Panama Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

Panama occupies a peculiar position on the travel map — a narrow isthmus where container ships glide through jungle-fringed locks while howler monkeys call from the canopy above. The capital's Casco Viejo district preserves Spanish colonial architecture alongside French influences from the original canal attempt, its cobblestone plazas now home to rooftop bars and chef-driven restaurants. Beyond the city, the Pearl Islands archipelago offers barefoot seclusion, while the Bocas del Toro province on the Caribbean coast draws travelers seeking overwater bungalows and reef diving.

The hotel scene splits between urban sophistication and coastal escape. In Panama City, glass towers along the Cinta Costera waterfront compete for skyline dominance, their infinity pools overlooking the Pacific. Colonial mansions in Casco Viejo have been converted into intimate properties where centuries-old walls frame contemporary design. For those continuing through the Americas, Brazil offers similar contrasts between urban energy and beach retreats, while the Cayman Islands provide Caribbean refinement closer to Panama's own island escapes.