• Santa Catalina Infinity Pool Panama
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Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.​

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

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Boquete

Boquete

Boquete is located in a beautiful valley with rocky mountain rivers and scenic views and has a growing expat community of people who just fell in love with the town and decided to move here. Boquete is home to multiple coffee plantations, a good selection of restaurants serving different cuisines, a place to practice outdoor activities that range from scenic tours in ATV vehicles to rock climbing, mountain biking, canopy zip-lining, horseback riding, golf, bird watching, hot springs and much more. Boquete’s spring-like weather is optimal year-round and the town has been appointed one of the top retirement communities in the world offering a great quality of life.
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Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro

Of all the tourism destinations in Panama, Bocas del Toro is the place where you can have it all! During the day you can take a tour to any of the amazing islands of the archipelago, sail, sunbathe, swim, surf, snorkel, hike, ride a bicycle around town, and visit an indigenous village or a botanical garden. At night you can literally go bar hopping, participate in a talent night, go to a costume party, dance by a shipwreck and find excellent live music. The best of all this? There's no need to drive! Bocas is constantly changing and transforming itself. There’s always something new and by just walking down the streets you can already feel the energy of people coming and going, happy and lucky to be there.
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Contadora Island

Contadora Island

Just a 15 minute plane ride from Panama City, Contadora Island is a great escape with white sand beaches and calm blue waters. Contadora is also a good base for exploring the neighboring islands. Some of the activities include whale watching, snorkeling, kayaking and touring around the island by scooter. Contadora has an interesting history. In the days of the pirates, the island was used to store and count gold (hence the name) and later, in the 1960s, it became the place for Panamanian and international holiday homes, which can still be seen today lining the shore of the island.
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Isla Grande

Isla Grande

Located across from the mainland town of La Guaira, Isla Grande offers crystal clear waters, coral reefs, and white sandy beaches. Despite the small size of the island, there are many little hotels and restaurants, catering to most budgets. The island offers great opportunities for snorkeling and practicing all kinds of water sports, like surfing at the famous surf break near the Sister Moon hotel (caution is advised as the spot requires some expertise and knowledge of the coral reef). The Caribbean cuisine stands out due to the abundance of seafood and coconuts which creates a perfect mix of flavors. Famous Caribbean recipes are made of conch, lobster, crab, octopus, squid, shrimp, fish and many other delicious ingredients.
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El Valle de Anton

El Valle de Anton

This is a beautiful and exotic valley located in the crater of an extinct volcano. Temperatures are lower than Panama City, especially during the dry season. Home to a variety of wonders, from the endemic golden frog to unusual square trees, springs, rivers and multiple bird species. This is a favorite vacation and weekend spot where wealthy Panamanians go to kick back, relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. For years, the Sunday market has been attracting visitors looking for great deals on local handicrafts and products.
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Santa Catalina & Coiba Island

Santa Catalina & Coiba Island

Santa Catalina, a small, laid-back town known for having one of the best surf breaks in Central America, is located 300 km northwest of Panama City, about one hour from Santiago. The scenery and natural environment are breathtaking. World-class fishing, snorkeling and diving opportunities are found all along the coastline and around the surrounding islands. Coiba National Park can be seen from Catalina. From 1912 to 2002, Coiba Island was used as a penal colony, and Panama’s worst criminals were sent here. Nowadays the prisoners have gone, but the prison remains, and makes for an interesting visit. Moreover, the recent declaration of Coiba as a UNESCO World Heritage site prohibits any development on the island, so the wildlife here is simply spectacular. The enormous island is home to a plethora of birds, mammals and reptiles. The surrounding marine park comprises 38 other smaller islands including Cebaco and Gobernadora and is the site of the second largest coral reef in the Eastern Pacific. Coiba’s amazing variety of underwater life makes fishing and diving here incredible. Santa Catalina is a great base for exploring the islands and coastline. The town itself is small, with few attractions, but a surprising number of foreigners have moved to Catalina to start tourist-related businesses, creating an eclectic mix of people. Restaurants offer a good variety of food including authentic Tuscan Pizza and Argentinian style meats. Needless to say, the seafood in this area is to die for.
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Portobelo

Portobelo

Declared by Unesco as “World Heritage Site”, the town of Portobelo is known as a “historic monument collection” since you can visit several sites in the same place. Many of the fortresses, castles and buildings have been preserved almost intact along the years: examples are Fort Santiago, San Jeronimo, San Fernando, the Customs and Controller’s building, and the San Juan de Dios Church famous for the Black Christ. During the sixteenth and seventeenth century, Portobelo became one of the most important silver-exporter ports of Nueva Grenada, the Spanish Colonial Jurisdiction which included today's Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela. Portobelo also became one of the most important departure points from the “Indies”. For the same reason, this town was subject to many pirate attacks from Francis Drake, William Parker, William Hiking, Henry Morgan, Edward Vernon, and William Kingles. This coastal town is famous for serving excellent seafood and it is close to other great Caribbean destinations.
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Volcan, Bambito and Cerro Punta

Volcan, Bambito and Cerro Punta

Besides being incredibly rich in fruit trees and vegetables thanks to a wonderful climate that usually ranges from 12°C to 25°C, this area offers the most scenic destinations. Explore the rocky mountain rivers, wander the great hiking trails, visit horse and orchid farms and admire the impressive Baru Volcano, Panama's tallest mountain, 3.474 meter high, from which on a sunny day you can see both the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Your experience will also be made special by the interaction with the indigenous tribes who still live here, the ancient archaeological sites and if interested, the many bird watching sights. The area offers multiple cabins, hotels and hostels to suit all tastes and budgets.
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