"Panama City - It's Big" a Panamá City Travel Page by peggydaly

I knew Panama City was big when i made my arrangements to stay for a month, but I had never been to a Central American city of this size. In fact, I don't think there is one. With an incredibly diverse population of near 500k, there is a lot to do.

While i stayed near the new downtown (Bella Vista to be exact) I think I enjoyed picturesque Casco Viejo most. It teems with life, culture, colour and architecture that captures the diversity of the people who have called Panama home (or in some cases considered it a possession)

And it's quite cosmopolitan. International cuisine is top notch (welcome fact after tiring of Panamanian cuisine) and there is a wide range of nightlife, too.

It is a great launching spot for lots of day trips. See my separate pages for Isla Toboga, Portobello, El Valle - all done as day trips from the city. Transportation, either on buses or taxis, is amazingly inexpensive. Airfare inside the country is cheap, too and from the regional airport one can go anywhere. And then of course there is the Canal. Everyone that visited with me said they were more impressed than expected. Really cool stuff.

There are not a wide variety of parks in the city, but that is made up for by the wonderful Parque Metropolitano. It is a welcome respite from the noise of the city. See Things to Do.

I think PC gets a bad rap most of the time. Take extra time to find a somewhat quiet place to stay - a bit off the main routes of the diablo rojos (buses) since they are amazingly loud (but fun to look at).

Stay awhile.