8 Days In Panama – The Ultimate Itinerary
Use this guide for your 8 days in Panama and we know you will fall in love with Panama as we did
Panama has to be one of my favourite countries I have visited to date. We did spend a little more than 8 days in Panama as part of our bigger backpacking trip. However, you can still see an awful lot in just 8 days!
I fell in love with the Islands of Panama, both Bocas del Toro and the San Blas islands, so naturally this itinerary is going to include both. It will also include time spent in the jungle, a waterfall hike, time in Panama City and more.
Yes, you could easily come to Panama and spend 8 days solely in Bocas Del Toro (I would in a heartbeat) but if you want to get a real taste for all the best that this wonderful country has to offer, then this Itinerary will do just the trick.
If you are wondering if Panama is worth visiting…allow us to convince you.
In a hurry? Book your Panama essentials here!
✈️ Find the best flight deals to Panama City with Skyscanner
🏝️ Secure your spot to explore the incredible San Blas islands on this day trip
🏠 Book your first night in Panama City Here!
💰 Make sure you get your travel insurance before you go!
8 Days In Panama – Overview
Here is a quick overview of what you can expect from this Itinerary. It might seem like a lot squeezed into 8 days and that’s because it is. But not to worry, I have made sure you will also have a few days to rest and enjoy Island life…
- Day 1 – Arrive in Panama City
- Day 2 – San Blas Islands
- Day 3, 4 & 5 – Bocas Del Toro
- Day 6 & 7 – Boquete
- Day 8 – Panama City & Fly Home
8 Days In Panama – Detailed Itinerary
Now for the fun part…
Day 1 – Arrive In Panama City
On day one you will arrive in Panama City. Depending on when your flight lands you will have time to check into your accommodation for the night and spend the rest of the day exploring the city.
How to get around Panama City
Once in Panama City you can either get around using the public buses or do as we did and use Uber. There are plenty of drivers in the city and the prices are great. You will see lots of regular taxis but these are known to scam tourists.
We tried to get one from the bus station to our accommodation but they were hardcore trying to scam us so we just got an Uber instead.
Where to stay in Panama City
As you will spending just one night in Panama City, I recommend staying in the old historic area of Casco Viejo.
✅ Oasis Hotel – Is in the ideal location just on the edge of Casco Viejo
Best things to do in Panama City
You will likely be pretty short on time on your first day but these are some great things you could choose from to see some of the city;
- Visit the Panama Canal
- Wander the beautiful streets of Casco Viejo
- Head to the top of Ancon Hill for some great views over the city
- Take a walk along the Cinta Costera pedestrian highway along the seafront
Day 2 – Day Trip To The San Blas Islands
On day 2 you will need to wake up at the crack of dawn because today you are going on a day trip to explore the San Blas Islands.
These Islands are some of the most pristine and unspoilt beaches I have ever seen. They are undeveloped with no hotels or bars or roads…nothing! The only thing you will find is the local Guna people in their modest huts selling whatever they have available.
If you can picture yourself on a paradise island, swinging in a hammock while sipping from a fresh coconut next to the clearest sea you’ve ever seen… then you are going to love this trip.
🏝️ Secure your spot on this AMAZING day trip to the San Blas islands before it sells out!
This tour will include pick up and drop off from Panama City.
What to do after the tour
For the sake of making the most of your time in Panama, you will need to be dropped off after the tour at Albrook Mall. This is where you will take a night bus up to Bocas Del Toro.
Alternatively, you can spend one more night in Panama City and fly to Bocas Del Toro in the morning. Taking the bus is definitely the better option if you are trying to travel more sustainably.
I will cover details for both options shortly.
Days 3, 4 & 5 – Bocas Del Toro
Bocas Del Toro was my favourite place in Panama. It has great energy and plenty of fun things to do. The sea around the islands is perfect for diving and snorkelling and the beaches are awesome. Here are some of our favourite Beaches around the Islands.
The town was also small enough to explore on foot, with dirt roads and minimal traffic it was nice to escape and slow down for a few days.
For this itinerary, you will spend 3 days and 3 nights here and trust me you will end up wishing it could be longer.
How to get to Bocas Del Toro
To get to Bocas Del Toro from Panama City you can either fly or take the night bus.
🚌 By Bus – If you want to take the night bus you will be doing the planet a favour and saving yourself a night’s accommodation money. All you need to do is get dropped off at the Albrook Mall after the San Blas Tour and jump on the night bus to Almirante. From there you will need to take a water Taxi to the islands.
The night bus leaves between 7-8 pm each day and takes around 10-12 hours. The night buses in Panama are some of the comfiest night buses we used in Central America. They have large seats that recline and the all-important aircon.
✈️ By Plane – If you choose to fly you will need to get to the airport next to Albrook Mall on the morning of day 3. There are flights leaving each day at 7:45 am or 10:00 am from the Albrook International Airport. The flight only takes an hour so you will still have the rest of the day to enjoy.
⭐️ Find the best flight deals to Bocas Del Toro on Skyscanner!
Best things to do in Bocas Del Toro
- Go Diving to see the colourful coral reefs and various shipwrecks
- Go on a snorkelling trip
- Join the Filthy Fridays organised bar/island crawl if you are there on a Friday
- Hire a scooter or ATV to explore the island
- Spend an afternoon at Skullys beach bar
- Take a trip to Starfish Beach on the far side of the island
- Join a boat trip to Red Frog Beach
Where to stay in Bocas Del Toro
🏠 We stayed in Surfari Bocas which is a great budget option right in the centre of town that gave us easy access to all the bars and restaurants.
🛖 If you have always dreamed of staying in an overwater bungalow then this could be your chance. Eclypse de Mar Acqua Lodges are in a peaceful spot with beautiful turquoise waters under them and everything you could wish for in a dreamy island getaway.
Day 6 & 7 – Boquete
On the morning of day 6, it is time to say goodbye to Island life and head back to mainland Panama to explore Boquete for 2 days and 1 night.
Boquete is a small town in the mountains of Panama. Famous for its world-renowned coffee, this small town is a wonderful place to experience rural life and the lush green jungles of the Panamas mountains.
How to get there
To get to Boquete from Bocas Del Toro you can buy a boat and shuttle ticket from any of the boat stands on the pier in town.
With the journey we did, we left by water taxi at 11:30 am and our shuttle bus to Boquete was waiting for us when we got to Almirante to take us to Boquete. The drive should take no more than 4 hours.
Best things to do in Boquete
- Hike the lost waterfalls hike
- Hike up to the Mirador to see the town from above
- Visit the market Centro artesanal de boquete for some local souvenirs
- Take a private tour of a local coffee plantation
Where to stay in Boquete
We stayed in Hostal Boquete and I can highly recommend it. It is right next to the river and we even had a private balcony in our room to enjoy the views. It is also just a short walk to the main street with all the bars and restaurants.
Where to eat in Boquete
We loved Rinconcito Vegano, a super small place in the market that served yummy vegan burgers.
Day 8 – Panama City & Fly Home
The time has come to say goodbye to Panama and wrap up what will have hopefully been a pretty epic vacation.
How to get there
To get back to Panama City from Boquete, you can take a night bus or fly. But for both options, you will first need to get to the city of David.
To get to David you can either take a taxi or the local bus. Keep in mind that the last public bus to David is at 7:30 pm.
🚌 By Bus – The night buses from David leave at 10 pm, 11 pm or 12 am and the journey takes around 6-7 hours.
✈️ By Plane – There are multiple flights a day going from David to Panama City so you can choose the best time to suit you. I would suggest either the 8:30 am or 9:56 am flights on the morning of day 8.
Your last day in Panama
It might be that you have some time between arriving in Panama City and your flight home. I would grab an Uber and enjoy your last day sipping coffee in a cute cafe or relaxing on the seafront.
If You Have Longer Than 8 Days In Panama
If you have longer than 8 days then I would recommend extending your time on the San Blas islands to an overnight or 3-day island hopping trip.
1 day is perfect to let you experience the paradise of the San Blas Islands but being able to sleep under the stars and listen to the sound of the waves is pure magic.
⭐️ Take a look at this 3-day/ 2-night San Blas tour!
Getting To Panama
There are a few different ways that you can get to Panama depending on where you are coming from. I will cover each of the options below just to be safe.
Bur first…
Where Is Panama?
Panama is located in Central America between Costa Rica and Colombia.
Fly To Panama
If you are visiting Panama on vacation then the likelihood is you will be flying from home and back again. In that case, you are most likely to fly into Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY).
✈️ We always use Skyscanner to see the best flight times and cheapest dates to fly
To lend you a helping hand, we have a guide to finding the cheapest flights.
Sail To Panama From Colombia
We ended up doing the reverse and sailing from Panama to Colombia but it is the same in either direction.
Because there are no roads between Panama and Colombia you either have to go by boat or by plane. Flying is much faster and cheaper but I promise you, sailing is one hell of an adventure!
The Sailing journeys tend to leave from Cartagena and drop you off in Panama City when you arrive in Panama.
Shuttle bus from Costa Rica
If you are coming from Costa Rica, you can also fly but in my opinion, the best way to arrive is by shuttle bus. We came from Puerto Viejo to Bocas Del Toro by shuttle and it was one of the smoothest border crossings we did in Central America.
If you plan to spend 8 days in Panama after visiting Costa Rica, then I Would advise taking the shuttle to Bocas Del Toro and moving the day trip to the San Blas Islands to be the last day before you leave Panama.
Budget For 8 Days In Panama
Panama is one of those countries where it is possible to travel on a budget but on the other end of the scale, you could also spend 8 days in pure luxury if you wanted to.
If you prefer to travel on a budget like we try to, then I’ll give you a few examples of what we spent during our time in Panama.
Is Panama cheap or expensive?
We found that Panama was one of the more expensive countries in Central America.
When we travel we like to spend as little as we can on accommodation, transport and food so that we can enjoy some great activities. In Panama, things like accommodation were typically more expensive than neighbouring countries and a meal in a restaurant was the same as we would pay in Europe.
So here is an idea of what we spent on our 13-day stay in Panama;
💰 Average daily spend = $121 (for 2 people)
This did not include our sailing trip through the San Blas Islands to Colombia.
Average night accommodation – $50
Meals ranged from $12 – $45 for 2 people
10-hour bus ticket – $15
2 tank dive – $90
We could’ve saved a little more money if we had stayed in Hostel dorms rather than private rooms and eaten more street food or cooked for ourselves more. We also used Uber in Panama City but the public buses would’ve been cheaper.
For more tips on travelling on a budget, you can check out our guide.
Good To Know Before Your 8 Days In Panama
Now you have all the details on what to do during your Panama Vacation, here are some good things to know before you go.
When is the best time to visit Panama?
Panama is a great country to visit all year round but the months of December to April are the dry season. During this time you will have the driest days and warmer temperatures.
Do you need a visa to visit Panama?
Luckily for us travellers, Panama has a long list of visa-exempt countries. Residents from these countries (including the UK, USA and most of Europe) can visit Panama for up to 90 days without a visa. You can see the full list of countries here.
What Currency do they use in Panama?
In Panama you can use either Panamanian Balboa (PAB) or they also recognise US dollars as legal currency as well.
TOP TIP*** ATMs in Panama are known to be a pain for foreign visitors and often have pretty low withdrawal limits and hefty fees each time you use them.
After a lot of scouting around we found the Scotia ATM in the Multiplaza allowed withdrawals of $250 for free. The BAC ATM opposite had a lower fee than most; only a $5 fee to withdraw $500.
Do they speak English in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish however you will find that most people you come into contact with will also be able to speak English.
We found that after travelling down through the other Central American countries, Panama was a lot easier to find English speakers.
What To Pack For 8 Days In Panama
When packing for Panama you should be thinking of warm weather and sunny days. You will want plenty of light clothing, swimsuits and sandals. There are some great hikes so you may want some sturdier hiking shoes too.
There is no need to dress conservatively so you don’t need to worry too much about that, just dress as you normally would when the weather is nice back home.
Here are some essentials;
- Lots of light clothes
- A warm layer for overnight buses
- Sandals and hiking shoes
- A small backpack for day trips
- A travel adapter and portable power bank
❗️We use Water-To-Go bottles on ALL of our travels. Safe drinking water from ANY fresh water source. Taps, rivers, lakes, you name it.
For a full and detailed list you can also see our complete packing list for Central America.
8 Days In Panama – Final Thoughts
So there you have it, the perfect Itinerary for how to spend 8 days in Panama.
We loved it so much there that we wished we could’ve stayed longer. Unfortunately, we had already booked our sailing trip to Panama in advance so we limited ourselves that way. Rookie error.
Panama is a great country and would not only suit a family vacation but also a romantic honeymoon. It really does have it all.
