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WHY PANAMA SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT VACATION DESTINATION
December of 2021 my grandpa decided to retire and move to Pedasi, Panama. Pedasi is a small town on the south eastern tip of the Azuero Peninsula on the Pacific coast of Panama. Our 5 days in pedasi were filled with trips to the numerous beaches it has to offer, along with hiking and eating at all the small local restaurants. Before we took the 5 hour car ride journey to Pedasi, we decided to stay in Panama City for a couple days to explore the capital of this wonderful country. Rainforests, beaches, city life, & amazing historical sites are just some of the reasons you need to visit Panama City at least once in your life. As a citizen of the United States, I have realized that so many people around me desire to visit Costa Rica, or have already been. The appeal of a Costa Rican vacation is obvious, but as tourism rises so do prices of accommodations and experiences. A very budget friendly option when looking for a tropical and unique vacation is Panama. When I mention my trip to Panama people seem shocked at how much I recommend visiting there and how much it has to offer. First, lets start with where we stayed and how AMAZING it was!!
This is by far one of the best airbnbs I have ever stayed in, from the 24 hour security outside the apartment complex, to the rooftop pool, I would 100% stay here again. In total for 2 nights I paid $290 which was such a great price for the value of this airbnb. The host was so nice and offered to switch us to a room with an even better view at no extra cost. For $140 a night in the US, you can stay at a very average 3 star hotel, such as a Best Western or Ramada. During our stay from March 22nd to March 24th 2022, there was hardly anyone else in the complex and we had the rooftop pool all to ourselves. The view from the pool is unbelievable and youre able to see the F&F tower also known as the “Tornillo” (“the screw” in Spanish) which is the msot reconazible building in downtown Panama City. Not only was the view amazing, but it was in such a central location we were able to walk to breakfast and dinner every day and had so many restaurant options nearby. Speaking of food, the food in panama is so affordable compared to the United States. Something that is served with almost every main course is fried plantains, and they are SO good! This airbnb was a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo, with its own private balcony. This condo easily would sleep 5 people, and split 5 ways that is only about $30 a night a person. It honestly looked even better in person than on the listing, which is rare for an airbnb or hotel.
Before we left for our flight back to the states we took a taxi from Pedasi back to Panama City the day before our departure. We wanted to stay close to the airport, as we had a very early flight in the morning and wanted it to go as smoothly as possible. We opted for affordability and convenience over luxury and views. This was the CHEAPEST airbnb I had ever stayed in and it was still such an amazing place to stay for the night. Our total after taxes and fees was only $19 (yes, $19 for an airbnb). This was kind of a motel-style airbnb as we had an entire apartment to ourselves that was located next to 2 other units very similar to ours. Though it was kind of loud being located so close to the airport, it was only a 7 minute uber in the morning and was the perfect stay for us.
This whole blog post might as well be an advertisement for airbnb, because the next subject I am going to cover is a Panama Canal and “Monkey Island” tour I booked through the airbnb app. This tour was $64 a person, and included a shuttle picking you up from your lodging and dropping you back off afterwards, which was so convenient. The tour started with an informational drive to the canal, where we were able to see ships pass through and learn about the history and operations of one of the most important canals in the world. I think the Panama canal is what most Americans think of when they hear the word “Panama” so it was really neat to see it in person. The boat ride went through the canal to reach Lake Gatun, which is a highly protected man-made lake that was flooded to complete the passage of the canal. The rainforest and islands that surround this lake contain a wide variety of wildlife. Panama city is known for its biodiversity, as it is the only capital city in the world with a tropical rainforest within its city limits. We saw birds, turtles, and got up close and personal with adorable little monkeys, one even ate a mango out of my hand!! Check out my instagram to see videos of this tour.
Lastly, one of the best parts of Panama City is Casco Viejo, properly known as San Felipe. This historic district is the heart of Panamas “old city” and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area reminds me so much of old european architecture and is the best place to just walk around and find so many hidden gems. We ate at several small restaurants in the heart of the old quarter, and they have some of the best seafood I’ve ever had. From coffee shops, to museums, to rooftop lounges, Casco Viejo is somewhere you could easily spend a couple days exploring.
Though I didn’t make it over to the caribbean side of Panama, my next trip there will definitely include an excursion to the San Blas island, an archipelago made up of about 365 islands right off the northern coast. There you can adventure into the sea through all kinds of boat tours. This would be your ideal spot for a relaxing beach vacation after exploring the all the city has to offer.
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