Panama’s aptly named capital – Panama City is located on the Pacific Coast of the country. Panama’s claim to fame – the impressive feat of engineering that is the Panama Canal is not too far away. Panama is known for more than just it’s canal though! Casco Viejo is the old Panama City, just a stone’s throw away from the towering skyline of the modern city. There are so many things to do in Casco Viejo. However, to understand Panama’s Casco Viejo, we have to look at it in a historical context.
Indigenous tribes inhabited Panama (and most of Latin and South America), until the Spaniards came over and conquered it. Their search was for gold and riches. Panama City was formed in 1519 and quickly became a bustling, prosperous city. There was ample trade in silver and gold, as well as being an important port for explorers. Panama City quickly made its mark on the world.
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Unfortunately, 150 years later, the city would be plundered for every bit of silver and gold it possessed, then most of the city was burned down. The pirate Henry Morgan or Wales did all of this in the name of England. He was celebrated as a hero in England while the residents of the city mourned their losses.
Panama City was rebuilt in its current location – near the burnt rubble that is Casco Viejo. There’s plenty of things to do in Casco Viejo besides visiting the ruins though.
In 2003, Casco Viejo became a UNESCO World Heritage site. Restorations began quickly after – breathing new life into the city. While walking around, you’ll see old buildings being restored into new businesses while maintaining the original architecture.
Plaza Francia
To get the best views of the Panama City skyline head to the southernmost point of Casco Viejo – Plaza Francia. The Plaza is one of the best things to do in Casco Viejo as it’s always filled with something to do! With views of the water and the city – no matter the weather you’ll have great photos! Throughout the plaza, you’ll find vendors selling souvenirs. Chances are you can find handmade molas. A mola is a patchwork of colorful cloth depicting nature. Handmade crafts are a tradition of the Kuna people – the indigenous people of Panama.
Travel Tip: Check out these awesome hotels in Panama City – perfect for exploring!
Admire the churches
Panama is filled with beautiful churches – and Casco Viejo is no exception. Iglesia San Jose can be recognized by its gold altarpiece. Legend says that a priest painted it black to prevent Captain Morgan (the pirate) from stealing it! Iglesia y convento de Santo Domingo is a prime example of old Panama City. It’s now just a shell of a church built around 1675. The Catedral Metropolitana is the largest cathedral in Central America.
Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar
One of the coolest bars we stumbled on by accident in Casco Viejo is the Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar. The dark interior wood-lined bar, wicker seats, compliment the hand-crafted drinks. I really enjoyed my handmade daquiri – which is unlike any sugar-filled daquiri that you may have in the states. Spencer really enjoyed his mojito as well! The bar has a selection of small plates that are sure to please your taste buds as well. Enjoy some local cuisine, refreshing drinks, and take in the atmosphere.
Panama Canal Museum
To learn more about the history of the Panama Canal (or let’s be honest, to escape the hot afternoon sun) visit this Museum! It’s open from 9:30-5 pm Tuesday through Sunday and admission is only $2. The building itself also has historical significance – as it was the original headquarters of both the French Canal Company & the U.S. Isthmian Canal Commission contractors that helped build the canal. It was also used as the Main Post Office of Panama City in the 1900s. This museum brings to life the history of the Canal and is one of the best things to do in Casco Viejo.
Travel Tip: Most museums are closed in Panama on Mondays.
Arco Chato
While exploring Casco Viejo, don’t blink or you may miss Arco Chato. Nestled between two pristine white buildings, the arch stands out as living history. The arch was part of the justification for building the Panama Canal where they did since the ground was sturdy (though, ironically, the original arch collapsed a few years later).
Enjoy Geisha Coffee
Gesha coffee, or more commonly referred to as geisha coffee, is the most expensive coffee in the world. This variety of coffee started in Gesha, Ethiopia and made its way to Costa Rica, then Panama. The gesha bean grows best in Panama, but other countries are trying to replicate Panama’s success. Since I don’t actually drink coffee, Spencer had to take one for the team and drink this $11 cup of coffee. The CHEAPEST pound of geisha coffee we saw was $85!
Safety in Casco Viejo
While the main part of Casco Viejo is safe for travelers (even at night) there are surrounding areas that aren’t as safe. El Chorrillo, Santa Ana, and Calidonia are areas that seem to be not the safest. If you’re out in these neighborhoods at night, it might be best to take a taxi back to your hotel.
There’s also a subway or a bus to Casco Viejo. You can purchase a Metro Bus card at any metro station. The Casco Viejo station is the 5 de Mayo Station. Casco Viejo is about a 15-minute walk from the station.
Getting to Casco Viejo
If you’re not staying in Casco Viejo, the easiest way to get there is by taxi or Uber. One thing to know, the taxis do not have meters – they use a zoning system instead. There should be a chart in the taxi to show you the cost. However, always agree on the cost of the taxi ride before closing the door or even getting in the cab.
Where to Eat in Casco Viejo
There are a few awesome places to eat while in Casco Viejo! Of course, you can have some mid-afternoon food in Pedro Mandinga rum bar, but there are other places as well. For a meal that you’ll be dreaming about long after the trip, visit the Santa Rita Restaurant. This restaurant brings together Spanish and Argentine flavors into one fantastic meal.
For a late-night snack and drink, check out Jeronimo. Jeronimo is a speakeasy in a restored white building with tiffany-blue doors. You have to check their Facebook page – @jeronimoconcept for the password to gain entry.
For dessert or a chocolate-covered fruit on a stick – visit Palettamerica. You can order from the menu, or select your fruit, dipping chocolate (white, milk or dark), and toppings including Oreos, Kit-Kats or sprinkles!
Staying in Casco Viejo
While we didn’t stay in Casco Viejo, there are a variety of hotels for each price range. The one we noticed was near the restaurants was Hotel Casa Panama. The price is mid-range and the location is great.
Visiting Casco Viejo was one of the highlights of our trip to Panama – and is definitely a must-do in Panama City. Even if you can’t spend the night here, just making a day trip out of it will be worth it.
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This is great to know. Panama is on my bucketlist for the canal, but it’s nice to know there are other things, and I LOVE the architecture of the church. Had to PIN this. Thanks!
I love that you included safety in this! As a female traveler, I am always looking for tips to ensure that I am making safe choices while traveling.
Oh man, that skyline is amazing! Thanks for the safety tip, We always hear about all the fun stuff, but never about what can be dangerous and i think that’s one of the most important things to be aware of.
Absolutely! People like to sugar coat traveling, but its important to be aware that some places simply aren’t as safe as we would like them to be.
Pedro Mandinga sounds like my kind of bar. I’d always taxi home just in case though, we gotta be safe out here!
Absolutely! It was such a great bar I’m glad we stumbled upon it!
I haven’t been to Panama City. I would absolutely spend time at Plaza Francia checking out the views and browsing the vendors. Of course, enjoying a cup of geisha coffee would be a mandatory, and expensive, thing to do
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We were in Panama City about ten years ago and explored Casco Viejo only briefly. At that time there was quite a bit of restoration work being done. I would love to get back and see the progress. Would definitely like to try the rum bar as well.
I am sad now that I didn’t do a stayover in Panama on my trip home from Argentina. Your post intrigues me. I also love visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites. I had no idea a cup of coffee could be so expensive – $11!!!!
Thanks for sharing this great guide! I’ve never been to Panama, but I definitely want to visit after reading this and seeing your photos. The views look beautiful.
I haven’t been to this part of the world before but this post has made me want to book a trip! It looks like there are a lot of great things to do here to keep you busy.