Panama is home to a staggering array of natural landscapes, each beautiful in its own way, and each offering attractions and excursions that appeal to different kinds of people. Scuba-diving fanatics or anglers seeking to reel in boatloads of billfish, for example, might plan their entire journey to Panama around their sport. Multisport resorts have been popping up around the country, too, providing guests with a home base and roster of activities as varied as kayaking, hiking, scuba diving, and mountain biking. These range from pricey, boutique-style lodges boasting "rustic elegance" to destination megaresorts, with 300 or more guest rooms.
Whatever your passion or desire, Panama has it all: a thriving metropolis; endless stretches of pristine, hyper-diverse rainforest; legendary sport fishing; scuba diving in the Caribbean and Pacific (even diving both oceans in 1 day, if you wish); white-water rafting and trekking through rugged mountain highlands; cultural encounters with one of the country's seven indigenous groups; a round of golf on a world-class course; a river cruise on a dugout canoe; or boating the Panama Canal. Of course, there are also plenty of relaxing spots for travelers who just want to kick back on a chaise longue or spend their afternoons taking walks along the beach.
Flying is the best way to get around the country. It's fast, inexpensive, and very convenient; Panama has two national airlines with multiple daily flights from the capital to destinations like David or Bocas del Toro. Few travelers use Panama City as a transfer hub. There's just too much to do and see within the city limits and around the Canal Zone, which is why most travelers want to spend 2 or 3 days here. Also, keep in mind that the Albrook Airport is on the other side of town, about a half-hour to 45-minute drive from Tocumen Airport, so international travelers can't arrive and make immediate connections. Certain destinations, such as the Comarca Kuna Yala, the Darién, Bocas del Toro, the Pearl Islands, and other offshore islands, cannot be reached by roads, making planes and boats the only feasible methods of arriving.
Driving is a reasonable option for travelers who have enough time and prefer to take the slow road to get to their final destination. El Valle de Anton, the Pacific beaches near Panama City, and the Azuero Peninsula are destinations where travelers are usually better off having rented a car, allowing them to stop along the way at food stands, take photos, and visit those attractions that interest them most. The drive from Panama City to David is approximately 6 hours, so continuing on to Boquete would constitute a full-day's journey (including stops). The most problematic factor when driving is the condition of side roads off the modern Pan-American Highway (also called the Interamericana), which are unpaved and often in poor shape. Some are so rutted and slick that it's impossible to drive without a 4WD. Roads are not properly signed, either.
The itineraries listed here are specific blueprints for memorable vacations that can be adhered to explicitly, or modified according to your desires and likes, or even expanded if you're lucky enough to have an extended vacation.
