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Panama Visitor Activities and Attractions
Golf
Panama has the best championship golf courses in all of
Central America. The two most well known golf facilities
in the area are the course at Coronado and  the Summit Golf Resort.
Coronado is an 18-hole par 72 course offering 7,092 yards
of professional play. This course is especially beautiful
for its fruit trees, including the abundance of Mango
trees, which surround the greens and fairways. To put
it simply, the course is considered a "jewel"
in all of Latin America.
Nestled in the forests of the Panama Canal watershed lays
Summit Golf and Resort. This luxurious complex includes
two courses, the first of which has 18 holes and the second,
designed especially for kids, has 6 holes. Summit Golf
and Resort is the only facility of its kind in Latin America
equipped with GPS technology. This resort also caters
to children by offering a family center, day care and
games for all ages. Sounds like it couldn't get any better?
It does. The Summit Golf and Resort is just a twenty-minute
drive from downtown Panama.
Dining
Restaurants in Panama reflect our cultural diversity by
offering a wide range of cuisines. Whatever you are in
the mood for, you'll have no trouble finding it. Naturally,
seafood is excellent and abundant in Panama. The most
common fish on many menus is also one of the most delicious:
corvina. And you can't talk about Panamanian cuisine without
mentioning ceviche. This traditional dish consists of
raw corvina that is marinated in limejuice, peppers, and
onions and is considered to be a delicious treat by locals.
Whatever your preference in dishes, Panama offers something
to suit everyone's tastes and pocketbook.
Shopping
Panama City is a paradise for shoppers. Vía España
and Avenida Central offer everything from the latest in
fashion to the most complex computers and crafts at low
prices. The craft stores offer a variety of straw and
wood products, embroideries and paintings, in addition
to the famous molas, hand-made by the Kuna Indians.
Panama is an international free port. You can find jewels,
precious stones, embroidered tablecloths, oriental art,
watches, perfumes, photography and electronic equipment,
electric household products, fine glassware and porcelain
- all at reasonable prices. Most stores are open from
9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Many of them
open on Sunday and hold numerous special sales (baratillos)
throughout the year. Supermarkets, many of which are open
24 hours, are modern and well stocked. There are also
large, modern commercial malls with a vast variety of
specialized stores.
Casinos
In Panama, casinos and other games of chance are operated
both under the government and privately. Profits from
the national lottery go to support hospitals and local
charities. There are a number of popular gambling houses
that can be found in downtown Panama.
Scuba Diving
Whether is snorkeling or tank diving, the diving enthusiast
is bound to find his appeal in any of the various waters
of Panama. Panama offers both, the lively and colorful
clarity of Caribbean style Atlantic; the vast and mysterious
Pacific Ocean full of large marine species, exactly where
Balboa discovered it; and the jungle encircled Gatun Lake,
bed of the Panama Canal. Scuba
Diving Services
The isthmus of Panama, running on an east-west axis, finds
the Atlantic Ocean on its northern shores. Starting from
the west, the first dive site is Bocas del Toro. The scuba
diving in and around Bocas can be enjoyed throughout the
year, with most of the dive spots no more than one hour
boat ride from Bocas town. The water temperatures is very
tropical and constant, so full or even short wetsuits
are not required. Water visability varies from one dive
spot to another, and is always dependent on weather conditions.
The months of September and October are traditionally
the better months, due primarilly to more suitable climatic
conditions. During this period there is less rain and
wind, allowing for clearer water conditions.
Surfing
The best beaches for surfing are some 50 miles west of
the city traveling through the Pan American Highway. Some
of the most popular ones on the Pacific Side are Santa
Catalina, Venado and Río Mar. On the Atlantic the
spot are Isla Grande, Bluf and Careneros. You can surf
on both coasts with ranging from 3 to 15 feet.
Rafting
There are several rivers in Panama that will provide a
white knuckle thrill. The rivers Chiriquí and Chiriquí
Viejo, rated level 3 and 4 respectively, are excellent
for whitewater adventure.
CHIRIQUI RIVER
Bajo Mendez Section - Class III & III+; Considered
to be the forgiving river to its counterpart, the Palon,
this section involves big water with plenty of room for
maneuvering. Long wave trains and wild scenery make this
river a perfect starting point for the first-time rafter.
3.5 Hours
Barrigona Section - Class III; Perfect for beginners and
families, this section offers a glimpse of what whitewater
can look and feel like. The Barrigona features a few exciting
class III rapids while the rest of the stretch is filled
with continuously moving water that will keep you on your
toes. A shorter trip, the Barrigona gives the rafter 2.5
hours of milder rafting and vistas of Chiriqui's pretty
stretches of plains and gentle rolling hills.
2.5 Hours
CHIRIQUI VIEJO RIVER
Palon Section - Class IV; Perhaps some of the most beautiful
and classic rapids in all of Central America, this section
is only run during the low water months of December through
April. Intrepid first-timers and seasoned rafters will
undoubtedly hail this river as a world class run with
it's non stop rapids, technical maneuvers, deep canyon
gorges and it's spectacular tropical jungle scenery.
4 Hours
Sabo Section - Class III; Lush and verdant forest borders
along this lower section of the Chiriqui Viejo River.
Big rapids dominate the first half of the Sabo section
while the second half levels out to allow participants
a chance to enjoy the surrounding wildlife and scenery.
Feast your eyesCormorants, Kingfishers and Iguanas abound!
2.5 Hours
Fishing
Panama offers three world-class areas for deep-sea fishing:
Bahía Piña and the Pearl and Coiba archipelagos.
Bahía Piña holds more world fishing records
than any other place in the world. These three areas offer
shipboard and beachfront lodging with either full or half-day
trips. In addition, a number of the local hotels often
organize deep-sea fishing expeditions. This is a wonderful
opportunity to sail about and enjoy the open sea, while
learning about the various fish native to the Atlantic
or Pacific.
Horse Racing
The Presidente Jose A. Remón Racetrack in Juan
Díaz is conveniently open on Thursdays, Saturdays,
Sundays, and holidays. In Panama, no earnings from games
of chance are subject to taxation.
Bird Watching
Panama offers magnificent bird watching.The total number
of bird species found in Panama, about 950, is surprisingly
large, especially when you consider the relatively small
surface of the country. Some 150 of these are neotropical
migrants that only occur in the country from September
till April. It is not rare to see more than twenty different
migrant warblers and vireos on a good morning on spring
or fall migration, and that added to fifty or sixty resident
species. Due to the country's location between two continents
and its narrow girth, more species of birds inhabit Panama
than anywhere else in Central America. In this country,
many North and South American birds are represented, both
native and migratory. The famous resplendent quetzal,
the three-wattled bellbird, the harpy eagle and the king
vulture are just a few of the many species that flourish
here.
A number of organizations and companies, like the Panama
Audubon Society, can help assist in planning your bird
watching expedition and maximize your chances of seeing
the greatest number of bird species. But all you really
need to do to see birds in Panama is grab a set of binoculars
and head for a trail.
Carnival
Carnival, the annual celebration before Lent, is perhaps
the most widely attended of Panamanian festivals and certainly
the most widely recognized internationally. Is a 4-day
celebration, which starts on Saturday, and ends on Tuesday.
Dates change every year. Carnival Sunday is seven weeks
before Easter Sunday.
There's much more to Carnival than the Parades, though.
Street Carnival is loads of fun, free, and it happens
all over the country. You are more than welcome to watch
and to participate.
Each town in Panama has its parades during the morning
in Carnival, called "Culecos" or "Mojaderas"
and during the night. They consist of a car with the Street
Queen and her princesses, followed by an orchestra marching
along a pre-determined route, followed by hordes of enthusiastic
dancers dressed in typical dresses or customes (during
the night), bathing suits (during the morning), or simple
clothes. The performance of the queens is legendary.
Attractions
La Amistad International Park
Location: Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro provinces, northwest
Area: 207,000 hectares (511,290 acres)
Distance from Panama City: 480km
Nearest accommodation: Cerro Punta
A cooperative effort between Panama and Costa Rica, this
huge national park contains 12 life zones and protects
an enormous diversity of flora and fauna.
Bastimentos Island Marine National Park
Location: Bocas del Toro Province, northwest
Area: 13,226 hectares (32,668 acres)
Distance from Panama City: a one-hour flight or about
a day by road and ferry
Accommodation: Hotels on the islands of Colon, Almirante
and Changuinola.
Protecting the coastal and marine ecosystems of the Bocas
del Toro archipeligo, this park featues pristine white
sand beaches and great snorkeling and diving on its coral
reefs. Three species of marine turtles nest on the beaches
and the waters are home to manatees, lobsters and more
than 200 species of tropical fish.
Soberania National Park
Location: Panama and Colon provinces, central
Areas: 22,104 hectares (54, 596 acres)
Distance from Panama City: 25km
Accommodation: Panama City
Located in the watershed of the Panama Canal, this is
one of the country's most accessible forest areas. It
has several hiking trails and a fantastic variety of plant,
animal and bird life. One of the trails includes a section
of the old Las Cruces Trail used by the Spanish mule trains
taking goods between Panama City and Nombre de Dios.
Chagres National Park
Location: Panama and Colon provinces, central
Area: 129,000 hectares (318,630 acres)
Distance from Panama City: 40km
 Fort San Lorenzo, Colon
King Phillip II ordered the fortress to be built in 1595,
which is located on the Chagres River commanding a view
of the mouth of the river and miles out to sea.
Portobelo, Colon
Picturesque bayside village features the ruins of five
Spanish forts, a restored treasure house and the burial
place of Sir Francis Drake.
What to see in Panama City
Casco Viejo, Panama City
Historic district that features wide brick streets and
a range of architectural styles that reflects the city's
cultural diversity.
Summit Gardens, Panama City
Featuring a small zoo and paved trails, this tropical
botanical garden features Panama's national bird, the
Harpy Eagle.
Soberania National Park, Panama City
Located 15 miles from downtown Panama City, this scenic
park features two hiking paths called el Charco in Gamboa
and Pipeline Road, both known for excellent birding and
wildlife viewing.
Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador), Panama City
Located at the southern entrance of the Panama Canal and
stretching nearly three kilometers into the Pacific Ocean,
this popular causeway features many tourist-related venues
and activities including hotels, restaurants, and jogging
and biking trails.
Gatun Lake, Panama City
After Lake Mead, this is the world's largest man-made
lake that forms the central part of the Panama Canal.
Panama Canal, Panama City
Though it was built 90 years ago, the Panama Canal remains
one of mankind's most impressive feats of engineering.
It took 30 years and cost the lives of some 25,000 workers
to dig 25 miles of channel, build three massive locks,
and dam up the Chagres River. Today, ships make over 14,000
transits t hrough
the 51-mile network of locks and lakes. Tolls, based on
a boat's measurements and cargo volume, must be paid in
cash. (A cruise liner set the record in 2003, paying nearly
$218,000.) The canal is a major source of income for Panama—during
its last fiscal year it posted revenue of $800 million.
Canal aficionados can take a Panama Jones cruise that
makes the full passage from Panama City to Colón
over ten long hours. Along the way, the boat passes by
jungle islands inhabited by gregarious monkeys and through
all three locks, as well as the famous Gaillard Cut, the
nine-mile section of the canal that was dug through the
highest elevations. If you prefer a quick thril, a chartered
helicopter from a company called Helipan Corporation ($650
per hour for up to four people; 507-315-0452). The hourlong
flight gives you a stunning heart-in-your-mouth overview
of the parade of ships and the jungle corridor that lies
between the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Panama Interoceanic Canal Museum, Panama City
Opened in 1997, this history museum chronicles the planning,
construction and present-day operation of Panama's landmark
canal.
Metropolitan National Park, Panama City
Located within the limits of Panama City, this protected
tropical forest is the site where the Smithsonian Institute
carries out scientific research on the ecology of the
forest canopy. Here you can walk through marked paths,
surrounded by orchids and cedar trees and see more than
200 different species of birds, mammals and reptiles.
 Bridge of the Americas,
Panama City
Spanning the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, this
5,007-foot-long arch bridge connects both North and South
America and serves as an important part of the InterAmerican
Highway.
Panama Canal Railway, Panama City
This tour on the newly restored Panama Canal Railway,
the western hemisphere's first transcontinental railroad,
follows the east bank of the canal that offers excellent
views of the waterway and rainforests along its shoreline.
Avenida Central, Panama City
Six-block-long pedestrian mall that is lined with shops
and restaurants.
 Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Park, Panama City
Paying tribute to Spanish adventurer Vasco Núñez
de Balboa, this scenic park features a statue that depicts
the explorer holding a Spanish flag in one hand and a
sword in the other.
Monkey Island, Panama City
Located in Lake Gatun, this island gets its name for the
white-faced monkeys that inhabit it.
Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitan), Panama
City
Built between 1688 and 1796, this is a magnificent example
of the religious colonial architecture of Panama.
Limon Bay, Panama City
Located at the north end of the Panama Canal, this 4.5-mile-long
and 2.5-mile-wide bay is protected by rough seas by breakwaters
at its entrance.
San Jose Church, Panama City
Built soon after the first Spanish settlement in the 16th
century, this small church features the famous Golden
Altar (Altar de Oro), which is made entirely of pure gold.
Embera Indian Village, Panama City
Visitors to the authentic village of Parara Puru have
the opportunity to learn about the culture and society
of the Embera Indians.
The Old City (Casco Viejo), Panama City
This charming old community’s churches, pedestrian walkways
and historical plazas and palaces make it a must-see on
any tour.
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