Panama is an incredible country to go on vacation because of the cultural and historical legacy of its cities built during the colonial era. In addition, throughout the country you will find natural landscapes that will leave you speechless. White sand beaches, palm trees and crystal clear water, islands and rainforests where monkeys and hundreds of birds live. The only drawback of the country is security, so in this post we will talk about some hotels in Panama where to stay safely.
When looking for accommodation in Panama you must take into account the type of trip you are going to do. If you have a private vehicle it is advisable to stay in natural destinations and small tourist towns, which will always be safer than the big cities. But if you travel by public transport, we recommend to stay in big cities such as Panama City or Colon, where communication is much better. Whatever the plan, here is a list of nice accommodation in the country.
What are the best places to stay in Colon?
1. Ranchos De Chalia
This paradisiacal accommodation is located in the province of Colon, and although it is very well connected to Portobelo by road, it is not in the city itself. The views from the complex are a marvel as it is located high up and you can see the whole bay from the pool.
The rooms are perfectly equipped and the complex also has a bar, breakfast service and common lounge. Breakfast is included in the room price, which starts at 170€.
2. Casa Congo, Panama Hotels
It is a nice Bed and Breakfast located just behind the Casa de la Aduana in Portobelo, one of the mandatory stops to make when visiting the city. The accommodation has common areas such as terrace, restaurant, bar and garden. It is definitely a very good option to enjoy Portobelo.
Room rates start at 94€ and include breakfast. They also offer family rooms.
3. Ciel y Miel, one of the best hotels in Panama
This wonderful hotel is located in the municipality of Cacique, and is famous for exceptional views of the entire bay. The place has a swimming pool, garden, bar, terrace and private beach. There are also hot tubs and a delicious breakfast is included in the price of the night.
The hotel organizes the transfer to the airport which is 66km away. The price per night in this luxury accommodation is 340€.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What are the best accommodations in Panama City
1. Blue Hostel
Located in the Bellavista neighborhood, this nice hostel is a cheap and comfortable alternative where to stay. They have both shared rooms with bunk beds and private rooms with private bathroom. The price ranges between 35€ and 50€.
The accommodation has a shared living room, dining room and a kitchen. In addition, the rooms have a terrace and there is a pin pong table in the common area. It is also a good option for families.
2. Hotel Pension Anduriña in Panama
This simple and cozy hotel is located on Avenida de la Republica, in the neighborhood of Calidonia, and is a cheap and comfortable option to stay. The rooms have private bathrooms, wifi and air conditioning. It is a good cheap alternative of hotels in Panama for those who prefer to invest in experiences rather than accommodation.
The price per night does not exceed 40€ and the advantage is that it is very well connected to the main points of interest of the city.
3. Sortis Autograph Collection, Panama Hotels
This 5-star hotel is one of the most luxurious options of accommodation in the city. It is located in Bellavista, in the heart of downtown, and has services such as a swimming pool, spa, gym, restaurants and a bar. They also offer services such as safe deposit box, luggage storage and 24-hour reception.
The design of the rooms and common areas will make you want to stay in this wonderful and comfortable hotel with prices starting from 150€ per night. They also have family rooms.
What are the best accommodation in Santa Catalina?
1. Hotel Oasis & Surf Camp in Panama
Santa Catalina is well known among surfers for its wonderful beaches with waves. This lodge is the ideal place for board lovers because of its proximity to Estero Beach and the surfing community that tends to gather there.
The resort is a very cozy place with great views. They also allow pets, have a bar, parking and organize the transfer to the airport. Breakfast costs 7€ and the price per night ranges from 70€ in a private room to 17€ in a shared room.
2. Mama Inés, one of the most charming hotels in Panama
Mama Inés is one of the most cozy hotels in Panama. The rooms are charming and it is located on the beach, next to the sea. It is a luxury to spend the afternoon in its beautiful tropical garden with these views. The complex also has a swimming pool and a bar. Many rooms also have a terrace with views. The price per night starts at 80€.
3. Bodhi Santa Catalina, Panama Hotels
This beautiful hostel is known for the peculiarity of its rooms, which are small wooden huts. It is a place in the middle of the nature, 600 meters from the beach of San Catalina and 1.8km from the beach of Estero. The accommodation allows pets and has both private rooms from 60 € and single beds for 18 €. All options include breakfast.
Which are the best accommodation options on Isla Grande?
1. Cocotal Hotel Panama
It is one of the few hotels we found in Isla Grande, which despite its name, is not as extensive as we may think. This 2-star accommodation is located on a private beach and all rooms have ocean views.
The resort allows pets and organizes airport transfers. Breakfast is also included in the room rate which ranges from 150€.
2. Paradise Island Beach Hotel
Paradise Island Beach Hotel is a fabulous place to spend your vacation. It is located next to the beach and the views are amazing. The facilities include a swimming pool, garden, terrace and a bar. In addition, the hotel allows pets. The breakfasts they offer are the best, and you can choose a la carte or continental breakfast. The price of the room starts at 100€.
What are the best accommodation options in San Blas?
1. Waili Cabins, Panama Hotels
Located in Niatupu, in the San Blas archipelago, the Waili cabins are a very curious option for accommodation. They are located over the sea, and from the terrace you can go directly down to the water. As you can imagine, the views from there are wonderful.
The complex also has a garden and a solarium and the offer continental breakfast included in the price of the night that starts at 150€.
Which are the best accommodation options in David
1. PaCasa Hostel
This simple hostel is a very affordable option for accommodation. It is clean and neat, and has nice common areas such as a terrace. It also has a billiards room and pets are allowed.
The price per night in bunk beds is 12€, and in private room prices start at 26€. They also have the option to book family rooms.
2. Hotel-Boutique Patampa
This 4-star hotel is a great option to stay in David. It is a nice complex with a garden and a swimming pool; ideal for families and couples. It also has a barbecue area, solarium and pets are allowed. But the best thing is that the transfer to the airport is free, as well as parking. The price per night starts at 80€.
3. Hotel Puerta del Sol
This is a 3-star hotel located in the center of David. It is a simple but nicely decorated place where you will feel at home for sure. It has no restaurant because it is located in an area where besides a market there are many restaurants to choose from.
The price of a double room with private bathroom starts at 61€. Breakfast is included in the price.
What should I consider before traveling to Panama?
- No visa is required to enter Panama, but a passport valid for at least 6 months is required.
- The city is not one of the safest in the country, so it is recommended to avoid downtown at night and be aware of your belongings.
- The official language in Panama is Spanish although there are more than 19 languages.
- It is recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, triple viral, tetanus-diphtheria, typhoid fever, but they are not mandatory if traveling from Spain.
- In Panama there are two current currencies, the dollar and the balboas.
- It is best to change money before starting your trip, there are stores and restaurants that do not accept credit cards.
- There are many hotels in Panama, but we recommend to choose the ones that give us more security.
- The weather is warm all year round, but between May and December is the rainy season.
- Tap water is potable in most of the country.
- Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
How to prepare where to stay in Panama hotels
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Panama.
Frequently asked questions when looking for Panama hotels
Panama always has warm temperatures averaging around 27ºC. However, the best months to go are between January and April, during the dry season.
Tap water is potable in most of Panama.
Panama is not a very safe country, but if you move around the tourist routes during the day you won’t have any problems.
The main cities like Colon or Panama City are very well connected with the rest of the country, but they are not very safe. Even so, in tourist accommodations you will not have any problems.
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