Panama's rich culture, historical attractions and biodiversity, paired with modern conveniences and easy direct flight access, make it a destination for all ages, according to Panama Tourism. Its unspoiled nature, picturesque beach towns, exotic wildlife, and a blend of gastronomic flavors offer kids, grandkids, parents and grandparents the opportunity to share immersive experiences.
Two family-favorite locations, Panama City and the Chiriquí Highlands, are easily accessible via direct flights from more than a dozen North American cities. In addition, a unique stopover program with Copa Airlines allows passengers to visit both regions for no additional airfare cost. And, with Panama being the only Central American country having USD as its national currency, U.S. travelers will not be burdened with exchange rates or transaction fees.
Panama City serves as a gateway to the country’s rich history, culture, gastronomy and nature. It as an ideal base for a family getaway. In Casco Antiguo, the city’s historic district and a designated UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site, travelers will find plazas and brick-paved streets housing some of the best hotels, restaurants, historic landmarks and specialty shops. The neighborhood is also home to several of the city’s top museums, including The Canal Museum and the Museo de la Mola, featuring the traditional textile art made by the Guna indigenous group.
For those looking to delve deeper into Panama’s impact on the world’s biodiversity, they can visit the Amador Causeway, located only a few minutes south of the city’s historic district. It’s home to the Biomuseo, where eight galleries show how Panama’s isthmus has come to change the world and the country’s commitment to protecting the environment. The Amador Causeway also offers a backdrop featuring waterfront views of the city and the parade of ships awaiting entry into the Panama Canal, one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World.”
Naturalists take note: The Metropolitan Natural Park, only a few minutes from downtown—in the heart of Panama City—is a 573-acre nature sanctuary. It is the only tropical forest to serve as a public recreational park for a metropolitan area. Despite its proximity to the city, the park is home to 227 bird species, 45 mammals—including monkeys and sloths—and 14 kinds of amphibians.
Just 45 minutes from the city, Soberania National Park is easily accessible and offers a nature-filled day trip for the whole family. Visitors can book guided tours through the Panamá Rainforest Discovery Center, where swarms of colorful hummingbirds greet people before reaching the Canopy Tower rising above the rainforest canopy. Adventure-seekers can book a zipline canopy tour with Gamboa Tree Trek Adventure Park, which offers scenic views of Soberania National Park and the Panama Canal from high above the ground.
A 30-minute ferry ride away are the beautiful beaches of Taboga Island, located in the Gulf of Panama. Here, active travelers can hike to the island’s highest points, Cerro Vigia or Cerro de la Cruz, while history-lovers can explore the colorful and historic Spanish-founded town, which is also home to the second oldest church in the Western hemisphere.
Located in the Western part of the country, the province of Chiriquí attracts visitors with its diversity, ranging from its highlands region, which has cooler temperatures and cloud forests, to its Pacific Coast, with white-sand beaches and palm trees, and its scenic mountain region—home to Panama’s only volcano. From Panama City, it’s a one-hour flight to the Enrique Malek International Airport or a seven-hour drive west from the capital.
While the Chiriquí Highlands is famous for gastronomy, culture, adventure and sustainable travel, it’s best known for producing Geisha Coffee—the world’s most valuable coffee varietal. There are numerous coffee circuit farms offering tastings and tours to learn the agricultural practices for growing, harvesting and processing. Other activities on these farms include horseback riding tours, picnics, trekking and the observation of the region's vegetation.
In nearby Boquete is the Volcan Baru. At 11,398 feet high, it is not only the highest peak in Panama, but it’s the only place in the world where (on the clearest of days) you can see the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the same time. Families can take guided car tours to enjoy a picnic on the volcano’s summit with sweeping ocean views and a spectacular cloud forest.
For white-sand islands and one of the largest coral reefs in the coast, one can visit the Gulf of Chiriquí, located an hour away by bus from David. The protected waters of the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine National Park are a prime spot for observing the more than 30 species of whales and dolphins that can be found in the Panama coast. While boat tours are offered year-round, it’s especially popular June-October—during Humpback whale annual migration—as Panama’s Pacific Coast is one of only two areas in the world that hosts Humpbacks from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres each year.
To learn more about Panama’s tourism experiences, visit www.tourismpanama.com.
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