Learn how to use the metro in Panama to get to and from the airport for just .50 cents! This complete guide has step-by-step photos to help you along the way. Typically a trip to and from Panama’s Tocumen International Airport can cost $15 – $30 each way using Uber…
Can’t decide where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Panama? From upscale city nightlife to laid back beach towns… here are the best spots in Panama to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Panama City An upscale modern city filled with glass skyscrapers, nightlife, restaurants, shopping, and lots of fireworks on NYE.…
Panamanians always enjoy a good party! The nightlife here offers a little bit of something for everyone, from underground lairs to chic nightclubs with Panama’s “yeyecito” crowd. Most of the spots on this list are located in Casco Viejo, which in recent years has become the new epicenter of Panama City nightlife…
Casco Viejo is a unique location to stay in Panama City, Panama if you want to be steps away from the city’s best restaurants, nightlife & things to do. Casco Viejo (also called Casco Antiguo) is my favorite neighborhood in Panama City, and I recommend staying in this area if you can. It’s a stark…
Bocas del Toro is one of Panama’s top tourist destinations and once you visit you can totally see why. This pristine paradise has been attracting surfers, beach seekers, and young partygoers for years. A recent tourism ad for Bocas boasted “Cancun, we see your swim up bar… we raise you…
Looking for a fun immersive mixology cocktail class where you get to see the real Panama – from the gritty to the most Insta-gramable, and everything in between? I’m Joey, an expat and local blogger of this website pty.life in Panama City, Panama. I’ve decided to go from writing about…
Normally when you think of nightlife in Latin America, salsa dancing is the first thing that comes to mind. However, in Panama City, it can be difficult to uncover the salsa culture as reggaeton is the preferred genre of music. I did a bit of digging around and found that…
With a diverse landscape of beaches, mountains, and jungles to explore, you don’t have to venture far from Panama City to enjoy the outdoors. Eco-lodges and glamping (glamour camping) provide a comfortable way to enjoy the outdoor aspect of camping with modern amenities and allow yourself to reconnect with nature…
This gay travel guide is your passport to exploring Panama City through a queer lens, discovering its LGBTQ+ friendly spaces, events, and experiences that will make your visit truly unforgettable. Panama City has become more tolerant of LGBTQ+ life over the last 10 years, and is now a place that…
Welcome to Panama, a place where the jungle meets the city and your opportunity to spot a sloth. Panama City’s lush surroundings provide the ideal habitat for sloths, as the country boasts rich rainforests and diverse ecosystems. Sloths live a pretty relaxed lifestyle, only being awake for 4-hours a day…
Taboga Island is a tropical island located in the Gulf of Panama, just a short ferry ride away from Panama City. Known as the “Island of Flowers,” Taboga Island is a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike, offering small beaches, lush vegetation, and a laid-back atmosphere. If you’re…
Want to get to know the real Panama City, Panama? I’ve worked to narrow down everything there is to do in Panama City to 25 of the must-dos. Don’t worry if you can’t get to them all! You can always come back. The Panama Canal I’m kicking off the list…
Boutique hotels are what the latest travelers are after. They offer unique experiences with an immersive design that are Instagrammable from any angle. I’ve rounded up the best-designed boutique hotels as well as Airbnbs throughout the entire country including spots in Panama City, Boquete, Bocas del Toro, and more. From…
Staying in a treehouse is the ultimate way to fulfill your childhood fantasy and luckily as an adult, you can finally make dreams come true! Treehouse accommodation has been popping up all over the world and the trend has made its way to Panama. Here are my picks for the coolest…
With a cool micro-climate, beautiful hiking trails, and simple access from Panama City, the sleepy mountain town El Valle de Anton is one of Panama’s best spots for an easy eco-tourism getaway. Here’s a quick guide on what to do, see, eat, and drink. In The Guide + 5 TRAVEL TIPS + GETTING THERE + WHERE…
Looking for somewhere out-of-the-ordinary to stay in Panama? I’ve rounded up a list of places that you will never forget! From castles made out of plastic bottles to jungle treehouses to private beach escapes, here are the most unique and unusual places to stay in Panama. Plastic Bottle Castle In…
Want to celebrate NYE in Panama City, Panama? Here are the best events happening to ring in 2023! Panama City has been my home since 2011 so I might be a little biased, but it is an incredible place to celebrate the New Year. What makes celebrating NYE in Panama…
Panama City is a vibrant Latin American capital city with great food, culture, and plenty to do, but there are a few things you need to know before you go! For example, did you know that weather forecasts are typically wrong? Or that locals wear long pants in the hot…
There’s been a number of rooftop bars opening over the past few years and Panama City’s tropical climate creates the perfect environment for them. Check out these places and enjoy the spectacular views, a refreshing cocktail, and beautiful people. Selina Selina is where you’ll find the cool kids of Panama…
Located in the archipelago of Panama’s Pearl Islands, Saboga Lodge is for the traveler looking for a chic island getaway surround by nature, hiking trails, and pristine beaches without the crowds. Just off the coast of Panama City sits Saboga, an island with a rich history dating back to the…
The coffee culture in Panama City has grown exponentially since I moved here in 2011. Back then, there were maybe two places in the whole city that specialized in producing a good cup of joe. Now, it’s easy to find a good coffee shop in nearly every neighborhood. On a…
The ocean breeze, Caribbean sea, and beautiful off-the-grid locations have been enticing people to overwater bungalows for years. Many people think you have to travel to some tiny exotic island in the middle of the ocean for an experience like this, but Panama is home to some stunning overwater bungalow…
For a small country – Panama manages to pack an incredible amount of terrain that will satisfy any explorer. You’ve got a cosmopolitan city, cool mountain towns, beaches with world class surf, AND ISLANDS GALORE! I’ve traveled quite a bit through Latin America and Panama has some of the most…
If you want to see a side of Panama City that’s not normally visited by tourists and be immersed with locals, you must spend a day with Victor Peretz, the founder of @localinpty. He’s taking visitors to the neighborhood of El Chorillo, just a few blocks from the trendy Casco…
Panama is a tiny country that packs in a diverse landscape of islands, surfing beaches, mountains, jungle, and a cosmopolitan city to discover. Here are 15 destinations YOU MUST visit in Panama + how to get to each one. Panama City Panama City is the capital of Panama and always…
One of the big downsides that I noticed after moving to Panama was that quite a bit of the media content that I was used to using like Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, and a few other websites were either blocked or did not have the same content. For example, using my…
Cerro Azul is a small gated mountain community that sits around 800 meters above sea level, making it a comfortable climate year-round when you need a break from the hot & humid coast. The perk is that it’s one of the closest “cool” escapes from Panama City and will only…
Want to perfect your photography skills while enjoying incredible adventures in beautiful places around Panama? Lensventure delivers just that in an all-inclusive, weekend photography experiences for people looking to get off the beaten path. UPCOMING TRIP FEB 19 -21 @ PLAY VENAO! CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. Stay in a…
Experience the freedom of being in the Panama jungle at Kalu Yala. This is one of my favorite eco-tourism getaways because even though it feels remote, it’s only 1.5 hours from Panama City (you can even use the new metro to get most of the way there). Book your stay…
You don’t have to venture far from Panama City to enjoy an incredible home you can rent for the weekend or a special occasion. Think chic beach houses, jungle lodges, mountain cabins, and even sailboats you can stay overnight at. Here are some of the best Airbnb properties available right…
So you have just landed in your new country, had a stressful week adapting to a new culture, and all you want to do is catch up on the latest episode of your favorite TV show on Hulu and are greeted by this: And your reaction is this: Yup, it’s a…
If you live in Panama or have traveled there before you’ve probably heard of Casco Antiguo Spanish School. The top-rated (with 150+ positive reviews on TripAdvisor) language school has been offering 1 on 1 and group Spanish courses in Panama City’s Historic Old Town for close to a decade. Started…
Playa Venao is a vibrant beachfront community on Panama’s Azuero Peninsula, known for its world-class surfing, chill beach vibes, and the occasional music festival. I’ve visited Playa Venao several times over the last nine years and am always surprised how much it has grown – from having just a few…
Panama City’s Casco Viejo district was founded in 1674 after Pirate Captain Henry Morgan ransacked and burned down the original location. This developed into a beautiful Spanish colonial town which was then abandoned over time as residents moved into modern Panama City. A little over ten years ago, much of…
Traveling in Panama can be done on the cheap if you know where to stay. Dream of staying right on the beach or being in a private cabin in the mountains? It’s possible on a budget. I’ve rounded up a list of the best bangs for you buck throughout the…
In honor of International Museum Day, celebrated on May 18, Panama’s Tourism Authority (ATP) launched a new website that lets users enjoy the city’s museums in a new virtual way. This virtual platform is an initiative so that people from home, can get to know more about the museums making…
Let’s be honest, it’s HOT & HUMID in most parts of Panama and that glistening, tropical sweat look just doesn’t look or feel good to most people. It’s then easy to develop a dependent relationship with the air conditioner until you see your electric bill for the first time and…
The Coronavirus has been hard-hitting to families in Panama that already struggle on a daily basis and luckily local charities are stepping in to help. Most just need financial donations as they are buying food packages and distributing them to local families. This post will continue to be updated so…
In Panama City, you’ll notice one of the metro stops is called 5 de Mayo, which is located in the 5 de Mayo neighborhood. Have you ever stopped to wonder why it’s called this? 5 de Mayo is often a day confused with Mexican culture (they don’t even really celebrate…
After deciding to relocate from Panama to Bogotá, Colombia in 2018, I still frequent Panama quite a bit to keep up with the Panama Detour and produce new content for this website. My most recent trip to Panama was supposed to just be for two weeks has turned into an…
