Panama City

Family gathering 2024-2025

dates

Considering two options:

✅Christmas: December 20th to 30th
New Year '25: Dec 27th to Jan 8th

The Christmas week seems to be more practical for most.

Start and end dates are flexible. We will plan some things for the week days and the holiday that we end up encompassing.

WEATHER

In summary: it will be 🔥HOT and 💦HUMID. The closest comparable in the US is New Orleans, LA, but wetter. Prepare to dress for summer, assuming that you may or will want to shower several times a day.

🌦️Late December (in a non-El Nino year) is the start of the dry season, so expect rain chances ~10-20% 1-2 inches of rain. When it rains, it tends to look daunting with lightning and threatening skies. Don't worry, this is normal. Rain would usually last a short period of time and will be sunny again.

🌡️Expect high 80s degs F (low 30s degs C). Lows at night about high 70s degs F (~25 degs C).

💦Humidity will be >80% most of the time.

Forecast based on historical averages is here.

How to get there: Air Travel ✈️

Tips:

Air Travel is the only recommended way. Main airport is Tocumen International Airport (PTY).
Please make sure that your search is not confusing Panama City with 🚫 Florida 🚫. Always search "Panama City, Panama". People do end up buying tix thinking they are going to one vs the other...
🚫Travel by ground is NOT RECOMMENDED (i.e. from Central America thru Costa Rica)
🚫We DO NOT recommend flights with layovers in Mexico, Central and South America

✈️National carrier is Copa Airlines (Star Alliance) and has the most direct flights from the US. Other Airlines with direct flights to Panama: United (IAH, EWR), Delta (ATL), American Airlines (MIA).

Direct flights from Europe KLM (AMS), Air France (CDG), Iberia (MAD) and AirEuropa (MAD).

Direct Routes are preferable (Copa Airlines unless noted):

US/Canada:
- West Coast: Los Angeles LAX, Bay Area SFO
- Midwest: Chicago ORD
- North East:
  - Mid-Atlantic: Dulles IAD, Baltimore BWI, Newark EWR (United Star Alliance), and New York JFK
  - North East: Boston BOS
- Florida: Miami MIA and Orlando MCO
- Canada: Montreal YUL, Toronto YYZ (Air Canada Star Alliance and Copa)
Europe/UK:
- Amsterdam AMS (KLM Star Alliance)
- Madrid MAD (Iberia One World and AirEuropa low-cost)
- Paris CDG (Air France Star Alliance)

Routes with stops may be 10-20% cheaper. Layover Airports for routes with stops:

Atlanta ATL (Delta Skyteam)
Houston IAH (United Star Alliance)
Newark EWR (United Star Alliance)
Toronto YYZ (Air Canada Star Alliance)
Miami MIA (American Airlines One World and Lufthansa Star Alliance via Copa Airlines)

Where to Stay 🏨

You are free to choose your accommodation, but it would be best if we are all near each other.

Juan's parents live in PH Marina Park, Bella Vista which is by the Urraca Park in the Bella Vista neighborhood of Panama City. From this area; the Cinta Costera, Casco Viejo, Banking Center and other places are more easily accessible.

AirBnB Listings (starting ~$80/night centered in Park Urraca for one week stay, whole house rental for 4)
Miramar Intercontinental (IHG) (starting ~$140/night)
Marriott Le Meridien (starting ~$140/night)
Hilton Downtown Panama City (starting ~$240/night) -the downtown moniker is a misnomer-
⌛TBD: Looking within PH Marina Park if there are furnished units that can be rented for the week or month.

What to do

⚠️In no particular order yet.

Casco Viejo, Panama: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casco_Viejo,_Panama
1. La Catedral Metropolitana is the main Catholic church in Panama city.
2. El Palacio de las Garzas, is the governmental office and residence of the President of Panama.
3. Church and Convent of San Francisco de Asís.
4. Church of San José
5. Church of La Merced
6. Church and Convent of Santo Domingo: Arco Chato
7. Church and convent of the Society of Jesus.
8. Palacio Municipal, which dates from the beginning of the 20th century.
9. Palacio Nacional
10. National Theatre of Panama
11. Panama Canal Museum
12. Palacio Bolívar
13. Góngora House
14. Plaza Bolívar
15. Plaza Herrera
16. Plaza de Francia
17. Plaza de la Independencia
Panama Canal:
1. Watch the locks in operation from the visitor center(s): Miraflores (Panama City), Agua Clara (Colon)
2. Transit (subject to weather conditions and Panama Canal Authority approval (tours are not a priority)
Amador Causeway
1. Biomuseo
2. Bike rental
Cinta Costera
Panama Viejo (Old Panama) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panam%C3%A1_Viejo
Ancon/Balboa/Panama Canal Zone relics
1. Cerro Ancon (view with iconic views of the city and buildings from the Panama Canal era)
2. Administration Building and Goethals Memorial
Beaches: TBD
1. Pacific:
  1. Isla Taboga (close ferry from Panama City)
  2. Las Perlas Islands (small plane, longer ferry or charter yacht)
  3. Veracruz (whole fried fish)
  4. Gorgona
  5. Coronado
  6. More TDB
2. Atlantic
  1. Isla Grande (Island), Colon
  2. Portobelo
  3. Bocas del Toro (plane ride)
  4. More TBD
Metropolitan Park: Hike with jungle feel but with easy access and easy exit and great city views
Gamboa Rainforest: Sloths, zip lines, etc.
Chiva Parrandera: drink in a refurbished, embellished and bar-converted old US School bus around the city with music.
HopOnHopOff Bus: Panama City: similar to other cities in the world, day pass takes you everywhere.
Panama Railway: Scenic train between the Pacific and Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal
Las Perlas Achipelago
1. Sonny Island Resort
2. Contadora