Panama City Tours - Epic Bucket List Adventures

Booking the Trip to Panama

Copa Airlines recently started a non-stop flight between Raleigh and Panama City. I decided to check ticket prices for the 4th of July weekend. Prices were reasonable, with basic tickets under $500 and main economy under $600. The latter included seat selection and checked baggage. I opted for main economy, paying less than $1200 for my wife and me.

Arrival in Panama City

We flew down to Panama on the July 3rd flight, arriving in Terminal 1 early. The flight was pleasant, lasting about four hours. Our luggage was delivered to Terminal 2, requiring a half-mile walk to immigration. Immigration was nearly empty, allowing us to clear quickly. After the fifteen-minute walk, our luggage was waiting just past immigration.

Getting to the Hotel

I ordered an Uber to our hotel, not knowing what to expect. It ended up being super easy. The Uber pick-up zone is just outside baggage claim. Our Uber arrived quickly, followed by a twenty-minute drive to our hotel in Panama City. After checking in, I spent a few minutes confirming our tour for the next morning with Almiza Tours.

Day 1 in Panama: Gatun Lake and Monkeys

We got ready for our trip and headed down to the lobby to wait for our ride. Almiza Tours arrived as scheduled. We boarded the bus for an amazing trip to Lake Gatun that lasted the entire morning. After visiting all three types of monkeys found on Lake Gatun, we were returned to our hotel. My wife and I ventured out for lunch before our next scheduled event.

Lunch at Almeria

Our hotel was located next to an “outlet mall” that was nearly vacant. We decided to explore Balboa Boutique, a nearby strip mall. After a five-minute walk, we found several appealing restaurants and settled on Almeria, a Spanish restaurant. It was the best meal we had in Panama, and the lunch special was affordable.

Chocolate Making at Nome Chocolates

After lunch, we returned to the hotel to regroup. We had a 4 pm class at Nome Chocolates to learn to make chocolate. After a short Uber ride to Casco Viejo, we had time to explore before our class. We walked around Independence Plaza, exploring gift shops, stopping for coffee, and then heading to Nome for our class. The chocolate-making class was more demonstration than hands-on, but very informative. It culminated in making our own chocolate bar and a sampling session.

Strolling Through Cinta Costera Park

Racoon on the breakers along Costa Cintera

After our class, we headed to Sisu Coffee Studio to try the Geisha coffee but arrived too late. We decided to stroll back to our hotel, passing through Cinta Costera Park. The park runs along Panama Bay between the sea wall and the Pan-American highway, offering a scenic and leisurely stroll.

Dinner and Day 2 Plans

We arrived back at our hotel just after dark. We had a late dinner at Petit Bon before settling in for the night. The following morning, we had breakfast at the hotel before catching an Uber to Miraflores Locks. We arrived in time for the early showing of the 3D IMAX movie on the Panama Canal, giving us time to explore the visitors center before heading back to Casco Viejo.

Day 2 in Panama: Casco Viejo and Cooking

Coffee presentation at Sisu Coffee Studio

We took an Uber back to Casco Viejo and were dropped directly at Sisu Coffee Studio. We purchased a Geisha Coffee and Matcha Latte. The coffee was disappointing and expensive. I had planned to purchase a pound but changed my mind after tasting it. We then explored the Metropolitan Basilica before heading to our Panamanian Cooking Class.

Cooking Class and Dinner

The cooking class included a walk to the meat, produce, and fish markets. After obtaining our ingredients, we returned to the restaurant to prepare our meal. We spent the entire afternoon learning about Panama, cooking, and our guide Jorge’s personal story. After finishing the class, we enjoyed the meal we prepared. It was tasty and authentic.

Day 3 in Panama: Embera Village

We met our tour guide, Esteban, for our excursion to visit the Embera Village. We picked up our group of eleven before heading towards the village. The visit included cultural lessons, a meal, dancing, and demonstrations. We also toured the village and purchased handmade crafts. Our return trip included a waterfall stop before heading back to our hotels.

Dinner at El Trapiche

I asked our guide for a dinner recommendation and went to El Trapiche. It was recommended by others as well. The restaurant reminded me of a diner in the US. It offered authentic Panamanian fare at reasonable prices. However, the meat was tough in both entrees, making the meal unenjoyable.

Heading Home

We returned to our hotel after dinner to pack for our trip home. We took an Uber to the airport in the morning. Traffic was light, so we arrived early, giving us plenty of time to check in, drop our bags, and clear security. The process was quick and seamless, getting us on our journey home.

Summary

Our trip was amazing. Three full days seemed adequate to explore Panama City, but there are many more excursions to take. There is enough to do for a full week, possibly more. We checked the top things off our list and managed to squeeze them into three days without feeling rushed. It was an amazing trip that I would highly recommend. Most notably, the Panamanian people are incredible hosts. They were very welcoming, no matter where we interacted.

My wife and I have experienced cooking classes in various countries, but not all are created equal. In Morocco, it was more of a demonstration. During our class in Vietnam, we cooked Banh Xeo but didn’t shop or prep. In Greece, group members took turns making different dishes. We prepped but didn’t shop, and not everyone cooked each item. Panama Day Trips’ 4-Hour Guided Cooking Class stood out as the most comprehensive cooking class we’ve attended.

Produce market stall where we purchased ingredients for our meal.

Communications with Panama Day Trips

After booking the tour, I couldn’t locate the address on Google Maps. A quick email to the tour operator solved that problem with a link. Communication was top-notch, with reminder emails sent before the tour, making it easy to find the centrally located restaurant in Casco Viejo, right on the main square. The map below will help you orient the location in Casco Viejo:

Arriving For Our Tour

Arriving early gave us a chance to chat with the owner, Jerin. We learned about his fascinating background and received tips for other tours. As our group of eight assembled, Jerin introduced us to our Chef/Guide, Jorge. Jorge shared his culinary journey and passion for food. With a quick overview, we set off to the market, umbrellas in hand just in case of rain. Fortunately, the weather cooperated.

Jorge, our chef and tour guide for the class.

Visiting Markets to Purchase Fresh Ingredients

Our first stop was the meat market, impressively spotless. We’ve seen many meat markets, but none as clean. Each type of meat had its own section. The restaurant uses only free-range chicken, so we didn’t make any purchases there. Next, we ventured into the vegetable market, where we selected fresh produce from a vendor. Jorge shared insights into the market’s history and local culinary traditions.

We then enjoyed fresh, delicious chicha (juice) from a stall before heading to the fish market. Though not as pristine as the meat market, it was relatively clean and lacked the overwhelming fishy smell. Jorge picked a whole fish, ensuring its freshness and type, before having it filleted. With all our ingredients gathered, we returned to the restaurant.

Preparing Our Meals

The cooking class was incredibly hands-on. While Jorge took charge of most cooking, we all actively participated in prepping ingredients. Refreshments were provided, with my wife savoring a delightful passion fruit sangria and me trying different options. Our menu included ceviche, with a cassava alternative for those who don’t eat seafood, chicken carimanola, chicken tamal, and platano en tentacion. The tamal was notably larger than the Mexican version I was familiar with, and the platano en tentacion, a blend of plantain, rum (optional), passion fruit juice, and sugar, was cooked to a perfect sauce.

Ceviche made with corvina, lime juice, red (purple) onion, cullantro and spices. — Ceviche

Masa ingredients including masa, juice from the pollo guisado, cullantro and spices. — Preparing Masa for the Tamal

Carimanola that I made from mashed yucca and pollo guisado. — Carimanola

Platano en Tentacion made from plaintains, sugar, rum and passion fruit juice. — Platano en Tentacion

My Impressions

Cooking with Jorge and Jerin was as educational as it was enjoyable. We learned a lot about Panamanian culture and bonded with our fellow travelers, all sharing a love for adventure. After an afternoon of cooking and conversation, we relished our meal. The food was exceptional, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the experience was memorable. Jerin offered to assist with any unrelated questions, showing genuine hospitality.

The Tamal that I assembled from the masa, chicken guisado and vegetables we purchased at the local market. — My Finished Tamal

Overall, this was the most thorough cooking class we’ve experienced in our travels. Jerin and Jorge were exceptional hosts, providing an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Panama!

If you are a foodie, like I am, join Eric for a Chocolate Making Class at Nome Chocolatier one block away.

Overview of our three-day trip to Panama!

Tag: Panama City Tours

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