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Panama City tours and excursions

Panama City tours

Rail tours

This beautiful hour-long ride along the canal and through the rainforest from Panama City to Colon on the other side of the country is the ideal way to see the country. The trip with Panama Railway Company will take all day, as you must get the return train which doesn’t run until the late afternoon. Depart at approximately 0700 and the return train leaves at 1700; bring a jumper to combat the fierce on board air-con.

Tel: +507 317 6070.
Website: http://www.panarail.com

Adventure tours

Panama really is a place of extreme wilderness – people forget that on seeing Panama City. If you have some time in Panama you could do an adventure tour that will take you into the jungle. There are all kinds of activities: hiking, kayaking, zipwiring, white-water rafting and the standards of tours are high. Ancon Expeditions and Boquete Outdoor Adventures are two recommended companies.

Tel: +507 269 9415; +507 720-2284.
Website: http://www.boqueteoutdooradventures.com

Panama City excursions

Embera Villages

Not all of Panama has been developed and modernised: the people of the Embera and Wounan tribes live fairly close to the city and many of their villages have set up tourism projects for visitors to come to learn about their way of life. One option is to book a tour with Anne Gordon de Barrigon, an American woman married to a man of the Embera village Peru, in Chagres National Park, about 45 minutes by canoe from the city. Learn about their dances, crafts and jungle skills, and be amazed at this very different lifestyle so close to the city.

Tel: +507 6758 7600.
Website: http://www.emberavillagetours.com

Gatun Lake Rainforest Canal Excursion

A full day trip for the more adventurous. This is an alternative way to see the canal – travelling via a small boat followed by kayaking into the rainforest. You can chug along next to cruise liners as they head through the canal, go for lunch at a floating restaurant on a lake, kayak through small waterways in the jungle surrounded by monkeys, have a dip in the lake and hike to a waterfall. It’s an awesome day out, and a great way to see how close Panama City is to some serious wilderness.

Tel: +507 262 1540.
Website: http://www.lunascastlehostel.com
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

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Toscana Inn Hotel

A modestly-sized boutique hotel in Downtown Panama City, Toscana Inn comes equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi in every room. Café Los Girasoles restaurant serves up Panamanian cuisine for dinner and a complimentary buffet-breakfast spread in the morning.

The Westin Playa Bonita Panama

A luxury, beachfront hotel with six restaurants, a full-service spa, business centre, kids club and three infinity pools, each kitted out with a swim-up bar. Located approximately 20 minutes outside of the city centre, flanked by rainforest, the resort has 611 luxury rooms and suites, many offer views of the Pacific.

El Machico Hostel

Situated in Panama City's Marbella district, this lively hostel fosters a laid back atmosphere with courtyard swimming pool, open air cinema nights, pool games and a small bar.

Hotel DeVille

This is one of Panama City’s top-end boutique hotels, located in one of the city's most romantic spots. Each of the 33 rooms are individually (and impeccably) decorated. The difference here is in the details right down to the antique furniture that graces each handsome room. Beautiful and classy, with rooms and suites available at rather high prices but you won’t be sorry.

Hotel Riande Continental

Centred on a palm tree-fringed swimming pool, this sophisticated Panama City hotel is an excellent choice if you're searching for low-key luxury. Spacious rooms offer modern furnishings and sweeping views of the Panama City skyline. All rooms have a mini-bar and cable TV, and there is a surcharge for the Wi-Fi which is available all over the hotel.

Las Clementinas

Las Clementinas is another Casco Viejo charmer, in a fully-revamped colonial building in the most beautiful part of town. They have gone for understated elegance and style here, and have definitely succeeded. Furnishings are either original antiques or perfect replicas. Las Clementinas also has a bar and cafe with great food.