November - May
Tell someone you are going to Panama and we guarantee they will mention the words 'hat' and 'canal' within the first minute of conversation, conforming to one of travels most clichéd views of anywhere in the world.
So, are classic hats and an engineering wonder, reasons enough to go? For some maybe, but for us you are missing the real draw and that's that Panama offers perhaps the best combination of city cool and gorgeous, laid back beach vibes that we have ever come across. Throw in the opportunity to spend time trekking through lush tropical rainforests and exploring the beautiful islets of the Panama Canal and you can see why the country is currently our number one tip for where the discerning traveller should be heading over the next couple of years.
Our way to do it? Whilst you could spend months there, we know you don't often have that luxury, so a Panama tasting menu is in order. Our trip combines time spent in the wonderfully atmospheric colonial quarter of Panama city, before heading for some beach time on the Pacific coast, followed by a stay in the volcanic crater inland of town El Valle and a final stint on the Caribbean coast to finish your trip. Two of the worlds great seas, some of the best scenery that we have laid eyes on and one of the hippest cities on the planet. Winning combination? We'll eat our (Panama) hat if you think otherwise.
Starting with a stay in the colonial quarter of Panama City, combine atmospheric evenings zoning out in little jazz bars whose music spills out into the rabbit warren of old streets. By day explore the historic quarter or venture into the developing cosmopolitan centre of the city. The highlight though is to head for the canal. Whilst the locks are impressive, it's further up the canal where your expectations are truly challenged. Instead of canal, think tropical sea where you are more likely to see crocodiles and turtles than any landscape pollution.
Moving on from the city, your next stop is a sleeping surfing village on the stunning Pacific coast. Spend four days in a private beach house where you can spend days either lazing on the beach or the creaky veranda of the house; alternatively take on some of the wonderful surf that that the coast is blessed with. By night your activity of choice has to be a relaxing barbeque as you marvel at the multicoloured sunsets or tuck into fresh sea food in some of the local restaurants just a short walk (or stagger) from your house.
The final section of your trip begins with an overnight stay in the town of El Valle set in the crater of a dormant volcanic range. Here you can trek in rainforest that is home to wonderful wildlife, from jaguars and sloths to an amazing variety of birdlife. From El Valle it's just a short drive to the beautiful Bocas del Toro archipelago and some of the finest beaches and clearest waters in the world. From trying the best ceviche on the planet, to snorkelling in the warm waters before relaxing in your stilted water villa, this is the perfect end to the trip. Even better, we managed to get through this description without mentioning that you should a buy a Panama 'you know what'.
