PANAMA: Our Favourite Experiences
Panama - Top Five Experiences
Panama seriously has almost everything you could look for in a country on your adventure filled vacation - hiking, mountains, islands, adventure, sun, sand... the list goes on. We visited for almost three weeks over December and January, and here were our top five experiences!
No. 5: Day Hiking In El Valle De Anton
We visited Anton Valley for two nights, and even though the weather didn't look great, it eventually cleared up on the second day so that we could get hiking! We did La India Dormida hike, and Cerro Silla. These two hikes were not too challenging or too long, but give you some amazing views and ridge lines that make for some epic photos. However, there are also so many more hikes around the area you could do!
Besides the hiking, El Valle is a great place for relaxing and heading to some great restaurants. It's also not too far from Panama City so if Boquete seems too far away, El Valle is a great spot to head to instead!
No. 4: San Blas Islands
San Blas Islands is a unique destination that has islands after islands. Good weather and planning at a spot like this will mean paradise! To San Blas you can do a day trip, overnight trip, or even a few day trip. We did an overnight trip with one night in a rustic cabin on a very quiet Island - it was stunning and so relaxing. The weather didn't really agree with us, however, you can't complain too much about a little rain whilst relaxing in a rustic cabin and listening to the ocean!
This overnight trip was combined with a day trip the next day to see three other islands or areas. It was pretty cool to see the different spots in the ocean filled with stunning palm trees, clear water, and white sand.
No. 3: Surfing In Playa Venao
Playa Venao is such a cool spot! This spot is great for people who want to surf, relax on the beach, hang out by a pool, and have TONS of great restaurants. Surfing in Playa Venao is great for most levels (we are really on beginner and intermediate, so can't speak to how great the waves are if you are really good at surfing). They have tons of spot to rent surf boards from, take lessons, and most of the hotel spots are right on the beach!
No. 2: Snorkelling In Coiba National Park
Coiba National Park is STUNNING. The water is so clear here, and you are guaranteed to see some amazing marine life. During different times of the year you may be able to see different types of marine life (whales, whale sharks, so forth). It's a great spot to snorkel or dive, depending on your experience levels!
We did this as a day trip from Santa Catalina. It's about 1.5 hr boat ride each way which is definitely long, but for us it was SO worth it. I am a bit scared of the ocean, but during this snorkelling adventure we were able to see reef tip sharks, sea turtles (SO MANY), and TONS of different fish species which were so vibrant and cool. You also visit a few different islands so it's definitely worth your time.
No. 1: Sunrise Hike To Volcan Baru
Probably one of the worst hikes we have ever done (we won't sugar coat it), but DEFINITELY the most rewarding hike. We left just after midnight for our adventure hiking through the night to witness the most unreal sunrise (with cloud inversions!) at the highest point in Panama. It was a long and brutal hike, but the sunrise and viewpoints at the top are unlike anything we have ever seen before. Here's our blog post on everything you should know before hiking:
Visit Panama!
Panama is such a stunning country that hasn't been overwhelmed by tourism just yet. It has so many great spots to see, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an adventurous vacation! Check out our other guides and blog posts for more travel information.
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