See all our photos from the Panama City.
We planned on visiting 3 different areas of Panama City. The Miraflores Locks Visitor Center, Panama Viejo which are the original Panama City which are now ruins, and finally Old Town Panama City. We decided to skip the locks visitor center since we had just sailed through the canal and saw that the building was under a complete renovation.
We exited the cruise terminal and negotiated a private driver for 4 hours so we didn’t have to worry about finding a cab at each location and/or ensuring the cab was reputable. We paid $150. Our first destination for the day was Panama Viejo, Old Panama Ruins.
But first, we stopped for a quick picture with the new city skyline.
And along our 40 minute drive, we spotted another Colonel Sanders sitting on a park bench. How many more will we find on this journey? Time will tell.
Panama Viejo is the original site of Panama City, founded in 1519 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias Dávila. Panamá Viejo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and marks the location of the first European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas, founded in 1519. It is the oldest permanent European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas. The site was the capital until it was destroyed by the privateer Henry Morgan in 1671, after which the city was relocated. Visitors can walk among the ruins, climb the iconic stone tower for panoramic views, and explore the on-site archaeological museum, which offers insight into the city’s dramatic past, including its destruction by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671.
When we arrived, we were loaded into a “tram” and driven through the site to the main area and what was a very nice museum.
After our visit, we loaded up and drove about 30 minutes to Colonial Panama or Casco Viejo. Along the way, we stopped get a photo of this unique building.
Casco Viejo, also known as Casco Antiguo or San Felipe, is Panama City’s vibrant historic district and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 1673 as a fortified city after the original Panama Viejo was destroyed by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. We will get to see some wonderful Colonial Architecture as we wander cobblestone streets lined with restored Spanish and French colonial buildings, colorful doors, wrought-iron balconies, and neoclassical facades.
Traffic was terrible so we got out to take pictures as our driver followed us down the street. His teenage daughter, who was helping him as a translator, showed us a few sites while he found a place to park.
On the 20 minute return drive to the cruise terminal, we stopped for a picture at the “letters” as they called it. Our timing was perfect because as soon as we entered the building, it began to storm.
