The ten greatest issues to do in Casco Viejo, Panama Metropolis

Each go to to Panama City ought to start in its historic, soulful previous city.

Recognized variously as Casco Viejo, Casco Antiguo and (the lesser-used) San Felipe, this neighborhood is all the time the hippest part of this cosmopolitan city. And it’s the place nearly everybody falls in love with Panama’s capital.

This compact, UNESCO-listed district is an excellent mixture of restored neoclassical, rainbow-hued buildings with romantic, wrought-iron balconies; centuries-old church buildings; open-air rooftop bars; and slim cobblestone streets.

Although humble in dimension, Casco Viejo is the place you’ll discover a lot of Panama Metropolis’s prime eating places and trendiest bars, and its historic buildings have scintillating tales to inform. Listed here are 10 methods to get to know this attractive neighborhood.

Commercial

1. Stroll Casco Viejo’s cobblestone streets

A stroll via Casco’s cobblestone streets is a rewarding exercise in itself. Alongside the neighborhood’s 4 palm-lined avenues and 4 primary plazas – Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza Herrera, Plaza Bolívar and Plaza de Francia – are constructions thirsty for a recent lick of paint, alongside restored constructions reimagined as residences and boutique lodges.

For a meal or refreshing drink, pop into Hotel la Compañia, constructed as a Jesuit convent in 1688, or the American Trade Hotel, which, in any respect of three tales, was as soon as the tallest constructing in the entire metropolis.

Vivid accents to the sharp contrasts between class and decay, quite a few murals by Rolando “Rolo” de Sedas enliven Casco’s streets. This Panamanian artist is understood for reworking city areas with colourful patriotic iconography.

Planning tip: Casco may be very protected to stroll round. Plus, though the realm is a vacationer hub, the streets are comparatively freed from hawkers – leaving you free to benefit from the road artwork, cool cafes and general ambiance in peace.

2. Study in regards to the nation’s star attraction: the Panama Canal

Constructing a cross-country canal to hyperlink the Pacific and Atlantic oceans was a wildly formidable concept – one which got here to fruition in matches and begins, and at a tragic value.

Work began on the now-iconic waterway in 1880, and by the point of its completion in 1914, some 25,000 staff on the mission had died, largely from tropical illnesses.

At this time, this extraordinary feat of engineering is the nation’s star attraction and a supply of nice nationwide delight. Whereas the Miraflores Locks are an essential stop for any visitor to Panama City, you may get an intro with out leaving Casco Viejo on the Interoceanic Canal Museum (often known as the Panama Canal Museum).

Positioned in one of many neighborhood’s most good-looking historic buildings, the museum shows pictures, paperwork and objects that narrate the historical past of the canal – and of the nation of Panama itself – in vivid trend.

3. See a real treasure at Iglesia de San José

Within the Iglesia de San José, the extraordinary Altar de Oro (Golden Altar) is a real treasure – with a legend to match.

The story goes that when Welsh privateer Henry Morgan launched his 1671 assault on Panamá Viejo – which resulted within the destruction of the unique Panama Metropolis – Jesuit monks painted the altarpiece black to disguise it, telling Morgan that one other pirate had already stolen it.

Commercial

The baroque altar was later moved to its present location in Casco Viejo, the place it stands right now – the one relic to have been salvaged after Morgan’s devastating assault.

4. Rock a Panama hat

Worn by everybody from gold rush pioneers to US presidents – to not point out spies the world over – the Panama hat has develop into synonymous with this Central American nation.

Really Ecuadorian in origin, these straw hats at the moment are bought in all places in Panama Metropolis, with costs ranging from US$15 at road stalls to US$800 in outlets.

At Victor’s Hats, rows of cabinets show quite a lot of kinds and colours. If doubtful, persist with the basic model, in pure tones.

Insider tip: As a basic rule, the tighter the weave, the pricier the hat. 

5. Tuck into ceviche at Mercado de Mariscos

Firstly of palm-fringed waterfront boulevard Cinta Costera, Mercado de Mariscos is Panama Metropolis’s ever-lively fish market.

Stalls show big spiny lobsters on ice, filleted fish neatly stacked and freshly caught shrimp piled excessive. On the restaurant upstairs, you may benefit from the catch of the day cooked to order.

Don’t miss the citrus-heavy ceviche, served heaped into Styrofoam cups. This widespread order is greatest paired with an ice-cold beer.

6. Sip the Champagne of coffees

There’s espresso – after which there’s Gesha espresso. It’s Panama’s most-prized brew, and one of many world’s most interesting (and costliest) sorts of espresso you’ll discover wherever.

Initially introduced over from Ethiopia, Gesha espresso beans have been discovered to thrive in Panama’s humid local weather, significantly within the high-altitude Chiriquí area.

However you’ll have to avoid wasting your {dollars} to get pleasure from it, batches of Gesha espresso have bought for as a lot as US$6000 per pound. In Casco, you may sip the Champagne of coffees at Café Unido or Tiempos within the American Commerce Resort; count on to pay US$10–15 per cup.

7. Store for molas whereas admiring seafront views

Casco’s fascinating streets are packed right into a small peninsula that juts out into the Pacific – and the water views from listed below are thus spectacular, with large ships ready to cross via the canal set towards the skyscrapers of downtown.

One of the best outlook is from Paseo Esteban Huertas, a reasonably promenade constructed atop the previous metropolis’s outer wall. Underneath a cover of bougainvillea, this scenic path runs from Plaza de Francia to the previous Membership Unión (which stood in for a Bolivian villa within the Bond flick Quantum of Solace).

Alongside the waterfront, Indigenous Kuna ladies promote the embroidered molas (handmade textile panels) for which the nation is known.

8. Get into the spirit of rum at Pedro Mandinga

Pedro Mandinga is Panama’s first artisanal craft rum distillery, and the primary devoted rum bar to open in Casco Viejo.

Tropical-print armchairs, rattan ceiling followers and classic salsa data make this a simple spot to whereas away a day (comfortable hour runs day by day from midday to 6pm).

Earlier than ordering your drink, ask to pattern the silver and spiced home rums made with rapadura pure cane sugar. Whereas the menu right here boasts an incredible assortment of cocktails, nothing beats the Mandinga mojitos.

9. Admire the neighborhood from above at a rooftop bar 

Casco is town’s nightlife hub, with a formidable variety of rooftops the place you may get pleasure from Panama’s year-round warm weather.

Lazotea, atop the trendy boutique Hotel Casa Panama, gives glowing skyline views and an opportunity to dip within the pool between drinks. (It was the primary rooftop within the previous city to have its personal pool).

The rooftop bar at Tantalo is eternally widespread, whereas Casa Casco is the place well-dressed Panameños go for 360° views of town and the bay.

10. Pattern the wealthy flavors of Panamanian delicacies

For soul-nourishing and extremely photogenic updates of conventional Panamanian delicacies, don’t miss Fonda lo Que Hay, probably the greatest eating places in Casco Viejo (and all of Panama).

No matter else you order on the regularly refreshed menu right here, attempt the deliciously dressed patacones (twice-fried plantains).

To feast on a number of of Panama’s nationwide dishes below one roof, Diablicos is your greatest eating choice in Casco. Favorites embrace get pleasure from hearty sancocho (a broth of rooster, corn on the cob, starchy greens and cilantro), or ropa vieja, a shredded-meat dish.

On sure evenings, the restaurant places on a showstopping presentation that features singing, dancing, drumming and appearances by diablico sucios (soiled devils), outstanding characters in Panamanian folklore.