Panama's Caribbean coast is one of Central America's most rewarding destinations — and one of its least visited. Bocas del Toro, an archipelago of tropical islands in the northwest, offers colorful over-water bungalows, excellent surfing and snorkeling, and a Caribbean atmosphere that feels genuinely untouched. The San Blas islands, home to the Guna Yala indigenous people, offer perhaps the most authentic Caribbean experience remaining anywhere in the region.
The Guna people have maintained sovereignty over their 365 islands and surrounding sea for centuries — one island for every day of the year, according to local legend. They control their own territory, their own laws and their own tourism, welcoming visitors into a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for generations. Sleeping in a simple thatched hut, eating freshly caught lobster and watching the stars over the Caribbean without light pollution is an experience of profound simplicity.
Beyond the islands, Panama City's Casco Viejo — the colonial old town — is one of the most beautiful and vibrant neighborhoods in Central America, and the Panama Canal remains one of the greatest engineering achievements in human history.