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Which Are the Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Panama?

Stay at an affordable over-the-water bungalow at Azul Paradise in Panama
Stay at an affordable over-the-water bungalow at Azul Paradise in Panama | Courtesy of Azul Paradise / Expedia.com

From the cobblestone Casco Viejo district in the capital to the car-free island of Carenero, Panama will spoil you with a choice of budget hotel stays all across the country – we’ve chosen the best, so you can focus on exploring.

With its glistening coastline, mystical cloud forests and brimming biodiversity, Panama is so much more than just a country with a famous canal. From laid-back beach towns to the swanky rooftops of Panama City, the country that links Central and South America can get a little pricey. To ensure you can see as much of its beauty as possible, we’ve rounded up the best cheap hotels in Panama.

Radisson Hotel Panama Canal

Hotel

A variety of tables and chairs in a large, cream-toned dining area at Radisson Hotel Panama Canal
Courtesy of Radisson Hotel Panama Canal / Expedia.com

The Radisson Hotel Panama Canal overlooks the internationally famous body of water, so you can see all the maritime comings and goings. The pool and sun loungers are surrounded by palm trees, and there’s free tea and coffee on tap to recharge you throughout the day. For a bit of retail therapy, or simply to wistfully browse, jump on the hotel’s free shuttle to the colossal Albrook Mall.

Victoria Hotel & Suites

Hotel

Outdoor pool with handrail on tiled rooftop terrace with seven loungers, a chair and city views at Victoria Hotel & Suites
Courtesy of Victoria Hotel & Suites / Expedia.com

Set in the hype of the financial district in Panama City, Victoria Hotel & Suites offers 84 spacious rooms and 43 deluxe suites looking out onto the flashy skyline (without flashy prices to match). Head out for a stroll, jog or even rollerblade down the Cinta Costera, a sublime seafront recreational area downtown, before returning to the hotel and cooling off with a refreshing dip in the rooftop pool.

Hotel Casa Panamá

Boutique Hotel

Double bed in rustic room with a soft seat, stone walls and an exposed brick wall at Hotel Casa Panamá
Courtesy of Hotel Casa Panamá / Expedia.com

Located in the endearing cobblestoned area of Casco Viejo, the Old Quarter of Panama City, is Hotel Casa Panamá. With eccentric wooden headboards, exposed stone walls and a chic, contemporary rooftop area, this place has all the feels of a boutique hotel without breaking the bank. It’s a short walk from the Canal Museum and Presidential Palace, so you can brush up on your knowledge of the city’s history.

Cosmic Crab Resort

Resort

Flowering hedgerow and green palms enclose a blue-painted wooden cabin at Cosmic Crab Resort
Courtesy of Cosmic Crab Resort / Expedia.com

Cosmic Crab Resort is located on the shimmering, road-free Isla Carenero, within the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in northern Panama. The vivid azure cabins are as bright as the crystalline water they sit on, and each one can accommodate up to seven people. The sunbathing deck, with its cushioned loungers and delicately mosaicked tables, is a pristine spot for listening to the lapping waves and basking in the relaxed Caribbean breeze.

Las Clementinas

Boutique Hotel, Budget Hotel, Apartment

Sofa and armchair in a lamp-lit living space with a bedroom beyond it at Las Clementinas
Courtesy of Las Clementinas / Expedia.com

Las Clementinas Boutique Hotel has just six apartments and three studios, so intimacy and attention to detail from the staff are guaranteed. The hotel is in a beautifully renovated ancient house in the heart of Panama City’s historic center. Head up to the expansive rooftop to take in the capital from above, and revel in the feeling of design-forward luxury at one of the best cheap hotels in Panama.

Selina Playa Venao

Hostel, Hotel

Double bed on tiled floor in room with blue- and salmon-painted walls at Selina Playa Venao
Courtesy of Selina Playa Venao / Expedia.com
Selina Playa Venao on the Azuero Peninsula is one of the finest and most sociable surf spots in Panama. Nothing needs to be done with haste at this beachfront, palm-tree-adorned haven. Take up kayaking or windsurfing with an expert guide, stretch out on the shorefront yoga deck, or simply wind down in the garden that is adorned with twinkling fairy lights, after catching some stellar waves.

Selina Kalu Yala

Hotel

Luxury tent with thatch covering, mattress and cushions inside, plus two chairs outside in woods at Selina Kalu Yala
Courtesy of Selina Kalu Yala / Expedia.com

A few hours’ drive from Panama City lies the unassuming, eco-conscious world of Selina Kalu Yala. Sip on some freshly fermented rum from the on-site distillery, and while away the day swimming in the river and soaking up the sounds of surrounding toucans and howler monkeys. Stay in teepees or wooden cabins, and, if you need to get in touch with the outside world, there’s solar-powered, high-speed wifi – not something found at all cheap hotels in Panama.

Koko Acqua Lodge

Boutique Hotel, Guesthouse

The wooden Koko Acqua Lodge, with two deckchairs and a hammock on its porch, stands on stilts over water
Courtesy of Koko Acqua Lodge / Expedia.com

Just a short walk from the laid-back, backpacker town of Bocas del Toro lies the dreamy, serene Koko Acqua Lodge. Colorful bungalows on stilts sit over the gleaming water, with each one guaranteeing a far-spanning view of the Caribbean Sea. Head to neighboring Istmito Beach for some bathing and bronzing, or set out on a canoeing jaunt around Saigon Bay.

Hotel Santa Catalina Panama

Hotel

Palm trees on lawn ouotside the white-painted lodges of Hotel Santa Catalina Panama
Courtesy of Hotel Santa Catalina Panama / Expedia.com

In Veraguas Province, Hotel Santa Catalina looks out onto the wave-blessed Pacific coast. Surfing will likely be at the top of your agenda here, but you can also go diving to see turtles and sharks at the Unesco-protected Coiba Island or horseback riding along the beach. The high-ceilinged rooms all have memory foam mattresses and cotton sheets – ideal for dozing off after a long day exploring the water.

Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge

Apartment, Eco-Lodge

Four-poster bed with translucent drape in a thatched-roof lodge at Punta Caracol
Courtesy of Punta Caracol / Expedia.com

Exclusive, mint-hued cabins stilted above the aquamarine Caribbean Sea await at Punta Caracol in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Designed to sit subtly in their surroundings, the cabins were built using native woods, clays and palm leaves, with solar panels providing all the energy for the hotel. Snorkel along the mile-long coral reef next to the hotel, and, at the end of the day, check out the sunset from your cabin’s deck as dolphins play in the water around you.

Hacienda Los Molinos Boutique Hotel

Boutique Hotel

Communal area with various sofas and armchairs on a tiled floor in the wood-beamed Hacienda Los Molinos Boutique Hotel
Courtesy of Hacienda Los Molinos Boutique Hotel / Expedia.com

Hacienda Los Molinos Boutique Hotel sits atop the majestic canyon of the Río Cochea in Chiriquí Province. The rustic rooms and villas will have you feeling right at home on this historic ranch with its very own stone-rimmed pool. Take a seat at the Canyon Bar, where you can sip on a slushy daiquiri and look out over the misty cloud forest and Volcán Barú, the highest peak in Panama.

Azul Paradise

Hotel

Several bungalows with thatched roofs, joined by wooden walkways, stand on stilts over open water at Azul Paradise
Courtesy of Azul Paradise / Expedia.com

Azul Paradise’s two locations in Bocas del Toro both offer luxurious over-the-water bungalows but without the hefty price tag you might expect; one is in Bocas town itself, and the other is on a more secluded side of the island (a boat runs between the two). Chalky white sand and azure waters abound in this slice of bliss. Swim and snorkel at Starfish Beach, or head to Dolphin Bay to watch the bottlenose beauties frolicking in the water.

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