Panama City: The City of Abundance

There is not one element of Panama City that is not incredibly exciting! Where else in the world can you see a city’s skyline from far out into the Pacific Ocean? This is because this is the one place where the skyscrapers quite literally meet the waves of the ocean as the high buildings line the beautiful beaches. Although you can visit the Panama Canal to get to just about anywhere you want to go in the world, it’s worthwhile to take some time exploring Panama itself. It’s a beautiful city full of history and culture!

If it’s history you’re interested in seeing, Old Panama is the place you want to go! Just two miles outside of modern-day downtown Panama City, it is here that remains of the original capital still lie. A park that is open to the public serves as the perfect setting for the ruins of walls and archways that are perfectly reminiscent of 1519, which is when this old city was first established. It’s interesting to know when you are visiting that this old city was once a known looting place of pirates and during the time of Henry Morgan’s vicious pillaging, the governor of Panama demanded that the entire powder magazine be burned. This caused the entire city to burn and a new Panama needed to be built. This was developed two miles west and it is here that modern day Panama sits today. Some of the most fantastic sights of Old Panama that you don’t want to miss are the cathedral, the huge bell-tower, and the Bishop’s House. Also enjoy some fine native shops and a quaint restaurant while you are touring Old Panama City.

Walk or take a quick cab ride to modern day Panama City where you will find some of the most distinguished financial institutions in the world. Some of the finest shopping establishments are also here and you can spend hours or days visiting all of the stores and boutiques. The two shopping areas that are most visited by tourists are Via Espana and Avenida Central. It is within these two districts that you can walk the twenty blocks of stores and shops. Because of the easy access to obtaining shipments and the large volumes that are constantly coming into the area, prices in Panama are some of the lowest in Central America, which is already considered to be quite cheap! Also in this modern day downtown you can find great nightlife and listen to any kind of music you desire while you rock it out on the dance floor or simply enjoy casual conversation with friends.

During your stay you can also visit a huge rainforest that lies on the border of Panama City. Here you will see wildlife like you won’t ever see again including toucans, parakeets, orioles, sloths, Titi monkeys, orchids, and many others! Also be sure to check out the Amador Causeway where you can travel down palm tree-lined roads to visit six different aquariums, look through telescopes at the many different ships entering the harbor and you can actually touch displays of starfish, sea urchins, coral, seashells and much, much more!