Panama is one of those countries that you don’t normally think to go to but every time you do you’re thrilled you went. I just went for my 4^th time and had a really great experience staying in Casco Viejo-the old city. Modern Panama City is like a mix of Miami and Dubai in terms of architecture and buildings. However, staying in Casco Viejo gives you a different experience. It lets you feel the history of Panama City and experience the best of what it has to offer.

I stayed in the heart of Casco Viejo at the American Trade Hotel overlooking beautiful Herrera Square. It was the perfect place to get a real feel for Casco Viejo and it is easy walking distance to anywhere in the old city. Not to mention the hotel itself was fantastic.

Recently becoming a member of the Small Luxury Hotels group of hotels, it lives up to the name. The lobby and rooms are true to the old plantation style of hotel with modern amenities. It has a great rooftop pool and a library to chill. It also has an excellent restaurant and coffee shop with high quality Wi-Fi, which can be hard to find in Central America.

On my first day, the American Trade Hotel set me up on a walking tour of Casco Viejo, surely one of the 3 best things to do in Panama City. It was a great way to get reacquainted with the old city. Much has changed since I was last in Panama City some 5 years ago when I was in search of Captain Morgan and his lost treasure.

For dinner I headed out to Tantalo for an awesome dinner and nightcap at their fabulous rooftop bar overlooking the city. I highly recommend this if you’re staying in Casco Viejo or anywhere in Panama City.

The next day, I did a Panama Canal tour. This is surely popular and one of the 3 best places to see around Panama City. It’s not Versailles in terms of beauty but in terms of engineering marvels it’s right at the top of the list.

The canal tour offers you great insight into the how and why it was built. Let’s just say without it, ships would have an extra month of traveling around the bottom of South America getting from one side of the Americas to the other. There is also an excellent movie and museum at the Miraflores Locks-the most popular locks to visit and only 20 minutes from Casco Viejo.

For lunch I checked out the trendy and modern Saquella restaurant in Casco Viejo just down the street from the American Trade Hotel. The tuna was to die for albeit a little expensive. But when in Rome I always say!

Then I was off to the Frank Gehry designed Museum of Biodiversity.  I am a fan of cool architecture and anything by Gehry catches my eye.  The museum was cool with great views of Panama City and the Bridge of the Americas.  Be sure to check it out.

After a quick dip in the rooftop pool and some refueling at the coffee shop in the American Trade Hotel, I checked out a local restaurant and indigenous show in town called Tinajas. The steak was excellent and the entertainment was interesting for a feel of Panamanian traditional dress and dance.

Then it was back to the American Trade Hotel for bed and an early flight home on Copa Airlines. It was a short trip but packed with great stuff and a great way to spend 2 days in Panama City. I definitely recommend staying in Casco Viejo because you can walk everywhere and it has that old school feel you get in a city like Havana, Cuba or Antigua, Guatemala. Check out the American Trade Hotel and tell them I sent you!

Disclaimer: I was invited, hosted and received financial compensation from the American Trade Hotel. However, everything written here was by me based on my experience and hasn’t been influenced in any way.

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