Panama is the narrow bridge between two oceans – with a Miami-style skyline, one of the world’s most important canals and hundreds of islands on both coasts. Here are the facts and my travel story.
Panama at a glance
Top sights
San Blas Islands (Guna Yala)
Around 365 islands on the Caribbean coast, self-governed by the Guna people. Access only with Guna-approved transport from Panama City: about 3–4 hours by 4×4 and boat, usually leaving around 5–6 am, from about US$100 per person. On top come the US$20 Guna entry fee and US$2 port tax – cash only, there are no ATMs. Passports are checked at the comarca border. Drones are banned on most islands, as is drinking in public; ask before photographing people.
Bocas del Toro
The archipelago on the Caribbean coast near Costa Rica is Panama’s most laid-back island destination: water taxis between the islands, starfish at Playa Estrella, snorkelling, surfing and bars over the water. The German Foreign Office warns of thefts and robberies – keep valuables secure.
Coiba Island
The former prison island is now a national park and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005 – one of the richest marine areas in the eastern Pacific. It is about an hour by boat from Santa Catalina, usually on a diving or snorkelling tour. The park fee is not paid in cash but in advance via MiAmbiente; you show the receipt with your passport.
Panama Canal
At the Miraflores Visitor Center on the edge of Panama City you watch container ships glide through the locks. Entry for foreigners is around US$17, at Agua Clara on the Atlantic side around US$10. Miraflores is being modernised until the end of 2026 – expect longer waits.
My travel story
Panama surprises you on arrival: glass towers, urban motorways, a skyline you would sooner expect in Florida. Half an hour away a container ship edges through the Miraflores locks – world history in slow motion.
The biggest contrast lies just a few hours away. On the San Blas Islands there is little electricity, little signal and a lot of silence. The Guna decide how people live and travel here, and that is exactly what makes the place special.
Bocas del Toro is livelier: water taxis, wooden jetties, reggae from the bars. And Coiba is for anyone who wants to look underwater – a national park where nature was left alone for a long time.
Getting there from Munich
From Munich to Panama City you fly with one change, usually via Madrid, Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Istanbul; the fastest connections take around 14.5 hours. The direct flight from Frankfurt was discontinued in April 2026. We take you to Munich Airport at a fixed price – early departures included – and meet you with a name sign in the terminal after landing.
As of November 2026. All information without guarantee; entry and vaccination rules can change at short notice. Entry details apply to German citizens. Please check the German Foreign Office travel advice and consult a travel-medicine specialist about vaccinations.