A trip to Panama offers a family with kids a rich, immersive educational adventure. This Central American gem is an immersive experience where kids can explore diverse ecosystems, vibrant cultures, and significant historical and geological sites. Here are some inspirational ideas of things to do in Panama with kids that will be both educational and fun as a family!
PANAMA CITY
Metropolitan Natural Park
An exploration of city planning and wildlife conservation
This is one of the largest tropical dry forests in Central America and serves as a green oasis within the city with hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and panoramic views of the city and the Panama Canal. You can hike through the forest for hours around this park and spot coatis, sloths in the trees, and many tropical birds and insects. It’s a full on wild jungle smack in the middle of the city!
Panama Canal
A lesson in nation building, phenomenal engineering and ongoing global trade
This is one of the most significant engineering marvels in the world, with a rich history and immense economic and strategic importance. A ship traveling from New York to San Francisco saves 8,000 miles by using the canal instead of going around South America. The larger cargo ships pay toll fees of up to $200,000 to pass through the canal to get their load of $1 billion worth of goods through the canal. Insane numbers, right!? Visit the locks and watch the tugboats guides the ships through the canal.
Casco Viejo
An old town experience in politics, culture and history
Casco Viejo means “old town,” and this historic area is heart of old Panama City. It’s a blend of colonial architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture. This UNESCO World Heritage site will take you back to the 17th century with its quaint cobblestone streets, ancient churches, and colorful plazas. You can enjoy going to the Mola Museum to learn about the gorgeous craftsmanship of the Panamanian women or the Canal Museum to learn about the Panama Canal construction.
BioMuseum
An discovery of architecture, biodiversity, and natural history
This museum is in Panama City and it is a vibrant journey through the region’s incredible biodiversity. Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, it’s all about Panama’s natural wonders such as lush rainforests to colorful coral reefs. It’s a place to learn from the interactive exhibits and engaging displays. It’s about exploring unique ecosystems and fascinating species that call Panama home. It’s also a lesson also on how Panama became the land bridge where the “great exchange” happened of animals moving between the North and South American continents.
GAMBOA RAINFOREST
Gamboa Rainforest Reserve
An ecological deep dive into the Panamanian rainforest
The Gamboa Rainforest Reserve is only about 40 minutes from Panama City and it’s a place to explore Panama’s lush tropical landscape and rich wildlife. You can stay in the dense rainforest at a large resort and hike the trails of Soberanía National Park to observe vibrant flora and fauna in their natural habitat. The resort offers night drives with a guide to spot nocturnal animals like owls, caimans, capybaras, and sloths.
Gatun Lake & Chagras River
A cultural experience about how local tribes are living in the jungle
Take a speed boat or a canoe across the Gatun Lake (which connects the Pacific Ocean to the Calebra Cut as part of the Panama Canal) and up the river which feeds it – the Chagras River, which is filled with large crocodiles. Visit a local Emberá village in the jungle and spend the afternoon with the tribe who will tell kids about their culture and traditions. They live in houses on stilts to keep away the crocodiles, pythons, scorpions and pumas. They live off chicken, fish, some veggies they grow on their land, and the berries they find in the forest.
COLON
Gatun Locks
An modern engineering lesson of internatinoal porportions
The Gatun Locks are a marvel of engineering and a pivotal part of the Panama Canal’s operation. They represent the ingenuity and ambition behind one of the world’s greatest engineering feats. As the largest locks in the canal system, they raise and lower massive ships by 85 feet, allowing them to traverse the isthmus of Panama. Watch colossal vessels glide through the locks, marveling at the precise mechanics involved and learn more at the nearby welcome center.
Colón Free Zone
A lesson in macroeconomics
The Colón Free Zone is a massive trade hub near the Panama Canal with over 2,500 companies and $20 billion in goods flowing through every year. Buyers come from all over the world to buy everything duty free in large quantities. They are filling entire cargo containers to send through the canal. Chat with the shopkeepers in the zone and learn the stories about the buyers who come to the CFZ, what they need, what they buy, and how they operate. This is a lesson in macroeconomics!
NORTHERN PANAMA
Anton Valley
A study local mythology through nature appreciation
This is a charming town nestled entirely in the crater of an extinct volcano and it’s gorgeous! For a real challenge, hiked up La India Dormida, a famous mountain that resembles a sleeping woman and has a fascinating legend behind it. The trail leads you through dense forests, past ancient petroglyphs, and offers breathtaking views from the summit. After the hike, wander through the vibrant local market, enjoy the restaurants in the village and take in the cool, fresh air of the unique volcanic valley.
Boquete Coffee Circuit
An agricultural experience and immersion into mountain tribal culture
Explore the Boquete Coffee Circuit in Panama’s Chiriquí Highlands. Stay in a cozy cabin overlooking a mountain gorge and enjoy Don Pepe Estate Coffee, to learn about sustainable farming practices. Visit the historic Finca Lerida with its scenic coffee fields, and then Café Altieri Specialty Coffee, where you can taste their renowned high-altitude Geisha coffee, which is much loved in the Asian market and is said to be the most expensive coffee in the world. Along the way, hike waterfalls, cross footbridges, and become immersed in the local coffee farm lifestyle, all while soaking up the mountain life of northern Panama.
