Panamainfo’s Blog

Visitor Time Again-When visitors are coming to Panama for the first time, what are the best places to take them? I am putting together a list of “must-dos” for Panama City and outside Panama City for some family members coming in July.

For Panama City and Nearby, the top of my list are:

Two Tours Your Guests Will Be Talking About for Years to Come

Monkey Island Tour with either Ancon Expeditions or Carl Davis’ Gatun Explorer. This day tour has the wow factor- your guests will never stop talking about it. This is a small boat trip on Gatun Lake which is part of the Panama Canal where you’ll experience intense nature including at least 3 types of monkeys that even jump onto your boat. With Gatun Explorer you also take a short hike to a jungle waterfall and delicious typical lunch on a larger boat on the lake. See www.gatunexplorer.com and www.anconexpeditions.com

Embera Indian Village: If your guests don’t have time to go the San Blas Islands and stay with the Kuna Indians there, send them on this day trip to an Embera Indian Village, just an hour and a half from Panama City. Again, this tour has the wow factor- after boating up a scenic river, they will tour an authentic Indian village, eat with them, learn about their age-old way of life and even dance with them if they like. For a tour contact a tour operator on Panamainfo’s Tour Operators page.

Two Restaurant Experiences Your Guests Will Also Talk About for Years to Come

Los Lagartos at Gamboa Rainforest Resort It is on a terrace over the huge Chagres river that connects to the Panama Canal. From your table, you can watch huge ships float silently by in the Canal. The food is good and we enjoy the luncheon buffet. The best thing about this restaurant is a nature experience- you can create and watch a “natural food fight”. The friendly staff will give you some bread pieces to throw on the lake below and suddenly a natural food fight ensues when tropical crocodiles, turtles, fish and birds all come running to get the bread Guess which one of these critters always get the bread first? I won’t tell you! (You have to go yourself to find out. )

The Miraflores Restaurant at the Panama Canal
Of course you will be escorting your guests to see the Canal and the excellent museum. I also recommend you have lunch or dinner at the Miraflores Restaurant which is part of the Visitors center. Reserve a table on the terrace- you’ll a have ringside view of the ships transiting the Miraflores locks. The terrace seating is so close- the view is simply extraordinary. Even in the evenings the views are great since everything is lit up and ships transit at night as well. Another memorable and totally unique experience only Panama can offer.