Accommodations
There are few times a person can pay just over $150 per night, for a stay at the Waldorf Astoria. Panama City offers accommodations at this luxurious resort for a fraction of the cost of other Hilton locations. A little over a year old , the hotel is located just outside the city’s bustling financial district. Upon arrival to the resort, we asked for a complete ocean view room and were immediately accommodated . The staff was superbly pleasant, offering nothing short of excellent service at every turn. During our stay, we ended up needing a toothbrush, sewing kit and iron at different intervals. Upon calling housekeeping, the items were at our door within seconds. The room service is also incredibly fast. Be sure to try the vanilla cheesecake from Brio Brasserie.
Travel Tip #1: Don’t purchase the WiFi. A slave to technology my companion and I purchased access for the first two days. We were told upon check-in that free WiFi is only available in the lobby.The third morning, I made my way downstairs to obtain the lobby code. As it would turn out the code worked throughout the hotel. For the remainder of my stay I was able to use the WiFi free of cost.
Travel Tip #2: Always negotiate your local travel. We arrived to the hotel via one of the Waldorf’s personal taxis. It cost us $40 and we didn’t regret it. When travelling to a new city, it’s always best to go with your safest option first. On the other hand, during the day, taxis pass you at every turn. Just a few steps from the hotel you can get a cab to the Panama Canal for just $10. No matter what price the driver quotes, always negotiate a few dollars down. If travelling alone or with female companions only, it’s perhaps best to take the hotel taxis at night. Speak to the drivers directly for deals on the stated price. Chances are, you can negotiate that price down by $10-30 less.
Day 1
We arrived in Panama on a Thursday afternoon. After we got settled, we took a stroll toward Avenida Balboa (Balboa Avenue). Parallel to the hotels location on Uruguay street, it was less than 2 minutes away. We bypassed the city’s busy streets and safely made our way over pristine, red-railed crossways. There before us, was an immaculately kept oceanfront walkway, populated with tons of locals strolling, jogging, and roller-skating along the bay. As you meander along the walk way be sure to take in the city’s impressionable skyline. Once you’ve gotten to the other side, enjoy a snow cone and some great people watching for just 50 cents. Later that evening we made our way to Mi Ranchito for our first Panamanian meal. It’s one of Panama city’s most popular restaurant destinations.
Day 2
On Friday we visited the infamous Panama Canal. Travel Tip #3: Don’t book an excursion. There are several tours available to visit the canal, most of which are upwards of $100. As impressive as this wonder of the world is, there is truly not $100+ worth of wonder to see. Entrance to the Canal is $15 and the site is just a $10 cab ride away. For less than $30 you can enjoy direct views to the Miraflores locks, an informational 3D video, and access to the Canal’s on-site museum. We scouted the Mira Flores restaurant for brunch but opted to try a local eatery. At the suggestion of our cab driver, we made our way to Mercado de Mariscos. This is Panama city’s prominent fish market and is where the locals meet on a typical evening for fresh from-the-water ceviche (just $3) and well prepared corvina/snapper dishes (at most $8).
Day 3
On Saturday, we made our way to Casco Viejo. Tourists flock to the Old City for souvenirs and local buys but the area is far too commercialized. The pieces aren’t very original and are tremendously marked up. All that withstanding, Casco Viejo is truly the cultural gem of Panama city. After spending the day there I almost wished we had gotten a B&B in the area. This rustic yet charming province was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is historically one of the most richly populated destinations in Panama. The streets are filled with buildings centuries old. Some are occupied by impoverished squatters and others have been strikingly restored.
One could easily spend most of their day in the Old City. There are tons of quaint shops, restaurants, museums and beautifully preserved cathedrals. Make your way through the cobbled stone streets and marvel at the city’s preservation. Along the coast, you’ll be serenaded by street performers as you browse through the stalls of local vendors. The views from the east yield the remnants of a once beautiful coastline and the Capital’s skyline.
Panama’s Nite Life
Later that night we returned to the Old City to explore Panama City’s nightlife. Our first stop was at the popular rooftop bar, Tantalo. Located in one of the districts most popular stays, the vibe here is very reminiscent of some of Miami’s own Wynwood dives. The hotel lobby, restrooms, and bar are decorated with great artistic pieces. What really makes Tantalo appealing is the breathtaking view of the skyline. Drinks will run you about $8 each and the music is more or less American. The venue made for a nice time but was far too reminiscent of home. After some time, it began to feel a bit too Fort Lauderdale, and so we opted to rummage through the streets until we came up on a more local scene. We weren’t successful, but Barlovento offered a formidable alternate to our previous locale. The vibe there is a lot more laid back. The ambiance feels like a happy-hour with 20-30s year old Panamanians. The Drink spells are incredibly affordable ($3 beer), and the finger foods are pretty tasty.
Day 4
On our last full day, we decided to visit the Gamboa Rain Forest Resort. At the center of the Panamanian jungle sits this beautiful tropical paradise. Just about 25 minutes outside of the city; after you’ve crossed over a single-lane bridge and driven through a beautiful arch of bamboo, you would have arrived at Gamboa. Arriving to the resort is a bit reminiscent of a scene from Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America. Tall floor-to-ceiling windows yield a breathtaking view, showcasing where the Chagres River meets the Panama Canal. Travel Tip #4: Don’t book through the resort site. We browsed through several sites and conferred with the hotel concierge who quoted us rain forest packages that were on average $150 per person. We took the hotel taxi and booked the tram tour for $50. Travel Tip #5: Book the $40 tram tour. For just $10 more, the resort planner will suggest a second option that allows you access/tour of their orchid garden, snake preserve, butterfly farm and exotic species. While it is a nice outing, exotic is a far stretch. The butterfly farm most likely has less species than you would at your local ‘butterfly world.’ The exotic species included a near death crocodile and tilapia fish, and the orchid farm, though quaint, was nothing to write home about.
We closed the night at Costa Azul. This local cafeteria serves up authentic Panamanian dishes at great prices. We toasted our last night over a pitcher of sangria, a well-played corvina and creole chicken.
For more on great eats in Panama, see the reviews on Panamanian Eats.
All images © 2014 Donnatilda Tabana.