Panama, Casco Antiguo

Panama, Casco Viejo

Planning your vacations to Panama and don’t have much time? If you like nature, history, big machinery, culture and architecture, then there are only 2 destinations within Panama City that can offer all this in a compact, yet authentic experience: the Panama Canal and Casco Viejo.

You can basically organize all this for a long weekend.  Combining day trips to the Canal and basing from Casco Viejo (see my Hotel suggestions according to your budget) you will be able to enjoy the beauties of one of the world’s engineering wonders and Panama’s 300 year old colonial heart.

To experience the Panama Canal, you have different choices. My favorite (if you are in good shape!) is the Barro Colorado Island trip. It is run by STRI, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and consists on a 6 hours hike through the forest of the most studied tropical forest in the world. You take a boat early at Gamboa (around 7 a.m.) and cross lake Gatún. The visit is guided by biologists, with great information regarding scientific research. Sometimes you get a monkey specialist, a bird specialist, botanical… it all depends on who is guiding! I worked with BCI for quite a while and I can tell you it is one of the most informative experiences you can have. You need to book in advance though! So plan ahead. My recommendation: go during the week, groups are smaller (up to 10 people).

Now, less informative, but equally fun: renting a boat at Gamboa Tours and go for Monkey Island.  If you are coming with big budget ($300- $400), you can rent the boat alone and go fishing. It is best when you are with a group of friends, otherwise you´ll share the boat with others. If you get the boat only for your group, they take you to beautiful and unexplored corners of the lake with small local towns where you can buy beer and get your fish fried. If you like fishing, ask them to get everything prepared! You’ll get a lot of “sargento” and “tilapia”…. Mhmmm!  If you are with the normal shared group, you´ll still have fun but won´t include the treats....

If you are in a big group, let’s say 10 people; you might want to go for the Gatun Safari. You wander around Lake Gatún in the mosst outrageous jungle boat I’ve seen in the Canal. You can arrange it with Aventuras 2000.  

Now… what about crossing the Canal?  It can take you a full day to cross from one end to the other and it can be a bit boring, as it is so slow. However, it is the only way to truly appreciate why the Panama Canal is one of the Seven Wonders. The scale of what they did back then blows your mind away. My personal recommendation is not to do the full transit but just a partial one. Get a good guide ( Ian Sanchez is extremely knowledgeable,czbirder@hotmail.com ) , food and booze!

Other day trips that are great :  Pearl Islands:   Taboga has a nice local town with great pescao frito (fried fish) and beach at an hour away ferry ride.  Go there at 8 a.m., come back at 3 p.m. !  Or go to Contadora, a 15 min plane ride from the 10 min away from Casco Viejo local airport.  Same thing! you can come and go in one day, or decide to stay. Contadora has unbelievable white beaches and landscapes. Hotels on the tacky side, but the place is so relaxed that it is really the last place where you feel like forcing "hip".  If you want to stay, International Living manages some cute cabins.

Feeling like getting fresh air? go to El Valle or to Sora. Just a couple of hours away from the city driving and you are already into "sweater weather". 

Summarizing everything up, and combining only a couple of elements, your long weekend can have: a visit to Barro Colorado Island or monkey island or Gatún Safari or Panama Canal Cruise. A visit to Pearl Islands (Contadora) and the fresh air of Sora or El Valle. Base from Casco Antiguo and you´ll have a charming, romantic place to receive you every afternoon and nurture you with nice walking distance restaurants, bars and interesting ambiance that will inspire you to grab your notebook and write your day experiences. 

 Gatun Lake at the Panama Canal and Sunday Beach Softball Games at Casco Viejo