Do You Know: Panama is the only Destination in the world where you can see the Sunrise on the Pacific Ocean and Sunset on the Atlantic Ocean.
Can you swim in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean on the same day? Yes, of course, you can swim but for this amazing and thrilling experience, you have to visit the best-kept secret of Central America i.e. Panama. It is best known in the world-famous Panama Canal but this Central American country offers many attractions for the travel enthusiast. The reason behind the transition of sunrise in the Pacific and sunset in Atlantic is Panama Canal.
Apart from this, its other attractions cover the cosmopolitan city, exotic beaches, fascinating islands, lush green national parks, mountains and to get some thrilling adventure, you can try whitewater rafting and snorkelling on the islands of Panama.
In Panama, there are numerous attractive destinations which you can visit thus it will be difficult for you to decide where to go first. So for you, we have sorted the most popular travel destinations. Check them out!!
Panama City
Panama City is the capital and largest city of Panama and it is the only of its kind in the world which has a rainforest within its limits. It is located in the Gulf of Panama and the Pacific coast. It is a metropolitan centre of Panama positioned between the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal. During your trip to Panama City, you will witness the mixture of the old city with a blend of new French and Spanish culture and colonial-style buildings.
Another highlight is Ancon Hill which is 654-feet in height and tourists can have incredible views of the whole of Panama City from its top. One of the top things to do in this city is admiring the huge ships that cross the Panama Canal at the Miraflores Locks.
Panama Canal
Panama Canal is one of the greatest architectural achievements in the world and a well-known attraction in Panama. This 48 miles water canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Today more than 8 lakhs of ships pass through the canal & the best spot to observe ships is located in the northeast of Panama City, near the walls of the enormous seven hundred-ton lock gate Miraflores. Tourists can explore the canal by visiting the Miraflores Locks Museum. The Canal’s thread extends across a series of ancient lakes and swamps, and its banks are adorned with wide forests. We recommend that you must visit Pedro Miguel Lock gateway, which is the highest point of the Panama canal and Gaillard Cut which is the deepest part of the waterway.
A popular tourist attraction making up a large section of the Panama Canal is Gatun Lake, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. Boat tours, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and ziplining can all be arranged on Gatun Lake.
Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo is the paradise for history buffs and food lovers. This city mesmerizes tourists with its well-maintained iron balconies and cobblestone streets, with buildings whose construction is influenced by Spanish and French architecture. Here, you can observe carefully preserved ruins including the iconic Cathedral Tower.
From streets to the cathedral, churches to convents, a hospital, bridges, and walls made of stones. There are numerous restaurants located in Casco Viejo. For tasting lip-smacking food visit Nomada Eatery and for cocktails, visit Jeronimowith. Your trip to Panama is incomplete without paying a visit to the ruins of Panama Viejo.
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Soberniana National Park
This picturesque park has two amazing hiking paths, one is El Charco in Gamboa, and the other, Pipeline Road. Both are perfect for incredible bird watching, as well as other wildlife sightings. The pipeline provides the opportunity to view the wildlife of Panama throughout the lush greenery of the forest. During your hike, you will get a chance to see Monkeys, Sloths, Coatimundis, and other animals.
For the best experience hike early in the morning, as animals are most active in the morning. Other trails within this park include Plantation Path, The Pond Natural Trail, Trail of the Crosses, and Spirit of the Forest.
Boquete
Boquete is a small town located in the Chiriqui Highlands comfortably sitting on the lush valley and surrounded by high mountains, gushing rivers, hot springs and ample coffee farms. Now it is considered as a major tourist destination in Panama due to Baru Volcano white-water rafting adventure, canopy tours, botanical gardens and many more.
Baru Volcano is the only volcano located in Panama that provides travellers with an excellent hiking track, nature viewing, and camping options. Other attractions of Boquete include and more. If you are lucky enough then you can watch a glimpse of a rare Quetzal bird.
Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina is one of the top destinations in Panama famous for diving, surfing and for trying various water sports. This hidden paradise is located on the Gulf of Chiriqui and doesn’t offer many facilities but you can explore Santa Catalina for its beautiful beaches enclosed by lush green forests and makes it an ideal destination for nature lovers.
There are almost 30 dives sites in this region and around 760 species of fish and 33 species of shark are residing here. Here in your diving or snorkelling tour, you will discover an abundance of marine creatures such as Manta Rays, white tip reef Sharks, Turtles, and humpback Whales.
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Bocas del Toro Islands
Bocas del Toro island is a combination of 9 rainforest islands separated by white sand. Tourists and surfers love to visit this island to enjoy surfing on low tides. Initially, in 1502, Christopher Columbus discovered the heaven of Bocas del Toro.
This island is surrounded by bushland and rainforest. Numerous water taxis are available there to take travellers to the secret, isolated coves and amazing snorkelling spots. Bocas del Toro is the dream destination of Panama.
El Valle de Anton, Panama
El Valle de Anton or El Valle is a small town situated in the middle of an extinct volcano in central Panama. Surrounded by cloud forests and mountains, this picturesque town has a slightly cooler climate. El Valle de Anton has an orchid conservation centre, a butterfly house and the exhibition centre of snakes and reptile showcasing species.
The most famous waterfall to explore in El Valle is El Chorro del Macho which is 115 feet in height you can go for hiking to the waterfall. Another hiking trail is the La India Dormida hike. it is one of the most popular sunrise viewpoints in Anton Valley. Horseback riding, hiking, and birdwatching are popular activities available in the area.
San Blas Island, Panama
San Blas is a world of islands stretches along the Caribbean coast of Panama. It is an archipelago of around 380 islands out of which only 49 are actually populated and reachable, serving as the home of the friendly Kuna Yala tribe (Kuna Indians). The San Blas Islands are one of the most popular places to visit in Panama due to their unspoiled beauty, cultural, people and simple way of living life.
The best thing about this island is that modern amenities and electricity are confined to the islands therefore its offers a relaxing atmosphere and appealing privacy to many tourists. By visiting San Blas islands, you will discover traditional Indian crafts, and get familiar with Indian music and dances. The most captivating islands to visit are Achutupu, Coco Blanco and Kagantupu.
We are summing up here but apart from these mentioned attractions, you can visit other spots also. Such as Portobello, Isla Taboga, Amador Causeway, Playa Coronado and Pearl Islands.Â
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