On my 30^th birthday I started my own personal tradition of spending my birthday in a new international destination each year and this year I chose Panama. This trip would be my second time visiting with my first time occurring during a deployment in my Navy days back in 2010. The first time I went I remember thinking that Panama looked like New York and Miami had a baby and dropped it in the middle of central America. 13 years later and I still have that opinion. 

Panama has been at the heart of international shipping and trade since the creation of the Panama Canal in 1914. Panama City has also become a major tourist destination as flights have become more frequent and affordable from the US and has also become a frequent layover stop on the way to South America and the Caribbean Islands. Panama is a beautiful country with a diverse landscape consisting of picturesque beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, lots of natural parks and rainforests full of unique wildlife, and a busy metropolitan capitol city with all the comforts and infrastructure of your average American city.

Panama’s climate is tropical with consistent warm weather throughout the year. Panamanian seasons consist of a dry season that starts in mid December and lasts until late April with the rest of the year being considered the rainy season. My -birthday trip was April 28^th-May 2^nd so I arrived right in the middle of a seasonal transition. During my trip it rained everyday between the hours of 2pm and 6pm and was warm and dry the rest of the day which worked out kind of worked out for me because I like to take afternoon naps when I’m on vacation but I ended up having to cancel my outdoor excursions.

Panama’s official currency the balboa, is tied to the US $ so there was no need to exchange money. ATMs and banking centers were widely available and I was able to use cash or my debit and credit cards everywhere. My daily expenses in Panama were relatively low with most of my meals at breakfast and lunch costing less than $20 and most of my dinners, including appetizers and multiple drinks ranging between $40-50. I was told by locals and American expats to use Uber for all my transportation because the cabs overcharge tourists. My most expensive rides were to and from the airport costing about $23 and my rides getting around the city never cost more than $8 and that included a $3 tip for each ride.

Panama is a very diverse place with heavy Spanish, African, and Caribbean influence. Education is important in Panama which boasts a literacy rate of over 93%. While Spanish is the official language, English is also very prevalent and I had no issues communicating while out and about. I do recommend getting a grasp of basic Spanish to make it easier for those rare instances that there are no English speakers around and if you plan to venture outside of Panama city.

Panama’s diverse landscape makes it a perfect destination for adventure seekers, beach bum, nature enthusiasts and educational or culture tours. Being situated between two oceans Panama is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and deep sea fishing. I had reservations to do a day trip to the famous Boca del Toro but due to the rain I had to cancel. Panama city is an urban oasis of rooftop bars, night clubs, high end restaurants, several malls with both high end stores and budget retail as well.

Here are the places I was able to personally visit or experience on my trip:

Hotel- I stayed at the Executive Hotel. It was rated a 4 star on google but realistically I would rate it a 3 star (think Holiday Inn vibes). I loved the location and it was walkable to a lot of restaurants and bars. The hotel provided a free breakfast that was just ok and had a bar and restaurant. Perfect if you have lower budget but was still safe and clean. Next time I’ll just spend the extra $200 and go next door to the W hotel which was really nice.

Airline- I was able to get a direct flight to Panama from Washington DC on Copa Airlines. I had online issues in the beginning with changing my seat selection after I made a reservation and had to call to make the change. The plane was clean and the flight was on time so no major complaints. Panama’s airport is Copa Headquarters so there were plenty of flight options. Coming back to the US was kind of weird because you go through the main airport security but then they also make you go through scanning again at your gate. So once you were scanned you couldn’t leave the gate area without having to be checked again. Later found out that Delta and American don’t have this policy so that was just weird to me. 

Shopping-I went to Albrook Mall. 25^th largest mall in the world and 2^nd largest in the Americas. I was actually overwhelmed with the size and ended up leaving before seeing the whole mall but there was two food courts that had mostly American restaurants, a movie theater, a bowling alley and arcade.  

Restaurants- My favorite meal was at a Cuban restaurant about a 5-minute walk from my hotel called Delirio Habanero. I had the sea bass and jumbo prawns in white wine sauce and it was perfectly cooked. The owner was really nice and very involved in making his customers feel welcome. The passion fruit mojitos were really good as well. I also had a really good lunch at Marcado de Mariscos where you are served fresh seafood. This market consists of several restaurants all in one location and the vendors literally compete to get customers so they will swarm you as soon as you walk up to try to get your business. It’s also heavy with street vendors trying to sell you things but they left me alone after I politely decline. I didn’t have any bad meals but these two places stood out the most.

Casco Viejo- Oldest city in the Americas and a great place to walk around and see the historical part of the city. There are lots of places to eat, drink, and hang out and there are also museums such as the Panama Canal Museum.

All in all, Panama has definitely landed in my top 5 vacations that I’ve ever had. I loved it so much I’m already planning to go back for New Years Eve this year so that I can do all the outdoor activities I had planned but canceled because of the rain. Panama is a destination that appeals to all kinds of travelers and should definitely be added to your bucket list!