Panama City, Panama – March 2026

March 30 – April 2, 2026

A long weekend in Panama City, Panama to see the Panama Canal and Casco Viejo, a UNESCO-listed historic city center.

Link to Trip Photos

Day 1 – ATL to Panama City, Panama

Panama is my 35th country!
Travel Day (ATL → Panama City) – Left the house at 3am, which felt wildly offensive. TSA had been a mess all week in Atlanta, but we somehow got lucky today. Thanks to Clear + PreCheck, we made it through security in 11 minutes. The flight from Atlanta to Panama City was just over four hours, which made this feel like a pretty easy international jump.
Waldorf Astoria Panama (Hotel) – We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria in the financial district using Peter’s Amex Business Platinum credits and points. This one worked out well: free breakfast and a $100 amenity credit, which I quickly turned into a spa appointment. A very strong start.
Casco Viejo/Old Town – Ubered over to Casco Viejo, Panama City’s old town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Traffic was wild, so our driver ended up detouring through nearby local neighborhoods that looked much more lived-in and much less polished than the parts most visitors probably see. It was rough around the edges, but also one of those moments that made the city feel more real.
Mola Textiles – We came across a woman selling mola textiles on the sidewalk and bought two pieces from her. Mola art is tied to Guna heritage and grew out of earlier body painting traditions, with those same motifs later moving onto fabric after Spanish colonization and outside influence changed traditional dress. The pieces were bright and detailed, and I got one of my favorite photos of the day too: the artist with a big grin.
Mahalo Cocina y Jardin (Dinner) – Had an early dinner, where we sat in a very cool garden oasis tucked in the back. We ordered ceviche with avocado and corvina, crispy cauliflower with beet sauce, and pistachio tres leches cake for dessert. Delicious.
Wind Down – After dinner, we Ubered back to the hotel and kept the night easy. We relaxed by the pool, soaked in the hot tub, and let the early wake-up catch up with us.

Day 2 – Panama Canal + Casco Viejo

Started the day with the buffet breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria, included with the Amex perks!
Half-Day Tour – We had a morning pickup at the hotel with our guide, Ella.
Panama Canal – We started at the Panama Canal and visited the Miraflores Locks and visitor center. Watching ships move through gave a much better sense of the scale. The canal is about 50 miles long and lifts ships about 85 feet above sea level to cross Gatun Lake, the man-made lake in the middle. On the original route, ships pass through three lock steps at Gatun, then one at Pedro Miguel and two at Miraflores. The French started the project and failed, and the U.S. came in and finished it. We watched the IMAX movie narrated by Morgan Freeman, which was well done.
Canal History – The 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties started the process of giving control of the canal back to Panama, and Panama took full control in 1999. The flag protests tied to Balboa High School became a turning point in that push. The canal is currently operated by Panama.
Amador Causeway – After that, we drove out to the causeway which connects a chain of islands. We stopped for the Panama sign photo and saw the Biomuseo, designed by Frank Gehry.
Casco Viejo – Back in old town, we learned about the former city wall that once divided social classes. The wall is no longer standing, but the history is still there. Casco Viejo is also called the city of a thousand balconies, reminding us of New Orleans.
Panama Hat Fact – Panama hats are actually from Ecuador.
Red Devils – Bright, tricked-out school buses you see around the city.
Juice Man – Bought two ginger blend juices from a guy pushing a cart around the street. Spicy and refreshing!
Lo Que Hay (Lunch) – Had lunch at Lo Que Hay. We ordered the tuna cassava tostada, Caribbean ceviche poke, and blackberry shave ice for dessert. Highly recommend!
Mola Museum – Stopped by the Mola Museum after lunch to learn more about the Guna textile art. It is small but free and worth the stop.
Cafe Coca Cola (Snack) – Later, we stopped at Cafe Coca Cola for a coffee and snack. We had sea bass ceviche, fried plantains, and coffee.
Nap + Pool Time – Went back to the hotel for a nap and pool time before dinner.
Azahar (Dinner) – For dinner, we walked to Azahar, which has a speakeasy entrance through a cooler door inside a fake flower shop. I did not warn Peter, so he was very confused. The atmosphere was cool and the food was good.

Day 3 – Santa Semana in Panama City

Started the day with another free breakfast at the hotel. A different selection than yesterday, but still very good. Also helpful for anyone planning a trip here – the tap water in Panama City is safe to drink.
Pool Morning – We spent the rest of the morning by the pool, which made for a slow, relaxing start to the day.
Restaurante El Trapiche (Lunch) – Had a late lunch at El Trapiche in Bella Vista and shared a platter of traditional Panamanian food. We had fried plantains, yuca, chicken soup that reminded me a little of chicken and dumplings, stewed beef, and more.
Waldorf Astoria Spa – After lunch, I cashed in my Amex amenity credit for a lavender massage at the hotel spa. The spa was small, but the service was great.
Casco Viejo/Old Town – We got ready and headed back to old town around 6pm and hit crazy rush hour traffic getting there. We ended up hopping out of the Uber early and walking the rest of the way.
Geisha Terroir Specialty Coffee Shop (Coffee) – Stopped for a Geisha coffee tasting before the evening processions. Panama is especially known for high-end Geisha coffee, which has a light, floral profile. It was very smooth!
Semana Santa – We staked out a spot for the Easter week processions and waited for things to get started. It ended up being a surprisingly long procession – with three different marching bands. A very cool local experience.
Cinta Costera – We walked back to the hotel along the Cinta Costera, which took a little under an hour. We passed by the fish market, which definitely made its presence known (hold your nose!). The walk felt well lit, with lots of people out exercising and a visible police presence. Apparently there are usually a lot more raccoon sightings along the Cinta Costera, but we only saw one from a distance.