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Panama is an S-shaped country in Central America linking Costa Rica in the west with Colombia in the east. It consists of two coastlines, one on the Pacific Ocean and one on the Caribbean Sea. Inland Panama is made up out of two mountain ranges, The Cordillera Central range in the West and Cordillera de San Blas in the East. Here you can enjoy mountain landscapes, cool temperatures, volcano hikes and hidden waterfalls. While most tourists flock to coastal destinations like the San Blas Islands or Bocas del Toro, our trip mainly took us to highland towns along the Cordillera Central where we immersed ourselves in local Panamian life. While we didn’t manage to spot a lot of wildlife here compared to Cahuita just of the border in Costa Rica, we did enjoy the richness of the many indigenous cultures you can discover. Here is a list of our favorite things to do in Panama!
This was without a doubt our favorite place to visit in Panama. Santa Fé is a small and sleepy town in the province of Veraguas. It lies at an altitude of about 500 meters and is surrounded by forests, rivers, waterfalls and coffee plantations. Activities are done mostly self-organized although recently some organized activities seem to pop up on which you can find some information here. Places to visit in Santa Fé are Park Nacional Santa Fé, the waterfalls Cascada de Bermejo, El Salto and Alto de Piedra and swimming with the locals at Rio Bulaba.
When we arrived in the town itself we were immediately swept away by its charm and there was no other tourist to be seen. Finding our way to our Airbnb was quite an adventure since the streets don’t have any names and our host was not yet home from work to pick us up. We do recommend staying at this Airbnb with Greg and Oliva though! They offer a cozy room in their wooden house, cooked us dinner, we had great late-night chats and many cuddles with their cute cat and dog. Also, they operate a small coffee plantation which you can visit if you want to.
Be aware that there’s no ATM in Santa Fé so stock up on dollars in Santiago!
Mamallena Eco Lodge is a beautiful authentic lodge situated in La Laguna de San Carlos at the border of the Coclé and Panama province. It is located half an hour from El Valle de Anton and is a great place to stay to also visit that region but you will need your own vehicle to get around.
The lodge is a heaven for travelers who have ethics and sustainability in mind. It has its own permaculture garden and fresh herbs and spices are planted everywhere around the property. The food they serve at the communal area is homecooked, with fresh produce from the garden and they have vegetarian and vegan options. There’s also a communal kitchen if you want to prepare food yourself.
Mamallena Eco Lodge consists of one main building and some cottages spread out across the garden. When you walk down the stairs in the garden there’s a natural pool in a river.
And last but not least, they produce their own kombucha! More info and bookings here.
although Costa Rican coffee is better known around the world, Panamanian coffee is certainly not inferior to the quality of its neighbor. For many Panamanians, the coffee industry is their main source of income and you can find many small plantations dotting the region, especially around the Chiriqui province.
The best quality of coffee is grown around Boquete. This is because of a special variety of coffee beans produced by Hacienda Esmeralda, called Geisha coffee. This coffee variety originated in Ethiopia but made its way to Panama in the 1960s. Geisha coffee has won many prizes over the years and now sells for $ 1029 per pound which makes it the most expensive coffee in the world. Different coffee bars in Panama City sell this liquid gold. If you are up for trying it, it will set you back around $ 10/per cup. There is a chain in Panama City called Cafe Unido which also has a branch in Boquete.
El Valle de Anton is a town in the mountains of Coclé province. The town speaks to the imagination because it is nestled in the crater of an extinct volcano. There are plenty of activities to partake in but the most common reason people come to El Valle is for the hiking opportunities. There are several trails that you can walk yourself or book as an excursion. Popular hikes go to the top of Cerro Gaital, Cerro Cara Coral, Cerro Pajita, Cerro Tagua, Cerro Guacamayo and La India Dormida.
Two notable waterfalls can also be found within walking distance from the town’s center, called Chorro el Macho and Chorro Las Mozas. When you’re tired of all the hiking, visit the “Pozos Thermales”. For $ 3 you can put some healing mud on your face and soak away in the medicinal thermal baths.
We stayed at the Windmill Hostel, which is a good choice during the week but fills up with local party-loving teenagers during the weekend. We think Bodhi Hostel is a better option if you like a more quiet and mellow vibe.
Vegetarians should have no problem finding options at the restaurants in town. Vegans can find rice and beans, papas fritas, patacones and yucca fries with salad and ask for pizza and pasta without the cheese. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at the local Mercado.
The capital of Panama is a vibrant mix of old and modern architecture. When we first arrived we were a bit overwhelmed with the skyscrapers dotting the horizon but, once you’re past them, you enter cozy neighborhoods and of course the beautiful “Casco Viejo”.
Fun activities in Panama City are a visit to the Panama Canal (check Miraflores visitor center), the Biomuseo and the Amador Causeway. There are great tours to be done like the El Chorillo experience or you can tour the city on your own in search of some great street art. Take a yoga class at Casco Yoga and indulge in great vegan fare at Rock and Rolls, Veganissimo and Natural Spice.
We stayed with Ana, at her great Airbnb. It’s a shared annex with 2 other rooms and a communal kitchen and living room. It also has a cool outdoor bathroom and shower where you can spot animals on the border of the Ancon rainforest! If you would like to stay at Ana’s place you can sign up using my referral code to get a $ 40 discount.
Boquete is a highland town in the west of Panama not far from the Costa Rican border. The surroundings and nature are comparable to Sant Fé with the difference that this town does have facilities that cater to tourists.
There are a lot of great things to do in Boquete like walking the Sendero de Los Quetzales trail, hiking Volcan Baru, and taking a tour to visit coffee plantations. If you feel like spending some time in the water you can find hot springs (Los Pozos de Caldera) in the area or make your way to Los Cangilones de Gualaca to join the locals for a swim in a small canyon.
We stayed at Arte Hostal our first nights, which is a great choice if you like a hostel vibe. After that, we spend a few nights at Hostal Garden by Refugio del Rio, which is peaceful and quiet and has a beautiful garden to chill in.
Omnivores can expect to find a large range of great restaurants in Boquete. Vegans can go to The Rock (Salad, Tofu, Falafel), Al Punto (different kinds of simple pasta dishes) and Boulder 54 (vegan cheese!).
As you can see there are many beautiful regions and cool activities to discover in Panama. If you have ever been to Panama, please let me know in the comments what you enjoyed the most about the country. And if you plan to go, let me know if you will include any of my tips in your itinerary!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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