If you are searching for the best things to do in Panama, you have picked the perfect moment. In August 2026 the country unveiled its new nation brand, “Panamá, Anfitrión del Mundo” (“Panama, Host of the World”), presented by PROMTUR Panamá and the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) and backed by President José Raúl Mulino. The promise behind it — to host with generosity and promote prosperity — is exactly what travelers feel on the ground: a compact country where two oceans, a world-famous canal, colonial streets and cloud forests sit within a few hours of each other.
Essential Things to Do in Panama
Start with the icons. These are the experiences that define the isthmus and that no first visit should skip.
- Watch ships transit the Panama Canal at the Miraflores Visitor Center near Panama City or the Agua Clara locks on the Caribbean side.
- Wander Casco Antiguo, the UNESCO-listed old quarter, for plazas, churches, rooftop bars and some of the best restaurants in Central America.
- Sail the San Blas islands (Guna Yala), an archipelago of postcard islets managed by the Guna people.
- Hike in Boquete, coffee country in the Chiriquí highlands, with trails up Volcán Barú, Panama’s highest peak.
- Go island-hopping in Bocas del Toro, the laid-back Caribbean archipelago known for surf, starfish and nightlife.
Beyond the Icons: Beaches, Wildlife and City Life
Pacific beach towns
Little more than an hour from the capital, the Pacific “beach corridor” — Coronado, Santa Clara and Playa Blanca — is where city residents unwind. Farther down the Azuero Peninsula, Pedasí and Playa Venao mix small-town charm with world-class surf.
Wildlife that surprises everyone
Panama is one of the planet’s few carbon-negative countries, and its biodiversity shows it. Birders flock to Pipeline Road in Soberanía National Park, humpback whales visit the Pacific coast roughly from July to October, and Coiba National Park offers some of the best diving in the eastern Pacific.
Panama City itself
The only capital in the region with a rainforest inside city limits also delivers rooftop pools, a seafood market famous for ceviche, the Biomuseo designed by Frank Gehry, and the Cinta Costera waterfront. Check the events calendar before you arrive — festivals, concerts and food fairs run year-round, and 2026 has extra energy with La Marea Roja, the national football team, heading to the World Cup.
How to Plan Your Trip
Most travelers base themselves in Panama City for two or three nights, add a beach or island stay, and finish in the highlands. Distances are short: the canal is under an hour from downtown, the Pacific beaches about ninety minutes, and Boquete or Bocas del Toro a short domestic flight away. Copa Airlines’ hub at Tocumen International Airport makes Panama an easy add-on to almost any itinerary in the Americas — many visitors literally begin with a stopover and end up staying a week.
For deeper planning, browse our travel guides and the full Discover Panama article library, and compare accommodation across the country in our hotels directory.
Why “Host of the World” Fits
The new brand’s four attributes — generosity, connection, diversity and trust — read like a summary of the visitor experience. A dollarized economy makes spending simple, the aerial hub of the Americas makes arriving easy, and the mix of cultures from the Guna comarcas to cosmopolitan Panama City makes every day different. Panama has always connected the world; now it is inviting the world to stay a while.
Ready to explore? Browse the best hotels, restaurants, tours and events of the Host of the World in the Panama Digital Directory — your local guide to everything the isthmus has to offer.
