The 7 Most Beautiful Towns And Villages In Panama

Panama is full of gorgeous towns and villages. Here are some of the most lovely and beautiful places to visit in the country, sure to captivate with fantastical backdrops of mountains, rainforest and, of course, the majestic sea.

Portobelo

A sleepy Caribbean seaside town that was originally named Puerto Bello, which translates to Beautiful Port, over time became what is Portobelo today. Built by the Spanish to protect their riches from the pirates in the 18th century, Portobelo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with respect to the small town’s big, rich history. Often lost in the shuffle of larger, more popular nearby Caribbean towns such as Colon and Bocas del Toro, Portobelo offers a quaint paradise unlike any other.

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Colon

Colon is on the Caribbean side of Panama and offers several, seaside beach towns from Portobelo to Puerto Lindo and many more. It is rough and rugged in parts and entirely serene in others, depending on where you go. The oldest working railroad in the world happens to run between Panama City and Colon, offering the perfect route to visit this gem.

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Boquete

The quaint village of Boquete is nestled in the mountains of the Chiriquí Highlands. Quiet and peaceful, Boquete offers a gorgeous landscape of coffee plantations surrounded by mountains. This retirement hotspot is home to one of the top three private gardens in the world, “Mi Jardin es Su Jardin.” Ample opportunities for hiking as well as cosying up and relaxing with a cup of exquisite Panamanian coffee make Boquete an incredible destination for nature lovers, peace seekers and adventurers.

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Bocas Del Toro

Bocas del Toro is arguably the best beach town on the sea. Equal parts Caribbean chill and epic beach party. Surrounded by the jungle and rainforest, surfers love to come to Bocas del Toro to catch the waves. Water taxis are everywhere waiting to take travellers to secret, secluded coves and extraordinary snorkelling locations. Bocas del Toro is a dream destination of Panama.

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Panama Canal & the City of Knowledge

A gorgeous area full of greenery, City of Knowledge is a place of its own pace and space that seems entirely separate from the hustle and bustle of the city. This area is close to the famous Panama Canal. With a mission as stated in the name, City of Knowledge is surrounded with a park dedicated to knowledge and higher education – certainly an exciting place to call home for mindful, thriving millennials with intellect as a priority.

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Casco Viejo

If walkability is an important factor, as it is for many health-conscious and eco-friendly millennials, Casco Viejo is a thriving hotspot – perhaps the most popular place to explore and spend time discovering all that is lovely and unique to Panama City. Full of gorgeous historical architecture and winding roads lined with lovely restaurants and cafes, Casco Viejo is also known for its sleepless nightlife in Panama City. Put your party pants on if you plan on wandering Casco Viejo after the sun goes down.

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Costa del Este

A little further out is a brand new metropolis known as Costa del Este. This is essentially the Beverly Hills of Panama City. Everything is pristine and gorgeous, from the shopping malls to the houses and the people who call it home. Costa del Este is fit for millennials with extra money to spend who like nice things. With palm trees, perfectly paved roads and high-end everything you can think of, Costa del Este is the crème de la crème of Panama City.

About the author

Brittney Schering

Brittney is a global writer and editor fluent in wanderlust with work also published in Lonely Planet, Forbes Travel Guide, Time Out, International Living, and more. Hailing from Detroit, MI, she first moved to NYC, then LA, and from there, NOLA, before venturing overseas to Panama. Follow Brittney on Instagram at @existential_bls.