Planning for a Panama Retirement

Here’s a few sights to see in Panama City, as recommended by the Lonely Planet Guide, “Central America on a Shoestring”

Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo is an area where Panama City originally was  several hundred years ago,  before urban expansion pushed the city east. The area is being restored to how it must have looked in past years.

Sights in the area include plazas such as Plaza de la Independencia and Plaza de Francia, churches such as Iglesia de San José, and museums such as Museo del Canal Interoceánico.

Panamá Viejo

The ruins of Pana Viejo, which was founded in 1519, was ruined in 1671 when the Welsh pirate Henry Morgan ransacked and destroyed the city. There are still ruins over a large area, and you can still see the cathedral with its stone tower, the convent of Santo Domingo, and the city hall.

You can also visit the artisans market (Mercado Nacional De Artesanias) or the local museum (Museo De Sitio Panamá Viejo).

Causeway

At the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, there is a 2km tree-lined causeway that connects the islands of Naos, Culebra, Perico, and Flamenco to the mainland. The causeway is visited by many locals in the morning and late afternoon to walk, jog, skate, and cycle. This sounds like a nice place to hang out because you can both watch the people and enjoy sweeping views of the skyline and the old city, and watch flocks of brown pelicans diving into the sea.

Museums

In addition to the museums already mentioned, there are a variety of other museums in Panama City to suit your taste. There is the Museo de la Biodiversidad (Museum of Diversity), near the Causeway.

There is the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (Museum of Contemporary Art) with permanent and changing contemporary art exhibits by prominent Latin-American artists.

There is also the Museo de Ciencias Naturales (Natural Science Museum) with exhibits on natural sciences, the flora, fauna, and geology of Panama. And last, but not least, there is the Panama Canal Administration Building, which depicts the history of the construction of the Panama Canal.

These are just of few of the sights in Panama City mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide. I recommend you pick up this guide yourself before planning your trip to the city.