Zuly found a spectacular spot to install a hostel: smack-dab in the middle of Panama City's vibrant downtown for convenient access to the clusters of restaurants, clubs, bars, and shops that animate this area. The friendly establishment offers dormitory beds or private rooms at reasonable prices and happily prepares travelers to face the city with up-to-date tips and information. Guests have full use of the communal kitchen, lounge area, and outdoor garden space. Internet access is free of charge.

Featuring an outdoor swimming pool, garden, shared lounge and free WiFi, Hostel Mamallena is set in Panama City, 2.7 km from Canal Museum of Panama and 3.6 km from Presidential Palace. The property is situated 6 km from Maracana Stadium, 9 km from Panama Viejo Cathedral and 3.2 km from Metropolitan National Park. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, a shared kitchen and organising tours for guests. Guests at the hostel can enjoy a vegetarian breakfast. You can play table tennis at Hostel Mamallena. Rod Carew National Stadium is 10 km from the accommodation, while Bridge of the Americas is 13 km away. The nearest airport is Paitilla, 3.5 km from Hostel Mamallena, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.

Luna's Castle wasted no time making a name for itself after opening in 2008—the hugely popular hostel offers a great set of amenities for the party-loving backpacker crowd and quickly grew to hold almost 100 beds that tend to stay full. Guests have free range of the lounges with their couches, hammocks, and computers with internet access, the kitchen with an enormous stovetop that hosts make-your-own-free-pancakes breakfast every morning, the balconies with views over the Bay of Panama, the shelves of shared guidebooks, and the wireless internet everywhere. English-speaking staff are friendly and happy to give advice for whatever adventure comes next. The place has made atmosphere a priority, sometimes offering lodging in exchange for artwork; expect to see walls covered in paintings, impressively large maps, and even a plus-sized dreamcatcher waving in the breeze.