Nikki & Seth
Things To Do
Explore Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo, also known as Casco Antguo, is a UNESCO World Heritage site offering the best sight-seeing, dining, and nightlife in Panama City. During the day grab a delicious cup of coffee and hop into the various neighborhood boutique shops. The quintessential Panamanian things to buy are: Wounaan Baskets, Molas, Guayabera Shirts, Abuelo Rum, and of course a Panama Hat. Then head towards Plaza Las Bóvedas where you will find the indigenous people of Panama, known as the Kuna Indians, selling hand crafted goods. Grab a refreshing Raspado (flavored shaved ice) from the raspadero at the base of of the plaza stairs. Then grab a drink or a beer at one of the many rooftops bar lounges.
Panama Canal
Panama’s greatest claim to fame is without doubt the Panama Canal. The Miraflores locks are the closest to Panama City and offers the opportunity to experience first hand the Canal. Once you arrive you will need to purchase tickets to enter the Exhibit and Museum. To purchase tickets ahead of time visit the visitcanaldepanama.com website. Please contact Jaymar Pinzon via cell phone +507 6617-0620 or by email at jaymar.pinzon@outlook.com to arrange your visit to Monkey Island.
Monkey Island
In the depth of Panama’s Gatun Lake within the Panama Canal sits an island inhabited by monkeys! Visiting monkey island is a great way to immerse yourself in a lush jungle landscape that is less than 45 minutes from the city. Please contact Jaymar Pinzon via cell phone +507 6617-0620 or by email at jaymar.pinzon@outlook.com to arrange your visit to Monkey Island.
Taboga Island
Taboga Island is just a 30-minute boat ride from Panama City, making it one of the easiest beach getaways. I highly recommend going on a weekday if possible because it becomes overcrowded with people on the weekend. Besides relaxing on a boat or at the beach be sure to walk through the quaint local town or hike to the top of El Cruce for an amazing view. The Taboga Express ( http://tabogaexpress.com/) is a public ferry that takes you to Taboga which leaves from the Amador Causeway and costs $20 round-trip. If you would like a more private experience please contact Jaymar Pinzon via cell phone +507 6617-0620 or by email at jaymar.pinzon@outlook.com to arrange your visit to Taboga Island.
Amador Causeway
Located 10 minutes from Casco Viejo, this popular causeway features jogging and biking trails with 360 views of Panama City and the entrance of the Canal as well as restaurants and shops. Along the causeway you will find bike/vespa rental shops. I recommend going here either early in the morning or during sunset. It is also the location of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Biomuseo which is a museum focused on the natural history of Panama and designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Coffee Tasting at Sisu Coffee Studio
Panama is known for its coffee, especially for its Geisha coffee. Sisu Coffee Studio is located in Casco Viejo and is a very modern yet airy cafe. It is a great place to grab some coffee and catch up on some emails while you are visiting Panama but they also offer coffee tasting in a private room for $30/ person.
Favorite Restaurants
There are various restaurants within Casco Viejo that are amazing, but if you feel like exploring the city, here are a few recommendations. Maito - http://www.maitopanama.com - Panamanian Fusion - Is on the Latin American Top 50 Best Restaurants List. Approx 15 - 20 min drive from Casco Viejo. Segundo Muelle San Francisco - https://segundomuellepanama.com/ - Best Peruvian Food. Approx. 15 - 20 min drive from Casco Viejo. La Casa del Mariscos - https://achapanama.com/la-casa-del-marisco.html - Basque/Spanish - Approx. 15 - 20 min drive from Casco Viejo. Makoto - http://makotopanama.com/en/ - Japanese - Approx. 20 min drive from Casco Viejo. Parrillada Jimmy - http://www.parrilladajimmy.com/web/ - Greek/Steakhouse/Seafood - Approx. 20 min drive from Casco Viejo. Gauchos - Argentinian Steakhouse - Approx. 15 min drive from Casco Viejo. Casa Alejandro - https://www.facebook.com/CasaAlejandroRestaurantePanama/ - Spanish - Approx. 15 min drive from Casco Viejo.
Shopping
The shopping in Casco Viejo is best known for local souvenirs and hand made goods. If you are looking for brand names/high end shopping here are a couple of malls that we recommend that are close by. Albrook Mall - is well known for their more economic stores, but they also have local department stores and boutiques MultiPlaza - This mall has mixture of department type stores, local boutiques, and high end brand names such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, and Carolina Herrera. Soho Mall - This is Panama's newest mall and is known for carrying luxurious brands such as Channel, Louis Vuitton, and Valentino.