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# of days to see Panama City and Canal

Texas
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107 posts
34 reviews
17 helpful votes
# of days to see Panama City and Canal
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I just started planning my trip. Can I get feedback on how much time is recommended to see Panama City and the canal? I'll count day trips outside the city separately.

We'd like to shop at the handicraft markets and see the different areas of the city, plus the canal.

Is the canal an all day adventure or just 1/2 day?

Balboa, Panama
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1. Re: # of days to see Panama City and Canal
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Hi BKPR,

We'll, one productive day would be to visit the Casco Viejo (including Interoceanic museum) in the morning, then go to the Amador Causeway, enjoy the views, maybe rent a bicycle for an hour or 2, then have lunch.

After lunch, go to the Miraflores visitor center. Check out the nice exhibition, then go to the terrace of the restaurant at the 2nd floor. Say around 4 pm.. by then, the big ships are starting to come through on their southbound transit.

The next day you may want to visit the top of Ancon Hill (morning) , possibly nearby El Pueblito and check out the ruins at Panama La Vieja. Instead of El Pueblito you may go to Summit Gardens, about 20 minutes by car from Panama City (well, Balboa).

In Balboa is a nice artisan market in the old YMCA building. There are also operators offering partial Canal transit but I think they are a little over-rated and over priced given the alternative. You money is much better spent by buying a copy of "Path Between the Seas" or "Panama Fever" (see Amazon.com) giving you hours or reading pleasure about the fascinating history of the Panama Canal.

Austin
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2. Re: # of days to see Panama City and Canal
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Canal Canal Canal:

I highly recommend the overpriced partial canal transit. Sure, it is overpriced, but the two transit operators know they can charge a lot and still fill their boats. I've done the transit each time I've visited since 1996 -- and my last one was two weeks ago!!!! -- and will do it again next time.

There's nothing like watching the huge doors swing close and then watching the walls of the lock rise above you, just inches from the side of the boat.

Just cross off a day for the partial transit. We had to wait for two smallish cargo ships to enter our lock so we didn't get home until 3:30, I think. It's very unpredictable.

Handicrafts:

My favorite is a mostly Kuna Indian handicrafts market up the main street from the old YMCA market. (Bunch of stuff from there sitting on my dining room table right now.) There's also an extensive market next to Panama Viejo that I've also visited, but not this time because of a hungry kid.

Casco Viejo:

I would spend a good portion of one day here (visit canal museum, Golden Altar, Plaza Francia), including a bargain gourmet lunch ($8.50) at Café René. See if you can get a tour of the Presidential Palace. On Thursdays, I think.

Panama, Rep. Panama
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3. Re: # of days to see Panama City and Canal
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in my opinion two hours in Maraflores exhibition center is enough to see how works the Canal, then if you like more then book the Ferry., partial transit takes 5 hours maximum and the full takes 12 hours.

The handicraft market in Balboa has more products than the others.

good lucks,

Balboa, Panama
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4. Re: # of days to see Panama City and Canal
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"Handicrafts:

My favorite is a mostly Kuna Indian handicrafts market up the main street from the old YMCA market."

To clarify: in the most right-side part of the YMCA building is a small market but a much bigger market is in the building right behind it.

I agree it has probably the widest selection of any place in town.

Thorwald

5. Re: # of days to see Panama City and Canal

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