Panama is such an underrated country! I had very little expectations when I landed in Panama but was quickly blown away by its diversity and natural beauty. I had only 6 days to spend in Panama and that was definitely not enough time. You probably need at least 10 days to really see and experience Panama. However, if you are like me and are pressed for time, this post covers an itinerary for 6 days in Panama.
This is the exact itinerary that I made for myself and followed but you do not have to follow the sequence. Take this as a guide for what you can do in Panama in 6 days.
Day 1
Arrive in Panama City and visit Panama Viejo or Panama’s old city. This city was completely destroyed by pirateer Henry Morgan in the 1600s. Today, you can visit and see the ruins of the city.
After visiting Panama Viejo, climb Ancon Hill for a panoramic view of Panama City. You may even see various flora and fauna including deer, sloth and monkeys on the way.
Spend the evening in Casco Viejo, visiting some of its sites. Casco Viejo is Panama City’s historic district. This little quarter became the new city after Panama Viejo was destroyed. Don’t worry about having to see all of Casco Viejo this day though. There will be more time later.
See HERE for what to see and do in Casco Viejo
Day 2
Next on this 6 days in Panama itinerary is a day trip to San Blas Islands. San Blas are a collection of islands in a remote part of Panama. The best way to get to San Blas is by booking a tour. See my link below on everything you need to know about visiting San Blas. Not only was San Blas breathtakingly beautiful, the visit was even made better by the tour company who did a fantastic job. Prepare to spend the entire day on this tour. It’s an early morning wake up call but fully worth it. San Blas is my 1 of 2 things in Panama that I recommend you don’t miss.
See how to visit San Blas from Panama City HERE
Day 3 – 4
Spend Day 3 and 4 of this 6 days in Panama itinerary in Bocas del Toro. 2 days were barely enough time but that’s all the time I had unfortunately. If you were to extend this itinerary spend at least 3 nights in Bocas del Toro. You can get to Bocas del Toro either by bus or by plane. The bus takes a long time so you will have to fly to make the most of your time at Bocas del Toro if you also have limited time like I did. It’s an easy enough flight that takes only 45 minutes. The flight has to be booked via Panama Air.
There’s a lot to do in Bocas del Toro, so you would have to organized your time well there. See how to below!
Click HERE for a detailed travel guide and itinerary on what to do in Bocas del Toro in 2 days.
Day 5
My second must do in Panama is to see the Panama Canal. It’s fascinating to see a ship navigate this man-made wonder. You can certainly visit either the Miraflores or Agua Clara Locks on your own. However, this day tour combines a visit to the Locks with a few other attractions. I had a lovely day visiting the Locks, Monkey islands, a little bit of the Gamboa rainforest, Fort St. Lorenzo, seeing sloths and other wild life and cruising down the Panama Canal and Chagres River.
This is the tour that I took. It was a small group and the tour guide was awesome! Don’t take my word for it though, check out the reviews from other travelers on Trip Advisor!
Day 6
Today is when you can see and do the things that you were not able to in Casco Viejo on day 1. The link I provided above for my post on Casco Viejo covers the best things to do there. Don’t also forget to check out some of the amazing restaurants and bars in Casco Viejo!
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6 comments
I’ve never been to Panama, but it looks like a fantastic place to explore, especially if you love beaches. The colour of the water is something else 😍
Thank you so much for the lovely comment! Panama is so beautiful! It really exceeded my expectations. The water was the best I’ve seen so far!
You definitely did get most of your trip! There is so much to see, and I’m not sure a week will be enough for me, but I will still need to squeeze the activities in the little time I can afford LOL
Christie
Hi Christie! I sure did see a lot for the little time I spent in Panama! Time off is always a challenge! So much to see, so little time 🙂
Great review! I’m heading to Panama City then onto Bocas in 2 weeks, so your information is very helpful. I’ll be staying 2 nights in Casco Viejo then flying to Bocas for 8 nights. We’ll be going scuba diving and exploring the islands. Thanks for the tip with the water taxis & bus going to boca del drago! We’re staying in a few different accommodations, so definitely looking forward to it. I’m also planning on renting some bikes so it’s easier to explore on our own. 😊
Sounds like an awesome plan! Wish I had 8 nights in Bocas! Hope you have a wonderful time 🙂