Complete Panama Guide

Panama sits on a strip of land just 80 km wide at its narrowest point, and this confined geography makes it a dense destination: in two weeks, you move from the turquoise cays of Guna Yala to the cloud forests of Boquete, crossing the central Cordillera and the Miraflores locks. From our office in the capital, we see travelers every month amazed by the diversity of this small country of 4 million inhabitants.

Four regions structure a coherent journey. Panama City blends the colonial district of Casco Viejo (17th century) with a skyline of towers reminiscent of Miami. To the west, the highlands of Chiriquí offer Barú volcano (3,475 m), the coffee plantations of Boquete, and cool nights at 18°C. On the Caribbean coast, the Bocas del Toro archipelago and the autonomous comarca of Guna Yala (San Blas) present two very different atmospheres: surf and beachside bars on one side, Guna huts on sand islets on the other. Finally, the Azuero peninsula preserves rural Hispanic traditions and the Las Tablas festivals.

Two specificities merit shaping your itinerary: wildlife (over 970 bird species recorded, including the resident quetzal in Boquete) and the living indigenous culture of the Ngäbe-Buglé, Emberá, and Guna comarcas. Allow 12 to 15 days to combine two regions, 18 days to cover three without rushing.