Top Rated Attractions in Panama City

The construction of the Panama Canal demanded a whole lot more than just digging a really long trench—the engineering required manipulation of an entire geographical system. To calm the ocean waves around the Pacific entrance to the Canal, a colossal breakwater was constructed, that reaches out to the sea, connecting three islands along the way. After its construction in the early 20th century, Fort Grant was established here in 1913, and the area was militarized and fortified by the United States during the World Wars. It was entirely off-limits to Panamanians until 1999, when the zone was finally officially returned to Panama. A road and sidewalk running along the top of this breakwater are the thoroughfares of the Amador Causeway, a great stretch of road for walking, jogging, biking, and especially for the phenomenal views over the Bay of Panama to the city beyond. Because of the heat on the un-shaded road, daytime activity is mostly confined to a few restaurants that make the most of the panorama, along with sightings of boats and brown pelicans, and a smattering of scintillating resorts. Come evening, a bevy of restaurants that double as nightlife spots open on each of the three islands that make up the Calzada. A teeming hive of activities, this waterside avenue hosts a range of attractions including the Centro Artesanal Market, the futuristic Biomuseo and the Punta Culebra Nature Center - which chronicles Panama’s natural heritage - and many others.

A legend of human struggle, a marvel of economics and a daily triumph of engineering, the Panama Canal is a captivating story, as well as an awe-inspiring system to watch at work. The tale of the effort to connect two oceans began in 1539, when the first Spanish team studied the feasibility of such a project, and in 1880, the French began actually attempting the construction. After several workers perished during the course of construction, the canal was abandoned until the United States bought control of the zone in 1903. After completion in 1914, it stretched 48 miles (77 kilometers) between the coasts, and today about 13,000 ships representing 5% of global maritime trade pass through the canal each year. Ships around the world are built to fit smoothly through the three locks that function like enormous steps over the isthmus, and pay a fee according to weight to make the 8- to 10-hour transit. The record for the heaviest ship to pass through the canal is frequently redefined, but the smallest fee was paid in 1928, when Richard Halliburton swam through for PAB0.36.

Permeated with a dazzling viridescence, this park is where time halts and nature outdoes its own self. Sliced by the meandering Chagres River, this 48,000-acre (19424.91 hectare) rainforest reserve spectacularly brims with both native and migrant birds — over hundreds of species have been spotted on just the Pipeline Road trail — and mammals including jaguars, ocelots, howler and capuchin monkeys, anteaters, coatis and agouti, among many others. Tourists are often thrilled to see toucans and leafcutter ants, and the incredible flora playing host to all these animals includes kapok trees, strangler figs, and liana vines. Perhaps the most remarkable attribute of the park is that this wilderness is situated only a few miles northwest of ultra-urban Panama City, running along the eastern edge of the Canal, and has only been a national park since the land was handed over to the Panamanian government in 1999. Its sylvan terrain interspersed with a nexus of winding trails, the park is especially enlivened by the cries of fascinating birds including hummingbirds, crowned woodnymphs, motmots, togons, parrots and more. The very embodiment of Panamanian wilderness, the enchanting Soberania National Park is one of the most prized natural possessions of the country.

Nestled on the outskirts of Panama City, the Miraflores Visitor Center is centered around the iconic Panama Canal. Expansive and elaborate, this visitor center is home to an array of exhibits which equip visitors with know-hows of the canal. The center further houses a troupe of exhibition rooms which, with the help of glass-encased artifacts, chronicle the canal’s long-standing historic and natural heritage, whilst also charting out its contemporary standing, hence being an integral reference point between the canal’s past and its present. Spread across three floors of the center is a tapestry of observation decks which proffer astounding views over the canal locks, its otherwise-placid waters ruffled troupes of traveling ships. In addition, the visitor center is also home to a gift shop and the Atlantic & Pacific Co. Restaurant. A teeming hive of tours and activities on most days, the Miraflores Visitor Center serves as a stirring ode to the ingenious engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal.

A prominent stadium located in the norther part of the city, just by the National Park, the Estadio Nacional de Panamá, also known as Rodney Carew Stadium, is a multi-functional facility in the city. Dedicated primarily to baseball, the stadium boasts a well-maintained pitch and a practice pitch, complete with bleachers, players' booths, and electronic scoreboard. The stadium boasts a capacity of about 27,000 and is the venue for several prominent local as well as international matches. Besides baseball, the stadium also plays host to many community and cultural events. See the website to know more.

Originally called the Thatcher Ferry Bridge, the Bridge of the Americas is located in Balboa. It spans the length across the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. The bridge was designed by Sverdrup & Parcel and its construction was completed in 1962. It was inaugurated in 2004, and its presence lead to an easy flow of traffic between the north and south Americas. Built in the cantilever design, the bridge consists of a wide arch which runs over it. It stands 384 feet (117 meters) above mean sea level, with its total height being 5425 feet (1654 meters). Only ships adhering to these height restrictions are allowed to pass under it. The main reason for the construction of the bridge was the need to have a structure which would make it easier to cross the canal. Today, it not only connects the north and the south, but is also a significant part of the Pan-American Highway. Cars, bicycles and pedestrians make use of the bridge which attracts quite the traffic as a result of its location.