Panama City
Celebrating Panama as the land bridge that has permitted astonishing biodiversity in the region, this world-class museum is a visual feast. Exhibits tell鈥
Must-see attractions in Panama
Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos
Isla Bastimentos
Established in 1988, this 132-sq-km marine park was Panama's first. Protecting 130 islands of the Bocas del Toro archipelago, including the coral-fringed鈥
Panama City
This wonderful privately owned museum features the best collection of Panamanian art anywhere, an excellent collection of works on paper by Latin American鈥
Pen铆nsula de Azuero
One of Panama's top artisans, Dario L贸pez has been making colorful masks for folkloric dancers since the 1960s. These days most of his masks and satin鈥
Comarca de Guna Yala
This island's superlatives are threefold: it is the largest island in the archipelago yet has the smallest population (100 people) and it is the only San鈥
Panama City
Founded on August 15, 1519, by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias de 脕vila, the city of Panam谩 was the first European settlement along the Pacific. For 150鈥
Panama City
On a hill north of downtown, this 265-hectare park protects vast expanses of tropical semideciduous forest within the city limits, and serves as an鈥
Panama Rainforest Discovery Center
Panam谩 Province
Geared toward ecotourism and environmental education, this is an excellent facility for birdwatchers and nature-lovers. Since you are probably here to鈥
Panama Canal
The easiest way to visit the Panama Canal is to head to the Miraflores Visitors Center, just outside Panama City. This modern center features a four-floor鈥
Panama City
Ideal for families, CEM is operated by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). This informative marine museum features two small aquariums and鈥
Panama City
At the tip of the southern point of Casco Viejo, this beautiful plaza pays homage to the French role in the construction of the canal. Its large stone鈥
Panam谩 Province
This 195-sq-km national park is one of the most accessible tropical rainforests in Panama. It extends much of the way across the isthmus, from Lim贸n on鈥
Pen铆nsula de Azuero
Some 26km northwest of central Chitr茅, Parque Nacional Sarigua is arguably the most important pre-Columbian site in Panama. The archaeological site has鈥
Panama City
This Casco Viejo church protects the famous Altar de Oro (Golden Altar), the sole relic salvaged after privateer Henry Morgan sacked Panam谩 Viejo.
Finca Los Monos Botanical Garden
Bocas del Toro Town
One of the joys of visiting Bocas is touring the 'Monkey Farm' botanical garden a couple of kilometers northwest of the center. Painstakingly carved out鈥
Museo de Arte Religioso Colonial
Panama City
Housed beside the ruins of the Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo, the Museo de Arte Religioso Colonial has a collection of colonial-era religious鈥
Dari茅n Province
On the southern shore of the Golfo de San Miguel, this 263-sq-km wildlife reserve is owned by the private conservation group ANCON. It contains species鈥
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Ceneg贸n del Mangle
Pen铆nsula de Azuero
This 776-hectare refuge about 25km north of Chitr茅 protects a mangrove forest at the mouth of the R铆o Santa Mar铆a. It's an important wildlife area and鈥
Panama City
In the original settlement of Panam谩 Viejo, this museum traces the history from pre-colonial times to colonial life. There's an impressive scale model of鈥
Panama City
This impressive museum is housed in a beautifully restored building that once served as the headquarters for the original French canal company. The Panama鈥
Explora Center of Science & Arts
Panama City
Mini travelers (and those young at heart) will love this museum dedicated to interactive learning. Six exhibition rooms explore such themes as electricity鈥
Panama City
In 1826, in a schoolroom opposite this Casco Viejo park, Sim贸n Bol铆var held a meeting urging the union of the Latin American countries. Bol铆var eventually鈥
Panama City
Built in 1907, the interior of this ornate Casco Viejo theater has been completely restored. It boasts red and gold decorations, a once-magnificent鈥
Isla Col贸n
This lovely beach is pounded by intense waves. Though you wouldn鈥檛 want to get into the water here without a board, the soft, yellow sand and palm-fringed鈥
Panama City
Once the headquarters of the First National City Bank of New York, this is where much of the financing of the Panama Canal took place. Today the American鈥
Isla Col贸n
Boca del Drago, in the northwest of Isla Col贸n, is one of the best beaches on the island, though the surf can be rough at times. Just offshore from the鈥
Iglesia de la Compa帽铆a de Jes煤s
Panama City
These days only a shell, this 1741 convent and church in Casco Viejo was destroyed in a fire and further damaged in an earthquake but remains a thing of鈥
Panama City
The biggest park in the city is filled with children, joggers and the occasional salsa class. It's located in Omar, behind the San Francisco neighborhood鈥
Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo
Panama City
Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo is the best-preserved church of the ruins of Panam谩 Viejo. The convent dates from the 1570s, though the church was鈥
Panama City
The modest Museo de Historia de Panam谩 has a small selection of exhibits covering Panamanian history from the colonial period to the modern era.
Panama City
Sculpted by Miguel Blan and Mariano Benlliure, the Balboa statue overlooks the Bah铆a de Panam谩 and was inaugurated in 1924, a gift from Spain.
Panama City
An example of the baroque style in Panama, this Casco Viejo church was built in 1673 with a facade transferred from Panam谩 Viejo.
Panama City
The story of the monumental effort to build the Panama Canal is powerfully depicted in murals by notable artist William B Van Ingen of New York. The鈥
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Isla Iguana
Pen铆nsula de Azuero
This 53-hectare reserve is centered on a deserted island ringed by corals. The water is shallow enough for snorkeling and, as elsewhere in the Pacific,鈥
Dari茅n Province
Traveling the wide and very brown Samb煤 River is a memorable experience: you'll glide past spectacular mangroves 鈥 five of the world's seven known species鈥
Panama City
Located within the financial district, these two towers were built in 1996.
Pen铆nsula de Azuero
Playa El Agallito is a mudflat created by silt deposited by the R铆o Parita and the R铆o La Villa, 9km north of Chitr茅. At low tide, it stretches more than鈥
Pen铆nsula de Azuero
On the east side of Plaza Sim贸n Bol铆var, this national treasure was consecrated in 1782, although the foundation stone had been laid more than two鈥
Museo de Herrera Fabio Rodriquez
Pen铆nsula de Azuero
This small museum, housed in a lovely two-story colonial building, contains many well-preserved pieces of pottery dating from 5000 BC until the Spanish鈥
Portobelo
Under renovation at the time of research, the handsome, two-story Royal Customs House of Portobelo was originally built in 1638 to serve as the contadur铆a鈥
