PANAMA TRAVEL GUIDE
Our trip to Panama was a walk down memory lane. We were last there in 2014 but it was still as beautiful as I remember. A lot has also changed and it was a great time exploring all over again.
PLACES TO STAY
We stayed at two different hotels, the first was Sofitel Legend in the Casco Viejo area. This property was absolutely stunning old world Spanish style. It was very family friendly and even gave us welcome kits for the boys that had toiletries, coloring books and crayons, very thoughtful indeed. Our next hotel was also just as stunning and the hospitality and generosity of both the owner and general manager was amazing. They were literally the nicest, most down to earth people I have met in my travels. We got upgraded to the Presidential suite thanks to me running into a follower who said such nice things about me to the hotel staff. It warms my heart when I run into people that follow me as it makes me connect on a human level with them. The Presidential suite was just grand and with such beautiful decor. I highly recommend both places to stay.
PLACES TO EAT
Panamanian food is amazingly tasty and if you are a seafood lover you can’t miss going to Mercado de Mariscos where you will find many different options to choose from. It can get overwhelming because there are vendors trying to get you to buy from them. If at all possible, speak to some locals to get their recommendations before coming or maybe go to the place that has the most people. That is what we did. I actually met another great group of ladies that follow me and they helped steer me away from a possible bad choice. Mercado de Mariscos overall has a great energetic vibe and is a must try if you love seafood. We did go a little earlier (around 5pm) to avoid the peak crowds. Can I just say the octopus ceviche was yummy. The Mahalo Restaurant at Las Clementinas is another restaurant that we thoroughly enjoyed. We had to take the boys to the same places we stayed at on our last visit. Las Clementinas was one of them. The Mahalo also has another location and both restaurants were wonderful. Another good place to hang out is American Trade Hotel’s restaurants. They have both a cafe for a quick stop and a restaurant. The restaurant is a good brunch option. Another restaurant to add to your list of food options is the Fonda Lo Que Hay Restaurant. Everything there was delicious and you can’t leave without buying their hot sauce! Also add the Sisu Coffee Studio to your list of places to stop by. It has such a chill vibe for a little downtime exploring Panama.
THINGS TO DO
Panama is gorgeous, the colors of the buildings are so rich, vivid and vibrant that you could spend time just sightseeing and enjoying the architecture of the city. Don’t miss out on Casco Viejo, which is small enough for you to be able to walk around and see it all. You can also visit Catedral Metropolitana and may even run into an impromptu performance or a celeb style wedding. The Panama Canal’s guided tour is a must. The tour gives additional history and context to the whole visit and I highly recommend it. If you are a big shopper a visit to the Multiplaza Panaman is worth it but it is an uber/taxi ride away from the old town. Our second visit to Panama (this time with the boys) was as wonderful a time as it was the first time. There were so many things that were different and new but the city itself with its beautiful architecture and friendly local people were as we remembered it. If you get a chance to visit Panama it's definitely worth the trip.
