Since all pandemic-era restrictions and requirements for travel to Panama were lifted in September, the Central American nation is now welcoming vacationers with ease — and impressive new developments.
I’d already visited Panama several times before the pandemic, but during my recent visit, my husband and I experienced several memorable examples of how the destination makes it easy to combine wildly contrasting types of travel in one vacation. From luxurious new hotels and airport facilities to immersive cultural and nature-based excursions, Panama has a lot to offer its visitors.
Panama’s Upgraded International Airport
The first big difference I noticed upon arrival is the airport expansion. In June, Tocumen International Airport opened Terminal 2, a light-filled, 116,000-square-foot facility with 20 new gates and a new customs and immigration area. The sparkling new terminal is served mostly by Panama City-based Copa Airlines, which links cities around the Americas to Panama, including the western U.S. cities of Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
One of Terminal 2’s most impressive features is the new Copa Club, an attractive, 20,000-square-foot venue with multiple lounge areas, a bar, food service, showers and a business center. In addition, a new Metro rail line extension is scheduled to open early next year to connect Tocumen with Panama City.
The new Copa Club at Tocumen International Airport in Panama.
Credit: 2022 Copa AirlinesWhere to Stay: Panama City Hotels
Panama’s capital is home to an exceptional array of internationally branded hotels, including some of the world’s top luxury chains. During this visit, we checked into Hotel La Compania, which opened this year as Central America’s first member of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. This gorgeous property consists of three wings, each of which is set in a beautifully reimagined historic structure that represents different eras in the nation’s history. La Compania’s sumptuous bar and five stylish restaurants make it worth a visit, even if you’re not staying there.
Hotel La Compania opened as Central America’s first member of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.
Credit: 2022 HyattOur next hotel stay was imbued with a decidedly hip vibe: the W Panama, which is set in a sleek skyscraper in the city’s business district. Impressive city views are a big draw here, and our immense Spectacular Guest Room featured floor-to-ceiling windows and bright decor. We also loved the cool lobby bar, the outdoor pool and the large spa, where I enjoyed an exceptional massage treatment.
Travelers looking for upscale accommodations in one of the city’s most iconic architectural landmarks, meanwhile, should consider the JW Marriott Panama, which is set in a 70-story building that is the tallest in Central America. Rising dramatically above the upscale Punta Pacifica neighborhood, the hotel is also an ideal destination for dining, as we discovered during a meal at Masi, a Latin American eatery with a lovely open-air dining garden.
A guestroom’s bathroom at W Panama in the city’s business district.
Credit: 2022 W PanamaWhat to Do: Diverse Panama Tour Options
Thanks to its relatively small size, Panama is an especially good destination for combining diverse vacation experiences in a short time frame. You don’t have to travel far from Panama City’s urban sophistication to connect with lush natural beauty and fascinating traditional cultures, as we discovered firsthand during a two-day, customized itinerary arranged by Kensington Tours.
On our first day, we enjoyed kayaking on the Chagres River — the largest river in the Panama Canal watershed — and hiking through a corner of Soberania National Park where it’s easy to spot local wildlife such as ring-tailed coati, agouti and colorful butterflies.
Clients can kayak on the Chagres River, the largest in the Panama Canal watershed.
Credit: 2022 Mark ChesnutWe also stopped at the Miraflores Visitor Center, a must for first-time visitors, to watch ships passing through the Miraflores Locks (some of the exhibition halls remain closed since the start of the pandemic, but are expected to reopen soon).
Our second day of touring was delightfully different. We started by boarding a “piragua” (a long, thin boat carved from wood) for a scenic journey to visit Puru Biakiru, an indigenous Embera community on the banks of the Chagres River. Upon arriving, we met residents and learned about their traditions while savoring tasty fresh seafood and plantains. This was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in Panama; chatting with local residents is the best way to learn about their way of life.
The second half of the day focused on our taste buds. A culinary tour of Panama City with Kensington began with beer tastings at La Rana Dorada, a rustic-chic beer pub and microbrewery (my favorite brew was the passion fruit beer), followed by tastings at Pedro Mandinga, an atmospheric rum bar (my favorite spirit there was the cocoa rum liquor). Next was a stop at the Mercado del Marisco (Seafood Market) for a mouthwatering ceviche tasting at El Bote PTY, before chocolate tastings at the chocolate shop Oro Moreno and a hearty Panamanian meal at the restaurant El Trapiche.
Kensington’s many tour options provided a wonderful introduction to the diversity of experiences that await in Panama. This wasn’t my first visit to Panama, but, as with the food tour, I’m still hungry for more and ready to go back again.
