Off the Beaten Path: Excursions in Panama!

Panama is a beautiful country full of diverse landscapes, adventure, and amazing outdoor activities. Our excursions are designed to make the most out of all the exciting things Panama has to offer from tours of Panama City, to visiting the Panama Canal, to zip lining through the jungle. In addition, the excursions will take you to unique places and introduce you to parts of Panama most tourists will never have to opportunity to experience. Here are just a few of my favorite off the beaten path Panama excursions.

Coclé

The first excursion I went on in Panama was to Coclé, a region in the interior of the country just a few hours from Panama City. We boarded the bus bright and early and stopped for a delicious Panamanian breakfast before visiting Natá de los Caballeros (the oldest surviving town in Panama) to tour a nearby archaeological dig site. The next stop on our trip was a rice farm. I thought a rice farm sounded a bit boring, but it ended up being the best part of the day! The family that owned the farm invited us into their home for a delicious lunch before showing us around the rice fields. After learning a lot about rice (which is actually really interesting!) we headed back to their house where we relaxed in hammocks and played with some cute puppies. To end the day, we went horseback riding around the farm and enjoyed the countryside scenery.

Embera Village

One of the most incredible experiences of my life was visiting the Embera tribe on an excursion. After making our way down a bumpy dirt road, we climbed into handmade dugout canoes and headed into the jungle. We meandered our way upstream and finally made it to the Embera village, still untouched by the modern world. We toured the village, which consisted of about a dozen huts, and learned about the Embera culture through song and dance. For lunch, we had fresh fish and plantains cooked over a fire and served on a banana leaf. After spending the afternoon in the village, we climbed back into the canoes and began our journey out of the jungle and back to Panama City. It was such a unique and eye opening experience, we couldn't stop talking about it for weeks!

El Valle

El Valle is a popular mountain town located in an ancient volcanic crater about 2 hours from Panama City. We left early and stopped for some roadside breakfast before beginning our first activity of the day: horseback riding through the mountains. The scenery was absolutely amazing, and even though our horses had some attitude, we had a great time. The next stop on our trip was the El Valle Zoo where we got to hang out with some monkeys, sloths, and the endangered Panamanian Golden Frog. After lunch in town, we set off to the mountains where we hiked to a waterfall. Afterwards, we headed to our last stop of the day, the hot springs, where we relaxed after our hike and got to try some weird volcanic face masks. We enjoyed El Valle so much that we ended up going again a few months later!

Pedasí

Pedasí is a quaint town located on the Azuero Peninsula about 5 hours from Panama City. This excursion was 3 days/2 nights and was one of my favorites because of the wide variety of activities we did. We left Panama City super early Friday morning and headed to our first stop, the Ron Abuelo rum factory. We put on some hard hats and toured the factory. We got to learn about how rum is made and stored. Our next stop was a tuna farm. Your probably thinking “What?? A tuna farm??”. It's okay because those were my exact thoughts as well. Turns out tuna is really interesting! Afterwards we headed to our hostel in Pedasí and explored the town a little bit before having a delicious BBQ and heading to bed early. The next morning we set off for Isla Caña, an isolated beach popular with nesting sea turtles. Next, we headed to Playa Venao, a popular surfing destination in Panama. There was actually a surfing competition going on the day we were there, which was really cool! On our last day in Pedasí we took a 30 minute boat ride to Isla Iguana where we spent the morning and afternoon snorkeling in the crystal clear waters before heading back to Panama City.

 Written by: Lauren Stuart 

Florida State University Panama

Although this video is a few years old, the FSU International Program in Panama is the same life-changing experience. Students are fully emerged in the Panamanian lifestyle and encounter many academic, professional, and cultural experiences while studying here. Check out the video to see the beautiful scenery of Panama City, Panama!

Must See Places in Panama City

By Lauren Stuart


It’s no secret that the Panamá Canal is the number one tourist attraction in Panamá City.  It is, after all, one of the top man-made wonders of the world and put Panamá on the map.  However, after living and studying in Panamá for the past seven months, I’ve realized the city is home to so much more.  After you beat the crowds at the Miraflores Locks along the Panamá Canal, consider spending some time at one of these places:

Isla Taboga

Group in Isla Taboga

If you’re looking for a fun and easy day trip, Isla Taboga is a must!  Located about 20 km off the coast and known as one of the best beaches in the Panamá City area, Isla Taboga is a top destination for busy city goers looking for a quick break.  It only costs $13 for a round-trip ferry ticket, which is perfect if you’re on a budget.  Ferries leave from the Causeway at 8:30 am and 10:30 am and return at 3 pm and 5 pm every day.  However, it’s not uncommon for the ferries to sell out so make sure you get there at least an hour early.  The island hosts many great activities besides just chilling out on the beach and taking a quick dip in the refreshing water.  There are several hiking trails that take you to the top of a hill and offer incredible views.  You can also explore the adorable town that calls Isla Taboga home and if kayaking is your thing, there is a place where you can rent kayaks for only $4.  Once you work up an appetite, hit up one of the many food carts for some great food.  Or if you’re on a budget, I suggest bringing a cooler full of drinks and snacks.

Isla Taboga

Cerro Ancon

Cerro Ancon

Cerro Ancon is easily recognized for being “that hill with the giant Panamá flag."  Although well known, Cerro Ancon is unfortunately overlooked by most.  Located in Balboa, right next to the Panamá Canal Administration Building, the hill offers an easy morning hike that only takes about 2 hours.  The “trail” is actually a one way road that many people choose to drive up.  However, it is well worth the walk, trust me!  Not to mention, walking is free.  On your way up, be on the lookout for sloths hanging out in the trees above.  Once you reach the top, you are greeted by that giant Panamá flag and rewarded with incredible birds-eye views of the city skyline, Balboa, the Panamá Canal, Casco Viejo, and the Bridge of the Americas.  Once you make it back to the bottom and your stomach is growling, head to Niko’s Café, just down the street from the Administration building.  Niko’s is dirt cheap and has great Panamanian food as well as classics such as sandwiches and french fries. A whole meal including a drink and desert costs about $5 - $8.

View of Cerro Ancon 

Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo is like a European city with a flare of Latin American culture.  It’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in Panamá City and although originally considered a more dangerous area, Casco Viejo has undergone major renovations making it far safer and one of my favorite places in the city.  During the day, make sure you visit the multiple churches located in the town squares and enjoy walking through the narrow European-like streets.  If you’re looking for crafts, check out the Indian market on the walkway right along the coast.  There are many tents set up with Kuna Indians selling homemade crafts such as molas, traditional fabrics full of color.  At night, Casco Viejo transforms and the nightlife heats up.  If you’re looking for a great dinner, I suggest Casa Blanca or Restaurante Diablicos.  Casco Viejo is also home to one of the city’s best bars, Relic, and multiple clubs that will get you dancing.  If you’re looking for another incredible view, walk towards the water at night and watch as the city skyline appears at the end of a narrow cobblestone street.

Casco Viejo

Lebanese Cuisine in Panama!

By Morgan Welsh


If you’re studying abroad in Panama and want to go out for Lebanese food, then Beirut is the restaurant for you! They are great at accommodating large parties and offer a variety of indoor and outdoor seating. Convieniently located on the causeway, any taxi driver can take you there for about $5-8. The food is great and fairly priced. Everything from housemade hummus and stone baked pita bread to falafels and pizza. Their menu is several pages long with many different options so there is something for everyone. If you choose to dine outside you can enjoy your meal with a view of the sunsetting over the Pacific Ocean!

Beirut - Comida Libanesa International 

My Favorite Spot in the City of Knowledge

By Quinton Campbell

When I landed in Panama after leaving from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to say I was looking forward to living in a tropical climate for eight months would have been an understatement.

I knew that I’d have some of the most coveted surfing locations located a matter of hours from me, but when I realized that students had access to an Olympic sized swimming pool located a block from the student housing after a tour of the facilities on my first day, I couldn’t have been more excited.

Spending Some Time by the Pool

Not only was it a great way to relax after a tough exam or a long week, but it also served as one of the only public pools in the area, so it was also a place where many locals from the community would spend time.


You could always count on there being an event at the pool, whether it was a diving competition, a swim meet, or even a birthday party, and all of this added a cultural experience that made what seemed like just another day at the pool something I loved doing regularly. 

The Swimming Pool in the City of Knowledge

As a matter of fact, I visited so often during my two semesters there that when the staff found out that my time in Panama was coming to an end, I was given one of the staff shirts worn by the lifeguards since they knew how much I enjoyed spending time there!

Sports in Panama

By Quinton Campbell

When I arrived in Panama, I arrived with the general assumption that soccer was the national sport. That all changed once I saw the variety of options for activity that the residents of the surrounding community took part in within the City of Knowledge! 

Within a matter of minutes, I could walk from the student housing to not only soccer fields, but baseball fields, tennis courts, and a basketball court as well. In addition to the soccer and basketball teams that were created by students at FSU–Panama, there were constantly pick-up games being played by locals on both the soccer fields and basketball courts. This provided not only an opportunity to take a break from my studies, but it was also a great way to get involved and get to know international students my age, an opportunity that I truly value to this day.  

One event I particularly enjoyed was during my spring semester when the softball portion of that year’s Central American Games was held on the City of Knowledge’s athletic fields. Not only did I have the opportunity to watch national teams from countries such as Nicaragua, Belize, Panama, and Costa Rica play softball, but thanks to the athletic facilities located at the City of Knowledge, the three days of these competitions were held in my “backyard.”

Softball Game Between El Salavador & Belize

Changing Innings 

Seeing these events such a short distance from my house wasn’t only convenient but truly helped me feel integrated into the community as I sat and watched among other residents from the neighborhood!