Outdoors · Panama City · Panama
6 best outdoor things to do in Panama City
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kiam-shim, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Panamá Viejo, Biomuseo and Amador Causeway. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 10–14 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 10–14 hours
- Areas
- Panamá Viejo, Amador and Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa
Outdoors in Panama City
Historic site · Panamá Viejo
1.Panamá Viejo
Climb the cathedral tower for the contrast between the ruins and the modern skyline, then see the museum's scale model.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
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Museum · Amador
2.Biomuseo
Allow around two hours and combine it with a bike ride or lunch along the causeway.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Nature
Waterfront · Amador
3.Amador Causeway
Rent a bike or surrey near the start of the causeway in the late afternoon, when it is cooler and the skyline catches the sunset.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
Waterfront · Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa
4.Cinta Costera
Walk or jog it early in the morning or after sunset; there is little shade in the middle of the day.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Active
Viewpoint · Canal Zone
5.Ancón Hill
Start early in the morning, when it is cooler and the wildlife is most active, and carry water.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Park · Canal Zone
6.Metropolitan Natural Park
Follow the marked trails uphill to the viewpoint over the canal and skyline, and arrive early to avoid the heat.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Panamá Viejo | Panamá Viejo | 1.5–2 hours |
| Amador | Biomuseo and Amador Causeway | 2 hours + 2–3 hours |
| Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa | Cinta Costera | 1–2 hours |
| Canal Zone | Ancón Hill and Metropolitan Natural Park | 1.5–2 hours + 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 2 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Amador Causeway; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Panamá Viejo and Amador): Panamá Viejo → Biomuseo, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Amador and Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa): Amador Causeway → Cinta Costera, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Canal Zone): Ancón Hill → Metropolitan Natural Park, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- February: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. The driest month, with strong trade winds; Carnival may fall this month or in early March.
- March: highs of 33°C (91°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot, dry and sunny; good for canal transits and beach trips; Semana Santa may fall late in the month.
- January: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 3 rainy days, busy crowds. Dry, sunny and breezy, the start of the best season; the jazz festival usually takes place this month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Casco Viejo — Restored colonial streets, rooftop bars and boutique hotels
- Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa — High-rise seafront along the Cinta Costera park
- Marbella and Calle Uruguay — Bars, clubs and business hotels near the financial district
- Punta Paitilla and Punta Pacífica — Towers, ocean views and the Multiplaza mall
- Amador — Island causeway with canal views and seafood restaurants
- Costa del Este — Planned modern district of offices, malls and parks
More of Panama City
All things to do in Panama City · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Panama City?
Panamá Viejo. The ruins of the first city, founded in 1519 as the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas, lie about 8 km east of Casco Viejo.
+Which of these are free in Panama City?
Amador Causeway, Cinta Costera and Ancón Hill.