Day 1. Panama City
Arrival at Tocumen International airport. Meeting and transfer to La Concordia Boutique hotel.
Panama City was founded in the XVI century by Spanish conquistadors. It was the first Spanish port on the Pacific. Now the capital has two towns: the “old town” (Panamá Viejo) and the “new town” (Casco Antiguo, Spanish for Old Quarter). The Panamá Viejo is an exceptional testimony of colonial town planning; the ruins of its cathedral, convents and public buildings showcase unique technological and stylistic characteristics of its temporal and cultural context; and Old Quarter represents a significant stage in the development of Spanish colonial style. Both Panamá Viejo and Old Quarter have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The 6-hour city tour includes the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal Visitors Center. It is the perfect place to witness how the Panama Canal works. From the observation decks, visitors may watch the lock gates open and close as vessels begin or end their transit. Through the exhibitions, you can learn about the Panama Canal’s history, its impact on international trade, how it works, its close relationship with nature and the Canal Expansion.
We will visit old and modern parts of the city, starting from the Former Canal Zone where the Americans lived during the construction of the Panama Canal, and ending with the Balboa Avenue, one of the most beautiful streets of the city along the bay.
The historic quarter of Panama City, Casco Antiguo, is a colorful neighborhood with nice avenues, parks, and squares. You will visit National Theater of Panama, France Plaza, San Jose Church with the famous Gold Altar, Bolivar Plaza, and Cathedral Plaza with the Panama Canal Museum.
Then, we will go to Amador Causeway, one of the most interesting parts of the city. It's a long, winding road that connects three smaller islands: Naos, Perico, and Flamenco.
(The lunch is not included)
