The Best Things to See and Do in Panama If You Only Have 72 Hours

Panama City from the Cinta Costera
Panama City from the Cinta Costera | © Todd Webb, HEADsPACE Photography
Brittney Schering

If you have a long weekend to spend in Panama, there is much to see in a three-day window of time. Lucky for you, Panama is not terribly huge, so it is totally doable to see a whole lot in just a few days. Here is a list of the best things to see and do in Panama if you only have 72 hours.

Have a cup of Panamanian coffee

This is an absolute must if you are a coffee person. Panamanian coffee of the Geisha variety is extremely special and expensive, so be sure to enjoy every sip of the cherished elixir. This is the perfect way to start your day, and it just might convince you to move to Panama because this cup of coffee is that smooth, rich, powerful, and magical—it is a perfect cup of joe.

Cups of coffee

Visit the Metropolitan Park

Walk the Cinta Costera

Best saved for around sunset or early in the day to catch the sunrise, the Cinta Costera is an incredible sight to see. Quite possibly the most gorgeous seaside walk in Panama City is the majestic Cinta Costera, and it is completely free. The Cinta Costera also runs along the ever-trendy, upscale Avenida Balboa, so if you’ve worked up an appetite, walk over for a bite to eat on a balcony overlooking the city.

Panama City Skyline

Casco Viejo

Best enjoyed after the sun goes down, Casco Viejo packs a big historical punch of Panama’s beginning, too. Explore it with a guide to fully understand all that it hides in the walls with incredible remains and anecdotes of Panama from centuries ago. Along with it being a history-rich slice of Panama, it is also known for its epic nightlife.

Walk through the wonderful Biomuseo

An incredible, interactive museum dedicated to the evolution of biodiversity as we know it, this Frank Gehry-designed museum is a spectacle not to be missed. Dedicate a morning or afternoon to exploring its many, wonder-filled exhibits, and learn a thing or two about how the world came to be all that it is today. It is fascinating.

Biomuseo

Spend a day at the beach

Taboga Island is a quick, inexpensive ferry ride from Panama City, making it most easy to access for a day trip to the beach. Lots of young travelers and Panamanians love to spend their weekends at the beach on Taboga Island, especially in the dry season. Two words: beach party. Don’t miss the opportunity to revel in the bliss of Taboga Island.

Visit the famous Panama Canal

A visit to Panama City is not complete with a visit to the famous Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal. Luckily, this is located very close to Clayton. Watch as the Panama Canal feeds into the Pacific Ocean, with the opening directly in front of the Miraflores Locks for viewers to watch in awe as the Canal works its wonders.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
Edit article