Panama City and San Blas Islands

Our arrival in Panama City was very late due to a small problem in Santa Catalina, so we went straight to bed to watch the Panama Canal the next morning. Unfortunately, that didn't work out either. In the morning, everything took a little longer because we still had a few things to organize. In addition, you need a rechargeable card to take the bus in Panama City. Unfortunately, there was only one sales booth for this card at the huge bus terminal, which wasted another hour. Then it was too late for us to go to the canal.

Instead, we strolled through the city a bit. Panama City is absolutely impressive with its countless skyscrapers. Hard to imagine that it is a city in Central America. It is more like a metropolis in Asia or the USA. Then we went to the Hard Rock Hotel, where we wanted to go to the sky bar on the 62nd floor, but it was unfortunately closed. Then we went to the Trump Tower, where the bar was also closed. To cool off and grab something to eat, we went to a huge shopping mall, of which there are many in Panama City.

Finally, we walked a bit along the Cinta Costera. This is a park that runs along the sea and leads from the skyscrapers to the fish market in the old town. It is really nicely designed there. Many people go jogging, cycling or simply enjoy the evening sun. There are also many small sports facilities where children and teenagers meet in the evening to play football or volleyball. In addition, you have a great view of the skyline.

But the next day we went to the canal. From the terrace of the visitor center you have a great view of the Miraflores locks. There is also an informative film and a beautiful museum on four floors. The construction and operation of the canal are truly amazing. In the 3 basins of the respective lock, the ships overcome a height difference of 26 meters. By emptying water in one basin and filling water in another basin, the ships are gradually adjusted to the sea or land level. If there were no Panama Canal, the ships would take over 20 days longer and incur 10 times higher costs. Later we saw some big ships passing through the locks. A very interesting spectacle and a must-visit in Panama City.

The destination for our last day was the fish market and the old town of Panama City, the Casco Viejo. The fish market was bustling. We were mainly there to eat ceviche again. And we did. Nice from the plastic cup for only 3 dollars.

From there we went straight to Casco Viejo. The old town with its small restored colonial houses is a stark contrast to the skyscrapers a few kilometers away. But it was beautiful there. There are many small cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops and a promenade with street stalls. It invites you to stroll around, but it's not cheap.

All in all, we really liked Panama City. The city is absolutely diverse. You can do many things and it is also simply beautiful to stroll through the streets, always with a view of the impressive skyline.

San Blas Islands

After that, there was another highlight. We booked a 3-day trip to the paradise San Blas Islands. We were picked up early in the morning from the hostel and taken to the boat dock by a off-road vehicle through very difficult terrain. From there we went by boat to Isla Aroma, our home for the next 2 nights. From afar you could already see the small bamboo huts and the beautiful sandy beach of the island.

After quickly moving into our own little hut, a tour followed, which was included in our booked package. The first stop was the Isla Barco Hundido, which gets its name from a sunken ship. Coral and many colorful fish have settled on the shipwreck right in front of the beach. It was a beautiful place for snorkeling, but also for sunbathing and swimming in crystal clear water.

The second stop was the Piscina Natural, the natural swimming pool. This is a sandbank in the middle of the sea, which is just below the surface of the water, so you could sit down in the middle of the sea.

For the rest of the day and the next day, we only stayed at the beach of our island. We only went to the small restaurant for the 3 daily meals that were included. The Kuna people really spoiled us with plenty of delicious food and on the evening of the first day we celebrated a bit with the other travelers.

The San Blas Islands are really like paradise as you imagine. I think we have never seen such beautiful beaches and clear waters like there. You really get a true island feeling there and it was definitely one of the greatest highlights we have ever seen.

After we were taken back from San Blas to Panama City, we still had some time because our flight to San José was not until the next morning. We used the time to eat ceviche again at the fish market and then walk the entire Cinta Costera to the Hard Rock Hotel. The view from the top was still pending. So we went to the 62nd floor of the Hard Rock Hotel and enjoyed the sunset over Panama City with a cocktail.

We really liked Panama. It is not quite cheap there, but beautiful. We can highly recommend a visit to everyone.