3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Casco Antiguo Panama City

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. The Plaza de la Independencia is an emblematic public space located in the Old Town of Panama. Also known as Plaza Mayor, this historic plaza is a site of great importance in the history of Panama and has witnessed numerous important events over the years. The Plaza de la Independencia is surrounded by imposing colonial buildings, and in its center stands a monument dedicated to the heroes of Panama's independence from Spain in 1821. This monument commemorates the fight for freedom and independence of the country. The square is a meeting and recreation place for locals and visitors, who can enjoy its architectural beauty and rich history. In its surroundings there are numerous restaurants, cafes and shops, making it a lively and busy place.

   15 min

2. The Panama Interoceanic Canal Museum, popularly known as the Canal Museum, is a public, non-profit museum located in Panama City. It is dedicated to preserving, researching and disseminating testimonies of the history of the Panama Canal. It is headquartered in a building located in the Plaza de la Independencia, within the Old Town of Panama, in the district of San Felipe.

   Passes by

3. The Panama History Museum is a historical museum located on the ground floor of the Municipal Palace of Panama, in the Old Town of Panama City. This was inaugurated on December 14, 1977 by Dr. Reina Torres de Araúz, first on the second floor of the building. It is currently administered by the Ministry of Culture of Panama. This museum is framed in the context of Panamanian history, covering the Colonial Era (1501 to 1821), the Union of Colombia (1821 to 1903) and the Republican Era (1903 to the present).

   15 min

4. History of the Central Hotel The Central Hotel Panamá was built almost 150 years ago in the heart of Panama City, in front of the beautiful Plaza de la Independencia, in the Old Town. It opened its doors in 1874, being the first hotel in the country. Very soon it became the favorite place for intrepid travelers. Guests include US President Theodore Roosevelt and Count Ferdinand de Lesseps. By the time the 20th century arrived, the hotel was already recognized as the best in Panama for its high level of European and American services. His fame spanned the entire Western Hemisphere.

   Passes by

5. The Church of San José is a Catholic temple located in the Old Town of Panama City. It was originally located in what is now Panama Viejo, the first place where Panama City was located. This building was saved from the fire that the city suffered in 1671, so part of the old convent was moved to the new city of Panama. This church houses one of the most important colonial treasures in the country, its Main Altar covered in gold leaf that dates back to the 18th century.

   15 min

6. The Plaza is named after prominent Panamanian general Tomás Herrera, an important figure in the fight for Panama's independence from Spain. General Herrera organized a battalion of more than 1,500 soldiers and fought in Ayacucho and Junín. He was governor of Panama when the country was part of Colombia. Tomás Herrera was also one of the first, if not the first, to create the movement to separate Panama from Colombia. He died in Bogotá, murdered by a sniper in 1854.

   15 min

7. The American Trade Hotel offers luxury built on history. Founded in 1673, the walled Casco Viejo remained the center of Panamanian life for almost 300 years. The American Trade Developing Company building was built in 1917 by Ramón Arias Feraud, great-grandfather of one of the current owners. The Building made headlines for being the first "skyscraper" in Panama, housing the first modern apartments in the city and being the first building built with reinforced concrete. In 2000, the American Trade building was abandoned and occupied by a street gang that used its imposing height to control a wide swath of the neighborhood. The building's most important architectural details were still intact when the Conservatory purchased it in 2007, and exploring the building now it is difficult not to imagine the businessmen, artists, foreign correspondents, musicians and bon vivants from all corners of the world who somehow They have left their mark on him.

   Passes by

8. Santa Ana Park was part of the suburb of the old city of Panama. At one time it was a square in front of the church that bears the same name. Before the Republican era it was used as a market and was the place where the people gathered to celebrate festivals. In 1890 – 131 years ago – the park was built and during the first 50 years of our republic it became the center of struggles for our sovereignty. In 1984 it was declared a national historical monument by Law 18.

   15 min

9. The Church of Our Lady of Mercy is a Catholic temple located in the Old Town of Panama City. Initially it was located in the first location of the city, today called Panama Viejo. After the pirate attack and subsequent destruction of the city, the stone façade of this temple was moved piece by piece to the new city around the year 1680. In its atrium there are two chapels: One of the Virgin of Mercy and the another is a mausoleum. Likewise, this church is the guardian of an image of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, venerated by Cubans.

   15 min

10. The Palacio de las Garzas, also known as the Presidential Palace of Panama, is the headquarters of the Presidency of the Republic of Panama, and also houses the Ministry of the Presidency and the Institutional Protection Service. It is located in the Corregimiento of San Felipe, between 4th Street East (east), 5th Street (west), Avenida Eloy Alfaro (south) and Avenue B (north). To the south is the Bay of Panama.

    Passes by

11. The Mola Museum – MUMO is a space designed to expose the value of the mola in the Guna indigenous culture and Panama. On a tour of its 5 rooms, visitors will be able to learn about their evolution, how they are made, the meaning behind their designs and, above all, contemplate their art.

    15 min

12. This tree-lined square was originally called San Francisco after the church that presides over it. It was not contemplated in the initial planning of the new Panama location. But a ravenous fire in 1756 destroyed 50 houses in the area, which produced a large vacant space on which nothing was built again. The square was renamed as a tribute to Simón Bolívar in 1926, the centenary of the Amphictyonic Congress. The bronze and granite sculptural group honors the Liberator and is the work of the Spanish Mariano Benlliure. It was commissioned by the Panamanian government, after the agreement reached between the Latin American countries. The Panamanian engineer Julio Poyló directed its erection.

    15 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 3 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Panama City

• Its from-price is 61% below the median of the 870 experiences we list in Panama City.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 462 of 870.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Panama City

Panama City is the capital at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, with a colonial old quarter, a glittering skyline and rainforest at its edge.

Panama City sits on the Pacific coast beside the entrance to the Panama Canal, and ships queue in the bay for the passage. The Miraflores Locks, a short drive from the centre, let visitors watch vessels being raised and lowered. Casco Viejo, the old quarter founded in 1673, has restored colonial plazas, churches and balconied houses, and the Amador Causeway runs out into the bay with views back to the skyline.

Top-ranked sights in Panama City: Casco Viejo, Panama Canal, Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador).

See all 870 experiences in Panama City