Panama Reviews
Lodging, restaurants, local experiences, and memorable stops from our travels around Panama. Every review is based on our own firsthand experience.
A note about these reviews: We visited Panama in 2026. Businesses, ownership, menus, prices, accommodations, and experiences may have changed since our visit. These reviews reflect what we personally experienced at the time, so we recommend checking current information before making your own travel plans.
Looking for trip planning advice instead? Visit our Destination Panama page for practical tips, trip ideas, and stories from our travels around the country.
🏡 Lodging
🟢 Hawks Nest Bed and Breakfast
High in the mountains of La Laguna, Hawk’s Nest offers a peaceful setting, an infinity pool and sweeping views toward the Pacific coast. We spent a week here and found a small, personal stay that we’d happily recommend to independent travelers exploring Panama by car.
🍽 Dining
🟢 Kaandela: A Birthday Dinner Worth Planning Around
An open-fire kitchen, a six-course tasting menu, and hospitality that impressed us before dinner even began. Kaandela turned a birthday reservation in Panama City into one of the most memorable meals of our trip.
🟢 Los Hermanos Restaurante | El Valle de Antón
Sometimes a simple meal is exactly what you're looking for.
At Los Hermanos, we enjoyed fresh seafood without the higher prices or elaborate presentation of some of Panama's more upscale restaurants.
We ordered fried corvina with patacones, along with patacones topped with seafood. The food was fresh, satisfying, and reasonably priced.
This is the kind of straightforward local dining experience we enjoy discovering when we travel. There's no need for an elaborate dining room when the food delivers.
Our takeaway: If you're visiting El Valle de Antón and want fresh seafood at a reasonable price, Los Hermanos is worth considering.
🟢 Coko Blue | Panama
Sometimes the best restaurant recommendations come from the people who live nearby.
Our host suggested Coko Blue, a beachfront restaurant he visits regularly after playing golf. It turned out to be one of our favorite dining experiences in Panama.
We started with ceviche that was absolutely sublime, enjoyed local rum cocktails made with fresh fruit juice, and had fresh, hot, delicious corvina and patacones.
We sat right at the edge of the beach, watching Copa Airlines planes approach over the ocean. Between the food, the setting, and the relaxed atmosphere, it was the kind of meal you wish could last a little longer.
We even had the opportunity to meet the owner, who couldn't have been nicer.
Our takeaway: Ask your local host where they actually eat. Coko Blue delivered fresh seafood, a memorable beachfront setting, and genuine hospitality. It's exactly the kind of place we'd happily return to.
🟡 Nazca 21 | Coronado
Nazca 21 offers an attractive, more upscale dining room, and the service was good. We started with delicious charcoal-grilled octopus, and Gina enjoyed her corvina, although we'd had better at smaller local fondas.
My shrimp was disappointing. The texture was mealy, and the shrimp hadn't been properly cleaned. We encountered similar shrimp elsewhere in Panama, so I can't say whether the issue was specific to this restaurant.
Entrées were approximately $15–$20, with our appetizer around $10–$12. Not expensive by American standards, but considerably more than many local alternatives.
What we missed most was the personal hospitality. We felt more like the couple at table 12 than welcomed guests.
Our takeaway: A polished setting doesn't necessarily deliver better food or better value. We'd spend our money at one of the smaller family-run restaurants instead.
🎟 Experiences
🟢 Miraflores Locks Visitor Center | Panama City
Watching enormous ships navigate the Panama Canal's Miraflores Locks was a bucket-list experience for me, even after 35 years working as a harbor pilot.
We particularly enjoyed the exhibits, the IMAX presentation, and watching ships transit the locks from the observation deck. Seeing the precision and teamwork involved was fascinating, and the experience was well worth the time we spent there.
Our takeaway: Check the expected ship transit times before visiting, watch the IMAX presentation first, and allow approximately three hours if you want to enjoy the complete experience without rushing.
For more details, practical planning advice, and a look at the Canal through a professional mariner's eyes, read Visiting the Panama Canal: A Harbor Pilot's Perspective.
🟢 KiruMaki Bienestar | El Valle de Antón
We included a little relaxation in our visit to El Valle de Antón by reserving one-hour hot-stone massages.
At approximately $60 per person, this was a planned indulgence rather than an inexpensive stop, but we both thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
After spending time exploring the area, taking an hour to unwind was a welcome change of pace.
Our takeaway: If you're planning a relaxing day in El Valle de Antón, consider setting aside time for a massage. Reserve ahead rather than assuming an appointment will be available when you arrive.
⭐ Also Worth a Stop
🟢 El Valle Hot Springs (Pozos Termales)
If you're spending a relaxing day in El Valle de Antón, the local thermal springs are worth considering. It's a casual, inexpensive way to slow down and enjoy something a little different from the usual sightseeing.
Don't expect a luxury spa. The appeal is the simple, laid-back experience.
🟡 El Níspero Zoo and Botanical Garden
This small zoo and botanical garden offers an easygoing stop while exploring El Valle de Antón. It's more of a modest local attraction than a major wildlife destination, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
If you enjoy animals and gardens, or you're traveling with children, it may be worth adding to your itinerary. Otherwise, there are plenty of other ways to spend your time in El Valle.