My girlfriend and I (late 20s) are flying into Panama for a few days before going to Bocas Del Toro for a week. Looking for recommendations and must see's for both the islands and Panama City. For cash should we bring US$ or Panamanian $ maybe mix of both? We'll just be using uber to get around Panama city and staying in Airbnbs that we already have figured out so we are good on both those fronts.
Thanks this community has helped me lots in the past looking at peoples feeds.
Cheers!

I’m currently in panama. USD is the currency!
See if you can go to San Blas and i really liked Boquete. I’m near El Valle de Anton and it’s quite nice here. I’m not a fan of the city — too busy and not my scene.

Take US dollars, Panamanian currency is rarely used. uber is super cheap as are the taxis that are not affiliated with the hotels ( never got ripped off) We enjoyed the sea wall into the old town, Panama Canal visitor centre ( go early=less busy) checkout the black beaches of Coronodo ( about an hour out of city, but you can take bus). It’s a great city and we never felt unsafe.

Panama has its own coins but not paper money - it uses US bills so bring US bills for the smaller cities and towns, you can use your credit cards in Panama City

USD all the way! Lots of great ideas for a couple of days in my blog post below, suitable for a couple of days in Panama City:
https://www.siaaroundtheworld.com/blog/2018/3/30/panama-city

As already stated just take US currency, check out Casa Viejo(old town) and maybe the ferry to Taboga for a few hours, hike up to Camino Del Cruz for gorgeous views, don't book a tour just take the local ferry and walk around, go for lunch, do the hike and enjoy the beach and views of the city from the water

Check out blue coconut. There is a bat cave tour that is cool. Starfish beach is beautiful. We also enjoyed fishing with
Sportfishing Bocas DEL Toro. Make sure to have lots of 1's for the boat shuttles between islands when we were there in 2016 it was a buck or 2 for most shuttles abd up to 5 for farther out destinations.

There is Metro train around the city faster a safe $2 pass card after you ad few dollars and you can get around from one side to the other without seeing traffic jam, . Taxis are cheaper than uber, make sure have the right amount of charge that means under $5

I was there a few years ago, you can't use their currency, only USD.

*

US$ and have small bills for the water taxis.
We used Bocas Frog for all our transportation in Panama City and a day tour which was super affordable.
Make sure you have lots of time between air Panama flight from Bocas and your flight home as the flights sometimes don’t go....
Walk the jungle highway in Bocas which is at the end of Bluff Beach.

Recommend going out to the San Blas Islands. There are a number of tour companies that take you out there but charge an exorbitant amount of money for it.
If you're a little adventurous, you can do it yourself. Granted my experience was from a few years ago.
We rented an SUV and drove over to Carti. There is a check point along the way where your passport is checked (I think) and you have to pay a small fee for entry into the area.
The road was in fairly decent condition.
Once we got to Carti we found a local with a boat to take us out to the islands. This cost us about $20 per person and we went to a few different islands.
This was definitely one of the coolest places I've ever been too and I would highly recommend it.

Go get some ceviche at the fish market near casco Viejo! So good

Riley agreed!

Isla Zapatillas is a must see in Bocas Del Toro! There are many options for boat tours if you shop around Bocas Town which I would also highly recommend (ours included a 2 hour visit to Zapatillas, snorkelling, lunch, dolphins, and sloths!). The Flying Pirates quad trails/tour from Skully’s hostel on the main island (Colon) was also excellent. Playa Estrella (Starfish Beach) was incredibly beautiful, calm clear waters and plenty of starfish to see! In Panama City you can take an uber and then a short hike to the top of Ancón Hill for panoramic views of the entire city (Old and new) and lots of wildlife on the way up and down!

Visit Boca del Drago when in Bocas and pay a visit to
Juany Valdes Serracin at Yarisnori Restaurant. They also have super cheap accommodation if you would like to extend the visit. If you like diving, contact Scuba 6 Eco diving (talk to
Ginette Bariteau or Michel)

Just bring american cash, that's what you'll get for change in bills but you get Balboa (Pan $) in coins. Casco is fun at night with some good rooftop bars, I didn't get to go to the fish market nearby but it right by the sea wall and I've heard a lot of good things about it. When in Bocas town, make sure to go to Bocart, probably the best meals we had in all of Panama

Following

The Panama Canal Tour is interesting... We were underwhelmed by Panama City...although we did a heli tour and by air
Could see the new city and the diversity of the old and new cultures
Side by side and worlds apart..

Take a water taxi to Red Frog Beach! One of the best beaches I’ve been to, essentially untouched by any development or mainstream tourism.

The Biomuseum in Panama City is a great way to learn how the isthmus developed. I found uber great if you don't speak Spanish and. We are visiting Panama now. Ceviche this week at the Mercado is an experience, but it's not the tenderest fish right now.

*

There's an amazing hostel between Bocas and David called The Lost and Found hostel. I highly recommend it. You walk up from the main road into the forest. There's great hiking on your doorstep, amazing views and glorious sunsets, nice and social too. It's an experience