This Panama travel itinerary will give you a tour of the country in 7-10 days.
In a nation smaller than South Carolina, Panama combines rainforests, two oceans, colonial history and a 50-mile engineering wonder. You can see some of the highlights in 7-10 days without the rush. This is how it should be organized.
Panama deserves more than a layover.Panama deserves more than just a layover.
Most travellers are familiar with Panama just because of the canal or as a point of entry for traveling to Costa Rica. That’s a mistake. There is no better place in Latin America for food, no match for the Bocas del Toro archipelago for the best islands in the Caribbean, and no place in Central America cooler for hiking and for coffee than the highlands around Boquete.
On Days 1–3, you will be in Panama City and the Canal.Days 1-3 are dedicated to Panama City and the Canal.
Explore Casco Viejo
Stay in Panama City’s historic area, Casco Viejo, a walkable peninsula where cobblestone streets are filled with colonial architecture and rooftop bars.
Take a tour of the Panama Canal.Go to the Panama Canal.
If you are looking for an experience that offers you a perspective of the monumental scale of large cargo vessels moving between oceans, then it’s time to head to Miraflores Locks. The visitor centre offers a two-hour presentation of the history and engineering of the canal in its museum.
Day Trip to Panama Viejo
Just outside of downtown is the site of the original Panama City, which was sacked by pirates in 1671 – a 1/2 day worth visiting if you’re a history buff.
Bocas del Toro (Caribbean Coast) Days 4-6
Fly to Bocas from Panama city (35 minutes), don’t drive, as this will save you an entire day.
Island Hop
Hire a boat or take a tour to Zapatilla Cays, Red Frog Beach and Dolphin Bay. Clear water, not many visitors during the off-season.
Surf or Relax
Bocas Town is a relaxed backpacker vibe with decent surf spots close by should you wish to take a lesson.
Days 7–8: Boquete (Highlands)
Replace the beach with mountains.Replace beach with mountains. Climate in Boquete is much cooler, at a higher elevation, a nice change from the damp coastal days.
Coffee Tours
Go to a Geisha coffee farm — Panama’s specialty coffee is some of the most expensive in the world and tours to the Geisha coffee farms are inexpensive and educational.
This is a hike along the Quetzal Trail.
Moderate trail (4 hrs) with excellent views of the resplendent quetzal bird through cloud forest.
San Blas Islands (Optional Extension) days 9-10.
The Guna Yala (San Blas) archipelago, comprising 365 islands, overseen by the indigenous Guna people, is the most pristine Caribbean landscape in the country, if you have the time. Doing this is by 4×4 and boat; plan for a full day each way.
If you choose not to visit San Blas, you can take this sample 7-day route.
| Days | Location |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Panama City + Canal |
| 4–6 | Bocas del Toro |
| 7 | Boquete (fast elevation halt) |
Practical Tips
- Currency: US Dollar is the local currency, direct use is required.
Best time to visit: Dec – Apr (dry season) for weather security.
Internal flights: Make reservations early for Panama City flights to Bocas and David (for Boquete) – they sell out in peak season.
Final Word
The biggest plus about Panama is that you are able to see ocean, mountains and city in one trip without the punishing days of travel. Ten days allows you to make all three regions correctly, seven gives you a choice of two.