Panama is one of the most rewarding countries in the Americas for travelers — a place where you can snorkel a UNESCO marine park in the morning and walk through a rainforest in the afternoon. This guide covers the best of tourism in Panama, from world-class nature to culture, beaches and the famous canal — and why Coiba National Park deserves a top spot on your list.
Why visit Panama?
Panama packs an incredible amount into a small country. In a single trip you can experience two oceans, tropical rainforest, cloud forest, Caribbean islands, Pacific reefs, indigenous cultures and a cosmopolitan capital city. It's also easy to get around, uses the US dollar, and welcomes visitors from all over the world year-round.
The top things to do in Panama
- Coiba National Park: a UNESCO World Heritage marine reserve on the Pacific coast — arguably the best snorkeling and diving in the country, with sea turtles, reef sharks, rays and seasonal humpback whales.
- The Panama Canal: one of the engineering wonders of the world; watch giant ships pass through the locks at Miraflores or Agua Clara.
- Casco Viejo: the historic old quarter of Panama City, full of colonial architecture, rooftop bars and great restaurants.
- Bocas del Toro: a laid-back Caribbean archipelago of islands, beaches and reefs.
- Boquete: a cool mountain town famous for coffee, hiking and the Quetzal Trail.
- San Blas (Guna Yala): hundreds of pristine islands run by the indigenous Guna people.
The best time to visit Panama
Panama has two seasons: the dry season (roughly mid-December to April), which is the most popular time for beaches and outdoor activities, and the green season (May to November), which is lush, quieter and often cheaper. For Coiba specifically, humpback whale season runs from June to October — a huge bonus if you time your visit right.
Panama's Pacific coast and Coiba
Most first-time visitors focus on the canal and the Caribbean, but Panama's Pacific side is where you'll find its wildest nature. The small surf town of Santa Catalina, in Veraguas province, is the gateway to Coiba National Park — the largest island in Central America and one of the healthiest marine ecosystems in the Eastern Pacific. It's often called the "Galápagos of Central America" for good reason.
Getting around Panama
From Panama City, you can reach most destinations by road, domestic flight or bus. To get to Coiba, most travelers head to Santiago and then continue to Santa Catalina, where boats depart each morning for the park. It's a journey worth making — few places on Earth combine untouched rainforest and pristine reefs the way Coiba does.
Final thoughts
Whether you come for the canal, the culture or the coastline, Panama rewards curious travelers. And if you love the ocean, don't miss Coiba — it's the kind of place you'll be talking about long after you get home. Use this site as your free guide to planning the trip, and when you're ready, book your Coiba adventure directly with our local team.