Wrapping up Panama

This will be my last post and wrap up of our trip to Panama. If you’re interested in reading through the whole trip from beginning to end, please click here.

If you have read through all of it, Thank you! As of this writing, we are still unable to travel due to the Global Pandemic, but I do find that writing about past trips helps to satisfy that travel bug a little. So until we can travel again, here is my wrap up of our visit to Panama.

Top 3 Highlights

Highlight #1: San Blas

Before visiting Panama, San Blas didn’t even make it on my radar! However, after spending a day in the San Blas Islands, it’s now my favorite memory from our time in Panama. From the unique history of the Guna people, the bumpy and windy road to get there, to hopping around the beautiful islands, the day had it all! The beaches are picturesque. The weather amazing. And the unique experience of going from tiny tropical island to another is one I’ll treasure for quite some time.

Highlight #2: Birthday

This is the first time I’ve been travelling during my birthday. I don’t remember if it initially started as a birthday trip, or it just ended up this way. Nonetheless, I can’t think of anything more fitting than to be “away” from home as I become a year older. What makes this that much better is that I get to spend it with friends (and family) whom I have travelled with multiple times before. The combination of travel and friendship really cements the day as a highlight for me on this trip.

Highlight #3: Casco Viejo (Panama City’s Old Town)

I didn’t know what to expect when we put Casco Viejo on our list. However, after arriving there it reinforced my image of what I initially imagined Panama to be like. The colourful Latin architecture with some colonial charm is abundant all throughout this part of town. There are great little spots to eat and drink littered throughout the area. You can also walk along the water for some great views of Panama city or the entrance to the Panama Canal.

What also made this visit memorable is the afternoon our group spent at the Rum bar to “hide from the rain”. I think because of the heat and the chill nature of the trip. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon relaxing with snacks and tasty beverages!

What was your favourite meal or thing you ate?

For me, my favourite meal is the two times we had dinner at Con Colon. The first time is when we went for my birthday dinner, and the second is two nights later because we enjoyed the food so much. It’s marketed as Panamanian street food and the variety and flavours of food is delicious! There’s something for everyone. Some deep fried items, homely rice and noodles dishes, finger foods you name it!  All of it is pretty unique and not something I see often from other travels. So for its departure from the norm and tasty tasty flavours, It’s hard to choose any other meal to compete!

If I could change the itinerary…

Like my travel companions. I think I would also depart the city. Either by doing day trips or actually moving about the country. I understand that while this trip is limited because of our hotel booking and time. I think being able to get away from the city would have given us a much more robust experience. I think staying maybe two days in Panama city is enough. I think most of Panama’s charm comes from its natural beauty and wildlife and that tends to take you further away from the city. There are a lot of options to get around the country so its not too difficult to do next time either.

What caught you by surprise on this trip?

The Panama Canal. I’m not sure why, but before this trip, I would have imagined that this would be my highlight. I enjoy transportation and logistics and the Panama Canal is kind of the epidemy of it. However, like others, it did seem a bit underwhelming. Maybe because all the videos I see of it is probably sped up, so you see the boat move in and out quite quickly. However in reality, it takes good amount of time for the whole process to complete. I’m not sure why I didn’t anticipate this at the beginning but when we got there, it really did feel like a lot of waiting, for a fairly unexciting boat crossing.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think its a modern marvel what the Panama Canal can and does do for shipping lanes. However I think the experience really didn’t meet my expectation. I probably built it up to be something far more exciting in my mind.

Share one memorable story from this trip

The unintended discovery of this super awesome outdoor patio/bar setup after dinner. On our last day in Panama, FunkyCat arranged to meet up with a friend who happens to be travelling through the country. After dinner we wanted to get some drinks, and only a block from our dinner spot, we discover this super hip and cool collection of outdoor bars. It was the perfect environment for us to continue hanging out and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and vibe of the spot! It made for such a chill and relaxing place to drink and chat the night away!

Did you pack properly for this trip? What would you have done differently?

For the most part I did. I think the one thing I didn’t quite anticipate (and I’m not entirely sure why) is the rain. While I usually pack for rain, I recognize that I might not actually have a contingency for tropical rain. What I mean by this is that I do have rain gear, but when it rains in Panama, its still really warm. And so I think some of my gear isn’t THAT breathable, so I can totally see myself getting quite sticky and gross with a rain shell on. So this will be something I’ll look into for future tropical destinations.

Any regrets?

I don’t think its a regret per se. And I don’t think the time that we spent was wasteful. However, it did feel like we spent a lot of time in malls. And there’s nothing wrong with that, because it does give you a little glimpse into local life. But a lot of the Panamanian malls felt like North American malls. So while some are quite fancy and comfortable, it didn’t feel like we were that far away from home. And I know that we visited to either get food, check something specific out or just explore a little. But I also wonder if maybe we could have found something more interesting to do? I don’t know what that is and maybe that’s also a regret for not preparing more, but it is a musing of mine.

Any advice for people considering similar trips/destinations?

Spend minimal time in city. Panama City does have a lot to offer, but I think you can get a good sense of it in a day or two. Then plan to check out the natural beauty this country has to offer. There are great wild life reserves away from the city. Great hikes and amazing beach getaways. When we did our initial research, there were a lot of awesome opportunities to experience. Things like living on a boat, a beach front resort or eco tourism. However it would require more inter country travel and we had some itinerary constraints which prevented us from doing them. So my suggestion would be to check those things out over basing yourself in the city.

Final thoughts?

Panama was never at the top of my list for places to travel. And we probably only came because of a pretty good flight deal. But don’t get me wrong, Panama is an excellent destination. There is this great mix of old time colonialism, modern metropolis, Latin flair and varied culture. And I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this country. Seeing tropical islands fit to be on post cards or the modern engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal are memories I will hold for a very long time.

However, if I’m being completely honest, I think my chief enjoyment this trip came from the people I ended up travelling with. Whether it be the antics of FunkyCat, hanging with long time travel buddy Gimpy, or the Sister whom I can travel most comfortably with. Its often the people that make a trip and I couldn’t ask for a better group of travel companions to explore this country and celebrate getting a little older with. So I thank you all for joining me on this adventure and look forward to many more!