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Looking for the best activities to do during your trip to Panama City in Panama?
We’ve spent a lot of time in Panama and have loved exploring the city and surrounding area every time we’re here. From the Caribbean coast to the Pacific views at the Amador Causeway and everything in between, tours are an ideal way to get the most out of your Panama City visit without worrying about the logistics.
Below are our 10 absolutely favorite things we have done during our many visits to Panama City – only the best made this list!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE activity is this San Blas Islands Day Tour. Relax on a cruise and explore the famous San Blas Islands with an expert guide – we loved this tour!
You can read over 1,000 5-star reviews here too!
Tip: Book this tour in advance and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
- Best Things to do in Panama City, Panama
- 1. Explore the City and the Panama Canal
- 2. All-Inclusive Day Tour to the San Blas Islands
- 3. Sail from Ocean to Ocean on the Panama Canal
- 4. Tour Panama City in a classic car
- 5. Visit Monkey Island and a sloth sanctuary
- 6. All-Inclusive Full-Day Taboga Island Catamaran Tour
- 7. Taste your way through Panama City
- 8. Tour Lake Gatun and visit an indigenous village
- 9. Panama Bar Crawl – Old Town Casco Viejo
- 10. Learn to cook tasty local dishes
- Where to Stay in Panama City, Panama
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code "DTRAVEL15"
- What’s an eSIM?
Best Things to do in Panama City, Panama
1. Explore the City and the Panama Canal
- Duration: 5 hours
- Time: 7:30 am, 1:30 pm (varies depending on tour selected)
- Highlights: See Panama City’s top sights in half a day, from the Miraflores Locks and Casco Viejo to the vibrant BioMuseo, enjoy skyline views along the Amador Causeway
- Inclusions: Your professional guide, snacks/drinks, canal ticket (if selected), round-trip transportation
- Rating: 5 stars (check over 1,600 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
We didn’t know much about Panama City before visiting, but we quickly found it’s a pretty cool metropolis with towering skyscrapers, charming historical quarters, and of course, the famous Panama Canal! Whether you’re visiting for a while or just have a short layover, this 5-hour city and Panama Canal tour is a great way to get a taste of the city without having to do all the planning.
Tours include local pick-up and drop-off with a quick history lesson en route to Miraflores Visitors Center, where you can stare in amazement at the Panama Canal. Honestly, you don’t have to be a history or engineering lover to appreciate this place – it’s super impressive to everyone!
The tour continues to scenic Amador Causeway, then for a stroll around Casco Viejo, the Old City quarters with beautiful architecture and old-world charm. This tour had many points of interest along the way, and I learned way more about Panama City’s history than I would have on my own!
Tours run twice daily with the choice of a morning or afternoon tour, which include snacks, drinks, and an air-conditioned ride. You can also make it a fully customizable private tour, which is handy for bigger groups or if you’re looking for a more personalized experience.
Don’t forget that the Miraflores Visitors Center tickets are an extra $18 USD per person, so bring cash for that and any extras you might want to pick up along the way!
I’d recommend this tour for anyone visiting Panama City for the first time and to do it on one of your first days as a great introduction to the city!
You can read their glowing reviews and secure your spot here!
2. All-Inclusive Day Tour to the San Blas Islands
- Duration: 14 hours
- Time: 5 am
- Highlights: Spend a full day exploring four stunning San Blas Islands, with time to snorkel, kayak, paddle board, and relax on white-sand beaches, plus enjoy a fresh seafood lunch and round-trip transport from Panama City
- Inclusions: Your professional guide, round-trip transportation, local tours and activities, traditional lunch, kayaks and paddleboards
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check over 1,400 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
If you’re going down the Panama research rabbit hole, there’s a good chance you’ve come across lots of info about the San Blas Islands. It’s one of the main reasons we visited Panama in the first place!
But if you don’t have a few days to spare on your itinerary, I’d recommend squeezing in a San Blas Islands day tour! Just off Panama’s Caribbean coast, getting to this piece of paradise involves a 5 am start and a 2.5-hour drive to the port, but stay with me, it’s totally worth it!
With your friendly guide, Naidi, once you’re on the boat, the first stop is the well-known Perro Grande. There will be fruit, umbrellas, and beach chairs waiting if you want to beach-bum it or kayaks and paddleboards to get out on the water like us!
You’ll swing by the tiny Isla Pelicano for a drink at the beach bar and some perfect beach photos for Instagram with the hammocks here. Next is Perro Chico, where your guide will show you some underwater wonders, including a cool shipwreck. I loved snorkeling here – the visibility was fantastic, and there were so many fish and beautiful coral everywhere.
After working up an appetite, you can chow down on a freshly made yummy local lunch, wash it down with an ice-cold beer, and take a moment to soak in all the beauty of San Blas.
Snacks, lunch, transportation, and all the equipment for water activities, are included in this one, but you’re limited to one drink, so we recommend grabbing a little cooler to bring with you (the tour stops at a supermarket before you leave Panama City where you can grab a disposable cooler). There aren’t any ATMs in San Blas, so bring enough cash for the day, including $25 USD for entrance and port fees.
You can book your San Blas Islands day trip online!
Related Read: If you need help planning how the best activities fit together, our 3-day Panama City itinerary is a must-read!
3. Sail from Ocean to Ocean on the Panama Canal
- Duration: 8 hours
- Time: 6:30 am
- Highlights: Journey from the Pacific to the Atlantic in one day, cruise Gatun Lake, visit the Agua Clara Locks, explore San Lorenzo National Park and its historic fort, and enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by rainforest and canal views.
- Inclusions: Panama Canal boat ride, your professional guide, lunch, hotel-pickup and drop-off (select hotels), entrance fees
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check over 1,500 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
While most people have heard of the famous Panama Canal, not many get the chance to travel on it. Well, this full-day canal and jungle tour changes all that! Seeing the canal from a distance is cool, but I love that this tour takes it to the next level with a boat ride on the canal itself.
You get to cruise right by all the ships that are passing through on their way to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Your destination is Gatun Lake which is a man-made lake created at the same time as the canal. You’ll pass by Monkey Island, which was easily one of my favorite stops on this tour! It’s home to monkeys like capuchins, howlers, tamarins, and lemurine owl monkeys.
After hopefully spotting a few (and hearing the loud howler monkeys!), you head up to the Agua Clara Visitors Center to see the canal lock closest to the Caribbean Sea. There are some great observation decks here to watch all the action on the canal and you’ll get a little history lesson too – talk about bringing history to life!
To end the day, you’ll see a remote rainforest in San Lorenzo National Park and have a little tour and picnic at Fort San Lorenzo. This Spanish fort is set on a cliffside and we got to hear some of the stories about pirate attacks (I won’t spoil them for you!) and how important this fortress was for international trade.
This popular tour tends to sell out quickly! Pick-up and drop-off from select hotels, along with lunch and bottled water, are included.
You can secure your booking ahead of time here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. Tour Panama City in a classic car
- Duration: 2 hours
- Time: 9 am, 2:30 pm, 7:30 pm
- Highlights: Cruise through Panama City’s landmarks in a vintage convertible, from Casco Viejo and the Amador Causeway to the gleaming skyline, enjoying photo stops, local stories, and plenty of classic-car charm
- Inclusions: Your professional guide/driver, bottled water and soda/pop
- Rating: 5 stars (check over 650 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
There’s sightseeing… and then there’s sightseeing in a vintage convertible with the wind in your hair and the city skyline all around! This award-winning classic car tour is one of the most fun and unique ways to explore Panama City.
You’ll cruise past top landmarks like Casco Viejo, Avenida Balboa, and the Amador Causeway, all while soaking up local stories from your guide. It’s the kind of tour that turns a regular city drive into something you’ll actually remember!
What we love about this experience is how effortlessly it blends style, history, and pure fun. The cars are total head-turners, you’ll get waves, smiles, and plenty of photo ops along the way. Between stops, your guide shares the kind of insights you’d never get from a bus window, from hidden viewpoints to Panama’s most fascinating architecture. It’s relaxed, entertaining, and gives you a real feel for the city without ever feeling rushed.
You’ll want to book this tour if you’re short on time but still want to see the highlights, or if you just like your sightseeing with a bit of vintage flair. It’s ideal for couples, friends, or anyone who loves something a little different.
Book your Panama City classic car adventure and see the city in style!
5. Visit Monkey Island and a sloth sanctuary
- Duration: 6 hours
- Time: 6:30 am, 1 pm
- Highlights: Explore Panama’s rainforest on a guided day trip to Gamboa, spotting monkeys, birds, and sloths, taking a boat ride along the Panama Canal, and visiting the Butterfly House and Sloth Sanctuary
- Inclusions: Hotel pick-up/drop-off, your professional guide, tour to monkey island and sloth sanctuary, entrance fees, bottled water
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check over 110 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
This wildlife tour around Gatun Lake is an awesome intro to the wildlife surrounding the city. This is one of my top tour picks for Panama City, not only because you get to experience Gatun Lake and learn about this massive artificial lake but also because you get to see so many critters along the way!
This 5-hour tour is packed with animal sightings, starting with a boat ride to Monkey Island to check out the inhabitants, like white-face capuchins, tamarins, and howler monkeys (who can sound pretty intimidating, to be honest!). Though guides obviously can’t guarantee a sighting, they told us it’s highly likely to catch a glimpse of at least a few – or a mama and her baby, if you’re lucky like we were!
After that, you’ll head off to Gamboa Sloth Sanctuary to learn about conservation efforts and see adorable two and three-toed sloths hanging around (literally!). We also checked out the Butterfly House and saw the world’s largest butterfly, the mesmerizing Blue Morpho, and some beautiful, colorful orchids.
If you love wildlife and want to experience Panama’s natural side without venturing too far from the city, this tour is a winner. It’s easy, exciting, and full of those “can you believe we just saw that?” moments that make travel so special. The mix of rainforest, river, and gentle wildlife encounters makes it a great fit for nature lovers, families, or anyone looking for a break from the city buzz.
You can check reviews or book your adventure here in advance!
6. All-Inclusive Full-Day Taboga Island Catamaran Tour
- Duration: 6 hours
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: Cruise to Taboga Island on a spacious catamaran with music, dancing, swimming, and beach time, plus enjoy morning snacks, lunch, and an open bar on board
- Inclusions: Luxury catamaran cruise, lunch, snacks, music, open bar
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check over 1,300 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
For a little break from the city, hop on an easy island getaway from Panama City aboard this Taboga Island Catamaran tour!
Kicking off at 9 am, you’ll board the Red Cat catamaran at the Fuerte Amador Resort and Marina – about a 40-minute drive from downtown Panama City. You’ll have six hours with this crew and with the tunes blasting and an open bar, it’s a blast!
You’ll cruise by the Amador Causeway and the Panama Canal, so you can catch a glimpse of ships waiting and admire the city from a different vantage point. After an hour and a half of sailing, the first stop is on one of Taboga Island’s quiet bays with powdery white sand and glistening waters – perfect for jumping in!
After a dip, the catamaran takes you to the main dock, where you can explore the village on Taboga Island (known as the Island of Flowers!) and its historical buildings. Just let the crew know if you want a guided tour and they can set one up. Or instead, opt to hang out on the beach and soak up the sun, then head back to the boat for a delicious local lunch and more drinks!
The crew is knowledgeable and super fun, and they add to the good vibes with lots of jokes, dancing, and great music. This tour is an all-ages tour, but the open bar is only for those 18+. Your tour includes drinks, a light breakfast, lunch, and some swimming noodles so you can float around without a care in the world! You’ll want to bring towels and cash for tips or any other extras you find in the village.
You can book your spot on this catamaran tour online here!
7. Taste your way through Panama City
- Duration: 5 hours
- Time: 10 am
- Highlights: Taste your way through Panama City’s hidden gems on a private food tour with a local guide, sampling authentic dishes like sancocho, tamales, ceviche, and flan, plus local drinks, all with hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Inclusions: Your local guide, all tastings, hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Rating: 5 stars (check over 140 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Panama’s culinary scene is as colorful and varied as its landscapes, and this private food tour is your chance to experience it like a true local. You’ll spend the morning hopping between hidden eateries and family-run cafés, tasting everything from hearty sancocho and tamales to carimañolas (crispy yuca rolls), ceviche, and homemade flan.
Each stop has its own story, a glimpse into the country’s diverse roots and everyday traditions, and your friendly guide ties it all together with so much warmth and personality!
Rather than following a set route, the tour flows naturally based on what you enjoy most. Some days might include a seafood feast and a visit to a top restaurant; others might lead to a tucked-away market stall serving the best sopa de pata in town.
Sorhay, the local guide behind the experience, has built a reputation for her humor, storytelling, and genuine care for her guests, so it’s just like exploring with a friend who knows everyone! You’ll laugh, learn a lot, and leave feeling like you’ve truly connected with the spirit of Panama.
If you’re curious, hungry, and ready for something real, this tour delivers in every sense.
Taste Panama City’s best local dishes on this private foodie adventure!
8. Tour Lake Gatun and visit an indigenous village
- Duration: 7 hours
- Time: Determined by provider
- Highlights: Cruise along Gatun Lake to spot monkeys, iguanas, and tropical birds, explore the lush Soberanía National Park, and visit an indigenous Embera village to learn about local traditions, crafts, and culture
- Inclusions: Your professional guide, hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Rating: 4.7 stars (check over 290 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Panama’s wild side is something truly special, with thick green rainforests filled with curious monkeys, colorful toucans, and shimmering rivers that seem to go on forever. Beyond the city, you’ll also find the Embera people, one of Panama’s indigenous communities who have preserved their traditions for generations.
But unless you know where to go, it’s not always easy to explore on your own. Booking a guided tour is the best way to reach these hidden corners safely and comfortably, with a local expert who knows where the wildlife hides and how to connect respectfully with the communities who live here.
That’s where this full day combo tour comes in. It’s one of the best ways to experience both the natural and cultural heart of Panama in a single unforgettable day.
The adventure kicks off with a scenic boat ride across Gatun Lake, a sparkling stretch of water that forms part of the Panama Canal. As you glide through lush rainforest, keep your eyes peeled for playful monkeys swinging through the trees, iguanas sunning themselves on low branches, and flashes of bright feathers from tropical birds.
If you’re lucky, you might even spot a lazy crocodile drifting near the shore. It’s a true jungle adventure that feels like you’ve stepped straight into a nature documentary.
Then, just when you think the day can’t get any better, you’ll swap wildlife for culture with a visit to an Embera village. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted with music, dancing, and smiles that feel like sunshine.
Watch artisans weave colorful crafts, learn how they use plants for natural dyes, and hear stories about their deep connection to the river and rainforest. You might even find yourself joining in on a dance or two, it’s all part of the fun!
We love how this tour combines wild adventure with meaningful cultural exchange. It’s truly exciting and completely unforgettable.
Join this full-day Gatun Lake and Embera village tour for a true Panama adventure!
Related Read: If you’re still looking for a hotel, our where to stay in Panama City guide breaks down the best areas and hotels for all budgets!
9. Panama Bar Crawl – Old Town Casco Viejo
- Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Time: 8 pm
- Highlights: Party your way through Casco Viejo with energetic hosts, five included drinks, and stops at the neighborhood’s best bars and clubs – the ultimate way to experience Panama City’s nightlife like a local
- Inclusions: Your fun and professional guide, 5 drinks
- Rating: 5 stars (check over 700 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
If you can’t get enough of Casco Viejo during the day, you’ll love the night scene! There’s no better way to enjoy it than to join a Casco Viejo Bar Crawl, where you can sip your way through the Old Town and make some new friends while you’re at it.
This tour takes your group to five of the best bars, including a drink at each one and fun, energetic guides to lead you. We found all of the stops to have lots of great music and dancing and had a blast with our group of friends.
You get about 45 minutes in each bar, and they’re all relatively close together, so there’s not too much time spent walking from place to place. There’s a little bit of a dress code for this one, so forget the flip-flops and Crocs at home, and remember to bring cash for extra drinks or some post-club snacks!
You’ll definitely have a great time dancing the night away with an awesome group of travelers, plus you get to see beautiful Casco Viejo lit up at night – win, win!
For a fun night out, make sure to book the Casco Viejo Bar Crawl!
10. Learn to cook tasty local dishes
- Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Time: 8 am, 12:30 pm
- Highlights: Shop local markets with a chef to pick fresh ingredients, then cook and enjoy a five-course Panamanian meal in Casco Viejo with hands-on lessons, local drinks, and plenty of flavor
- Inclusions: Professional instructors, lunch (cooked by you!), bottled water
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check over 110 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Panama’s food is a delicious mix of cultures, a blend of Latin, Caribbean, and Indigenous flavors that come together in every bite. From fresh seafood and tropical fruits to hearty home-style dishes, the country’s cuisine tells a story of its history and diversity. Joining a cooking class is one of the best ways to experience that story firsthand, you don’t just eat like a local, you cook like one!
This half-day class begins in the heart of Casco Viejo, where you’ll meet your guide and head straight to the markets to shop for fresh ingredients. At the bustling Mercado de Mariscos, you’ll pick out your fish for ceviche straight from the local catch of the day, then wander through the colorful stalls of Mercado San Felipe Neri to grab herbs, spices, and seasonal produce. It’s a sensory adventure, the sights, sounds, and smells of everyday Panama all around you.
Back in the kitchen, the real fun begins. With guidance from a local chef, you’ll roll up your sleeves to prepare a five-course menu of Panamanian classics, learning how to balance flavors and use regional ingredients like a pro. After all that chopping and stirring, you’ll sit down to enjoy your creations with a refreshing local drink in hand, the perfect reward for your hard work.
You can book your cooking class online with Viator!
Where to Stay in Panama City, Panama
To take in a tour (or three!), you’ll definitely want to stay a few nights in Panama City. It’s a big city though with lots of choices for places to stay. We’ve narrowed it down to our top picks for every budget so you can put up your feet after a day of exploring in some comfy accommodations!
American Trade Hotel – $$$
American Trade Hotel is the most famous and luxurious hotel in Panama City. This hotel has housed many famous people over the years but unfortunately for me, I only saw the hotel from the outside. Rooms here start around $250 USD per night but are HUGE and very luxurious! You can feel like a VIP by booking your own stay online here.
Magnolia Inn – $$
If you’re in the medium budget range then the Magnolia Inn is the best option available within Casco Viejo. The hotel has really good reviews and the location is perfect. Not to mention, the building is a restored French-style manor that’s a great example of stunning colonial architecture!
Private rooms start under $100 USD per night or there are bunks in dorm rooms for as cheap as $19 USD. Check availability and book on Booking.com.
Bodhi Panama City – $
Located in the trendy and fun neighborhood of Marbella, Bodhi Panama City is my hostel of choice! It’s set in a beautiful building (with an outdoor pool!) and there are both private rooms and bunks. The bunks have privacy curtains and lockers underneath and the kitchen is big which is great for cooking meals.
You can grab a bunk here for around $16 USD or there are private rooms starting around $30 USD. You can also easily book on either Hostelworld.com or Booking.com to find the best deals!
Need help getting to Panama City? You can either fly into the large international airport, cross the border by land from Costa Rica, or you can even get to Panama from Cartagena, Colombia for cheap!
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Thanks for reading!
Panama City is such a vibrant part of Central America and tours are a great way to experience it! Whether you’re walking, biking, or boating, there’s sure to be a tour or two calling your name. There are even a couple on this list I want to do again the next time we’re in Panama City because they were THAT good.
If this guide to the best tours in Panama City was helpful, have a look around our other blogs about Central America. We’ve taken our fair share of tours, stayed in hotels and hostels, and blogged on the go, so we have lots of tips to share no matter what your final destination is! Here are a few of my top picks to get you started:
10 Best Cities in Latin America (That You Need to Check Out!)