Must See

Azuero Peninsula

Characterised by small colonial towns, the area provides a quiet, relaxed contrast to the hectic life of Panama's cities.

Chiriqui

The Chiriquí Province is a place of waterfalls, rivers, mountainous scenery and volcanic highlands. The area is also known for its banana and coffee plantations, and its cattle and thoroughbred horses. The resort town of Boquete and the mountain resort, Cerro Punta, is located near the dormant Baru Volcano and the Baru National Park, famous as a home to Quetzal birds.

The Darien Gap

This wilderness is located in an area linking central and southern America, and is the only break in the Pan-American Highway that runs from Alaska to Argentina. The area is home to guerrillas and two Choco Indian tribes, and is extremely hard to navigate; it can only be crossed in extreme 4x4 vehicles. The land contains various habitats, from rocky coasts and sandy beaches to rainforest and swamp.

El Níspero Botanical Gardens

For those feeling adventurous; visit the El Níspero Botanical Gardens, where you can be fastened into a harness and hoisted up to the treetops to be swung from one platform to another in order to enjoy the tree canopy views.

Panama Canal

The main tourist destination in Panama is the canal that provides a route through Central America from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Situated to the west of Panama City, the canal is 80 km (50 miles) and may be travelled by an 8-hour boat trip. Both the scenery and engineering are awe-inspiring, with views of crocodiles, frigate birds and other animals living along the banks and in the surrounding jungle, and a chance to see the large vessels moving through the canal locks.

Bus trips and train rides are also available alongside the canal, and there is an interesting Panama Canal Museum in the Casco Viejo area.

Panama City

Like the country as a whole, the capital is a mixture of modern America and old Spain, but with a dash of the East's bazaars. Among the narrow, cobbled streets and colonial architecture of the old town, now a World Heritage site, are the Santo Domingo Church, next to which is the Museum of Colonial Religious Art, and the San Jose Church with its magnificent golden Baroque altar. More impressive, though, is the President's Palace which overlooks the bay. Also worth a visit is the Museum of the Panamanian Man, which is located north of the market and near the shopping centres.

Panama Viejo

Situated just 6 km (4 mi) from Panama City is Panama Viejo and its ruins, including the square tower of the old cathedral. This was the original Panama City, which was sacked and looted in 1671 by Henry Morgan.