Why go au Panama?

Most museums are open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm. They are closed on Mondays and public holidays. Panamanian museums are not very crowded, except for the most prestigious, the Biomuseo and the Miraflores Visitor Center, where you can watch the locks of the Panama Canal in action.

Except for taking the Panamá-Colón tourist train, approaching the Panamá Canal (Miraflores and Agua Clara visitor centers, Isla Barro Colorado), or for large groups, reservations are not required.

Apart from the Biomuseo, the Canal Museum in Casco Viejo or the Miraflores lock visitor center, prices are low, generally in the US$1-5 range. Nationals and residents benefit from lower rates than foreigners. There are also special rates for under-12s, students and retired nationals and residents.

Access to national parks is between US$5 and US$20 per person for foreigners. Not very practical, access to reserves and parks must now be booked and paid for via the Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) website: https://miambiente.gob.pa - "Tramites" section, then "Pago de admisión de áreas protegidas".

The main event that makes Panamanians' eyes shine is Carnival, in February or early March. It lasts 4 days and takes place in several towns and villages around the country. The most famous is Las Tablas, on the Azuero peninsula. Other popular and religious festivals include the Mille Polleras parade in January, again in Las Tablas; Corpus Christi, in June, in La Villa de Los Santos; the Festival de la Mejorana, in the village of Guararé, at the end of September; and the Cristo Negro pilgrimage in Portobelo, in October.

The Panama Jazz Festival, held in the capital in January, is undoubtedly the most important musical event of the moment. The IFF Panamá film festival, held in the capital in April, is also very popular.

The information you can get from tourist information offices is often limited to the very basics, and practical information is usually given to you by the staff at your hostel or hotel. French-speaking guides are a rarity, and tour operators are very keen to recruit them for their groups. If you're traveling independently, you can use French-speaking incoming agencies for day or multi-day tours and excursions. We recommend a few in this guide.

According to the WHO, Panama has the lowest smoking prevalence rate in the world! The smokers we see are generally foreigners. Legislation is particularly strict: smoking is forbidden in public places, including sports parks, and on the Cinta Costera, even if no one is around.

Mass tourism has not yet arrived in Panama and that's good. There are few tourist traps, and Panamanians are rather benevolent towards foreigners. However, this is not a reason to trust anyone!

A visit to Panamá's famous canal is a must. There are two visitor centers for this: Miraflores, not far from Panamá City, and the less-frequented but equally interesting Aguas Claras, near Colón. You can also take the historic train that links Panamá and Colón, running along much of the canal and Lake Gatún.

On a different note, don't miss the Biomuseo, to better understand why the isthmus is one of the richest regions on the planet in terms of biodiversity. And don't forget that Ciudad de Panamá is one of the only capitals in the world to boast a tropical jungle, just 10 minutes from the modern city!