More Panama Canal Hotels

Not far from Panama City, 8.05 km (about 15 minutes to Panama City) to be exact, located in the City of Knowledge, the Holiday Inn Panama Canal is a spectacular new hotel for tourists looking for hotels in Panama to stay at. Situated in the perfect location for a marvellous view of the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks, if the most important part of your vacation in Panama is to see the Panama Canal, this might be the right hotel for you.

This new Panama Canal hotel offers one suite and 136 large rooms to guests, a swimming pool, meeting rooms, wireless internet access, fitness facilities and a business center for the business traveller. The rooms are air conditioned, with either a king bed or two double beds and priced at about $160 per night. Rooms provide all the modern comforts and amenities you could expect from Holiday Inn worldwide. Your room comes equipped with a plasma satellite TV, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, safety deposit box, internet access for a charge and a coffee/tea machine. The holiday Inn Panama Canal is exceptionally clean and the staff is friendly and very professional providing great service.

There is one restaurant serving excellent cuisine and one bar. The Canal View Café offers, obviously from the name, a spectacular view of the Panama Canal and great food. You can also get snacks at the Bar.

You could also choose an all inclusive vacation in Panama and get an excellent deal on the price for somewhere between $1,225 - $1,785 Canadian dollars for a one week stay, depending on when you choose to take your vacation in Panama. This price for this package is offered by Sunwing vacations which have a website at sunwing.ca. Sunwing also offers great fly now, pay later financing for your vacation in Panama. You can also choose with Sunwing an all inclusive package whereby you combine this hotel with another hotel resort such as the Playa Blanca Resort or the Gamboa Rainforest Resort in another location which is a great idea to see and experience more of Panama. You can then tour the Panama Canal, watch the ships and Panama cruise lines make the epic journey through the Canal and then experience a resort type holiday at a beach hotel in Panama city or perhaps explore the rainforest at a resort known as the Gamboa Rainforest Resort.

The City of Knowledge is an interesting city, quite beautiful to visit and there are some malls close by if you want to do some shopping in Panama.The City of Knowledge was once an American Army base and has now become a small city which has become known world wide as a center for technological research and education.

For other hotel options for Panama Canal hotels, there are some other hotels for you such as the Melia Panama Canal or the Country Inn & Suites Amador. Read the reviews of these hotels and make the decision to stay at one of these hotels, whichever suits you best. I still think the best option is one of the all inclusive packages offered by Sunwing that lets you combine two hotels for your one or two week stay in Panama. This way, you get to experience both the Panama Canal and then either the rainforest at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort or a beach hotel resort in Panama atmosphere. There are also hotels in Panama City available in these combination all inclusive hotel deals to Panama.

Enjoy your vacation and whichever hotel in Panama you choose, you will want to return again and again to this beautiful country, rich in wildlife, rainforests, unspoiled beaches, warm, friendly people and a rich cultural heritage. There is so much to see and experience in Panama.

Hotels in Boquete

Boquete, Panama

Perhaps you’d like something different for your vacation in Panama. There is more to Panama than just the city of Panama, its beaches and the hotels in Panama City. Perhaps you have heard of a place called Boquete and have decided to search out the possibility of staying at one of the hotels in Boquete, Chiriqui Province. Going to Boquete is something you won’t regret. In fact, it is so beautiful, you will dread leaving this little paradise at the end of your vacation.

Boquete, is a small lovely village in the mountainous region of central Panama in Chiriqui Province, located in an area where some of the sweetest oranges and the best coffee is grown on mountain plantations on the slopes, shaded by lush foliage. The coffee is harvested by the Guaymi Indians in the time between October and February. The gardens of Boquete rival the most beautiful gardens in England or on the Meditarranean. You can experience the annual festivals in Boquete such as the the Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival) or the Feria de las Orquideas. You can ride horseback in the mountains. Blessed with fresh mountain air and scenery, Boquete is becoming both a vacation and retirement destination for many travellers and retirees alike. Boquete is a peaceful, tranquil place for those looking to get away from it all, to surround yourself with abundant nature and beauty.

Let’s take a look at some of the hotels in Boquete available to travelers to Panama.


Valle Escondido

Valle Escondido, Boquete, situated in a hidden valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides, at the foot of an ancient volcano, with rivers and creeks a plenty, this is a highly recommended resort in Boquete offering a 9 hole golf course and a full service spa. It is one of the best hotels in Boquete. Hotel rates at the Valle Escondido are very reasonable for any one of the 39 suites, riverside bungalow accommodations. Each of the suites are tastefully decorated in Panamanian style and come with all the amenities a traveller expects such as TV, DVD, internet access, small kitchenette, fireplace, telephone, large bathtub, patio/balcony, lounge chairs.

This resort in Boquete features a fully equipped fitness center, spa, holistic center, large heated pool, an enclosed racquetball area where you can play any indoor ball sports such as squash or volleyball, a Jacuzzi/steam room and lockers are provided. The spa provides massages, acupuncture, reiki and health consultations among other beauty treatments. For the golfer, there is the The Quebrada Grande Golf and Country Club for a game of golf in very scenic surroundings and the cooler air of the mountain.

The Valle Escondido is situated a 10 to15 minute walk to town or five minutes by taxi. It is 45 minutes to a one hour ride which will cost you $25 - $35 from the David airport.

There are two restaurants and a bar which offer guests delicious food and wonderful service. You will be delighted with the organic food cooked up at the restaurants. There are local artisan shops to buy souvenirs of Panama. A Chapel, a pro shop, an event center, and meeting rooms are available for the business traveller.

Other activities to enjoy while staying at the Valle Escondido Resort include: whitewater rafting, a wildlife safari, nature walks, bird watching and coffee tours. The staff are friendly and provide excellent service. The rooms and hotel is exceptionally clean. The scenery of the Valle Escondido Resort is breathtaking and quite a paradise for nature lovers, eco-tourists, bird watchers, golfers alike. It’s the best place to stay in Boquete.

El Oasis, Boquete

The El Oasis in Boquete, Panama, is a luxurious hotel in lovely Boquete available for a reasonable price. Great food is available in the dining room, served by a helpful, professional staff. It is located close to the town of Boquete with its shopping and restaurants. Another highly rated and reasonably priced hotel in Boquete.

Panamonte Inn And Spa, Boquete

Like a country inn in the mountains, charming and hospitable, a perfect place to stay if you would like to explore the mountains of Boquete Panama in Chiriqui Province. It is located only a five minute walk to the town. The Panamonte Inn and Spa is located at the foot of Baru Volcano. Owned by a family and offering a place for travelers to rest since 1914, the Panamonte offers friendliness, beautiful gardens, and recently renovated hotel rooms with full amenities for their guests. One word to describe the Panamonte Inn is “charming”.

Guests can find 17 recently renovated rooms, with all the usual full amenities, such as private bathrooms, air conditioning, TV and telephone in a cozy country style inn atmosphere. There is room service available and you will find the service is warm and friendly. There is a lounge with full bar and roaring fireplaces. Charges for the hotel rooms range from $95 - $310 US. Credit cards accepted include Mastercard, American Express and travelers cheques. A full service spa is available, a travel agency, and business/conference facilities available for the business travelers.

These are just a few of the hotels in Boquete for you to consider on your vacation in Panama. By all means, if it is your first visit to Panama, you must see the city of Panama, the coasts of Panama and of coursel, the Panama Canal. But on your return trip to Panama, I highly recommend you try something different to explore more of Panama and experience all that this marvellous country has to offer. Boquete is beautiful and must not be missed. Like I said, you probably won’t want to leave Boquete once you get here. There are many more hotels in Boquete to consider for your vacation, such as the Fundadores Hotel, the Kalima Suites, Hotel Ladera, Boquete Garden Inn, etc., or even for those on a budget, there are hostels in Boquete for you if that is what you are looking for. Stay tuned for my next article on additional hotels in Boquete in an upcoming article here on Panama City Beach Hotels.

Luxury Resort in Panama - Playa Blanca

If you are looking for a Panama resort hotel, there are many beach resorts just outside of Panama City that you can book your vacation in Panama at. Playa Blanca Beach is on the exterior of Panama City about an hour and 15 minutes away. The beach is marvellous to relax or take walks on, white sand, azure blue waters and coral reefs to explore. It is much more tranquil vacation than the hustle and bustle of Panama City. It all depends on what type of
holiday you are seeking for your trip to Panama. At Playa Blanca, there are many beach resorts to choose from for your Panama holiday destination.

Rated as a 5 star hotel and resort in Panama, the Playa Blanca Hotel and Resort where discerning travellers will find what they usually expect from this type of luxury hotel. You can just relax here and soak up the sun or you can keep yourself very busy with all the activities at the hotel and there are many. This is an ideal vacation spot for both those seeking a romantic getaway or a family vacation. You can get an all-inclusive price at this resort and the prices are very reasonable for this 5 star luxury resort in Panama.

The large hotel rooms and suites look out to the pool, the beach and gardens and include a living room, a main bedroom and a luxurious bathroom. There is also a breakfast table for you to have your meals and snacks at. All hotel rooms come with the standard comforts you would expect from a hotel of this class, including two Queen size beds or one king size bed, daily maid service, air conditioning, a safe, cable TV, telephone, electronic locks and hair dryers. There are also available rooms for disabled travellers.

For outdoor activities you will be able to participate in snorkelling, boat tours, sports fishing, tennis, aerobics and exercise classes, swimming in the two pools, beach volleyball and soccer, dance classes, water polo, water sports including pedal boats and kayaking, daily activities for adults and children and jet skiing. There is also a playground for children and an amphitheatre for games, shows and concerts. For those who love golf, yes, indeed you can golf at the nine hole putting course.

There are four restaurants at the Playa Blanca resort for you to dine in with a menu ranging from seafood, tropical delights and international cuisine to snack foods. The El Velero Grill restaurant specializes in fresh seafood. The Panama Canal buffet restaurant has international food on the menu. At the Pollera you will also be able to get international food for dinner times and you can get snacks and salads from the Snack Bar. If you are thirsty, there are six bars around the resort hotel where you can savour beers, liquors, wines and cocktails.

So if you are seeking beach hotels in Panama with all inclusive rates, the Playa Blanca Beach Resort and Hotel is an excellent choice because of its 5 star rating, its excellence in service, numerous activities and cleanliness. Another bonus: it is also situated on a most beautiful white sand beach with clear blue azure waters on the Pacific Ocean. You can't go wrong with this hotel resort in Panama.

Luxury Hotels in Panama - El Panama Hotel

One of the most famous luxury hotels in Panama City , the El Panama Hotel is one of the classic older hotels, a historical landmark, now about 50 years old. Designed with the open air tropical concept in mind, the hotel is undergoing renovations at the current time. I’d first heard mention of this hotel in the movie “The Tailor of Panama”, made in 2001. Don’t let the renovations bother you, you will hardly notice that they are going on.

Located in the center of town in the El Cangrejo area, the hotel is just under a half hour from the airport. The neighbourhood is safe to walk around 24 hours a day. Enjoy a stroll at night time and you will feel safe. You will see many policemen with and without guns otherwise known as the "tourism" police standing around to know that the crime rate is low. You can obtain a map of the neighbourhood at the reception desk to help avoid paying for expensive taxi rides here and there. Just walk out the front door of the hotel, turn right to Veneto and then you can go in any direction to find other four and 5 star hotels, shopping, casinos, restaurants, car rental agencies all within just a short walk away.

I found the large open breezy, Latin/Caribbean tropical style of the hotel architecture delightful and gets you in that tropical mood for your vacation in Panama. It has a very Panamanian atmosphere which gives a certain ambiance to this luxury hotel in Panama. You will find in the lobby, a collection of several very “chi-chi” (upscale) stores. In the pool area, the pool is large, the surrounding tropical foliage is beautiful. There is a swim-up bar in the pool and a restaurant by the pool which serves delectable cuisine. The hour glass shaped pool is lovely to swim in and lounge around developing your sun tan. The overall sense of luxury and comfort makes this hotel in Panama City a fabulous vacation getaway for romantic occasions such as honeymoons for newlyweds, couples wishing to escape, romantic getaways for younger and older travelers, disabled travelers and families with children or teenagers.

My room, although the air conditioning was set a little to high, was excellent and had all the modern amenities such as WiFi, cable TV, telephone, and a safe to protect my valuables. The room was spotlessly clean, spacious with tiled floors. However, I’ve got to say, perhaps because of the location or the noisy traffic below, it was, at times difficult to sleep at night. If you rent cabañas on the ground-floor, you will have immediate access to the pool. All in all, there are 330 guest rooms including standard, junior Suites, Cabanas by the pool, and a presidential suite. For those demanding butler service, there are two executives floors with butler service to give you personalized assistance as well as private meeting rooms if you require. For the fitness conscious, there is a spa and sauna to use.

There are quite a few restaurants at the hotel that serve up delicious cuisine. There is a different breakfast buffet served daily which is included in the price and is an excellent way to start your day in Panama City.

The business center is good for the business traveller with internet available for a couple of dollars per hour. There are 35 meeting rooms and a convention center on the premises. It is a popular place for international conventions and you will find it is a favourite luxury hotel in Panama for Latin American and European visitors to book their vacations in Panama at this hotel. The staff, although they don’t speak a lot of English are friendly and efficient. The service provided was excellent. The restaurant serves great food and the service is excellent. For the gamblers among us, there is a casino and nightclub attached to the hotel. It is a more pleasant stay than the chain hotels which lack the atmosphere and ambiance of the El Panama in Panama City, so if you can ignore the renovations and want something in a more Panamanian style, definitely try this classic hotel. Remember, the renovations will not last forever at this luxury hotel in Panama City.

Panama Hotels Country Inn & Suites Amador

Look for a cozy Panama hotel for your holiday in Panama? Try booking your vacation in Panama at the Country Inn & Suites Amador. Fabulously located right by the Panama Canal entrance, each room has a balcony with either a view of the famous Canal and the Bridge of the Americas to the Pacific Ocean or a view of the gardens.

The Country Inn & Suites Amador is in an excellent location for tourists who wish to stroll along the walkways of the Canal, savour the dining and nightlife on the waterfront and the hustle and bustle of downtown Panama City life.

The hotel has 98 rooms both standard and junior and nine apartment suites, Complimentary local and international newspapers are available if you want to read what’s going on in the rest of the world. All rooms have telephones, coffee makers, satellite tv, internet and fax access. The apartment suites have a kitchen with kitchen equipment. The hotel is also good for the business traveller to Panama, providing conference and banquet facilities. There are laundry facilities and free parking and shuttle service. Breakfast is included in the price. Outside activities include a playground for children, a swimming pool, and deep sea fishing trips, a Jacuzzi, tennis courts and fitness facilities. There are also spa services offered for those wanting the pleasures a spa has to offer.

What did I like about my stay at the Country Inn & Suites Amador? Well, the prices are reasonable and the rooms are clean and large and the beds are comfortable to sleep in. Cleanliness is very important when you are looking for a hotel to rest in during your vacation. A comfortable bed helps too. The location is great and it is close to restaurants and bars, the Marina and the view of the Canal is wonderful to wake up to and watch the large ships as they travel along the Canal.

When I get back to Panama which will be sooner rather than later, I will stay again at the Country Inn & Suites Amador (I’m usually in the lower price range when I’m seeking out hotels to stay in when I travel). It’s one of the most pleasing, reasonably priced Panama City hotels and close to everything you want to visit on your vacation in Panama.

What to See on your Vacation in Panama City

Most first time tourists to the Republic of Panama are probably going to check out the Panama beach hotels and resorts first for their first vacation in Panama. After you’d found the hotel or resort in Panama you want to stay at, you are going to want to know more about what to see in Panama besides the beautiful beaches.

Panama City, which sits on the bay of the Pacific Ocean is one of the most modern, urban cities in Panama and in Central America, diverse, very cosmopolitan and sophisticated. It has miles of white sand beaches along the shores and in the city with many hotels and beach resorts in Panama at all prices ranges for you to choose from for your vacation in Panama city.
Panama City, due to its ideal location on an isthmus, is much like some of the other great shipping and trading cities of Singapore or Hong Kong. Economically, it is a thriving city, based on commerce, tourism and banking. The view in Panama is fabulous, there is the famous Panama Canal, the Pacific coast bay and ocean, glittering skyscrapers of El Cangrejo and mountains with lush forests that rise behind the beautiful skyline.

You will also find San Felipe, the old city center full of 19th Century mansions, old Colonial churches, You should also check out the ruins of the first European city settled in Latin America on the Pacific coast called Panamá Viejo. There is also Balboa to visit which was the former U.S. Canal Zone town given back to Panama in 1979.

To get away from the hustle and the bustle of urban Panama City, 20 km from the city in the bay is the Isla Taboga (“island of flowers”) and there is the tropical rainforests of the Parque Nacional Metropolitano.

If you’d like to explore the rest of the country, Panama City is a great base from which to start your journey of exploration. Day trips from Panama City include trips to the Caribbean coast up to Portobelo, the Canal and Colón.

Also, one of the most festive times to visit Panama is during the Carnaval time which happens one weekend a year, the weekend before Ash Wednesday. However, you must make sure to make your hotel reservations many weeks in advance of the carnival time because all hotels, including the beach hotels and resorts in Panama sell out quickly.