Panama itinerary: Panama City, San Blas & Santa Catalina (tips, costs & budget)

After numerous trips to Asia and a single ‘getaway’ to the Americas (if you like, you can also find the article dedicated to New York HERE), we felt that the time had finally come to explore a little piece of Central America.

At first, we were very focused on Costa Rica, but then, while researching online and comparing a few itineraries, I discovered something interesting: Panama is that ‘neighbouring country’ that offers very similar vibes, but with two huge advantages for those who want to travel well without stress: less mass tourism and often more affordable prices.

So we changed course and booked an Air France flight from Malpensa, departing on January 2nd. And here comes the best part: we found such a good deal that it finally allowed us to try Business Class (yes, it had been on my “sooner or later” list 😅). Basically, with about €2,000 per person, we flew outbound in Business Class and returned in Premium Economy: a perfect compromise to treat ourselves without blowing the budget.

And from there, our adventure began: two weeks in Panama, between cities, postcard-perfect islands, and plenty of surprises.

Panama City: where to stay and how to get around?

Once we landed in Panama City, we reached the hotel comfortably by Uber.

As for accommodation, in my opinion you have two sensible options (it depends on your budget and on how much you want to “experience everything on foot”):

Casco viejo: this is the most scenic and central historic area. It is very convenient if you want to have plenty of restaurants, views, and attractions nearby, but it is generally more expensive.

Skyscraper / modern area: if you want to spend less and stay in a more “city-like” area, with modern hotels and apartments, the typical choice is Avenida Balboa – Marbella – Bella Vista (the waterfront and skyline area). From there, getting around with Uber is very easy, and you can reach anywhere in just a few minutes.

We chose the modern area and moved around almost exclusively by Uber: a ride within the city often cost us around €4–5 (of course it depends on time and traffic, but for us it was extremely convenient).

In Casco Viejo, Hotel San Felipe which you can find HERE on Booking seemed to me like the right balance between price and location. In the Marbella area, Riu Plaza, which you can find HERE on Booking, is a good option, while in the Bella Vista area there is the Marriott, which when I booked was €100 per night—definitely not bad considering the level— and you can find it HERE on Booking.. In the same area, you can also find the Global Hotel for under €100 per night, HERE on Booking.

Planned itinerary

Just to give you the full picture, this was our original plan:

Panama City
Santa Catalina
Take a shared shuttle bus to Boquete. You can book it directly in the shops in Santa Catalina because it is a service offered by almost all the shops on a daily basis, so don’t worry!
Final stop: Bocas del Toro
From Bocas, we would have taken a domestic flight with Air Panama to return to Panama City

I say was because, as you will read later, we decided to completely change everything. Still, this is the classic itinerary that most people follow to see the most famous places in Panama.

3 days in Panama City: what we did

Day 1: Casco Viejo

You can dedicate your first day to Casco Viejo: a guided tour (perfect if you really want to understand the city’s history and not just “look at things”), and then, in the afternoon, you can explore on your own at a slower pace, getting lost among narrow streets, small squares, and rooftops. 👉 This is the tour we booked: Tour del Casco Viejo
Just a reminder that with the code ANGELAISAI5 you get a 5% discount on ANY experience you book on GetYourGuide!

Day 2: San Blas excursion

On the second day, we took the San Blas tour, and if you are planning a trip to Panama, I’ll tell you right away: it’s one of those experiences that makes you say, “okay, it was totally worth it.”

The San Blas are an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea, in the autonomous Indigenous region called Guna Yala. We’re talking about hundreds of islands (you’ll often hear about around 365 islands and cays, many of them tiny and absolutely paradise-like), and the management of the territory is tied to the Guna people, who still preserve very authentic traditions and a traditional way of life.

We chose to visit them as a day trip, because we preferred to use our time to explore more areas of the country. However, if you are thinking about staying overnight on the islands, there is one very important thing you should know (so you don’t leave with the wrong expectations): accommodations are often very basic, electricity can be limited (often powered by generators or solar energy), and on some islands services are essential and minimal. In short: it’s a beautiful experience, but also a bit wild, to be enjoyed with an adventurous spirit.

👉 This is the tour we booked: 1-day San Blas Islands Tour

Day 3: Monkey Island (Gatún Lake)

On the third day, we took a trip to Monkey Island, one of the most popular excursions from Panama City to see the more “green” side connected to the Canal area. You visit the Gatún Lake area, a huge artificial lake created during the construction of the Canal, and by boat you reach small islands and areas where several species of monkeys live (often including white-faced capuchins, howler monkeys, and Geoffroy’s tamarin). 👉 Link to our experience: Monkey Island and sloth safari

Other things to do in Panama if you have more days (we did these in the last few days).

Before heading home, we returned to Panama City to enjoy the area a bit more and to do a few extra experiences that, in my opinion, are worth it if you have a few additional days

Walk and hike in Parque Natural Metropolitano If you want to see the greener side of the capital without going too far, Parque Natural Metropolitano is perfect.
Personal tip: go early in the morning (it’s cooler, there’s more animal activity, and it closes in the early afternoon), always bring water and tropical insect repellent in your bag.

Seeing sloths up close: Panama Nature Center (not a zoo) 💚
If you want to see sloths up close and, at the same time, support a meaningful project, I recommend the Panama Nature Center (in Clayton / Ciudad del Saber). It’s a center where you can observe the care and rehabilitation work for wildlife, with a special focus on sloths, until they are reintroduced into the wild when possible. That’s exactly why there are often only a few animals: it’s a rescue center, not a “zoo-style” attraction.
Cost: around €15, but for me it was worth it even just to contribute to the project. On the website you’ll find prices that can vary depending on whether you are a resident or a foreign visitor.

Discovering the Panama Canal (and watching ships pass through)
If you have more time, I think it’s also worth dedicating a few hours to the Panama Canal and watching the ships cross it. One of the classic spots to see it properly is the Miraflores Visitor Center, with panoramic platforms designed specifically to observe the lock operations.

A day with the Emberá community
And if you want to end your time in Panama City with a truly different experience, you can spend a day visiting an Emberá community. I would have loved to do it, but due to time constraints, I wasn’t able to.

From Panama City to Santa Catalina: the detour I would do a thousand times

To get to our next stop, we booked a shared shuttle. We did it very last minute: only two days before departure and everything went smoothly. This is the website we used: https://shuttleinpanama.com/ and we paid $60 per person. You can also choose to rent a car (many people do, and if I went back, I might rent one too). The last alternative is the bus, which almost everyone actually advises against—you basically need at least four extra days, considering how long it takes.

After about six hours on a shared shuttle bus, we arrived in Santa Catalina. And yes, I know that many people skip it because it’s a significant detour and not everyone, with only a few days to spare, feels like “wasting” a day travelling. But this is the stop that made me cancel the others. And if you love the sea and nature, you’ll understand why right away.

In general, Santa Catalina is considered one of the best bases on the Pacific coast for day trips to Coiba National Park.

Why did we stop in Santa Catalina?

We stayed in Santa Catalina because, after the first two days, we realized that travel is also about this: stopping when you find a place that feels good for your heart. And Santa Catalina, for us, was exactly that: a place that recharged both me and Fabio.

How do you describe a place that completely captivates you? Maybe like this.

Mornings started with a walk to have breakfast at one of the many little places run by locals: pancakes, bowls, fresh fruit, coffee… and that sense of slowness that somehow puts your thoughts back in order too. Then the rest of the day on an incredible beach, with very warm water: Fabio in full surf mode, me walking along the shoreline, unhurried, just the scent of the ocean and a good book keeping me company in the afternoon. Santa Catalina is exactly this: a fishing village that has become very loved by those looking for surf and simple vibes, and it’s also the most convenient base for heading out to Coiba.

And in the evening? Dinner with super fresh fish (at much lower prices than in Panama City), and then it often ended with a beach party, dancing to Latin music. The kind of nights you don’t plan: they just happen.

Hotels in Santa Catalina

In Santa Catalina, we stayed in two different accommodations:

1) Surf Asana, surrounded by greenery, very scenic and truly relaxing. It’s perfect if you want to disconnect from everything and wake up immersed in nature.
The only downside is that it’s not very convenient without a car: it takes about a 20-minute walk to reach the town center, and since it’s uphill, the walk back feels a bit like a “trek.” Nothing impossible, but it’s good to know in advance (especially if you plan to go out often in the evening or move around several times a day).
👉 Hotel link on Booking HERE

2) Bambuda Hotel, which we absolutely loved: it’s close to the beach, so for us it was much more convenient (Fabio for surfing and me for walking along the shore). Here as well, you’re about a 20-minute walk from the town center, but the difference is huge because you’re not on a hill, so getting around is much easier. We paid around €90 per night, but prices often vary depending on the season and, with a bit of luck, you can sometimes find it for less.
👉 Hotel link on Booking HERE

If you want a true beachfront option, here’s a practical thing to know: to reach the beach, you need to cross a small river that forms or rises with the tide. It’s nothing complicated and, if needed, there’s often a small boat that helps you cross. In one week, I used the boat 3–4 times, and it’s actually kind of fun!
👉 Beachfront accommodation link on Booking HERE

One last tip: in Santa Catalina there are also several hostels and guesthouses that are much more budget-friendly, perfect if you’re staying only a few nights or want to save some money. In some periods, you can even find options around €50–60 per night (of course, this varies depending on the season and availability).

Day trip from Santa Catalina to Coiba

To complete the picture, we also took a 1-day trip to Coiba. And here I need to open an important parenthesis: Coiba National Park is not just “any island tour.” It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005 and protects Coiba Island, 38 smaller islands, and a huge marine area in the Gulf of Chiriquí.

Translated into pure emotion: crystal-clear water, islands that feel completely untouched, and snorkeling that makes you feel like you’re inside a documentary. We saw (among other things) turtles, reef sharks, and an incredible amount of marine life.
We booked the excursion two days in advance at one of the many tour centers you’ll find in Santa Catalina, for about $40–50 per person.

Boquete + Bocas del Toro (as we originally planned it)

If we hadn’t gotten “happily stuck” in Santa Catalina, the original idea was to continue by shared shuttle to Boquete and then finish in style in Bocas del Toro. I’ll leave here how we had planned it (so you can follow the same logic and adapt it to your own days).

Boquete (3 nights): we would have chosen it as a “cooler” stop (lower temperatures) and a very green one, perfect to take a break from the beach and focus on coffee plantations and nature hikes. Boquete is very famous for its coffee tours and for its “mountain valley” atmosphere with lots of outdoor activities (trails, waterfalls, zip lines, etc.). One of the most typical experiences is visiting coffee farms and doing tastings (this is where the famous Panamanian Geisha coffee comes from), and if you love walking, there are very scenic hikes in the area, such as trails to waterfalls and paths through the cloud forest.

Bocas del Toro (3–4 nights): here we would have focused on the more “Caribbean” side, dedicating our time to the sea and the islands. Bocas is an archipelago: usually Isla Colón is used as a base, and from there you move around by water taxi to nearby beaches and islands (for example Isla Bastimentos, where there are very famous spots like Red Frog Beach and excursions to Cayos Zapatilla). With 3–4 nights, you have the perfect amount of time to alternate between a day of beach hopping, one of snorkeling or excursions, and a slower day to fully enjoy the “Caribbean vibe.”

That’s why I always say: if you have time, this itinerary (city + Pacific coast + mountains + Caribbean) is truly complete… but if you find a place that makes you feel good, like Santa Catalina did for us, it also makes sense to change everything and stay.

OTHER USEFUL INFO

VISA: for us Italians, no visa is required for tourist stays of up to 90 days.

FLIGHT TIME: we flew with Air France from Milan → Paris (short layover) and then about 10 hours direct to Panama.

CURRENCY: there is the balboa, but the US dollar is used everywhere. In cities you can often pay by card almost everywhere, but in places like Santa Catalina, for tours and excursions they often ask for cash, and sometimes card payments include commissions, so it’s better to have cash.

SAFETY: In Panama City, as everyone recommends, we only went to tourist areas (which are quite recognisable) and avoided random areas for no reason: this made us feel safe. Outside the capital, especially in Santa Catalina, the atmosphere is very relaxed: being a fishing village, people even leave their backpacks and bags on the beach, and we never felt uncomfortable, even in the evening. In fact, lots of children were out playing on their own until late.

COSTS: Panama City is the most “expensive” part of the trip. Nice hotels often start at around €100 per night (with some deals for less), and for restaurant dinners we often spent €30–40 per person (almost always eating fish). There are still low-cost alternatives: bowls and quick lunches around €10 and more casual places.
Santa Catalina: everything changes. Hotels often start from around €80, but if you’re flexible, you’ll find many nice guesthouses for less. Food can cost about half if you eat at local places, while sushi or more “chic” restaurants bring prices back in line with Panama City.

ELECTRICAL OUTLETS: you need an adapter (US type) → I use THIS one everywhere in the world and I love it.

BEST TIME TO GO: locals told us the best period is December–April, while the rainiest months are often September–November.

TIPPING: yes, tips are commonly expected, especially in Panama City (restaurants and bars).

VACCINATIONS: no mandatory vaccinations are required for this trip.

INSECT REPELLENT: bring it and use it all the time.

This first encounter with Central America surprised us more than we ever imagined. Panama gave us exactly the mix we love: a vibrant city, real nature, dreamlike beaches, and above all that feeling of “easy adventure.”

This trip left us with a huge desire to explore more, to the point that we’ve already booked our next adventure in the coming months. 😍 This time we’re heading to South America, between the Atlantic Ocean, vast nature, and cities that feel like a movie.

If you want to discover it in advance (and if you feel like experiencing travel with us, step by step), follow me on Instagram @angelaisai: you’ll already find plenty of videos, practical tips, and highlighted stories dedicated to Panama. 💛✨