Lonely Planet Panama

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• Publisher: Lonely Planet
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781786574916
• eBook ISBN: 9781788685450

Panama City

History

Sights

Activities & Courses

Tours

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Shopping

Panama City

POP 880,700 / ELEV 6FT

Why Go?

The most cosmopolitan capital in Central America, Panama City is both vibrant metropolis and gateway to tropical escapes. Many worlds coexist here. Welcoming both east and west, Panama is a regional hub of trade and immigration. The resulting cultural cocktail mix leads to a refreshing ‘anything goes’ attitude, more dynamic and fluid than that of its neighbors.

Unflinchingly urban, the capital rides the rails of chaos, with traffic jams, wayward taxis and casinos stacked between chic clubs and construction sites. A center of international banking and trade, it has a sultry skyline of shimmering glass and steel towers that is reminiscent of Miami. In contrast, the colonial peninsula of Casco Viejo has become a hip neighborhood where cobblestones link boutique hotels with rooftop bars and crumbled ruins with pirate lore.

Escape is never far away. Day-trip to sandy beaches (Pacific or Caribbean), admire the canal, or explore lush rainforests of howler monkeys, toucans and sloths.

When to Go

• Jan In the peak of high season, the weeklong Panama Jazz Festival features open-air concerts and events held mostly in the historic neighborhood of Casco Viejo.
• Dec–mid-Mar High season is dry season, with sunnier weather for outdoor cafe dining and day trips to the beach; hotel rates are up and travelers should book ahead.
• Apr–Nov Low-season prices and occasional showers, though a rain reprieve usually comes in October. A slew of public holidays in November means ubiquitous parades, party events and closures. It can also be hard to book hotels.

Best Places to Eat

A Donde José

A Mercado de Mariscos

A Lo Que Hay

A Avatar

A Super Gourmet

Best Places to Stay

A American Trade Hotel

A Magnolia Inn

A W Hotel

A Bristol Panam...

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• Welcome to Panama
• Panama’s Top 15
• Need to Know
• First Time Panama
• What’s New
• If You Like
• Month by Month
• Itineraries
• Panama Outdoors
• Regions at a Glance
• Panama City
• Panamá Province
• Coclé Province
• Península de Azuero
• Veraguas Province
• Chiriquí Province
• Bocas del Toro Province
• Colón Province
• Comarca de Guna Yala
• Darién Province
• Understand Panama
• Panama Today
• History
• The Panamanian Way of Life
• Music
• Arts
• Land & Wildlife
• Directory A–Z
• Transportation
• Language
• Behind the Scenes
• Our Writers