Panama City With Kids

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We spent a week exploring Panama City with kids, and it surprised us in the best way. Between the old town, the rainforest at the edge of the city, and the giant ships sliding through the Canal, there is a lot here for families. Below is our honest take, plus links to everything we tried: our Panama City family itinerary, things to do in Panama City with kids, and where to eat in Panama City with kids.

Panama City With Kids: Our Family Trip

Panama City Panama is an excellent place to visit if you are just starting out on travel or as a first visit to Central America. It’s a great destination for exploring tropical environments while still having the modern conveniences of a very modern city. With the added lower cost of living, it is no surprise why Panama continues to be a top destination for many expat retirees.

On this trip we did not get a chance to explore as much of the country as we wanted since we were limited on time. We stayed in Panama city which has lots to offer and made a few day trips. One such trip was a visit to the Caribbean with a boat ride to a remote island so the kids could play in the warm, clear Caribbean ocean. To read more about our Caribbean adventure, visit our Day Trip to the Caribbean page.

Panama city is bustling. The new part of the city is a metropolis of skyscrapers and apartments, financial institutions and more. The historic part of the city, Casco Viejo is a complete 180, with historic buildings, colonial architecture and brick streets. Casco Viejo is where we opted to stay on this trip. I love being surrounded by historic architecture which is vastly different than where I call home. It is also top of the food scene in Panama City, which is always where I want to create a home base in any destination. To read more about Casco Viejo and why we think it is the best place to stay, visit our Where to Stay in Panama City page.

There are an array of things to do in Panama city. Whether you prefer indoor activities like museums or chocolate making classes, or if you prefer bike riding, hiking and the like, there are plenty of options. We prefer a little bit of both. Since we visited in September, during wet season, it was nice to have a few indoor activities in case of rain. That being said, we still saw the sun quite a bit and it usually didn’t rain or sprinkle for more than an hour. So if you are trying to decide if it is worth visiting during wet season, I would say our experience was still great and only felt slightly impacted by the weather. Note the humidity is higher in the wet season and it is still hot so consider booking a place with a pool so you can cool down when it suits your schedule.

The infrastructure of the city is good, with the exception that their trash pick up system is a disgrace and for whatever reason Panamanians don’t seem to mind littering on the regular. Their taxis are clearly marked and we were always able to get an Uber when we needed one. Most of our fares were in the $5 range in the city. Food is also available at a lower cost than you would find in the US or Europe. We enjoyed many meals at fair prices, but the cost is not as low as you may find in South American countries such as Peru and Ecuador where food is insanely less expensive. For all our tips on where to get a delightful bite, visit our Panama Eats page!

Whether you are looking to for a first time destination or a stopover on your way to South America (like we did), Panama City Panama is a great, convenient place to visit!

Is Panama City Good for Kids?

Panama City is one of the easier Latin American capitals to visit with kids. It is modern, walkable in pockets, and getting around by rideshare is cheap and simple. The US dollar is the currency, which keeps money stress low, and plenty of people speak some English.

The heat and humidity are real, so we planned outdoor time for mornings and saved the air conditioned stops, like the Biomuseo or a mall lunch, for the hottest part of the afternoon. An early start bought us the best light and the calmest crowds.

Casco Viejo, the old town, is made for wandering with an ice cream in hand. The plazas give kids room to run, the rooftop views are worth the climb, and the raspao (shaved ice) carts are a guaranteed win.

Watching a massive ship rise through the locks at Miraflores held our kids longer than we expected. Go at a time when a transit is scheduled, and let them narrate the whole thing.

For a break from the city, the Metropolitan Natural Park and the Amador Causeway put rainforest and sea breezes minutes from downtown. We spotted sloths and birds without ever leaving the city limits.

Add it all up and Panama City punches well above its size for families. It is affordable, easy to reach from the US, and full of the kind of small adventures kids remember long after the trip.

Panama Gallery

One of the girls dipping her hand in the water over the side of the boat on the Caribbean side of Panama

One of the girls beside a bright mural on a wall in Portobelo, Panama

A large ship moving through the locks at the Panama Canal

The girls on the sunset dock at Cocoplum on Panama's Caribbean coast

One of the girls walking down a brick street lined with balconies in Casco Viejo, Panama City

The girls in hairnets grinning over bowls of cacao beans at the chocolate making class at Nome Chocolate

Our family on the rooftop at the Central Hotel in Casco Viejo, with the Panama City skyline behind

The girls balancing along a blue painted wall with the Panama City skyline across the water

One of the girls making a face at a red snapper at the Mercado de Mariscos in Panama City

Street art of a green face painted on a wall in Panama City

Dad and the girls sitting in the clear warm Caribbean water at Isla Mamey, Panama

The colorful Panama sign on the waterfront in Panama City

A container ship entering the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal

The girls making faces at a bin of fish heads at the Mercado de Mariscos in Panama City

Clothing and shoes on display at Manos Con Arte in Casco Viejo, Panama City

A selfie on the bike path along the Cinta Costera in Panama City, with the family riding ahead

Ahi tacos and potato chips at the Mahalo Snack Shack in Casco Viejo

A jump into the rooftop pool at the Central Hotel in Casco Viejo, with the Panama City skyline behind

One of the girls smiling over a bowl of fish and rice at the Mahalo Snack Shack

Biking along the waterfront path with the Panama City skyline across the bay

A whole fried red snapper with rice and cabbage salad at the Mercado de Mariscos, Casco Viejo

The girls in the giant wooden doors of the Catedral Basilica Santa Maria la Antigua in Casco Viejo

Our family on the Amador Islands with the Pacific and the Panama City skyline behind

Dad and the girls inside the Mercado de Mariscos fish market in Panama City

A leafy plaza with a monument and brick paths in the old town of Panama City

The girls with the chocolate maker at Nome Chocolate in Casco Viejo

Brightly painted colonial buildings on a brick street in Casco Viejo, Panama City

The girls in front of the Panama sign on Isla Perico in the Amador Islands

An assortment of colorful chocolates from Nome Chocolate in Casco Viejo

The exterior of the Central Hotel in Casco Viejo, Panama City

The girls on lit steps under string lights in the trees at night in Panama City

The girls at the top of the grand wooden lobby staircase lined with orchids at the Central Hotel in Casco Viejo

The chocolate maker pouring chocolate onto a marble table at Nome Chocolate, with the girls watching

The rooftops of Casco Viejo with the Panama City skyline behind

One of the girls in front of a mural of a girl with a jaguar painted across half her face, Casco Viejo

The brick streets of Casco Viejo on a rainy afternoon, Panama City

Steak with chimichurri at Santa Rita in Casco Viejo, Panama City

One of the girls holding a tall fruit drink at a rooftop table in Panama City

Saint Francis of Assisi Church lit up at night in Casco Viejo, Panama City

One of the girls adding toppings to her custom chocolate bar at Nome Chocolate

Dad and the girls walking a brick street in Casco Viejo at night

The girls jumping on the beach at Isla Mamey, Panama

Lush green jungle along a highway in Panama

The girls in front of the colorful mural at Nome Chocolate in Casco Viejo

The Pacific and the Panama City skyline from the rooftops of Casco Viejo

One of the girls sipping hot chocolate beside a waffle at Cafe Unido in Casco Viejo

The dining room at the Vegan Shack in Casco Viejo, Panama City

Dad pouring a cup of geisha coffee at Cafe Unido in Casco Viejo

A container ship being helped along the Panama Canal by a tugboat

A tiny monkey carrying her baby on her back in the trees at Monkey Island, Panama

Clear turquoise water below jungle covered hills in Panama

The girls with our guide and skipper beside the boat for our Caribbean day trip in Panama

The entrance to New Casco Laundry in Casco Viejo, Panama City

A vibrant mural of a toucan and other tropical birds in Casco Viejo, Panama City

The girls walking hand in hand through Independence Square in Casco Viejo

One of the girls licking a chocolate covered spoon at the Nome Chocolate class

The girls at the Monumento al Canal in Casco Viejo at night

One of the girls swinging at a playground in Panama City

Our family on the boat in the clear teal water at Venas Azules in Portobelo National Park

A vegan chocolate tart with strawberries at the Vegan Shack in Casco Viejo

One of the girls dipping her chicken fingers in ketchup at Maito in Panama City

Inside the Catedral Basilica Santa Maria la Antigua in Casco Viejo, Panama City

The girls in life jackets with a banana to offer the monkeys on the islands along the Panama Canal

The girls as the boat comes ashore at Isla Mamey, Panama

One of the girls showing her sister some algae she found in the clear water at Isla Mamey

Fresh pineapple juice at Cocoplum on Panama's Caribbean coast

The girls in a sentry box at the Bateria Santiago ruins on Panama's Caribbean coast

Thatched huts along the palm fringed beach at Isla Mamey, Panama

The entrance to the Bohemia souvenir shop in Portobelo, Panama

A container ship exiting the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal

Our family on the boat with our guide and skipper on the Panama Canal

A dark monkey sitting in dense green foliage in Panama

Our family going through a tunnel of mangroves at Venas Azules in Portobelo National Park

The Bateria Santiago ruins with the bay behind in Portobelo, Panama

One of the colorful painted buses on the road to Panama's Caribbean coast

One of the girls exploring the boat dock at sunset on Panama's Caribbean coast

A brick street lined with colonial buildings in Casco Viejo, Panama City

A quiet palm lined beach with clear water in Panama

The girls jumping in front of the cathedral in Independence Square, Casco Viejo

The girls in front of the Monumento a Bolivar at night in Casco Viejo

The lobby of the Central Hotel in Casco Viejo, Panama City

Shrimp for sale at the Mercado de Mariscos in Panama City

The ruins of the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus in Casco Viejo, Panama City

The girls posing under the neon lights and wall of plants at CasaCasco in Casco Viejo

A veggie, rice and black bean bowl at the Vegan Shack in Casco Viejo

The girls sharing a fruit drink with two straws at a restaurant in Panama City

Crispy duck confit noodles at Maito in Panama City

The Panama City skyline from Tacos La Neta in Casco Viejo

A fresh juice topped with little flowers at Mahalo Cocina y Jardin in Casco Viejo

The girls smiling over pancakes, eggs and bacon at Mahalo Cocina y Jardin in Casco Viejo

The patio dining area at the Mahalo Snack Shack in Casco Viejo

The girls outside the Catedral Basilica Santa Maria la Antigua on the plaza in Casco Viejo

Build your kids
a free Trip Kit

Heading to Panama City? Before you go, build your kids their own free Trip Kit: a printable explorer passport, a countdown to takeoff and a scavenger hunt matched to their ages. It’s the exact kit our girls travel with!

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