Panama Tourism: 5 Places To Visit in This Central American Wonderland

Panama is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central America, with tons of places to visit while on vacation. From lush tropical beaches to rainforest adventures to exotic food trips, Panama has lots to offer travelers who are looking for adventure or just a relaxing time.

Panama is the country that connects North America with South America, and it also connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean thanks to the world-famous Panama Canal, so the country as a whole has plenty of influences to see whenever you visit it.

5 Places To Visit When in Panama

This South American country has a rich and diverse ecosystem, and it shows in its various tourist spots. We have picked out five of our favorite places in the country, and they are:

Punta Santa Catalina

For beach lovers and surfers, Punta Santa Catalina might be the place to be. The official Panama tourism website stated that the waves there are "powerful and constant. They are large and create a perfect tube to do your best tricks in. If you want to enjoy it to the fullest, go from medium tide up to high tide." This means that this is a perfect destination for surfers, as it has even hosted the ISA international surfing event on two occasions.

Café Altieri Coffee Farm

There is a café farm within one of Panama's most beautiful rainforests, the Volcan Baru National Park, and it is a must-visit for coffee lovers everywhere. The Café Altieri Coffee Farm has guided walks through the plantations, with some coffee tastings from professional baristas in the farm's laboratories. Because of its location, visitors are also treated to some stunning views of the national park's amazing green landscape of foggy rainforests while you enjoy a great cup of Panamanian coffee.

Isla Cañas

Found in Panama's Pacific Coast, this is a known and protected turtle nesting ground. However, according to National Geographic, this is also a tourism success story as this secluded coast attracts thousands of nesting Kemp's ridley and olive ridley turtles to lay their eggs as tourists watch. They get to admire this twilight phenomenon and also help conserve these endangered animals.

Iglesia de San Jose

This church is known for its famous Altar de Oro (Golden Altar), which was the only relic salvaged after the legendary pirate, Henry Morgan, sacked Panama. Legend says that a priest managed to convince the infamous pirate that the golden altar was stolen by another pirate and even convinced him to pay for its replacement, prompting Morgan to comment, "I don't know why, but I think you are more of a pirate than I am."

Miraflores Visitors Center (Panama Canal)

A trip to Panama would not be complete without visiting the most famous place in the country, the Panama Canal. For tourists, however, the best place to go would be the Miraflores Visitors Center, according to Lonely Planet. It features a 4-story museum, viewing platforms, and panoramic views of canal transits.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: The Engineering Marvel called Panama Canal - Lesics