The Best Weekend Getaways From Panama City

Panama City is one of few capitals in the world to have such diverse and stunning natural surroundings. Whether you are looking for a beach break on a Caribbean island or to hike and spot wildlife in the rainforest, Panama has it all. Here are the best weekend getaways from Panama City brought to you by Culture Trip.

El Valle de Antón

El Valle de Antón is the best mountain getaway from Panama City. With its own micro-climate, El Valle offers optimal fresh weather for enjoying beautiful hikes, visits to butterfly farms and waterfalls, and for admiring the iconic sight of the India Dormida (the Sleeping Indian),a mountain chain that looks like a sleeping woman.

Contadora Island

Gamboa Rainforest Resort

A mere 30 minutes away from Panama City, the Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a great base for exploring the jungle, spotting wildlife and meeting indigenous people, whilst staying at a charming and ultra-comfortable resort. The hotel offers a series of tours, including a night safari, an aerial tram, a visit to a butterfly farm, a tour to the indigenous villages of the Emberá, and boat trips to the stunning Gatún lake.

Portobelo

Surrounded by beautiful beaches, historical landmarks and UNESCO World heritage sites, the port city of Portobelo is located on the Atlantic Coast, in the Province of Colon. Once the most important harbours of Latin America, it is now home to lots of scuba-diving schools and charming hotels. It is also nearby the spectacular beaches of Isla Grande, Isla Mamey and Playa Blanca.

Cerro Azul

Cerro Azul is a mountain area on the outskirts of Panama City. With lower temperatures and cooler breezes, it offers a peaceful and accessible natural escape from the city. With cozy hotels and lots of hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls, Cerro Azul is a popular and relaxing weekend destination.

Isla Grande

Not far from Portobelo is a small coastal town called La Guaira. Little wooden motorboats are waiting at the harbour, ready to transport visitors across the bay, all the way to the stunning Isla Grande. This little gem of the Caribbean has a unique chilled-out vibe with a colourful village and bungalows on the beach where adventurous travellers can rest away from the chaos of the capital.

San Carlos

San Carlos is a small beach town on the Pacific Coast, less than two hours away from Panama City. Located at the foot of the mountain, it is a great base if you are planning to visit El Valle de Antón. Besides the beach, it’s also home to a lagoon where people go camping, fishing and spot wildlife.

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.