Hotels in Panama at Carnival Time

If you haven’t already booked your hotel in Panama for the Panama Carnival, you may already be too late. Hotels in Panama book up very quickly around Carnival Time. Another option for you would be to try and make a reservation at one of the hostels in Panama City, such as Villa Michelle is owned by Ivonne or La Casa de Carmen, two hostels I have already written about on this site. Staying at a hostel or with a family in Panama will give you something that you probably won’t get as much of by staying at a resort or hotel, and that is an authentic Panamanian experience. The added bonus is the friendly people you will meet. Then again you might already be visiting Panama and staying at one of the all inclusive resorts in Panama during the week of the Carnival. You are in luck, just ask at your hotel’s information desk or ask the concierge how you can go about attending the Panama Carnival.

The Panama Carnival, both the parade and most of the festivities take place on the Vía Espana, in Panama City on the Friday before Ash Wednesday (in February) every year. This year, the exact date this year would be February 25, 2009. A new Carnival Queen is elected chosen for the Carnival, of course replacing the Queen from the year before. The parade and other events precede four days of revelling and partying which is a lot of celebration, fun and enjoyment. Go for it! And don’t plan for an early bedtime; you’ll be up late, drinking, dancing and celebrating with all the people of Panama.

What would a parade be without a Queen? A queen is chosen and will star in the Panama parade. Whatever hotel in Panama City you choose to stay in will probably also be holding events and food and other such revellary. The atmosphere is one of celebration and so you should celebrate too! Water trucks spray the people, water balloons get tossed, music is playing and everyone is having fun.

While in Panama for the Carnival, if you have time, you should also visit some of the beaches on Panama Bay on the Pacific Ocean or, if you have time, try to visit some of the beaches on the Caribbean side of Panama. And, one thing you must not miss if this is your first visit to Panama is a tour of the Panama Canal. Many hotels offer day or overnight trips to the Panama Canal. There are Panama Canal hotels in the area for you to choose from such as: the Melia Panama Canal situated at Gatun Lake or the Country Inn & Suites Amador next to the Panama Canal entrance, where your suite’s balcony has either a view of the famous Canal and the Bridge of the Americas to the Pacific Ocean or a view of the gardens. You are still close enough to Panama City to drive in to visit the Carnival.

Whatever resort or hotel in Panama City you chose to stay in at this time of celebration during Carnival time, don’t miss the fun!