Panama City
Panama City is the capital and largest city of Panama, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. It is a major banking, commercial, and transportation center, with a modern skyline and historic districts such as Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city also boasts the Miraflores Locks, a popular tourist attraction offering views of ships crossing the Panama Canal.
Panama: Where Time Dances Between Skyscrapers, Ancient Ruins, and Island Paradises
Imagine a metropolis that launches its skyscrapers towards the sky, a modern canvas painted over a tapestry of living history. Panama invites you on a fascinating journey where two UNESCO World Heritage cities whisper secrets of bygone eras, and dreamlike archipelagos await you with white-sand beaches and turquoise waters.
Step back in time in Panama Viejo, an evocative archaeological site where the ruins of the first city founded in 1519, marked by the audacity of the conquistadors and the roar of pirates, await you under the tropical sun. Feel the breeze laden with stories as you walk among the vestiges of a vibrant past.
Then, immerse yourself in the explosion of color and charm of the Casco Antiguo (Old Quarter), a walled colonial jewel where every cobblestone tells a story. Lose yourself in its labyrinthine streets, a feast for the senses where colonial architecture merges with contemporary energy. Here, museums that guard treasures, boutique hotels with soul, and an effervescent nightlife await you. From rooftops with panoramic views to restaurants that awaken the palate, the Casco Antiguo pulsates with its own rhythm.
Creative City of Gastronomy: A Feast for the Soul (and the Stomach)
Prepare for an unparalleled culinary adventure. Panama City, proud holder of the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy title, invites you to explore a universe of flavors. With four of its restaurants shining on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, the Panamanian gastronomic scene is a melting pot of innovation and tradition.
From the modern and vibrant venues of San Francisco and Costa del Este to the authenticity of the open-air flavors on the Cinta Costera (Coastal Strip), every corner offers a unique experience. Let yourself be surprised by the diversity of options, where culinary excellence adapts to all tastes and budgets.
Escape to Eden: The Unforgettable Magic of the San Blas Islands
But the Panamanian adventure doesn’t end here. A short flight or a fascinating journey by land and sea awaits the San Blas Islands, a dreamlike archipelago home to the Guna culture. Imagine hundreds of pristine islands dotting crystal-clear waters, each with white-sand beaches as soft as powder. Here, disconnection is complete, and the natural beauty will leave you breathless.
For a truly VIP experience, embark on one of the fantastic catamarans that sail these turquoise waters. Enjoy comfort and luxury as you glide between paradisiacal islands. Relax on deck under the Caribbean sun, snorkel in vibrant coral reefs, savor exquisite meals prepared on board, and let yourself be pampered by personalized attention. The San Blas Islands offer an unforgettable escape, an encounter with nature in its purest state, and an immersion in a fascinating ancestral culture.
Seamless Connectivity: Your Gateway to Adventure (Land and Sea)
Getting around Panama City is easy, with digital transport platforms, efficient buses, and a modern metro. For your getaways, many tours include transportation. And for your adventure to the San Blas Islands, you’ll find options for direct flights or land transfers combined with boats that will take you to this Caribbean paradise. Catamarans often offer all-inclusive packages from your arrival in the area.
An Oasis of Nature in the Heart of the City (and a Dreamy Caribbean Just a Step Away)
Panama City embraces you with its natural parks and impressive views. But beyond the metropolis, the San Blas Islands offer a universe of pristine nature, dreamy beaches, and a first-class nautical experience aboard their catamarans.
Good To Know
Panama City is a cultural, logistical, and natural epicenter, strategically connected for you to explore the countless treasures that Panama has to offer, from its vibrant capital to the unparalleled serenity of its Caribbean islands. Don’t be surprised if the magic of this country captivates you and you decide to extend your stay to discover even more of its beauty. We await you on the mainland and in the paradise of the San Blas Islands!
Panama: Where Time Left Footprints
of Conquistadors, Pirates, and a
Canal That Changed the World
More than just a modern metropolis of gleaming skyscrapers, Panama City is a melting pot where centuries have deposited fascinating stories. From its bold birth on the shores of the Pacific, marked by the vision of a conquistador, to becoming the epicenter of one of the modern engineering marvels, its past is as vibrant as its present.
1519: Dawn on the Shores of the South Sea
Imagine the year 1519. On an unexplored coast, Pedro Arias Dávila laid the foundations of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Panamá, the first European city overlooking the vast American Pacific Ocean. This was not just a settlement; it was the gateway to a new world of opportunities and challenges, the capital of a governorship that would shape the destiny of a continent.
Between Conquistadors and Pirate Flames: A Century of Challenges
During the colonial era, Panama flourished as a vital strategic point, the beating heart of the Governorate and the Royal Audiencia. But wealth attracted shadows. In 1671, the feared pirate Henry Morgan stormed the city, leaving behind a trail of flames and ashes. This dramatic event forced the inhabitants to reinvent themselves, moving the soul of the city to what we know today as the charming Casco Antiguo (Old Quarter).
From Gran Colombia to the Nation of the Canal: Forging Its Own Destiny
The spirit of freedom always beat strongly here. In 1821, Panama raised its voice, declaring its independence from Spain and joining the ambitious project of Gran Colombia. However, destiny had other plans. In 1903, driven by the vision of an interoceanic canal, Panama separated from Colombia, born as an independent nation with a transcendental purpose.
The Canal: A Water Scar That United Two Worlds
The 20th century was marked by a colossal undertaking that would engrave Panama’s name in the annals of history: the construction of the Canal. Inaugurated in 1914, this engineering prodigy not only connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans but also transformed Panama City into a global logistics hub, uniting cultures and economies like never before.
A Living Legacy: From the Casco Antiguo to the Modern Metropolis
Today, Panama City is a cosmopolitan metropolis that looks towards the future with economic dynamism. But its heart still beats to the rhythm of the centuries-old stones of the Casco Antiguo, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a living testament to its rich colonial history. Every cobblestone street, every flower-laden balcony, whispers stories of a fascinating past.
From the political tensions that marked the 20th century to the modern boom that has made it a key financial and tourist center in Latin America, Panama City is a continuous narrative of resilience, vision, and transformation. Come and discover the multiple layers of this fascinating city, where the past and the present intertwine in a captivating dance.
