The Panama Canal was one of the greatest engineering feats of all time. It’s a must see when visiting Panama City. If you’re not interested in the engineering part of the story, it’s incredible just to see the huge ships passing through.
Fort San Lorenzo (Fuerte San Lorenzo) is one of the most important sites in Panamanian history. It sits on a small promontory near the mouth of the Chagres River (Río Chagres). It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the fortifications at Portobelo.
Just under two hours from Panama City is Playa Santa Clara, a stretch of beach that development seems to have forgotten. With my group of friends, we rented a car, hopped in, and took the trip to this beach on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
When I arrived in Portobelo, I was greeted by a collection of ramshackle houses and other buildings. There were very few people in the streets of this run-down town of just under 3,000 inhabitants.
Cerro Ancón (Ancón Hill) is the highest point in Panama City. It’s part of a nature reserve and a great place to escape the city without leaving.
The current old town of Panama City is Casco Viejo, but the original site is actually at Panamá Viejo. It’s located a few kilometers to the northeast and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá.
Casco Viejo is the old town of Panama City. It’s included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá.