Travel to Panama

Our destination guide aims to give you all the information you need to have an amazing experience in this country. Find affordable travel and backpacking ideas with advice for amazing things to do and how you can be more than just your average traveller. You can also get recommendations for budget travel tips, where to stay and advice how to stay safe.

Get inspired to visit Panama today!

  • Capital: Panama City
  • Currency: Panamanian Balboa (PAB) + US Dollar (USD)
  • Population: 3,040,000 (approx)
  • International Dialing Code: +507
  • Country Area: 78,200 km2

 

How to Get to Panama

Several international airports are connected to Panama, you can also enter via land and sea.

 

Weather & Best Time to Visit Panama

Panama enjoys a warm climate and there is no best time to visit.

 

Travelling in Panama

Keen to go travelling or backpacking in Panama? Good decision. Panama offers beaches, nightlife, churches, shopping, history, culture, islands, beaches and hundreds of exciting activities. 

From visiting ancient ruins, exploring jungles, seeing paradise islands, relaxing on some of the best beaches in the continent, seeing the impressive Panama Canal or joining a special interest vacation like bird watching or fishing - there are so many options available.

The Panama Canal is one of the main draws to international tourists, this was finished by the US in the early 1900's this engineering master-class is over 70k long and connects the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. This is one of the Severn Wonders of the Modern World and thousands of ships pass through every year. 

 

Best Places to Visit in Panama

There are so many travel highlights of Panama, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary:

  • Panama City
  • Panama Canal
  • Colón
  • Coiba
  • Gamboa
  • Pan-American Highway
  • Boquete, Chiriquí
  • Bocas del Toro
  • David, Chiriquí
  • El Valle de Antón
  • Taboga Island
  • Chitré
  • Volcán, Panama
  • Soberanía National Park
  • Penonomé, Coclé
  • Ancón
  • Canoa
  • Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park
  • Chagres National Park
  • San Carlos District
  • Bastimentos Island
  • Darién National Park
  • Gatun Lake
  • Las Tablas, Los Santos
  • Cerro Punta, Chiriquí
  • Santiago de Veraguas
  • Barro Colorado Island
  • Altos De Campana National Park
  • Colón Island
  • Parque nacional Camino de Cruces
  • Volcan Baru National Park
  • Santa Fé
  • Río Hato
  • Natá, Coclé
  • Santa Clara, Panamá Oeste
  • Cañas, Los Santos
  • Tonosí
  • Soná, Panama
  • Puerto Armuelles
  • Las Lajas, Chiriquí

 

Language

Panama is a very mixed society with people from all around the world calling this country home, this is mainly due to the huge construction of the Panama canal with immigrants being brought from a number of countries. In modern day Panama there are over 20 languages spoken with Spanish being the most dominant. Other languages include native Indo-American, Chinese, French, English (in the tourisy areas) and even in some places Arabic. Although Spanish in the official language of Panama, Panamanian Spanish is slightly different in a variety of ways. 

 

Gap Year in Panama

Interested in spending your gap year in Panama? With One World 365 you can be more than just a tourist and get the true authentic local experience by searching our travel packages, authentic holidays and activities.