Panama

General Information

Day 1: Sunday

After unpacking and settling into our hotel, we took an Uber to Amador Causeway. We rented electric scooters and enjoyed riding back and forth along the length of the causeway. The views of the water on both sides were beautiful, though some areas were quite crowded.

Panama sign on the causeway

I would definitely recommend trying it on a less busy day.

For dinner, we enjoyed a delicious meal at Adama, a fairly new establishment in Panama City.

Day 2: Monday

Our driver picked us up and we headed to Playa Blanca, a stunning beach along the Pacific Coast. While the drive was beautiful, it was winding and made me feel quite nauseous—many drives in the area are similar.

Playa Blanca- black sand beach

We started our beach day with a jeep ride through a local forest, the resort area, and the beach. We had a great time speeding around in the ATV! Afterward, we enjoyed a relaxing time by the water. The black sand beach enhanced the color of the water. Just a tip: the black sand absorbs heat and can get much hotter than typical sand, so be careful.

Once back in the city, we downloaded the e-scooter app and took some out for a test drive around Casco Viejo and along the waterfront. We rode on the Cinta Costera bike lane and enjoyed beautiful sunset views over the water with the mountains in the background.

Cinta Costera

For dinner, we had a tasty dairy meal at Kava. Not all their dishes are Chalav Yisroel, so be sure to inform them if you want that option.

Day 3: Tuesday

We started our day bright and early with a 5:00 AM pickup from our driver. After picking up more passengers, we headed toward the coast for our ride to the San Blas Islands. About halfway through, we left the highway and entered the rainforest. The roads were exceptionally winding and mountainous; if you’re prone to motion sickness, this trip might not be for you.

When we arrived at the port, we had time to change into our water gear. We boarded what looked like glorified kayaks with engines and took off. The ride was exhilarating, with massive waves that felt like we were speed boating over three-story buildings—we all got soaked but had a great time!

Upon reaching the first island, we explored, found a quiet spot, and lounged in the warm, crystal-clear water. We had lunch in a gazebo area, enjoying fresh fruit since we keep kosher. Afterward, we visited a smaller island where we had the place to ourselves and enjoyed a refreshing swim.

One of the many San Blas islands

Our last stop was a natural pool in the middle of the ocean, with water only about 1.5 feet deep—definitely a cool sight!

The ride back to the hotel was just as winding, but we arrived ready for dinner at Aria. Although I couldn't eat much, the food looked delicious!

Day 4: Wednesday

Our driver took us to the waterfront in Portobello. After our guide shared some history about the bay's significance in Panama's development, we received instructions on how to kayak. We loaded our bags onto a double kayak and set off into the bay.

Fort at Portobello

After crossing the bay, we kayaked through the mangroves, where trees grow from the ocean floor and create a leafy canopy. When we reached land (mud), we parked our kayaks and began our hike. The trail was relatively easy, although the first stretch involved deep mud, requiring us to balance on logs. Our guide pointed out various fruit trees and even spotted some monkeys in the trees.

Kayaking through the mangroves

After hiking up and down the mountain, we returned to the water and walked in waist-deep water to a private beach. It was stunning and secluded. We enjoyed fresh coconut and cut-up fruit, followed by a refreshing swim in the beautiful waters. We took a boat back to shore afterward.

Once back at the hotel, we cleaned up and explored Casco Viejo, admiring the colorful buildings and their architecture. We stopped at a kosher falafel shop for some refreshing drinks.

We then took e-scooters along the waterfront into Panama City proper, where we enjoyed another delicious dinner at Adama.

Day 5: Thursday

On our last day, our driver picked us up at 7:00 AM. We left early to reach Monkey Island first thing in the morning while the monkeys were still hungry. The experience was truly unbelievable! We saw three different monkey species and fed two of them. They climbed onto our boat, held our fingers, and posed for pictures—I wanted to take them home with me!

Next, we visited the Panama Canal visitor center, where we watched a documentary about its construction. Although I had learned about it in school, the documentary brought the story to life.

We then went to the observation deck to see the canal. Unfortunately, we were too early to catch a boat passing through the locks, but there is an app you can download for accurate schedules.

The locks at the Panama Canal

Finally, we headed back to our hotel to pack up and headed to the airport.