Panama City With Kids, Age by Age
A toddler wants a bike ride, an eight-year-old wants to watch a ship rise in a lock, and a teenager wants a summit. Panama City handles all three, and child fees change at ages 5 and 6, so it helps to plan by age.
Under 5
Under-fives are free at the Biomuseo and Miraflores Locks, so the entry cost is zero. On the Amador Causeway, a four-seat surrey bike (roughly $10 to $15 an hour) lets the whole family ride the 6 km breakwater with breezes off the water. The Metropolitan Natural Park has a butterfly house; foreign adults pay about $5 and the park itself is $4. Keep plans short and early: heat peaks around midday.
Ages 5 to 12
Biomuseo tickets for ages 5 to 17 cost $12, while adults pay $20. The museum is Frank Gehry’s colorful building with eight interactive galleries on how the isthmus formed. Tuesday to Friday it opens 09:00 to 15:00 and weekends 10:00 to 15:00, and it is closed Mondays. At Miraflores, children 6 to 12 pay $7.22 and the observation terraces put them close to container ships squeezing through the chambers. Check the Visit Canal de Panama site for adult tiers and ship timings.
Gatun Lake monkey boats leave from Gamboa and run about $30 to $45 per person, with capuchins and tamarins on the shoreline. The Smithsonian’s Punta Culebra center on the causeway has touch tanks and sloths; check hours on the STRI site before you go.
Teens
Teenagers can take the paved 30 to 45 minute climb up Ancón Hill to the 199 m summit under the flag. The seven Metropolitan Park trails add about 5 km of forest. On the Cinta Costera, the 7 km waterfront path suits rollerblades and bikes. A Taboga day makes a good reward: the ferry from Fuerte Amador takes 30 minutes and costs $24 per adult return, and the beach at Playa Restinga is calm.
Getting around
The metro is air conditioned and cheap at $0.35 on Line 1 and $0.50 on Line 2, using a rechargeable card, since it takes no cash. Uber is easy for short hops of $3.50 to $6. Everything is priced in US dollars, so carry small bills for snacks.
Staying the night
A hotel near the Cinta Costera or in Casco Viejo shortens the daily commute. Compare family rooms on Booking.com and look for pools, since afternoon showers are common in the rainy season. After dark, use Uber between neighborhoods.
Rain and heat
Afternoon rain is common from May to November, so book indoor stops like the Biomuseo after lunch and finish outdoor plans by noon. Tap water is safe to drink, so refill bottles at the hotel rather than buying water.
Read the activities page for a full-day schedule.
Verdict: kids under 6 get the best value, because the biggest sights cost nothing for them.