Comments on: Less than a week in Panama? http://bigtravelweb.com/travel/2010/02/11/less-than-a-week-in-panama/ Ultimate South America travel tips on hotels, flights, destinations, holiday types, beaches and more. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:24:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Jon http://bigtravelweb.com/travel/2010/02/11/less-than-a-week-in-panama/#comment-1225 Jon Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:41:07 +0000 http://bigtravelweb.com/travel/2010/02/11/less-than-a-week-in-panama/#comment-1225 I'm not sure Panama City is as boring as all that. Not sure what you mean by the "old town," but both the Casco Viejo and Panamá Viejo are worth seeing. Indeed, you should try to stay in the Casco Viejo if at possible. More generally, I found the city rather fascinating, in its strange combination of Havana and Hong Kong, a colonial and neo-colonial entrepôt for something like 500 years. I'd also take the train to Colón. No, don't linger in Colón (though it's worth seeing, if only briefly from a taxi), but go on to Fort San Lorenzo (to the West) and then Portobelo (to the East). Portobelo is particularly charming. I suspect Nombre de Dios is worth a trip, too, while you're at it, but I didn't have the time. I’m not sure Panama City is as boring as all that. Not sure what you mean by the “old town,” but both the Casco Viejo and Panamá Viejo are worth seeing. Indeed, you should try to stay in the Casco Viejo if at possible. More generally, I found the city rather fascinating, in its strange combination of Havana and Hong Kong, a colonial and neo-colonial entrepôt for something like 500 years.

I’d also take the train to Colón. No, don’t linger in Colón (though it’s worth seeing, if only briefly from a taxi), but go on to Fort San Lorenzo (to the West) and then Portobelo (to the East). Portobelo is particularly charming. I suspect Nombre de Dios is worth a trip, too, while you’re at it, but I didn’t have the time.

]]>