Panama City vacation rentals

Experience Panama City in vacation home rentals

There's everything from swish high-rise condos on well-to-do Balboa Avenue to Pacific-side Panama City vacation rentals overlooking the sands of Playa Bonita, all ready to offer you a base in one of Central America's most happening capitals. Here, days of wandering between the brick-chipped cathedrals of the UNESCO-tagged, pirate-trodden Casco Viejo merge with evenings of mojito drinking through the neon-lit cantinas of Calle Uruguay. You can see the wonders of the Panama Canal, too, and while away weekends on soft-sanded tropical islands where three-toed sloths are your only compadres.

Places to visit near Panama City vacation rentals

Panama City's Casco Viejo is like a living museum. UNESCO has tagged it as a World Heritage Site for its wealth of age-stained churches, palm-shaded plazas and centuries-old palazzos. It's also, perhaps a little curiously, home to the Panama Canal Museum. Go there for an introduction to the engineering feats that cut the mighty waterway through the heart of Central America before striking out to see the Panama Canal itself – the views from the famous Miraflores Locks are the perfect place to begin.

Things to do near Panama City vacation homes

Panama City vacation rentals are a ticket to a buzzing metropolis that's home to big business and brilliant historical relics. Guided tours of old pirate-conquered forts and Spanish citadels are a great way to while away your mornings, and afternoons of beach lazing and strutting the avenues with a cold papaya-pineapple juice in hand seems like a good way to top it all off. Boat cruises up and down the famous canals are a must, too, but not before you've shimmied the night away in the rambunctious bars of the Casco Viejo and beyond – think subterranean discos and mojito-doused cantinas.

Best time to travel to Panama City vacation homes

Constant warmth that sees the thermometers hover around the 85-90 mark makes Panama City a great place to visit, no matter the month. That said, there's a distinct difference between the drier and wetter parts of the year. The latter come with June, July, August and September, and can have prolonged showers all over the Pacific coast – don't worry though, the museums, canal locks, and wild bars don't shut for business. For less precipitation, you should seek out Panama City vacation rentals between December and April.

Sloths and seas in Panama City

Panama City sits on the south coast of the nation as it wiggles in an S-bend at the start of Central America. You won't have to travel far to catch a glimpse of the lush rainforests that have made Panama such a famous ecotourist destination. Head north along the great canal to hit the reserves of Camino de Cruces National Park, where the coast-to-coast Camino de Cruces trail weaves through the jungles and offers sightings of toucans and sloths. In the other direction is the Pacific, hiding paradisiacal islands like Taboga _ think white-sand beaches, whale watching, and palm forests.

Traveling to and around Panama City

Fly into Tocumen Intl. Airport (PTY), the closest airport, located 11.1 mi (17.9 km) from the city center. If you're unable to find a flight that fits your schedule, you might consider flying into Panama City (PAC-Marcos A. Gelabert Intl.), which is 2.5 mi (4 km) away.

If you prefer train travel, the main station serving the city is Panama City Passenger Station. It's easy to get around Panama City by jumping on the metro at Iglesia del Carmen Station, Vía Argentina or Santo Tomas Station.

Family fun near Panama City vacation rentals

Kids will love the array of attractions in Panama City. Vacation homes are available near places like Metropolitan Natural Park, a wildlife refuge with nature trails, picnic areas, lookout points, and diverse wildlife, and Biomuseo, a whimsical museum with galleries on Panama’s biodiversity. You could also visit Ancon Hill, a tall hill overlooking the city with a nature reserve housing sloths, deer, and other wildlife.

Couple's retreat near Panama City vacation homes

Panama City is an ideal destination for a couple’s retreat. Vacation homes are available near places like Parque Municipal Summit, a botanical garden with a variety of tropical plants and a zoo with unique wildlife, and Chagres National Park, a massive natural area near the canal with dense tropical rainforests. You could also visit the National Theatre of Panama, an entertainment venue with a frescoed ceiling and dance, music, and play performances.