Panama Canal
This modern engineering marvel is famous the world over, though nothing can prepare you for the awesome sight of watching hulking vessels traverse any of the canal's three sets of locks. Most visitors choose to visit the Miraflores Locks, which are located next to a shiny new visitors' centre, an open-air restaurant, a museum and a viewing platform.

Tel: 257 1433.
Website: www.pancanal.com
Admission charge.

Panamá Viejo (Old Panama)
Founded in 1519 by the Spanish, Panamá was the first European city on the Pacific coastline of the Americas. Although it was plundered and burnt to the ground by Captain Henry Morgan in 1617, the ruins of this once great city make for wonderful independent exploration.

Casco Viejo (Old Compound)
Following the destruction of Panamá, the Spanish moved their city a few kilometres east to a more fortified location. Today, much of this colonial city remains standing, and thanks to rapidly increasing urban renewal, is becoming the centre of a reinvigorated arts, dining and nightlife scene.

Parque Natural Metropolitano (Metropolitan Natural Park)
Perched on the northern edge of the city, this natural retreat for urban dwellers is an expansive stretch of primary and secondary rainforest. The park is home to an enormous diversity of wildlife including rare tití monkeys, sloths, deer and more than 200 species of tropical birds.

Tel: 232 5516.
Website: www.parquemetropolitano.org
Admission charge.

Isla Taboga (Taboga Island)
Known as the Island of Flowers, this offshore gem lies just 20km (12 miles) from Panama City, though beachcombers and sun worshippers will find themselves in a different world. Grab a boat from the Causeway, look for pods of whales en route and prepare yourself for a day of lounging about on sun-kissed sands.

Website: www.taboga.panamanow.com
Free admission.