Written by Alice McLeod on 07 / 12 / 2023
Gap Year Advice
Whilst Panama might not be the first place you think of when you think about backpacking in Central America, it's starting to gain popularity and is definitely worthy of consideration when planning your gap year travels. 2/3 weeks would be a great amount of time to spend here, and it links nicely with Colombia as well as the rest of Central America.
You will want to spend 2 nights or so here in the city to get over the jet lag. More than just a large canal, this city has plenty to keep you amused for the first few days to introduce you to Panama, but you're unlikely to want to stay more than a day or two. It has a great craft beer scene and lots of rooftop bars with stunning views of the skyline. There’s even a rainforest within the city. Have a look at staying at Magnolia Inn in Casa Viejo – an old French colonial mansion right in the historic neighbourhood.
This is one of Panama’s two main Caribbean islands and popular with backpackers. Get here by night bus from Panama City (approx. 9 hours) to Almirante (approx. $25 USD). Once in Almirante get a boat to Bocas Del Toro for $6.
Travellers visit here for beach vibes and nightlife. Bocas Town is located on the Isla Colon which is considered to be the main island of Bocas Del Toro. Bocas Town is a backpacker town, and though small, has everything you need to sleep, relax, and eat. Getting around the island is done mostly by boat due to lack of roads – small water taxis are easy to come by and cheap to purchase a ticket.
Top things to do here include scuba diving, visit Starfish Beach (Playa Estrella) – so called because of its large numbers of starfish in the shallow waters. If you’re after some relaxing, then head to Drago Beach. A fun bar to explore is the Aqua Lounge Bar – surrounded by water and easy to cool off in the water. It is only a $1 boat ride away from Isla Colon and takes 5 minutes. Another fun thing to do is visit the plastic bottle village – exactly what it sounds like – a museum and hotel made up of 40,000 bottles acting as bricks.
Head to Bocas Brewery while here as well to sample some fine craft beer – based right on the water of course. If you’re looking for a hostel try Cliff’s Hostel or Skully’s Hostel on Isla Colon for a budget friendly option. We suggest 7-10 days here but go with the flow if you are not limited by time! The famous Lost and Found hostel is about halfway between Bocas and Boquete, renowned for its loud parties and also for the treks and treasure hunts it runs into the surrounding cloud forest.
Get
on a bus and drive 4.5 hours South to Boquete. A small mountain town in
western Panama surrounded by coffee plantations and known for its cloud
forest. Expect westernised food here but at a higher cost. This is an
awesome place to get active and go hiking in search of the stunning
Quetzal bird – gorgeous emerald colours and long tail make this bird a
special find. If you want a challenge take the sunrise hike to Baru
Volcano – leave at midnight and get there for sunrise – a challenge but a
rewarding one and worth doing with a tour. You can also white water raft, rock climb, and zip line if those are your thing. We suggest 3-5 days here
depending on how many activities you wish to do. Have a look at Hostal Gaia for a central hostel to call home for a few days.
Continue your journey South to Santa Catalina by taking a shuttle bus for approx. $40. Two reasons to visit here – surfing and Coiba, home to some of the best scuba dives. If you wish to surf then base yourself at Playa El Estero and stay at Oasis Surf Camp. Spend 2 -3 days here. Coiba is where you’ll head for scuba or snokelling and is voted some of the best in Central America. Think sharks, rays, whales and turtles here in the national park.
Continuing your journey back in the direction of Panama City for your onward flight, you should stop over in the Azuero Peninsula. Known for being the cultural heart of Panama with its traditional artisans, farmers, rolling lanscapes and seaside along the Pacific Coast. From surfing to turtle watching on Isla Canas, to spotting Iguanas on Isla Iguana, there is plenty to do on your time here on the peninsula and it’s islands. Visit a local ‘fonda’ which translates to family run restaurant and try some traditional Panamanian home cooking. We suggest 3-5 days here.
The
San Blas islands are one of the best places to visit in Panama, and
link incredibly well with Colombia, which is why many people choose to
do them either on there way or way back from these two countries. You'll
have to book through an organsied tour operator, and these can be found
in Panama City (your hostel will probably have recommendations of who
to use), but it might also be worth heading down to the docks at
Portobelo to take a look at the boats for yourself. You're likely to be
living on this boat for 4-5 days so make sure you check out the
condition of the life jackets, the sleep areas, kitchen, and bathrooms.
When you're in the San Blas islands you'll spend your days snorkeling,
chilling on abandoned beaches, visiting local villages, and relaxing.
From here you could easily drop down into Colombia to start the South
American phase of your travels.
Alternatively you could head back to Panama City to fly onwards from there.
Is Panama safe for backpackers? You need to keep your wits about you, and speak to staff at your accommodation as they'll know places you need to avoid. Avoid the town of Colon, there's no reason for you to go and crime is rampant. The Darien Gap should also be avoided, it's long been a refuge for drug smugglers and cartel members, serious crimes and violence against foreigners are not uncommon here. So whilst you shouldn't write Panama off due to safety concerns, you do need to be aware of what's happening around you and make good choices.
Is Panama expensive? You can expect to spend around $30-40 a day in Panama, but budget in those bigger ticket items like island tours. A night in a hostel in Panama will set you back around $10-$15.
When is the best time to visit Panama? Panama has two distinct seasons: wet and dry. May- November is the driest, and therefore most popular, time to visit.
Do I need a visa to backpack in Panama? If you're UK-based then you can enter Panama on a free 180 day tourist visa that you get on arrival, no need to apply for anything beforehand.
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