Overview
Take a trip to Panama City on your Panama Vacation
Panama City is the political and administrative centre of the country and is also its capital and largest city. Located in the Pacific entrance of the world-famous Panama Canal, Panama City hosts many high-rise buildings yet is surrounded by tropical rainforests to be enjoyed on Panama vacation.
The city was founded in August 1519 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias Dávila. It became a stopover point on the trade route from which all the gold and silver that Spain took from the Americas passed through. It was also the starting point for the expeditions that eventually conquered Peru’s Inca Empire. Pirate Henry Morgan destroyed the city by setting fire to it in 1671 and the inhabitants were forced to resettle 8 km (4.9 mi) away. This new city was re-established on 28 January 1673 and the old city’s ruins are a popular tourist destination. Panama City became the capital of the country upon independence from Colombia in 1903.
Today Panama City is by far the wealthiest city in Central America. With the completion of the Panama Canal in 1914, the city became a hub for international business. Despite being a modern and cosmopolitan area, Panama City still maintains ties to its past including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Panamá Viejo, the site of the original city. Not far from comfortable hotels visitors on Panama vacations have the opportunity to embark on journeys through the spectacular rainforest making Panama City a destination that truly has it all.
At a Glance
Languages
SpanishCurrency
Panamanian Balboa (PAB)What do the experts say?
U.S. dollars are used interchangeably with Panamanian balboas (at a 1:1 rate). There’s no need to exchange currency if you’re carrying U.S. cash.
Many assume Panama is just about the canal. In reality, it’s also a paradise for beaches, highlands, and indigenous culture — from Caribbean islands like the San Blas to the coffee region of Boquete.
Panama has more bird species than the United States and Canada combined — over 1,000. For birdwatchers, it’s one of the richest destinations in the world.
A visit to an Emberá indigenous village along the Chagres River is a cultural highlight — arriving by dugout canoe, sharing traditional food, and learning about their way of life in the rainforest.
Globetrotters should ensure they visit Isla Coiba, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once a penal colony, today it’s one of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the Americas, often compared to the Galápagos for its marine biodiversity.
panama vacation
Panama City is typically the starting point of ...
panama tours
panama vacations packages
Kuna indian Balboa Park
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
Panama CityOccasional Showers
33°C / 92°F
90mm / 3.5"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Panama
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,211 ReviewsWe enjoyed our trip very much. I was very pleased by the hotel, tours, and itinerary selections that Alice Teramoto made for us. It was all well organized and easy to follow.
Thank you very much for helping us have a great experience in Peru.INEverything was planned perfectly. The excursions were so small and personal. ClaireGoway planned a custom 2 week safari trip for my wife and I which was beyond perfect. Extremely satisfied with the entire process from planning, booking and follow up. Special thanks to my Travel Specialists, Brooke Theron and Angela DonnellyNeil RWorking with Allan is absolutely a dream. He is one of the most responsive people I’ve had the pleasure of working with and his attention to detail is unmatched. I truly wish I could just use him for every single trip I need to book.Liz PooreKimberly Brown from Goway Travel made my trip to Australia & New Zealand a very memorable and remarkable experience. Every step and detail was fantastic and I will never forget the trip of a lifetime and it was because of the experience of Kimberly. If you are thinking about taking a trip to New Zealand and Australia, I highly recommend contacting Kimberly from Goway travel. David KleinWe had a blast and felt covered by GoAway throughout. This was our first time using a travel agent and Melissa and her team made it easy. I also appreciated the quick communication while on our trip. I only wish that we got our official itinerary and tickets sooner as we did not receive them until a week prior. But it is busy season so I understand. Courtney McCarthyElise created a fantastic trip to South Africa. Our experience could not have been better. Thank You so Much!!Dave McVayOur trip to Japan was great. All our Goway arrangements preformed like clockwork and the guides for the tours were wonderful. Unfortunately, Mt. Fuji was in total fog but at least the lunch was very good and so was the drum solo, also our tour guide kept our spirits up ( she was the best).
Taryn picked hotels that were very convenient to the meeting point of our tours which was much appreciated and organized all aspects of our trip perfectly. So from our airport pickup to our last day in Tokyo everything ran very smoothly so we have used Goway before and will certainly use it again and reccommend Goway to others.JWWe had a great experience with Goaway travel our travel agent,FARNAZ. was very helpful and patient with us in planning our vacation to Greece. She was very thorough and professional and excellent with laying out our flights and our itinerary for our trip would highly recommend her very professional. Thank you again Franaz for your help and for me and my wife to have experienced a wonderful time in GreececustomerFarnaz booked Greece and Italy - she is fantastic! She listened to our needs and planned a beautiful itinerary that everyone enjoyed. All transfers went smoothly and I am looking to book more trips with her! Amy
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified