Why Go?The most cosmopolitan capital in Central America, Panama City is both vibrant metropolis and gateway to tropical es-capes. Many worlds coexist here. Welcoming both east and west, Panama is a regional hub of trade and immigration. The resulting cultural cocktail forges a refreshing ‘anything goes’ attitude, more dynamic and fluid than its neighbors.

Unflinchingly urban, the capital rides the rails of chaos, with traffic jams, wayward taxis and casinos stacked be-tween chic clubs and construction sites. A center of interna-tional banking and trade, the sultry skyline of shimmering glass and steel towers is reminiscent of Miami. In contrast, the peninsula of Casco Viejo has become a thriving colonial neighborhood where cobblestones link boutique hotels with underground bars and crumbled ruins with pirate lore.

Escape is never far. Day trip to sandy beaches (Pacific or Caribbean), admire the canal, or explore lush rainforests of howler monkeys, toucans and sloths.

When to Go¨¨ Jan In the peak of high season, the weeklong Panama Jazz

Festival features open-air concerts and events held mostly in the historic neighborhood of Casco Viejo.

¨¨ Dec-mid–Mar High season is dry season, with sunnier weather for outdoor cafe dining and day trips to the beach; hotel rates are up and travelers should book ahead.

¨¨ Apr–Nov Low season prices and occasional rain showers, though a rain reprieve usually comes in October. A slew of public holidays in November mean ubiquitous parades, party events and closures.

Panama CityPOP 699,500 / ELEV SEA LEVEL / AREA 2561 SQ KM

Best Places to Eat¨¨ Maito (p63)

¨¨ Mercado de Mariscos (p59)

¨¨ Country Store (p63)

¨¨ La Rosa Mexicano (p62)

¨¨ Granclement (p59)

Best Places to Stay¨¨ Las Clementinas (p54)

¨¨ Saba Hotel (p55)

¨¨ Magnolia Inn (p54)

¨¨ Luna’s Castle (p53)

¨¨ Dos Palmitos (p58)

History.......................... 42Sights........................... 42Activities....................... 52Courses........................ 52Festivals.&.Events........ 53Sleeping....................... 53Eating........................... 59Drinking.&.Nightlife..... 63Entertainment.............. 66Shopping...................... 67

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Panam

a City .Pan

ama City .

Panam

a City City.H

igHlig

HtS

41

6

66

666

6

66666

66

66

666

#£

R

#

#

#

æ

æ

æ

#÷

#ï

#f

LACRE

STA

PUEB

LONUE

VOBE

TANIA

LOS

ANGEL

ES

CHORR

ILLO

CALIDONIA

AMAD

OR

PUNTA

PAITILLA

PARQ

UELE

FEVR

E

PANAM

ÁVI

EJO

OMAR

RÍO

ABAJ

O

ALBR

OOK

BALB

OA AN

CÓN

BELL

AVI

STA

LABO

CA

ELCA

RMEN

CURU

NDÚ

SAN

FRAN

CISC

O

LAEX

POSI

CIÓN

EL CANGRE

JO

SAN

MIG

UELITO

PanamaCanal

Balboa

Harbor

BAHÍA

DEPA

NAMÁ

Parque

Porras

Parque

Recreativo

Omar

Río Abajo

RíoCurundú

RíoM

ataz

nil

lo

Av3Sur

(AvJustoArosemena)

Vía

Tran

síst

mica

Av

Central

Av Ernesto Lefevre

AvLu

isFClem

entAvJuanPa

bloll

VíaBra

sil

CarrDiabl

oAv

Simón

Bolívar

(ViaTran

sístmica)

Av4a

Sur

CaminodelaAmistad

AvAscañioVillalaz

CarrG

aillard

Avde

losMár

tires

VíaArge

ntina

VíaBelisario

Vía

Espa

ña

Av6Su

r(Av

Balbo

a)

Corred

orNor

te

Co r

redo

rSur

Av6a

Sur

(AvC

incu

entena

rio)

Av6 S

ur(VíaIsrael)

Puen

tede

lasAm

éricas

Av

Ricard

oJAlf

aro

(Tumb

a

Muert

o)

AvFedericoBoyd

(C52)

C 74Este

C

Ev ir a

Men

dez

C 70Este

CalleA

mador

FerrytoIslaTaboga

Cerro

Anc

ónMultip

laza

Mall

Balbo

aYa

chtC

lub

(Boa

tsto

Isla

Con

tado

ra)

Pana

ma

Railway

Com

pany

Pana

maCan

alAdm

inistration

Building

ATPTo

urist

Office

Cinta

Cos

tera

Cau

seway

Area

SeeCa

scoViejo

Map

(p48

)

SeeCe

ntralPanam

aCity

Map

(p44

)

SeeElCa

ngrejo&Be

llaVistaMap

(p56

)

SeePa

namáViejo

Map

(p60

)

#3Pa

rque

Nat

ural

Metro

polit

ano

#2Pa

namá

Viejo

#1Cas

coViejo

#6 Mer

cado

deMarisco

s

#5 Calle

Uru

guay

02

km0

1m

iles

#e

D

Gamboa

(41km)

D

LaCh

orrera

(32km)

D(35km)

#–

D(38km)

#–

1.Explore.history-filled.

Casc

o Vi

ejo (p45),.a.rapidly.

gentrifying.neighborhood.of.

crum

bling.colonials,.soaring.

churches.and.grand.plazas

2.Reconnect.with.the.past.at.

the.

Pana

má

Viej

o ru

ins.(p50),.

the.original.Panam

a.City.circa.

1519

3.Hike.through.

Parq

ue

Nat

ural

Met

ropo

litan

o.(p48),.

265.hectares.of.rainforest.just.

10.minutes.from

.dow

ntow

n

4.Feast.on.new.tropical.

fusion.cuisine.at.any.of.the.

capital’s.fine.assortm

ent.of.

rest

aura

nts (p59)

5.Party.like.a.rock.star.on.

Calle

Uru

guay

(p63),.home.to.

the.city’s.most.sophisticated.

nightlife

6.treat.your.hangover.

pedaling.along.the.Cinta.

Costera.to.M

erca

do d

e M

aris

cos.(p59).for.cheap.

cevi

che.(m

arinated.seafood).

and.the.freshest.fish.around

Pana

ma

Cit

y H

ighl

ight

s