With kids · Panama City · Panama
Panama City with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ssaucedoc, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Panama City is good for families: watching ships at the Miraflores Locks, the Biomuseo's displays, bike rides on the Amador Causeway and the Cinta Costera, and spotting sloths and monkeys in the city's forests and on Gatún Lake. Top picks: Miraflores Locks, Biomuseo and Amador Causeway. Families usually base themselves in Amador.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Amador
- Rainy-day options
- 1
Best things to do with kids
Landmark · Canal Zone
1.Miraflores Locks
The closest set of canal locks to the city lifts and lowers ships about 16 metres between the Pacific and Miraflores Lake. The visitor centre has viewing terraces right beside the lock chambers, a museum on the canal's construction and ecology, and a film. Watching a container ship squeeze through with tugs and locomotives is the highlight.
Ask at the entrance or check the canal authority's website for the day's transit times; ships tend to pass in batches, so time your visit around them.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- History
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Museum · Amador
2.Biomuseo
Frank Gehry's brightly coloured building at the start of the Amador Causeway explains how the rise of the Isthmus of Panama joined two continents, split an ocean and changed life on Earth. Galleries use large installations, aquariums and a botanical park outside.
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
Built with rock excavated during the canal's construction, the causeway links the mainland with the islands of Naos, Perico and Flamenco. A wide path suits walking, cycling and skating, with views of ships waiting to enter the canal on one side and the city skyline on the other.
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
The coastal park built on reclaimed land along Avenida Balboa has kilometres of walking and cycling paths, sports courts and playgrounds facing the bay. A later section loops around the sea side of Casco Viejo, giving views of the old town from the water.
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
Park · Canal Zone
5.Metropolitan Natural Park
A protected area of tropical forest within the city limits, with marked trails that climb to a viewpoint over the city and the canal. Visitors often see sloths, titi monkeys, toucans and coatis, and early mornings are best for birdwatching.
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
Viewpoint · Canal Zone
6.Ancón Hill
The forested hill rising about 200 metres above the city is topped by a giant Panamanian flag. A quiet paved road leads to the summit in about 30–45 minutes on foot, often past sloths, toucans and agoutis, with views of the canal, the Bridge of the Americas, Casco Viejo and the skyline.
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
Rainy-day ideas
- Biomuseo — Allow around two hours and combine it with a bike ride or lunch along the causeway.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and couples
Amador
The Amador Causeway runs out into the Pacific at the canal's entrance, linking three small islands. Hotels, marinas and restaurants here have views of ships queuing for the canal and of the city skyline, and the Biomuseo stands at the causeway's start.
- Good
- Sea breezes and canal views; Bike paths; Ferry to Taboga
- Watch out
- Taxi needed to reach the city; Limited evening options
- Nearby
- Biomuseo, Taboga ferry, Flamenco marina
Family travel tips
- Plan outdoor activities for early morning and late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.
- Check the day's ship transit times before visiting the Miraflores Locks.
- Bring insect repellent and rain jackets for forest walks, especially in the rainy season.
- Ride-hailing cars rarely have child seats; bring a travel seat or book a transfer with one.
- Malls are useful air-conditioned breaks with food courts and play areas.
Day trips for families
- Gamboa and Soberanía National Park (About 45 minutes by road) — Lowland rainforest along the canal, famous for birdwatching on Pipeline Road, where hundreds of species have been recorded.
- Gatún Lake and Monkey Island (About 1 hour by road and boat) — Boat tours on the artificial lake created for the canal pass huge cargo ships in the shipping channel and stop at forested islands where capuchin, howler and tamarin monkeys live.
- Emberá village on the Chagres River (About 1.5 hours by road and dugout canoe) — Emberá communities in Chagres National Park welcome visitors who arrive by dugout canoe along the river.
- Agua Clara Locks (About 1.5 hours by road) — The visitor centre at the Caribbean end of the expanded canal overlooks the newer, larger locks, where vast Neopanamax ships pass, with Gatún Lake in the background.
- El Valle de Antón (About 2 hours by road) — A town built inside the crater of an extinct volcano, with a cooler climate, a weekend craft market, waterfalls, hot springs and hiking trails such as India Dormida.
When to go with children
The best months overall are January–April. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Panama City good for kids?
Panama City is good for families: watching ships at the Miraflores Locks, the Biomuseo's displays, bike rides on the Amador Causeway and the Cinta Costera, and spotting sloths and monkeys in the city's forests and on Gatún Lake.
+What can kids do in Panama City?
Miraflores Locks, Biomuseo, Amador Causeway, Cinta Costera and Metropolitan Natural Park.
+Where should families stay in Panama City?
Amador: Island causeway with canal views and seafood restaurants.