Panama: Insider’s Guide

Trusted Travel Expert

Wendy Will Advise You

In some cases, Wendy has several trip-planning specialists she recommends for a destination and would like to connect with you directly to determine who would best meet your needs. This is one of those cases. Please click on the CONTACT button (below) to find out from Wendy which travel expert is best for your specific trip goals and challenges.

Contact Wendy

Read Trip Reviews

HOW WE HELP YOU

• Tell us about the trip you want

  
  

  The more detail, the better we can help you.

  •Do you have an itinerary in mind? Where do you want to go, or are you looking for ideas?
  

  •Who are you traveling with? (If kids, what are their ages?)
  

  •What are your biggest concerns or things you want to avoid?
  

  •What’s your biggest goal for this trip? What would make it most memorable?

• Tell us your trip goals. IMPORTANT: Local inflation has soared in some countries, so check Wendy’s Pricing Tip: On mobile, scroll down to just above the photo. On desktop, look to the right.*

• Getting there and around

  
  

  Where are you flying from? Have you booked your airline travel? If so, tell us the dates and routing. If not, how long a flight are you comfortable with? Once you’re at your destination, how do you envision exploring it—e.g., rental car? public transit? private vehicle with English-speaking driver or guide/expediter with top connections and special access?

• Tell us your flight dates/route and local transportation preferences (if you know these already).*
• 
  

  Staying there

  
  

  Do you have a type of accommodations in mind (e.g., 4-star, 5-star, historic inn, state-of-the-art resort, family villa. private yacht, small expedition ship)? Is there a past hotel experience you’re seeking something similar to? If you have already booked accommodations, let us know.

• Tell us about the places you’ve stayed in that you’ve liked, and what you would like now.*
• Estimated Trip Start Date (Including the Year)*
• Estimated Trip Length (in Days)*
• Total Trip Budget (in U.S. dollars, excluding airfare):*
  
  How much do you want to spend for a WOW-caliber trip (incl. rooms, vehicles, excursions, meals, unique experiences, and the savviest drivers/guides/expediters to spare you headaches and wasted time)? Your answer will dictate the locations, trip dates, and experiences we will suggest.
  Please select (in USD):More than $75K$50K to $75K$35,000 to $50,000$25,000 to $35,000$20,000 to $25,000$15,000 to $20,000$10,000 to $15,000Other (this will open a new box you can write in)
• REMINDER: Local inflation has soared in some countries, so check Wendy’s Pricing Tip above the trip planner's photo.
• Tell us about your travel budget*

• Where should we send your personalized recommendation?

• First Name*
• Last Name*
• If you’d like this trip to count toward a WOW Moment, use the same email address you’ve used to submit trip requests to WendyPerrin.com in the past.*
  Enter Email Confirm Email
  If you’d like this trip to count toward a WOW Moment, use the same email address you’ve used to submit trip requests to WendyPerrin.com in the past.
• Phone
• Have you used a WOW List travel specialist before? If so, who?*
  • Yes
  • No
• Name of travel specialist(s) you've used
• Do you have a WOW Moment certificate you’d like to use? If so, please enter the first four digits of the certificate number. Qualifying rules apply for certificate redemption.
• First 4 digits only
• How did you hear about Wendy?*
  Please selectCondé Nast TravelerTown & CountryThe Wall Street JournalThe New York TimesTripAdvisorFriends or colleaguesA travel professionalGoogle searchSocial mediaI’ve followed Wendy’s advice for years

• If you do not receive an email confirmation of your trip request from info@wendyperrin.com and you have checked your spam folder, let us know: questions@wendyperrin.com.

• Comments
  This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

What to See and Do

Most underrated places
The province of Azuero contains the country’s most authentic displays of local culture and customs. While once there were few good hotels in the area, today you can stay in comfort at the Santa Catalina. From here you can also take day trips to Cohiba island, which is know for its diverse marine life such as manta rays and whales, as well as its jungle animals including white-faced monkeys. This area is also an up-and-coming surfing spot.

Avenida Central (or “La Central,” as it’s known to locals) was the city’s great commercial hub in the first half of the 20th century. It is a vibrant neighborhood full of shops, bars, hotels, and restaurants.

Most overrated place
Mi Pueblito, in Panama City, claims to show how some of the country’s ethnic groups live, but it is touristy and contrived, with no soul or charm.

The Gatun Lock of the Panama Canal.

Cheap thrill
Make a meal of tropical fruits and ceviche from Panama City’s markets. The Mercado Público sells granadilla, guanabana, and other exotic produce; the Sabores de Chorrillo stand in the nearby Mercado de Mariscos serves Panama’s trademark ceviche, flavored with local fruits.

La Tapa de Coco is a hole-in-the-wall place next to a car wash in Panama City. Come here for amazing seafood and a focus on Afro-Panamanian food and culture.

Hidden gem
Most of Panama’s best beaches are a plane ride away from Panama City, but the Pearl islands are accessible as a day trip via speedboat. Here you’ll find beautiful remote beaches, whales, and plenty of nature.

Pearl Island, Panama. Photo: Shutterstock

How to spend a lazy Sunday
Stroll along the bay on Panama City’s Malecón, or La Cinta Costanera. One lane is closed on Sunday afternoons for locals to come to bike, run, or walk. The government has invested heavily to beautify this area, and it shows.

Where to Stay and What to Eat

Best-value splurge hotels
Panama City has a glut of characterless business hotels; the American Trade Hotel is a break from the norm, a boutique property located in the colonial town near the charming Plaza Tomás Herrera and right next door to the best jazz bar in the city (Wynton Marsalis has played there).

La Compañía is a new boutique hotel in Casco Viejo. Although it’s branded a Hyatt, it exudes plenty of colonial charm and historic grandness.

Meals worth the splurge
Mahalo Cocina y Jardin offers a blend of Panamanian and international cuisine with a focus on fresh and light fare. It has great ambience and is located inside the colonial Las Clementinas hotel in Panama City’s Old Quarter.

Also in the colonial area, Fonda Lo Que Hay (meaning “whatever’s around”) serves a different menu each day—though the signature dish is cocolon (toasted rice) with garlic clams. This place is a gem, but it’s only open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday.

Salvaje, meaning “wild “in Spanish, is a Panama City restaurant serving Asian-fusion cuisine surrounded by modern decor. A night out here is a fun culinary experience, even for families.

Ask Wendy