Panama
Top Things to Do in Panama
We compared all 78 experiences in Panama so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.
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Panama City: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Open Bar & Bay ViewsYou’ll board a catamaran in Panama City just before sunset—shoes off!—and sail into Panama Bay with an open bar flowing and music playing. Watch city lights flicker on from the water while passing landmarks like Bridge of the Americas and Amador Causeway. Includes snacks, drinks, crew stories, plus those small moments you’ll probably remember longer than you think.
Panama Canal & Gatun Lake: Jungle Cruise with Wildlife & HikeYou’ll glide across Gatun Lake alongside giant canal ships, spot monkeys leaping through jungle branches, and follow your guide on foot into Soberania’s tangled green heart. Expect close-up wildlife moments, local stories you’d never read online, and that sticky rainforest air clinging to your skin long after you’re back in town.
Panama City: Canal, Casco Viejo & Amador Causeway Private TourYou get picked up from your hotel in a private car with a local guide who takes you to the Panama Canal locks, through the colonial plazas and churches of Casco Viejo, and out to the Amador Causeway for views of the city and waterfront. Transport, water, and all parking are included; the guide adjusts the stops and timing based on what interests you.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Panama City's three main sights—the Canal, colonial Casco Viejo, and the Amador waterfront—without joining a group tour or arranging your own transport. A private guide and car let you move at your own pace and ask questions as you go, which is what makes the difference between a checklist and actually understanding the place.
Panama City: Private Food Tour with Top Restaurant AccessYou’ll eat your way across Panama City with a local guide who knows every shortcut and secret spot. Expect street snacks you’ve never heard of, fruit juices straight from friendly hands, and a table waiting for you at one of Panama’s top restaurants—no lines or stress. It’s not just food; it’s stories and laughter you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Panama City: Casco Viejo Cooking Class & Market TourYou shop two working markets in Casco Viejo with a local guide, select fresh ingredients, then cook five classic Panamanian dishes in a hands-on class. The chef teaches you techniques for tamales and carimañolas while explaining the herbs and spices unique to Panama. You finish with a sit-down lunch of what you cooked, plus complimentary drinks. The whole experience runs four hours and adapts to gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets.Is it for me?Book this if you want to cook real Panamanian food with someone who knows it, not just taste it — the market shopping is what makes the menu personal instead of preset, and the four-hour format fits a morning or afternoon without eating up your whole day.
Panama City & Canal: Private Half-Day Tour with PickupYou’ll stand right beside ships at the Panama Canal locks, wander Casco Viejo’s lively streets with a local guide, taste fresh coffee, and feel ocean breezes on the Amador Causeway. This private half-day tour includes pickup so you can relax into Panama City’s rhythms—even if you’re just passing through.
Panama City Salsa Class Casco Viejo & Free Bachata LessonYou learn salsa from professional dancers in a hip Casco Viejo studio with zero pressure and no partner required. The class includes real-time coaching, personalized corrections, and your choice of free bonus instruction in bachata, merengue, or cha-cha. You leave with actual steps and the confidence to use them on a dance floor.Is it for me?Book this if you want to actually learn salsa rather than just watch it, and you'd rather not spend the time finding a studio, figuring out what level to join, or worrying about whether you need a partner — the team handles all of that, and the 40 years of experience is what makes the difference between a fun hour and something you'll keep doing.
Panama City Layover: Canal & Casco Viejo Private TourYou're picked up at the airport and driven to the Panama Canal (with optional paid entry or free viewing at Pedro Miguel Locks), then guided through the colonial streets of Casco Viejo, taken to the Amador Causeway for canal and city views, and returned to the airport with time to spare. Driver-guide and water included; the schedule is fixed to fit your layover window.Is it for me?Book this if you have a layover long enough to leave the airport and want to see the Canal and old Panama City without arranging your own transport or timing — the private pickup and fixed schedule are what make it possible to do three major stops and still return with time before your next flight.
Panama City & Canal Tour: Casco Viejo, Amador Causeway, MirafloresYou’ll feel Panama City’s contrasts as you watch ships squeeze through Miraflores Locks, wander Casco Viejo’s old streets with stories from your guide, and catch salty breezes along Amador Causeway. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off so you can focus on soaking it all in — not logistics.
Panama City: Casco Viejo, Canal & Amador Causeway TourYou visit four distinct parts of Panama City—the colonial streets of Casco Viejo, the working Miraflores Locks, the scenic Amador Causeway with the iconic PANAMA sign, and the historic Ancon Hill neighborhood—with a driver-guide handling the route and local taxes included. The seven-hour pace lets you absorb each stop instead of sprinting through them.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to understand Panama City beyond the canal in one organized day without arranging transport between neighborhoods. The seven-hour pace is what makes visiting four separate areas possible without feeling rushed.
Panama City: Emotions Dinner Show E-Ticket & $50 CreditYou’ll walk straight past the line into Panama City’s Emotions Dinner show, where Vegas-style acts light up your table and every sense gets its share — from bold cocktails to sizzling plates (all covered by your $50 credit). With flexible entry times and live entertainment swirling around you, it’s a night that lingers long after the music fades.
San Blas Islands: Day Trip Island Hopping & Kuna CommunityYou’ll wake before dawn for a San Blas Islands day trip from Panama City—sharing laughs with your Kuna hosts, swimming above starfish in warm shallows, and tasting fresh fish under swaying palms. Expect quiet moments between islands and honest food with new friends—the kind of day you’ll remember when city noise creeps back in.
Panama City: Embera Village Day Trip & Chagres River WaterfallYou’ll meet the Embera people along Panama’s Chagres River, share their food and music, walk through rainforest to cool off at a hidden waterfall, and taste fresh fruit right from their hands. Local guides make it personal — expect laughter, muddy shoes, and moments that linger long after you’re back in Panama City.
Panama City: Canal & Casco Antiguo Guided TourYou visit the Miraflores Locks with a 45-minute documentary and live observation of ships in transit, explore Panama City's financial district and coastal neighborhoods, stop at a craft market and duty-free shop, see the century-old Canal Administration Building, and walk through Casco Antiguo's colonial streets and churches. A bilingual local guide handles the transport and timing, so you don't have to piece together how to get between stops.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Panama Canal's engineering and the city's history in one day without arranging separate transport or entry tickets—the bilingual guide and fixed route mean you move through all three in a logical order, and the small-group format keeps the pace comfortable.
Gamboa Rainforest & Aerial Tram From Panama CityYou ascend 280 feet on an aerial tram through the rainforest canopy, walk guided trails with a local who knows where to look for wildlife, and eat lunch included in the price. Hotel pickup and drop-off mean you leave your hotel and return without arranging transport yourself. Bring a camera, hat, and sunscreen — the canopy is dense but the sun finds you.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see rainforest wildlife and the Panama Canal without spending a full day or arranging your own way there — the half-day length and included pickup mean you're back at your hotel by early afternoon.
Panama Canal & Gatun Lake: Rainforest Walk, Monkey Islands, BrunchYou’ll wander Panama’s rainforest trails with local guides who know every birdcall, spot monkeys up close on Gatun Lake by boat, then share stories over a traditional Panamanian brunch. Expect laughter, muddy boots, and moments where you just stop and stare at all that wild green—it stays with you long after you’ve gone home.
Panama City: Ancon Hill Wildlife Walk & Skyline Views TourYou’ll step right from Panama City’s busy streets into rainforest air on this Ancon Hill walking tour—with a local guide helping you spot sloths and toucans as you climb past historic Canal landmarks to panoramic skyline views. Includes hotel pickup and reserve entry. Expect unexpected wildlife moments—and maybe even a laugh or two along the way.
Boquete: Chiriqui Viejo River Rafting Class 2-3 & LunchYou meet at the Boquete Outdoor Adventures office at 7:45am, paddle 8.5 miles of Class 2-3 whitewater on the Chiriqui Viejo River, stop for a riverside lunch with fresh local food, and return by mid-afternoon. The guide handles safety, commands, and route; you bring water shoes and a valid passport. Minimum two people to confirm.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full-day river adventure without arranging your own transport, safety gear, or lunch — the fixed schedule and included guide mean you show up at 7:45am and everything else is handled.
Panama City & Canal: Half-Day Tour with Pickup & Casco ViejoYou’ll ride through Panama City with a local guide, watch ships pass through Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal, take in ocean breezes along Amador Causeway, and wander Casco Viejo’s colorful old streets—all with pickup included. Expect small surprises: maybe a street musician or an unexpected taste along the way. This is how Panama City feels up close.
Panama: Embera Village Canoe Tour & Jungle Waterfall LunchYou’ll paddle upriver by traditional canoe into Embera Tusipono village, where locals welcome you with music and stories before sharing a home-cooked lunch of fried fish and plantains. Swim beneath a jungle waterfall and wander among stilted houses—this day trip from Panama City is all about real moments and simple joys that linger after you’ve left.
