Top San Blas islands sailing in 2022 and tourism advices? Last on our list of the best things to do in Panama City is another attraction that gets you out of the city without actually leaving. In fact, Metropolitan National Park in Panama City is the only protected national park located within a city’s limits in Central America. The park is filled with great hiking trails and you can see an array of wildlife including monkeys, sloths, and birds. The wildlife isn’t as present as other parks and you do have to spend some time searching for them, but they are there is you’re patient enough. To get to Metropolitan National Park, simply jump in an Uber and get dropped at the visitor center within the park and head off and explore. During my visit, I hiked all the trails and it took just over 3 hours at a steady but enjoyable pace. Be sure to hike the Mirador Cerro Cedro trail, from there you get magnificent views of the city. Read additional information on San Blas sailboat charters.
I know, there are so many incredible historical sites in Mexico so it’s hard to choose which one to visit. However, Chichen Itza is the only one which is one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO site, so it’s a safe choice! The Chichen Itza, Valladolid and Cenote Tour is the highest rated tour on Get Your Guide and it’s also very affordable. This full-day tour will bring you to Chichen Itza where you’ll have time to explore and take photos of the beautiful pyramid. The next stop will be at Cenote Hubiku for a refreshing swim, before a buffet meal. The last stop will be the charming colonial city of Valladolid.
One of Panama’s top surf destinations is Santa Catalina, on the Pacific Coast. This small but growing town has a laid-back surfer feeling about it. Small guesthouses and hotels, and funky restaurants, force you to slow down and relax. If you aren’t here to surf, great snorkeling and scuba diving spots are nearby, and horseback tours through the surrounding countryside are good options for those not interested in getting wet. One of Santa Catalina’s main draws is Isla Coiba. This lush island, now Coiba National Park, is almost untouched and is considered a biodiversity hot spot, with close to 200 bird species, crocodiles, turtles, and snakes. The scuba diving here is very popular due to the enormous whale sharks that frequent the area. These gentle giants are curious creatures and enjoy interacting with divers. Tours to Isla Coiba can be arranged in Santa Catalina. One of the most fun things to do near Boquete is visiting the local swimming hole at Los Cangilones. Set at a lower elevation than Boquete, the climate here is much warmer, and on hot days you’ll find a fun scene, complete with music, barbecues, food vendors, and Panamanians from far and wide splashing and jumping off the gorge edges into the crystal-clear, warm waters below. In this unique geological place, the river narrows into a gorge before opening up again in a shallow pool at the bottom. Daring adults and older kids jump off the edges into the slowly moving waters and then float down to the bottom, climb out, and do it all over again. Youngsters and visitors who are looking for something a little milder can wade into the shallow waters where the gorge opens up. The walls vary in height, so it depends on how brave you are and how high you want to go. This is very much a family destination.
To get to San Blas you’ve got four options. You can fly from Panama straight into the San Blas Islands, take a sailing boat from Cartagena, take a speedboat from Capurganá, or take the bus from Panama City. Most backpackers travelling between Colombia and Panama choose one of these options. For a good reason: Travelling over the land border, known as the ‘Darien Gap’, can be very dangerous . This is a popular drug trafficking route out of Colombia to Panama and is not safe (plus it’s just untamed jungle the whole way!).
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In this unique tour from Panama you will be able to see the amazing flora and fauna of the Panamanian jungle live with our licensed tour guides followed by a driving tour of the Panama Canal. You can enjoy clear views of the amazing biodiversity that Panama has to offer as well as the engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal without leaving your house! This guided virtual tour will be broadcast live via Zoom with our expert tour guides who are both naturalists and historians who can answer any of your questions while they show you our beautiful country. In addition to seeing the birds through the scopes live, we also display these pictures to the clients as we see them so they can make a list if they want.
For fans of surfing, beaches like El Borrego, Matanchen Bay, Los Cocos, and Las Islitas are ideal for surfing, especially during the summer when the waves reach great heights. At the famous Ramadas (small restaurants) located at the edge of the beach you can find instructors and rent surfboards. Do not miss this opportunity!