Discover the pulse of Panama City on a 4-hour urban food walk with a local blogger.
The Panama Detour is for people who like spontaneous adventure and getting to know a city through its food, drinks, and streets. The cost is $74 / per person and includes a guided tour, 4 food & drink stops, umbrellas during the wet season, and public transportation costs.
Highlights
- 4 food & drink stops included
- Explore at least 4 distinct neighborhoods
- Get the best insider tips on Panama during the tour
- Use public transportation like a local
- Small groups with a maximum of 8 people
*If you don’t see availability on the calendar I am not available as I also live part-time in Colombia hosting tours
Experience Panama City Like A Local
I’m Joey, an expat and local blogger in Panama City, Panama. I’ve decided to go from writing about Panama City to actually showing people the ins and out of this hot metropolis. I don’t like to refer to what I’m doing as a “tour” but more of an experience.
What we’ll do
Our day starts in the historic Casco Viejo neighborhood at a trendy rooftop where everyone in the group will get to know each other. I’ll give you the quickest history lesson on Panama City and how it’s changed throughout its development before we start our adventure.
We will then walk a few blocks to one of the most luxurious hotels in the neighborhood to try a street food delicacy gone gourmet.
Next, we’ll head to Santa Ana, the most vibrant part of the city where locals still live. We will visit my friend’s chocolate shop where you’ll get to try some unique treats, take photos in front of colorful street art, and walk down Panama City’s only pedestrian avenue to buy fresh ingredients for our mojito-making workshop later on.
From here, we are going to ride the underground metro to the city center to explore the laid-back Via Argentina neighborhood. While here, we’ll be eating at an old-school restaurant to try classic Panamanian food with a twist.
For our last stop, we are GOING UP to a rooftop bar for a mojito-making workshop where you’ll get to make your own cocktail while watching the sun go down over the city and try fresh ceviche.
Sign Up
The cost to go on the tour is $74 / person with a maximum of 8 people and will last approximately 4 hours. The cost includes a guided tour of Panama City, 4 food & drink stops, transportation costs during the tour (bus, metro & Uber rides), and umbrellas in case it rains. If you are booking a solo tour, you may be combined with another solo traveler or small group, but there will always be a maximum of 8 people to keep it intimate. Please let me know if you have a larger group than eight people and we might be able to accommodate everyone but I prefer to maintain the groups as small as possible. To avoid the worst heat of the day the tours begin at 3:00 pm because this is when the city starts to cool down.
While the cost of the tour is $74, most people on my tour end up saving that much money by the end of their trip by learning the local secrets of where to eat, drink, get around, and not get ripped off. This is a great tour on the first day of your trip so that you can use your new local knowledge for the remainder of your stay.
If you’re ready to begin your experience, BOOK NOW or send me an email to hola@pty.life to coordinate.
Where We Meet
The tour meets on the rooftop of Tantalo Hotel in Casco Viejo at 3:00 pm on the day you booked. Feel free to arrive early at Casco Viejo and walk around before the tour if you have time. The endpoint of the tour is in the financial district where you will easily be able to get an Uber or taxi back to your hotel.
FAQ
How much time should I set aside for the tour?
Approximately 4 hours.
How do we get around during the tour?
We do a lot of walking, but we will also utilize different forms of the city’s transportation options to get to certain spots (bus, metro, Uber, or taxi). The cost of transportation is covered during the tour.
Do I need to be super fit for this tour?
You do not need to be super fit but we typically walk 3-miles during the tour (with breaks in between), so you need to be able to cover this much ground.
How much does the tour cost?
The cost is $74 / person. This includes a guided tour of Panama City, sampling local food & drinks, transportation costs during the tour (bus, metro & Uber rides), and umbrellas in case it rains.
Can I bring my kids on the tour?
It’s not recommended to bring kids on the tour since we will be walking a lot in very hot and humid weather, eating local food they may not like, and visiting bars. If you would like to bring a kid, it’s still full price and please make sure they do not disturb other group members.
Do we eat during the tour?
We will typically spend the day sampling local food, drinks, and treats and you’ll most likely be full by the end.
How many people are on each tour?
The tours are conducted with a minimum of 1 person and a maximum of 8 people. If you have a bigger group, we might be able to accommodate everyone, but we prefer to keep the groups as small as possible. Sometimes I will combine groups (a group of 1 and a group of 3 for example), but it will always be a maximum of 8 people.
What do I need to bring for the tour?
Just wear comfortable clothing and sneakers/trainers (remember we walk a lot!). If possible, please try to avoid bringing large cameras since we will be going to some of the more local/gritty areas of Panama City. And please bring water because it’s hot!
Where do we meet and at what time?
The tour meets on the rooftop of Tantalo Hotel in Casco Viejo at 3:00 pm on the day you booked. Feel free to arrive early at Casco Viejo and walk around before the tour if you have time. The endpoint of the tour is in the financial district.
How can I reserve my spot on the Panama Detour or get more info?
Click BOOK NOW at the top of the page or write to me at hola@pty.life.