Epic 5 Day Panama Itinerary: Panama City and San Blas Islands

There is a lot to see and do in Panama making it one of the most attractive tourist regions in Central America. With so many great places to choose from, it can be challenging to narrow down how to spend 5 days in Panama. I mean, how do you decide what makes the cut and what doesn’t?

As you plan out your trip, consider the below Panama itinerary featuring Panama City, the Panama Canal, and the San Blas Islands. It offers you the ability to see some of the best of Panama, while keeping time spend on transport to a minimum, allowing you to maximize your limited time in Panama!

If you have happen to have more time, you can also turn this 5 day Panama itinerary into a 7 day or 10 day itinerary for Panama using the optional add-ons to hit more highlights, like the Bocas del Toro Islands. Let’s get started with this awesome itinerary for Panama!

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Table of Contents

Day 1: Explore Panama City

When visiting Panama, you’re most likely to fly in and out of Panama City. Plan to spend at least one day exploring Casco Viejo, the “Old City” – also known as Casco Antiguo, and its highlights. Casco Viejo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring colorful buildings, great views, and historic ruins.

You won’t want to miss the views from the Cinta Costera – Panama City’s coastal beltway and pedestrian park, the famous Bridge of the Americas – which is a road bridge spanning the Panama Canal, or the famous Frank Gehry designed Biomuseo. Additionally, explore the cities many cafes and bars, which serve up delicious Panamanian food.

You can get around much of central Casco Viejo on foot, but some attractions are a bit far to walk to. For these, you can grab a taxi, call an inexpensive Uber, or opt to use the Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus. Another great option to add context to the amazing sights and learn more about the city is to take a day tour of Panama City. It will really let you see the most you can in just one day!

From Casco Viejo, you’ll find amazing views of the modern skyline of Panama City. This part of town is mostly high-rise buildings featuring businesses, homes, and hotels. However, it lacks the charm and history of Casco Viejo making it less ideal for visitors, but you’ll certainly be in awe at the stunning skyline!

Where to Stay in Panama City, Panama

Being a capital city, determining where to stay in Panama City can be difficult as there are many areas to choose from. However, ultimately it’s divided into Casco Viejo and the newer part of the city. Having stayed in both, I highly recommend finding a hotel in the Casco Viejo so that you are centrally located to all of the best sights, restaurants, and bars in the area. This is particularly true if this is your first visit to Panama.

The best hotels in Casco Viejo of Panama City, Panama are:

Luxury Hotel: Hotel La Compania

Mid-range Hotel: La Concordia Boutique Hotel

Budget-friendly Hotel: Tantalo Hotel and Rooftop Bar

Cheap Hostel: Magnolia Inn

Booking.com

Find the best areas of Panama City to stay in here.

Day 2 – 4: Head to the San Blas Islands

Kick off the next adventure in your trip with a side trip to the stunning San Blas Islands! The San Blas archipelago in Panama is growing in popularity due to their untouched natural state. These beautiful remote islands offer white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, sparkling turquoise water, and more! This makes them a must-visit in any Panama itinerary.

Legally known as the Guna Yala Islands – named after the indigenous Guna people, these islands are still known by many as the San Blas Islands. They are located just off of Panama’s eastern coast and feature around 365 islands, only 49 of which are inhabited.

Part of the charm of these pristine remote islands is that you will be hosted by the indigenous Guna Yala people and get to learn about their culture during your stay. The islands are also still underdeveloped so you can enjoy pure natural beauty from classic beachfront huts without the commercialization you find elsewhere.

A white sand beach, turquoise water, and palm trees which are casting a shadow over the beach.

How to Visit the San Blas Islands from Panama City

While there are multiple ways to visit the San Blas Islands, like taking a day trip to the San Blas Islands from Panama City or simply booking a hotel in the San Blas, the best bet is to do a multi-day tour to the San Blas Islands from Panama City. This allows you to really make the most of your time in these gorgeous islands.

With 3 days and 2 nights in the San Blas, you’ll be able to explore multiple islands and have one full day to relax on the beach. If you spend just 1 – 2 days, you’ll spend most of your day in transport and be unable to really settle in to the islands and appreciate the pure bliss they offer.

Another amazing option is to take a multi-day sailing trip to the San Blas Islands. By taking a sailing trip, you’ll be able to see and make the most of the beautiful islands by staying onboard a boat making getting from island to island much more efficient. The main downside however, is that your beach time is more limited to when you are on the islands themselves.

Learn more about visiting the San Blas Islands:

Day 5: Visit the Panama Canal

No trip to Panama City is complete without taking a trip to the world famous Panama Canal. Visiting this must-see Panamanian sight allows you to learn about the history and impact of the Panama Canal, see how it was built, and watch it in action. You also can opt to take a boat through the locks for a more immersive visit.

Built back in 1914, the Panama Canal made trade faster, easier, and cheaper by allowing ships to pass from the Pacific Ocean to Atlantic Ocean via one 48-mile long canal – a true manmade wonder! Before it was complete, the journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean required sailing around the tip of South America, an almost 8,000 mile route. Talk about having a huge worldwide impact!

How to Visit the Panama Canal from Panama City

From Panama City, your best bet is to visit the Miraflores Locks and Cocoli Locks located just 9 miles away from downtown Panama City. You can choose to visit the Panama Canal by yourself via taxi or select one of the many day trip options available to minimize logistics.

One of the best ways to visit the Panama Canal is on the popular Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal and Jungle Tour. It enables you to see a lot of Panama in a short time by taking you through the Panama Canal, to Gatun Lake and Monkey Island, San Lorenzo National Park, and Fort San Lorenzo.

Alternatively, you can choose a tour that offers the highlights of Panama City and the Panama Canal to help condense your sightseeing in the Panama City area into one compact day.

Learn more: How to Visit the Panama Canal from Panama City

Optional Add-Ons for 7 or 10 Day Panama Itineraries

Do you have more than five days in Panama? Don’t fret, there is plenty to do in and around Panama, starting with spending more time in Panama City and the surrounding areas.

7 Days in Panama: Panama City Adventures

With more days in Panama City, you’ll be able to see and do more of the adventures around the city. After all, it’s filled with beautiful museums and surrounded by amazing nature. Select what suits your interests most and get started exploring!

Visit Monkey Island and an Indian Village: Take a boat through the Panama Canal to explore Lake Gatun and Monkey Island, home to amazing white-faced monkeys. From there, you’ll continue on to an authentic Indian village to learn about their history, culture, and crafts. See the details of this day trip from Panama City.

Immerse Yourself in the Rainforest: Panama City is surrounded by phenomenal nature. Try out adventures like ziplining through the rainforest or check out the Metropolitan Natural Park to hike the trails and watch for native animals. Another awesome option is a guided day tour of Gamboa Rainforest.

Tour Chagres National Park and Embera Village: Head out into the jungles of Panama to an indigenous Embera village. You’ll take a traditional piragua boat ride on the Chagres River, swim in a a waterfall, and then learn all about the Embera community, including a live performance of traditional dance and music. Learn all about this day trip in Panama.

Cruise to Taboga Island: Join an all-inclusive catamaran cruise tour to Taboga Island – the ideal island break. You’ll spend the day swimming, sunbathing, and dancing on the catamaran and Taboga Island as you enjoy an open bar, snacks, and lunch. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a vacation in Panama. Learn more about traveling to Taboga Island.

Souvenir Shopping in Panama — Indigenous Panamanian crafts

10 Days in Panama: Boca del Toro Islands

Another great option is to head up to the Bocas del Toro Islands for a few days. These islands are considered a must on many Panama itineraries due to their famed beaches and crystal-clear waters. If you are working on a 10 day itinerary in Panama, you’ll want to try and fit in a few days in the Boca del Toro Islands.

To get to the islands, you have a few options:

You can fly from Panama City to Boca del Toro airport (BOC) on Isla Colon.

You can drive to Almirante, the nearest town on the mainland, and take the 30 minute water taxi to the Bocas Town on Isla Colon.

You can take the bus to Almirante and then take the 30 minute water shuttle. Warning: If coming from Panama City, it is about a 10 hour bus ride.

In Bocas del Toro, there are 9 main islands with 5 being prime tourist destinations. Determining where to stay in Bocas del Toro will be the most critical decision during your visit. To make this decision, check out the places of most interest to you, and then find accommodations nearby. Another popular option is to stay in multiple areas within Bocas del Toro to get a feel for the different islands.

Selecting Bocas del Toro hotels is also a challenge as there are so many great options. Choose from staying at a luxury resort with an infinity pool or opt for more budget-friendly hotels as you surf, swim, dive, and lounge on the beautiful island beaches. Search hotels in Bocas del Toro now.

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Plan More of Your Trip to Panama

Now that you have a solid plan for your 5 days in Panama, you can start diving deeper into the fine details of your Panama itinerary. Here are some extensive guides to help you know the ins and outs of the areas you will visit to help you continue planning your days in Panama.

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Epic 5 Day Panama Itinerary: Panama City and San Blas Islands