Looking for some help...
Heading to Panama next month. Looking at Panama City...Punta Charme-Coronado area...El Valle...David...Bouquete...Bocas del Toro...
Any tips on how to travel the country? ...rental car vs bus...
Good places to see?
Great things to do?
Any do NOT miss?
Thanks in advance!

Pearl Islands. Contadora is the main one with all the touristy stuff and it's really cool! We stayed at an AMAZING B&B on Saboga, one of the super tiny islands. Not much there but it's 100% worth it if you just wanna chill and relax. I'll be back there that's for sure. El Romanso was the name of the B&B. The hosts were incredible!! Unbelievably amazing spot. Can't say enough. Contadora has lots of places to stay also, and restaurants, etc.

Oh! And El Valle was awesome too, by the way! Can't remember the name of the hotel but it was a long yellow one with big block letters over top of a gift shop. Super friendly, and an awesome top floor court yard! We went zip lining out there, and to a waterfall, and just jungle trekking and driving around mostly.

This the one?

Jeff yep!!

Panama Canal!
Don't be in a hurry to get anywhere. They are on island time
lol

Of course! MiraFlores locks?

Casca Viejo in Panama City! Would totally recommend staying there. It's got lots of history and charm along with great little old and new shopping and eating. Bring a helpful English/Spanish translation book as I didn't find as many people spoke English outside of Panama City as they do in say Mexico or Costa Rica but that was just my experience.

Bus . San blas islands

Totally agree. Just returned from San Blas yesterday and I did not want to leave.

I flew from PC to bocas and then just used regular buses to make my way back through the country to PC - very easy to get around
I bought the Big Bus city tour for PC - gets you to the locks, old city, etc. very reasonably priced a couple of years ago

We flew to Bocas del Toro and back from Panama City, took the train to Colon, then had a driver take us up past Portobello to Isla Grande. The driver picked us up after our time there, returning us to the train station in Colon for our trip back to PC

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My hairdresser went there last year and was floored by the cost to rent a car ... Might want to research this.

We got one relatively affordably but make for damn sure you leave PC in the daylight and have a solid map. It's a reeeeal bitch to navigate that city, and traffic rules don't apply.

Everything says you do not want to drive in PC.
Renting at the international airport would require that.
The costs are so deceptive. Using any rental site show dollars a day but with insurances the cost skyrocket.
Think I'm going to use the bus but hard to find actual bus line website and actual departures and costs. Help anyone? Airlines not much better.

I stayed in Gamboa last year, it's gorgeous and full of so much wild life. We did a trip out to a floating lodge, it's remote and rustic and the food was incredible.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1193053...

Svetlana

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