Things To Do Before & After Your Event
Once you’re in Panama, you’ll never run out of things for your team to enjoy. We host festivals, food and wine exhibitions, concerts and so much more year-round. Not to mention we’re home to some of the most breathtaking rainforests and beaches, dozens of museums and cultural centers, as well as a cosmopolitan city ready to be explored.
See One Of The Greatest Engineering Wonders Of The World
The Panama Canal is an integral piece of our nation’s identity and the history of one cannot be understood without the other. Your visit simply cannot be complete without witnessing it. Since its inauguration, more than one million ships have crossed the Canal to bring trade, cultures, and people from all corners of the world closer together.
The canal, 80 kilometers in length, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the narrowest portion of the continent and welcomes visitors regularly.
Boasting two visitor centers, one at each end, visitors can admire the Canal’s operation firsthand and see the large ships passing just a few meters in front of them. The closest to the city is the Miraflores Visitor Center on the Pacific, and the second is the new Agua Clara Visitor Center, 25 minutes from the city of Colón on the Atlantic. Visitors looking to learn more about the canal and its history can visit the Canal Museum in Casco Antiguo (Old Quarter).
Experience the Old and New
Unlike other major cities around the world, Panama City has achieved the perfect balance between honoring its past while moving toward the future. Located between lush rainforests and the turquoise sea, the capital boasts modern skyscrapers alongside well-preserved historical sites.
For an unparalleled view of the modern city and a look into its origins, visitors can climb the stairs of Panama's first great tower in Panama Viejo, where the city was first established. Step forward in time and head to Casco Antiguo (Old Quarter), where you will find beautiful colonial churches and cobblestone streets that followed the destruction of Panama Viejo.
Once you’re in Casco Antiguo, stay for the vibrant nightlife. From traditional bars to rooftop discos, and everything in between, your team will want to dance the night away after a long day.
Panama is home to seven native groups—the Guna, Embera, Wounaan, Ngabe, Bugle, Naso Tjerdi and BriBri. Most of the members of these communities live in protected territories across the country and still practice their own forms of government, preserve ancestral dances and songs, and hold on to their deep cosmological beliefs and cultural expressions.
Amongst these people, you can meet expert artisans who produce exquisite wood carvings, wonderful miniatures from the hard-ivory palm seed, beautiful baskets, masks, bags woven with vegetable fiber, and colorful clothes. These indigenous communities enjoy sharing their culture with visitors, and tours and visits can be arranged.
Learn Something New
Panama's museums and visitor centers cover a wide variety of topics and can satisfy the most diverse interests, such as the Biomuseo. This museum showcases the amazing natural history of Panama and explains how its emergence changed the world forever. Its exhibits are contained in the only building in Latin America designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Its unusual forms and brilliant colors reflect Panama's exuberant biodiversity and colorful culture.
Conveniently, many of our museums are located in the capital, within minutes of our major hotels and convention centers.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Panama’s natural beauty, biodiversity, and unparalleled landscapes make it a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.
Near the capital alone, there are multiple national parks such as Chagres National Park, Camino de Cruces, Soberania National Park, and Gamboa where visitors can birdwatch, hike, visit a sloth or butterfly sanctuary, or simply appreciate the calming sounds of nature.
For those looking for an ocean breeze, Panama offers over 3,000 kilometers of coastline and more than 1,000 islands in both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. If your stay is short, there’s no need to worry. You can enjoy breakfast by the Caribbean and be back in Panama City to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean all in one day.
Savor the Panamanian Flavors
From ancestral recipes of native civilizations and Afro-Antillean Caribbean delicacies to oriental culinary secrets and influence from the rest of Latin America, it’s no surprise that Panama City is considered a UNESCO Creative City in Gastronomy. Here visitors can enjoy traditional fare with ingredients such as corn, plantain, yucca, rice, beans or venture out to fusions including European and Asian flavors.
Of course, to accompany your meal, you can choose from a delicious variety of natural tropical fruit drinks, artisan beers, and rums exclusive to Panama, not to mention our famous aromatic coffee.
In fact, the highest quality coffee, known as Geisha, is grown and processed in and around Boquete and Volcan in the Chiriquí Province. The coffee farmers take their craft seriously and continually strive for the best. We recommend visitors stop by one of our fincas, many of which have opened their doors to tours. Guests can observe the entire process from harvesting to roasting.
Panama is teeming with experiences your team won’t want to miss before and after your event. For more information and planning assistance, contact our team.