The Ten Top Things Do and See Nearby Panama City

1.Embera Indian Village Tour

One of the most popular local tours begins just an hour from Panama City. This is the real thing- right out of the pages of National Geographic- an authentic, unforgettable encounter with a living Indian culture. An hour and half from Panama City, take a motorized canoe, the only means of transportation in the jungle, up a scenic rainforest river to an authentic Embera Indian village along a river bank, right out of the pages of National Geographic. The village Indians will share their native foods, perform a tribal dance, and offer authentic body paintings while explaining their way of life, traditions and beliefs. By Tour Operator only- See our Tour Operators page.

2.Monkey Island

Tour by boat in the Panama Canal waterway observing the pristine rainforest to an island where you will see four types of monkeys cavorting in the rainforest and ready to greet you. In fact they often jump onto your boat to the excitement of all. This trip is a sure family hit. Go with Jungle Land Explorer or Ancon Expeditions.

3.Golf at Summit Golf Club

Just thirty minutes from downtown Panama City, Summit Golf Club offers extraordinary tropical scenery, a championship course designed by Jeffrey Myers with a par 72, 18 hole, 6,626 yards and sand based Bermuda Tidway grass. The course is host to several international tournaments and has the only computerized GPS system in Central America, 100 golf carts, outstanding practice facilities and a beautiful club house with a restaurant. See Summit Golf Club.

4.Gamboa Rainforest Resort at the Panama Canal

Considered by many to be the finest and most complete eco-resort in the world. This resort combines the luxuries of a 5 star resort with a complete ecotourism experience. Developed in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research, it offers numerous ecotourism and recreational activities and a large variety of tours and exhibits. If you can't stay overnight, make this a day trip to enjoy these gorgeous facilties, ride the aerial tram through the rainforest canopy and dine at one of the restaurants with spectacular views of the Chagres River. Just an hour and a half from Panama City in the the Panama Canal Rainforest.
Checkout: www.gamboaresort.com
Los Lagartos Restaurant at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort:
Dining at Los Lagartos Restaurant at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort is both a dining and an eco-event. Located along the historic and scenic Chagres River at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, specializes in excellent tropical and international dishes. The restaurant has another attraction: Panama Canal views and a natural show of tropical wildlife. From your table as dine there is a view of the Panama Canal with huge ships floating silently by. Secondly, from the terrace you can observe a flurry of tropical wildlife activity. Ask a waiter to give you some bread to throw to the river below. Alligators, colorful tropical birds, dozens of large turtles and fish will all flock to gobble up the bread pieces. Guess who wins this tropical animal food fight?
Hours: 11am to 6pm. Sunday Brunch is recommended.
Tel: 314-9000

5.Canopy Tower

Called by Travel and Leisure magazine (July 2003) one of the top 25 ecolodges in the world, Canopy Tower offers a close to nature experience and world class birding. Located just 30 minutes from Panama City in a Soberania National Park, part of the Panama Canal rainforest. Enjoy birds and animals iin the pristine rainforest, spectacular Canal views, well-appointed lodging and excellent food.
Check out Canopy Tower)

6.Portobello Day Trip

A picturesque bayside town, Portobelo has the ruins of four Spanish forts and a restored customs house. It is located just over an hour outside Panama City on the Atlantic Ocean. Set on a scenic Caribbean bay, Portobello was the transshipment point during the Spanish Colonial era for all the treasures the Spanish looted from Inca Empire. Treasure was stored here and shipped to Spain. Gold and treasure stacked high in the customs house made it the favorite target of Engish pirates like Sir Francis Drake who attacked the city repeatedly and met his demise in waters nearby.

7.Barro Colorado Island

Barro Colorado Island is a living tropical laboratory run by the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research. Located in a lake forming part of the Panama Canal, it hosts an amazing 381 bird species, 102 mammal species and 1316 plant species. Previously only research scientists were allowed on the island, but now tour operators can take tourists on day trips along its nature trails.
(See Tour Operators)

8.Summit Gardens

A tropical zoo with exotic animals and birds unique to Panama's jungles set in a magnificent 80 year old botanical garden. Located 30 minutes from downtown Panama City in the former Canal Zone, the highlight is the Harpy Eagle compound with a film presentation and a close up look at this magnificent, almost extinct bird--the world's largest and most powerful bird of prey, as well as Panama's national bird. The zoo is run-down by US standards, but if you enjoy intense tropical vegetation and tropical critters, this is the place.

9.Pipeline Road

Just an hour outside Panama City it's also the most accessible. Experts consider Pipeline Road to be one of the top places in the world for nature observation and bird watching. It is also the most accessible- just an hour from Panama City . For this day trip, it is essential to hire one of Panama's fine nature guides through a tour operator to take full advantage of this extraordinary nature opportunity.
See Tour Operators

10.Taboga Island

A trip to the "Island of Flowers" is a pleasant day trip from Panama City. The town of Taboga is run down like most small Panamanian towns so if you don't care for anything but the upscale this is not the trip for you. You can easily take the ferry to this island from Panama City, and enjoy the ocean breezes, an unforgettable view of Panama Citys' striking skyline and the activity at the entrance to the Panama Canal. You can sun-bathe on the pretty beach in front of the Taboga Hotel and stroll around town (the second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere -1550 is here). Boats leave to and from Taboga everyday. Call Argo Tours at 232-5395 for schedule and price info.