What are the top activities in Panama?
Many of Panama’s top activities involve outdoor exploration. Panama’s national parks and reserves are perfect for hiking or bird watching. River rafting is popular in some areas, and the country’s coastline lends itself towards swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and fishing. Other activities include trips to historic sites such as the Panama Canal and visits to indigenous villages, such as those in Guna Yala.
Rafting Tours in Panama
Panama has several rivers that are fantastic for white-water rafting. These include the Río Chiriquí, Río Chiriquí Viejo, Río Gariché and Río Dolega, most of which are in highland areas near Boquete. There are thrilling stretches of water for experienced rafters, as well as slower sections that are perfect for beginners. These tours are a great way to see beautiful outdoor areas that most visitors to Panama miss.
Panama Sport Fishing Tours
Sport fishing in Panama is incredible—there are locations along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts where you can hook some seriously big fish, including marlin, sailfish, roosterfish, snapper, and yellowfin tuna. During one of these tours, you’ll head out into the ocean with a professional fishing guide. You’ll be set up with all the necessary equipment and learn how to angle for the fish. Any fish that are caught can usually be brought back to land and cooked for dinner.
Panama Hiking Tours
The Panamanian landscape – with its mountains, forests, and plains – is ripe with hiking opportunities. There is everything from leisurely strolls through dry tropical forest to all-day treks up the Barú Volcano, Panama’s highest peak. These guided hiking tours provide travelers with a safe and enjoyable way to experience the Panamanian outdoors.
Snorkeling Tours in Panama
Panama’s coastal waters are filled with all kinds of tropical fish and marine life. Coral gardens protect small colorful fish, while sea cucumbers and starfish move slowly about the ocean floor. Snorkeling tours allow travelers to jump into the water and watch these incredible creatures. Knowledgeable local guides bring tour participants to the best snorkel spots and equip them with snorkels, masks, and fins. All you have to do is look down and enjoy the view.
Panama Bird Watching Tours
Panama is internationally known for its spectacular diversity of bird species. There are colorful local and migrant species, including various types of toucans, macaws, and eagles. Bird watching tours bring travelers to some of Panama’s best birding sites. Accompanied by a naturalist guide and equipped with a pair of binoculars, you’ll search forests, rivers, and estuaries for these incredible creatures.
San Blas Islands
If you’re looking for soft white sand, crystal clear water and plenty of sunshine, then you’ve found the place. The San Blas Islands extend along Panama’s southernmost Caribbean coast and are part of the Comarca de Guna Yala. The archipelago is composed of some 400 islands, and spreads across 226 kilometers (140 mi), stopping just shy of the Colombian border. The islands are postcard-perfect and famous for their pearl-bright beaches and serene atmosphere.
Gatun Locks Panama Canal
The Gatún Locks are set along the Caribbean side of Panama to the west of Colón. These massive locks are the largest in the Panama Canal. As you watch ships pass through the locks’ chambers, it’s easy to understand why the Panama Canal is one of the seven man-made wonders of the world.
