The 20 Best Things to Do in Panama (For Nature Lovers)

Though it is but a slip of land located in between Costa Rica and Colombia, there are ton of fun things to do in Panama including watching exotic wildlife, touring colonial architecture, being awestruck at manmade marvels, and admiring diverse natural landscapes.

The culture of the country deep and rich, and Panama’s history (and pre-history, for that matter) is completely unique. 

The Isthmus of Panama is the final strip of land formed that separated the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean just a little under 300 million years ago.

This has made Panama a strategic location over the centuries, as well as a hub for world travelers (both pre-Colombian and post-colonial).

The land bridge also allowed land animals from North and South America to pass freely between the continents, making it an ecological hotspot in the process.

Nowadays, the country is the site of one of the world’s largest construction projects and one of the most popular Panama tourist attractions, a canal that took over 30 years to build and now allows thousands of vessels to pass through it each year.

Panama is home to nearly 1000 species of birds, several endangered species, and many animals that are only seen in a few other places in the world.  

There are also volcanoes, secluded Caribbean islands, and indigenous populations.

Here’s a look at our picks for the 20 Best Things to Do in Panama, with a focus on attractions geared to nature and history lovers.

READ MORE: 10 Latin America Ecotourism Adventures (For Your World Travel Bucket List)

BEST THINGS TO DO IN PANAMA GUIDE

1. Casco Viejo (Panama City)
2. Punta Culebra Nature Center (Panama City)
3. Biomuseo (Panama City)
4. Miraflores Locks and/or Agua Clara Locks (Panama Canal)
5. Chagres River (Panama Canal)
6. Portobelo National Park (Panama Canal)
7. Emberá Village (Panama Canal)
8. Monkey Island (Panama Canal)
9. Fort San Lorenzo (Panama Canal)
10. Barro Colorado Island (Panama Canal)
11. Soberania National Park (Panama Canal)
12. Bastimentos Island National Park (Bocos Del Toro)
13. Finca Los Monos (Bocos Del Toro)
14. Bocos del Toro Research Station (Bocos Del Toro)
15. Boquete (Panamanian Highlands)
16. El Valle de Anton (Panamanian Highlands)
17. Coiba National Park (Panamanian Highlands)
18. San Blas Islands (Eastern Panama)
19. Darién National Park (Eastern Panama)
20. Pearl Islands (Eastern Panama)

THINGS TO DO IN PANAMA CITY 

Panama City is the capital of the country. The bustling metropolis has a sleek,…