3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Casco Antiguo Panama City

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Independence Square

   The Plaza de la Independencia is an emblematic public space located in the Old Town of Panama. Also known as Plaza Mayor, this historic plaza is a site of great importance in the history of Panama and has witnessed numerous important events over the years. The Plaza de la Independencia is surrounded by imposing colonial buildings, and in its center stands a monument dedicated to the heroes of Panama's independence from Spain in 1821. This monument commemorates the fight for freedom and independence of the country. The square is a meeting and recreation place for locals and visitors, who can enjoy its architectural beauty and rich history. In its surroundings there are numerous restaurants, cafes and shops, making it a lively and busy place.

   15 minutes here

2. Museo del Canal Interoceanico de Panama

   The Panama Interoceanic Canal Museum, popularly known as the Canal Museum, is a public, non-profit museum located in Panama City. It is dedicated to preserving, researching and disseminating testimonies of the history of the Panama Canal. It is headquartered in a building located in the Plaza de la Independencia, within the Old Town of Panama, in the district of San Felipe.

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3. The Panama History Museum is a historical museum located on the ground floor of the Municipal Palace of Panama, in the Old Town of Panama City. This was inaugurated on December 14, 1977 by Dr. Reina Torres de Araúz, first on the second floor of the building. It is currently administered by the Ministry of Culture of Panama. This museum is framed in the context of Panamanian history, covering the Colonial Era (1501 to 1821), the Union of Colombia (1821 to 1903) and the Republican Era (1903 to the present).

   15 minutes here

4. History of the Central Hotel The Central Hotel Panamá was built almost 150 years ago in the heart of Panama City, in front of the beautiful Plaza de la Independencia, in the Old Town. It opened its doors in 1874, being the first hotel in the country. Very soon it became the favorite place for intrepid travelers. Guests include US President Theodore Roosevelt and Count Ferdinand de Lesseps. By the time the 20th century arrived, the hotel was already recognized as the best in Panama for its high level of European and American services. His fame spanned the entire Western Hemisphere.

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5. The Church of San José is a Catholic temple located in the Old Town of Panama City. It was originally located in what is now Panama Viejo, the first place where Panama City was located. This building was saved from the fire that the city suffered in 1671, so part of the old convent was moved to the new city of Panama. This church houses one of the most important colonial treasures in the country, its Main Altar covered in gold leaf that dates back to the 18th century.

   15 minutes here

6. Plaza Tomas Herrera

   The Plaza is named after prominent Panamanian general Tomás Herrera, an important figure in the fight for Panama's independence from Spain. General Herrera organized a battalion of more than 1,500 soldiers and fought in Ayacucho and Junín. He was governor of Panama when the country was part of Colombia. Tomás Herrera was also one of the first, if not the first, to create the movement to separate Panama from Colombia. He died in Bogotá, murdered by a sniper in 1854.

   15 minutes here

7. The American Trade Hotel offers luxury built on history. Founded in 1673, the walled Casco Viejo remained the center of Panamanian life for almost 300 years. The American Trade Developing Company building was built in 1917 by Ramón Arias Feraud, great-grandfather of one of the current owners. The Building made headlines for being the first "skyscraper" in Panama, housing the first modern apartments in the city and being the first building built with reinforced concrete. In 2000, the American Trade building was abandoned and occupied by a street gang that used its imposing height to control a wide swath of the neighborhood. The building's most important architectural details were still intact when the Conservatory purchased it in 2007, and exploring the building now it is difficult not to imagine the businessmen, artists, foreign correspondents, musicians and bon vivants from all corners of the world who somehow They have left their mark on him.

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8. Santa Ana Park was part of the suburb of the old city of Panama. At one time it was a square in front of the church that bears the same name. Before the Republican era it was used as a market and was the place where the people gathered to celebrate festivals. In 1890 – 131 years ago – the park was built and during the first 50 years of our republic it became the center of struggles for our sovereignty. In 1984 it was declared a national historical monument by Law 18.

   15 minutes here

9. Iglesia de la Merced

   The Church of Our Lady of Mercy is a Catholic temple located in the Old Town of Panama City. Initially it was located in the first location of the city, today called Panama Viejo. After the pirate attack and subsequent destruction of the city, the stone façade of this temple was moved piece by piece to the new city around the year 1680. In its atrium there are two chapels: One of the Virgin of Mercy and the another is a mausoleum. Likewise, this church is the guardian of an image of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, venerated by Cubans.

   15 minutes here

10. Palacio de las Garzas

    The Palacio de las Garzas, also known as the Presidential Palace of Panama, is the headquarters of the Presidency of the Republic of Panama, and also houses the Ministry of the Presidency and the Institutional Protection Service. It is located in the Corregimiento of San Felipe, between 4th Street East (east), 5th Street (west), Avenida Eloy Alfaro (south) and Avenue B (north). To the south is the Bay of Panama.

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11. Museo de la Mola

    The Mola Museum – MUMO is a space designed to expose the value of the mola in the Guna indigenous culture and Panama. On a tour of its 5 rooms, visitors will be able to learn about their evolution, how they are made, the meaning behind their designs and, above all, contemplate their art.

    15 minutes here

12. Plaza Bolivar

    This tree-lined square was originally called San Francisco after the church that presides over it. It was not contemplated in the initial planning of the new Panama location. But a ravenous fire in 1756 destroyed 50 houses in the area, which produced a large vacant space on which nothing was built again. The square was renamed as a tribute to Simón Bolívar in 1926, the centenary of the Amphictyonic Congress. The bronze and granite sculptural group honors the Liberator and is the work of the Spanish Mariano Benlliure. It was commissioned by the Panamanian government, after the agreement reached between the Latin American countries. The Panamanian engineer Julio Poyló directed its erection.

    15 minutes here

13. Palacio Bolivar

    After the founding of the new city of Panama, the Franciscan temple and convent was built in front of the Santo Domingo beach. After independence from Spain, the voluntary annexation of Panama to Gran Colombia and the promulgation of the Congress of Cúcuta, the central government of New Granada expropriated the land. Later it was a military barracks to form the Isthmus Battalion that supported the Battles of Junín and Ayacucho, thus consolidating the independence of Peru in 1824. It also functioned as a hospital for foreigners. Later it was home to various schools, such as the National Balboa (1892-1899), La Salle (1910-1952), San Agustín (1953-1959) and the Instituto Bolívar (1959-1999), which shared space with the Comercial Bolívar. (1958) and the First America Cycle (1961-1972).

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14. Teatro Nacional

    The National Theater of Panama is the main venue for the performing arts in Panama. It is located in the Old Town of Panama City, next to the Church of San Francisco and diagonal to Plaza Bolívar. Its construction was ordered by law 52 of May 20, 1904, during the government of Manuel Amador Guerrero.

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15. Paseo de Las Bovedas

    The Monumental Complex of Las Bóvedas or Las Bóvedas is the name commonly known to the group of works that form the walls that surround the Plaza de Francia in Panama City.1 The monumental complex consists of seven vaulted spaces that made up the city ​​defensive system. The monument is located in the Old Town of Panama.

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16. Plaza de Francia

    This site corresponds to the tip of the city's peninsula, which was known as Punta de Chiriquí. Originally, it was a rammed earth parade ground for military uses; Later, it was also used as a prison. It maintained these functions until the beginning of the 20th century. Belisario Porras changed its name to Plaza de Francia, in remembrance of the failed French attempt to build the canal. In its surroundings are currently the National Institute of Culture, the French embassy, ​​the Esteban Huertas promenade, the monument to the sailors of the interoceanic canal and the Vaults. A statue of Pablo Arosemena, the fifth president of the Republic of Panama (1910-1912), is also erected in the square.

    15 minutes here

17. The Flat Arch of Casco Viejo

    A majestic jewel guards the monumental complex of San Felipe, built in the year 1678. The structure remained intact for several centuries, enduring two significant fires, which occurred on February 2, 1737 and March 21, 1756. But, the arch managed to save itself from the devastating disasters that threatened to collapse it, and it stood for almost two and a half centuries. On November 7, 2003, the structures could no longer resist, due to inclement weather and the lack of maintenance and monitoring that led to the collapse of the historical heritage of humanity.

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18. Museo Amca Panama

    The Museum of Latin American and Modern Art in Panama's Old Town (AMCA) presents itself as a showcase of modern culture, with the aim of promoting art in Latin America to nationals and foreigners in Panama. Its mission focuses on the preservation and exhibition of works that demonstrate the diversity and creativity of the region and especially from the different artistic movements that have been evolving for a century.

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Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en, es

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

Group size

Up to 12 travelers per booking

Operated by

Los Angeles VIP Tours

Know before you go

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Photos

Traveler reviews

3 verified traveler reviews for 3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Casco Antiguo Panama City. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.