Unforgettable wildlife, surrounded by white sand beaches, a short drive from the Atlantic side to the Pacific side of the country, heaven for coffee and rum lovers, meeting indigenous tribes, Panama with kids is sure to be one of the best family vacations you have had. Linking Central and South America, Panama experiences a vibrant mix of culture and foods. This Central America country is the perfect destination for the entire family because of the diverse activities it boosts.
Traveling to Panama with kids involves a lot of time outdoors exploring one of the many fantastic attractions and rainforests. We visited Panama when our girls were 4 and 2 years old and the entire family had a blast. They got to see so much wildlife and enjoy every free minute on the beach or in the pool.
With direct flights to Panama from USA and Canada, Panama is truly a hidden gem that travellers prefer to visit because of how reasonably priced the country is – accommodations, food, flights, car rentals, everything.
If you are planning a trip to Panama, make sure you read our exclusive Panama travel guide here. You will find information on everything you need to know to plan the perfect family vacation to Panama.
How to get around Panama with kids
Panama is extremely safe for those wishing to drive. We found that renting a car was the best way to explore with kids. But, I know renting a car and driving is not everyone’s preferred way of travel.
There are multiple premade tours available that will take you through the highlights of Panama. For those wishing to sit back, relax and let someone else do the driving, this is your best way to explore the beauty of Panama. If you are looking to book a more personalized and custom tour, reach out to me and I can help you pick the right tour for your family. This is why I chose to become a travel advisor. To help you plan your ideal vacation!
Things to do in Panama with kids
Although there are a ton of things to do in Panama, pick what you can do in the time you have in the country. Typically, people have a week in Panama or some may have two. Based on the time you have and what your family would like to see, pick the things you can do.
- Panama Canal: This tour is a must! For anyone visiting Panama for the first time, you will be floored by the way the locks work and seeing big ships being loaded onto the canal.
- Monkey Island Tour: In this tour, you can learn about the impressive Panama Canal as well as explore Gutan Lake. This lake is man-made and unbelievable of what humans can do! The tour also takes you to Monkey island – a highlight of any trip to Panama. You get to experience close encounters with monkeys who aren’t shy to jump on your boat and grab a piece of banana from your hand. You can find this tour here.
- Sloth sanctuary: If visiting the sanctuary is on the agenda, you can check out this tour that takes you to Monkey Island and the sloth sanctuary. You take a boat through the Panama Canal to visit the Sloth Sanctuary and the Butterfly house.
- Indian Village tour: This experience is fantastic. You get to visit an Indian village and experience the culture, history and crafts of the indigenous communities. You can take this tour with Monkey Island and the boat takes you to both these places. Click here to check out this tour.
- Casco Viejo: The historic centre of Casco Viejo will take you back in time to the golden days of this astonishing part of Panama. In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will find hidden streets and be lost in within the ruins of the old city of Panama. Click here if you are looking for a tour to Casco Viejo with a local guide.
- Hop-On Hop-off Bus: This bus will take you through all the attraction in Panama City. Click here to purchase your tickets for the bus.
If you are looking to venture a bit further away, there are some fantastic options and tours that you can take.
- San Blas islands: They are a must visit. Non-Kuna’s are not allowed on the island and you have to take a tour to visit these islands. You can take a day trip, a 2 day trip to the islands, a 3 day trip or even a 4 day island hopping trip to San Blas Islands. No matter what option you pick, you will be wowed by these islands that are located in the Caribbean Sea.
- Anton Valley: El Valle De Anton is a town in Central Panama. It is located in the crater of an extinct volcano and is surrounded by mountains and cloud forests. From hot springs to waterfalls to rainforests to street markets, you will find a mix of things to do in the Anton Valley. This was our highlight when we visited Panama with kids. If you want to sit back and relax, there are guided tours available from Panama City as well.
- Bocos Del Toro: Bocos is located on the Caribbean Sea and although this area is under developed, the beauty of it will take your breath away. Bocos is made up of islands in the Caribbean as well as a portion of land from Panama.
- Boquete: Boquete is a small and scenic mountain town on the Caldera River in Western Panama. You will find a ton of beautiful trails to hike in the area and the views are spectacular.
Visiting these places – by yourself or with a tour will cover all the highlights of Panama. Although Panama looks relatively small on the map, this country is huge. Factor in travel times if you are going from one area to another during your trip. People typically ask if a week is enough in Panama. I understand that with vacation times, it can be hard to take more time off but if you wish to see all the aforementioned places, a week is not enough.
Suggested itineraries
1 week in Panama
- 4 days in Panama City including the Gamboa rainforest
- 3 days exploring San Blas islands
2 -weeks in Panama
- 4 days in Panama City including the Gamboa rainforest
- 3 days exploring San Blas Islands
- 3 days exploring Bocos Del Toro region
- 2 days in Boquete
- 2 days in Anton Valley
These itineraries will give you a chance to experience the diverse landscapes that Panama has to offer. These regions are a must visit if you are planning to visit Panama with kids. If you have only 8 days and still want to see all the highlights of Panama, check this out!
Pro Tip: Always purchase travel insurance. If you are traveling with kids, it’s even more important to have travel insurance. You never know what could happen and the bills you would have to pay adding to the stress of being in a foreign country is not worth the money you would save from purchasing insurance.
Final thoughts
I am going to be honest with you all. Our trip could have been much better than what it was (isn’t is always like that?). One of our biggest regrets was booking an all-inclusive resort in Panama City. This country has so much to offer and we felt stuck on the resort. We finally rented a car on day 3 of our 7-day vacation and turned our trip from boring to fun. There are some beautiful areas to explore in Panama and we can only wish we had more time there.
I hope you found enough things to do in Panama with kids. If you have any questions on travelling to Panama with kids, feel free to reach out!
