a clean, comfortable and quiet hostel away from busy streets and in walking distance to great restaurants and the metro system. If we were to visit Panama City again, we'd stay directly in Casco Viejo and arguably the most luxurious and well-known hotel in the Casco Viejo is the exquisitely designed American Trade Hotel.
Eat: For breakfast you absolutely must go to Mentiritas Blancas where we ate arguably the best açai bowls of our lives. Later, while wandering through Casco Viejo, we stopped for lunch at the Tiempo's Coffee inside the American Trade Hotel for delicious chai lattes and avocado toast.
Do: Wander the colourful streets of Casco Viejo. Climb to the best viewpoint of the entire city at San Francisco de Asis Church. Visit the most beautiful market. Spot the Panama Hat display. Visit the world famous Panama Canal.
→ For full details on everything mentioned above, check out my complete guide to Panama City!
Casco Viejo
Tiempo's Coffee at American Trade Hotel
View from San Francisco de Asis
Panama Canal
The town of Santa Catalina on the southern coast of Panama is the base hub for visiting the nearby Coiba National Park. Boat tours leave from Santa Catalina every day to explore the park.
Arrive: We traveled from Panama City to Santa Catalina by public bus. From Albrook, the main bus station in Panama City, take the five-hour bus to Sona and transfer onto a bus straight to Santa Catalina.
Get around: Santa Catalina is a very small coastal town on the southern coast of Panama and the main hub for visiting Coiba National Park. You'll be able to easily walk around town, with the beach at one end of the main road.
Eat: For breakfast, lunch or a post-snorkel snack, I can seriously recommend Café Panachocolat. They have delicious smoothie bowls and quite possibly the best chai latte I've ever had in the world! For dinner, we enjoyed a massive choose-your-own wok bowl at PanaWok, a short walk up Calle Estero. You can pick whatever you want in your wok bowl from a range of fresh ingredients and they cook it for you, including vegan and veg options!
Do: Wander through the little town. Hang out on the beach. Watch the sunset from Playa Catalina. Go on a snorkeling trip to Coiba National Park.
→ For full details on everything mentioned above, check out my complete guide to Santa Catalina!
Café Panachocolat
Playa Catalina
Coiba National Park
Isla Ranchería
We stayed at the Lost and Found Hostel is not close to any other major backpacker destination, it truly is a destination within itself, overlooking the Fortuna Forest Reserve.
Arrive: We arrived to the Lost and Found Hostel by shuttle from Santa Catalina with Shuttle in Panama.
Get around: Regardless of which method of transport you take, you'll be dropped off on the side of the road. You then have to hike about 15-20 minutes up to reach the hostel. There is no other way to reach the hostel other than on foot, so be prepared for a bit of a trek, especially with your heavy backpack!
Eat: The Lost and Found Hostel serves all three meals every day. The food they cook on site is all vegan and delicious, however there are some non-vegan snacks available for purchase at reception. If you want something else to eat, we can also really recommend the little Restaurante Vista Hermosa at the base of the hike where the bus drops you off. We also picked up snacks and drinks at the mercado in nearby Gualaca.
Do: Watch the sunset over the Fortuna Forest Reserve. Spot wildlife. Go on a hike. Take a day trip to Gualaca Canyon.
→ For full details on everything mentioned above, check out my complete guide to Lost and Found!
Sunset at Lost and Found
Capuchin monkeys
Gualaca Canyon
Coati at the hostel
Arrive: Whether you travel by bus, ferry or private shuttle, you'll need to take a 45-minute ferry from Almirante to Bocas Town. Bocas del Toro does also have its own small airport and you can fly directly between San Jose in Costa Rica and Panama City. I use Google Flights to find the best flights.
Get around: The main town of Bocas del Toro is on the main island of Isla Colón and is known simply as Bocas Town. To get in between different islands, you simply need to grab a local water taxi from the water taxi stop, let them know where you're going and agree on a price.
Eat: When you arrive in Bocas Town on the ferry, you might feel just like us: hungry and tired from the trip to get here! We beelined it to Amaranto for a delicious lunch. For the rest of our trip, we dined at the Bambuda Lodge on Isla Solarte. There is a delicious restaurant on site serving up mouthwatering breakfasts, lunches and dinners plus snacks and drinks in between, with tons of vegan options!
Do - Isla Solarte: Hang out at the pool. Go down the water slide straight into the ocean. Catch the early morning light over the water. Do a yoga class. Go on a muddy island hike.
→ For full details on everything mentioned above, check out my complete guide to Bocas del Toro!
Bocas Town
Hospital Point on Isla Solarte
Bambuda Lodge pool
Lunch at Bambuda Lodge
I quit my job last July and decided to take what I coined an "adult gap year", given I was taking it aged 28, instead of the typical gap year age of 18. I went back and forth for months on exactly when I would go, which countries I would visit, for how long I wanted to travel, with whom I wanted to go - if anyone...
My Central America trip would turn out to cover five countries in five weeks; click the photos below for all my guides!
Costa Rica
Nicaragua
Guatemala
Belize
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE IN PANAMA!
PIN THIS POST TO REFER BACK TO LATER!
GET READY TO TRAVEL!
— Book tours and experiences - with GetYourGuide
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (North America)
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (Europe)
— Find a place to stay - with Booking.com
— Choose a hostel to stay at - with Hostelworld
— Purchase global travel insurance - with World Nomads
— Load an international eSim on your phone - with AirAlo
— Start your own travel blog - with Hostinger
— Join the GetYourGuide Travel Creator Community - with GetYourGuide
Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
