Visiting Panama - Epic Bucket List Adventures

A Quick Guide to Panama City’s Best Tours and Tastes

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.

El Trapiche Restaurant: Why I Found It Disappointing

During our brief visit to Panama, my wife and I received several recommendations to try El Trapiche. On our last night in Panama City, we decided to give it a try. This happened to be last Saturday night, when Colombia and Panama played each other in the Copa America competition. Most of the restaurant patrons were glued to the television. For anyone who pays attention to these things, it was a very disheartening night.

Unfortunately, my dinner experience reflected that disappointment. After receiving two top recommendations for El Trapiche, my hopes were high. Understanding that this is a reasonably priced family restaurant featuring Panamanian food, I still expected a degree of quality.

After reviewing the menu, I ordered a passion fruit juice and ropa vieja. I am a fan of the Cuban take on ropa vieja, so I figured this was a safe bet. I also ordered an appetizer of pork belly. My wife opted for the pork in garlic gravy. Service was about what one would expect at a busy restaurant. We didn’t wait an inordinate amount of time for our food, so I would grade the service favorably.

The food, on the other hand, was not so great. My ropa vieja was inedible. I ate a couple of bites and left it. It was far too tough and didn’t have a lot of flavor. It was served with rice, salad, and a plantain, which constituted most of my meal. The pork was overcooked and dry, but the flavor was good. My wife shared some of her pork with me. Had it been tender, it would have scored highly. With that said, the pork belly was pretty good. I would also note, as demonstrated in the photos, that the portion sizes are generous.

The prices were reasonable. Everything was under ten dollars, to be more accurate, under eight dollars. I believe all three items were priced about the same. The pricing was slightly cheaper than what you would pay at a diner in the United States. This felt similar to a US diner experience, which can also be good or bad, depending on where you go.

I would probably not go back to this restaurant on a return trip unless convinced by a trusted friend that our experience was an anomaly. I tend to think this was typical, and it may also have been a factor of what we ordered. But having both entrees equally tough seems more than an anomaly. Not recommended.

Our experience at El Trapiche differed dramatically from our meal at Restaurante Almeria. Although they do not serve Panamanian food, this Spanish restaurant in Balboa Boutique is an amazing alternative option.

Overview of our three-day trip to Panama!

How to Visit Miraflores Locks in Panama While Saving Money

On our three-day Panama visit, my wife and I packed our schedule full of adventures. We wanted to see the Miraflores Locks but didn’t have time for a half-day tour. So, we decided to visit the locks on our own.

Timing Is Everything

With only two hours before our cooking class, we ordered an Uber around 9:15 AM. This gave us thirty minutes before the first IMAX movie at the Miraflores Visitor Center. Our Uber arrived promptly, and we made it to Miraflores with a few minutes to spare.

Ticket Time

We bought our tickets at the office, spending about $17 per person. This included the IMAX movie, which was about to start. Showtimes are:

8:45 am
11:00 am
12:15 pm
1:30 pm
2:45 pm
4:00 pm
5:15 pm

IMAX Experience

We showed our tickets and ascended two sets of escalators to the IMAX theater. To our surprise, it was a nearly full theater with a concession stand offering popcorn and more. I would estimate that 2/3rds of the 500 seats were occupied. We grabbed our 3D glasses and found our seats just as the film began.

A Journey Through History

Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the forty-five-minute film provided an excellent narrative on the history of the canal. It also shared cultural insights into the local area. After the movie, we exited through the gift shop before heading up to the viewing platforms.

Lock Views and Rainy Skies

We arrived at a time when no ships were scheduled to pass through the locks. We knew this from the schedule but had no other option due to our packed itinerary. Although we’d seen locks before, these were still impressive.

Staying Dry and Snapping Photos

Despite the light rain, we got a great vantage point of the locks. The platforms are covered, keeping us dry. We snapped some photos and checked the view from both platforms before heading out.

Panama Bay side of the Miraflores Lock set to the Bay level to begin receiving ships.

Coffee and Cooking Class

Next up was Geisha Coffee at Sisu followed by a Panamanian cooking class. Our visit to Miraflores Locks was brief but memorable.

Cost Breakdown

We spent about $20 on Uber and $35 on two tickets, totaling around $27 per person. This was significantly cheaper than many formal tours. We also enjoyed the flexibility of doing things on our own schedule.

Conclusion

At $17 per person, the Miraflores Locks seem a bit pricey. However, half the price is for the IMAX 3D movie, which is worth it. The rest is for viewing platforms. On a busy day, crowds might make it hard to see or take photos. Still, this is a must-see as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Despite the cost, it’s an experience you shouldn’t miss.

Overview of our three-day trip to Panama!

Make Your Own Chocolate: Class in Panama City’s Historic Quarter

My wife and I decided on a last-minute getaway to Panama City. While searching for activities during our brief visit, the opportunity to make chocolate caught my eye.

Nome is located just to the west of Independence Square

The class was scheduled for one hour at Nome, a high-end chocolatier. Located just off the main square in Casco Viejo, the “Old Quarter” of Panama City, Nome offered a unique experience.

Our group included about a dozen chocolate enthusiasts, including two young sisters with their mom (they weren’t fans of unsweetened chocolate).

Eric demonstrating the process of bringing the chocolate to the correct temperature.

The owner, Eric, welcomed us and led the class, offering an introduction to the chocolate-making process. After washing our hands, Eric explained the process, starting with the cocoa pods.

Ingredients used in the process of chocolate making along with photos of processes prior to the current state. — Photos, Cocoa Beans in Different States, Cocoa Butter and Sugar

Eric’s class covered all the steps in chocolate making. He explained the importance of temperature and how chocolate percentages work. The class was interactive, primarily through Q&A, until we went hands-on to make our own chocolate bars.

Each group received a mold with instructions on filling it, removing excess chocolate, and tapping out air bubbles. We were provided with various ingredients to add to our bars, including fruits, nuts, and nibs (which I selected).

Eric demonstrating process for separating nibs from shells — Eric demonstrating a tool for separating nibs from shells

After finishing our bars, we enjoyed champagne or water while engaging in more Q&A and shopping. This portion included sampling different creations, from dark chocolate to bonbons. I particularly liked the sea salt dark chocolate and the coffee ganache bonbon.

The candy bars were small but consistent with the shop’s offerings. It’s a clear case of quality over quantity. The chocolate was exceptional. What impressed me most was Eric’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for chocolate.

This made for an engaging and informative outing. It’s fun for kids of all ages.
For my fellow foodies, check out the 4-Hour Market Tour and Cooking Class offered by Jerin at Panama Day Trips.

Overview of our three-day trip to Panama!