All the reasons Panama is great place to travel with kids

03.01.2024 - 16:17 / lonelyplanet.com / Frank Gehry

Panama has it all. Whether you want to spy on starfish, raft the river rapids, get up close to a sloth, surf the Pacific rollers or whoosh along zip lines, there are exciting experiences for all ages – perfect for making family memories that will last a lifetime.

From babies and toddlers to young children, tweens and teens, here are the best things to do in Panama with kids. 

Panama has a cosmopolitan capital, verdant mountains, wild jungle and boundless beaches. Add in a fascinating culture that blends indigenous traditions, Spanish colonial customs and global influences, and Panama is perfect for an adventurous family vacation.

Plus, the country boasts accommodations that cater to every style and budget, so families of all types can find what they need. Furthermore, there's no shortage of family-friendly experiences, ranging from gentle wildlife encounters to adrenaline-fueled adventures. In addition, many tours and attractions offer discounts for kids.

Panama City can entertain kids of all ages, from interactive museums to its world-famous canal, with wildlife spotting and fabulous beaches easy day trips away. Bucolic Boquete is the place for young adventurers to raft, rappel, rock climb, zipline and hike a volcano. 

There’s surfing and whale watching on the Pacific Coast, while the Caribbean archipelagos of San Blas and Bocas del Toro are perfect for beach-hopping and snorkeling. 

Panama has a beach for everyone. A 30-minute ferry ride from Panama City, Taboga Island will give you a taste of tropical island life. Further afield are the Pacific’s paradisiacal Pearl Islands and the Caribbean’s chilled Bocas del Toro. But for a castaway feel, you can’t beat the San Blas archipelago, home to the indigenous Guna people, where there’s a pocket-sized, palm-fringed island for every day of the year. 

The sprawling Parque Natural Metropolitano is a haven for wildlife, including titi monkeys and supersized butterflies. Exploring its easy-to-follow trails, toucan-tracking and sloth-spotting, you will be enveloped in chirps and squawks. And there are spectacular city views from the park's highest point.

Panama City’s Amador Causeway is a firm favorite with local families thanks to its fascinating museums, ice-cream parlors and wood-fired pizza joints. Jutting into the ocean with stellar views over the city, this 6km-long (3.7 miles) sliver of land is best explored on two wheels – you can rent bikes, including family-sized ones, from Bicicletas Moses.

Kids and adults will enjoy a trip to the world-class BioMuseo, where both the building – designed by architect Frank Gehry – and the interactive displays on Panama’s biodiversity and culture are a visual feast. 

Then head to the family-friendly Punta Culebra Nature Center,