Queer travel expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ city adventures into your guide for safe, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Panama City, the nation’s capital, is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal, which humans built. Panama City has a thriving LGBT community focused in the Casco Viejo area. Although Panama is a devout Catholic nation, Panama City boasts lively nightlife and a vibrant gay scene.
Panama City is divided into three separate cities: a historic district, a renovated district, and highly modern areas. The city has done a fantastic job of preserving its historical areas and attractions and providing its citizens with all the comforts and appeal of living in a modern city.
The historical neighborhood operates far slower than the sparkling buildings, world-class airport, and fast-moving expressways surrounding it.
By visiting Panama City, it is simple to receive a solid overview of some of the most key events in Latin American history, marvel at some wonderful architecture, and get familiar with some of the truly unique wildlife that dwells in this corner of the world.
Panama is well-known for its strong traditionalism. Due to the Catholic Church’s disproportionate power in Panama, any attempt by the government to adopt LGBTQ-friendly legislation is almost guaranteed to fail.
The LGBT community has worked hard to build a strong community that is progressive, welcoming, and compassionate. They’ve been working for equal rights, and their efforts are starting to bear fruit. While Panama City is a conservative country, it is making slow but steady progress toward the acceptance and equality that the LGBT population has sought.
It would be best if you spent most of your time in Casco Viejo while in town. The area is trendy and active, with plenty of pubs, restaurants, and other places to hang out. The locals will lead you to the gay scene and the events there.
The gay community in Panama City is vibrant and proudly displays its variety. During the day, there are many beaches, woodlands, and historical sites to explore, as well as many more interesting locations and things to do. Once the sun sets, you’ll realize that the nightlife in this city is nothing short of spectacular.
You’ll never find a better city than Panama City, where the clubs stay up until dawn and the bars stay open until the early morning.
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Attractions in Gay Panama City, Panama
As a new visitor to Gay Panama City, there are plenty of things to see and do, regardless of your sexual orientation. One of the best ways to experience any new city is to visit some of its most iconic landmarks and attractions, including historical monuments, museums, and art galleries.
We also love gazing at architecture up close, exploring parks and gardens, sampling the local cuisine, visiting local markets, and attending cultural events such as festivals, concerts and shows.
Even as the out-and-proud queer we are, we still love to explore the city and its culture in the same way as everyone else. Doing so allows us to learn more about the city and its people and gain a deeper understanding of the local culture. As such, these are our favorite must-see attractions in Panama City.
The engineers’ skill in building the Panama Canal is one of many reasons this man-made marvel should not be overlooked. The world-famous river that is the focal point of Panama’s international image is convoluted and massive in ways that are difficult to fathom.
Since it traverses the country’s length, the Panama Canal may be reached from various points. But, if you want to stay in the general neighborhood of Panama City, the Miraflores Locks are your best alternative. Make your way to the location.
The Miraflores Locks may be reached by foot around 30 minutes from the city center. You and your other passengers will notice the atmosphere peaks when a big cargo ship passes through the region. If you want to learn more about the locks and the canal’s history, go inside the visitor center. There, you will return to the commencement of the canal’s construction.
Casco Viejo, often known as Old Town, is a Panama City time capsule. Casco Viejo is home to some of the city’s oldest structures, some dating back to the 1600s. This neighborhood’s beginnings may be traced back to the renowned Captain Morgan. Captain Henry Morgan, an English pirate, shook up the Spanish authority in Panama by sacking the rich city of Panama Viejo in 1671.
Both of these incidents took place in Panama. Casco Viejo was founded because of this, and although much has changed in the few centuries since then, the link is still extremely important.
Casco Viejo’s original streets are often relatively tiny and cobblestone-paved. It was formerly a poor neighborhood but has been rehabilitated as a historic focal point and a dynamic food and drink attraction. When the day’s heat sets in, people gather on the streets and go to rooftop bars to drink. Some of them may have been sipping Captain Morgan’s rum.
Iglesia del Carmen
In Panama City’s architectural environment, old and new styles coexist together. The Iglesia del Carmen is one of the most visually appealing buildings in the neighborhood. Although the famous Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmen was built in the 1900s, its Gothic style makes it seem from the Middle Ages.
The Iglesia del Carmen, Panama’s only Gothic church, is a magnificent site. The entry has a front façade with two tall towers and a beautiful arch. A row of gleaming stained-glass windows runs along either side of the space.
Inside, beige columns guide your sight higher into the vaulted arched ceiling and eventually to the far end of the cathedral, where stunning iconography is painted along the wall.
Before visiting Casco Viejo’s historic center, it is a good idea to visit Panama Viejo, the city that existed before Panama City. This fading settlement was founded in the early 16th century and is twenty minutes from the major commercial sector.
The Spanish city thrived until Captain Morgan arrived and disturbed the existing order in a manner that will never be forgotten. Today, the ancient city of Panama Viejo comprises 14 major remains distributed over a broad area.
Begin your exploration of historic Panama City in the Museo de Sitio Panama Viejo, where you may examine small reproductions of the whole city. You will better grasp what it was and the purpose that the city’s ruins formerly fulfilled after being carried to the city during its flourishing heyday.
If the Miraflores Visitor Center did not offer you the amount of understanding of the Panama Canal you desired, another option is accessible to you. Visitors to the Panama Canal Museum may learn about the early failed attempts to build a canal and follow a timeline up to today.
The Panama Canal Museum, housed in what was formerly Panama City’s major post office, gives a thorough overview of France’s early attempts to build a canal. You may learn more about how the United States was responsible for constructing this technical marvel.
The next stage will be to look into the political disputes before Panama’s government reclaimed canal control. After that, spend some time strolling around and exploring the Casco Viejo neighborhood’s small streets.
The Amador Causeway and the Cinta Costera are excellent places to exercise and enjoy nature in a short time. But none of these activities can compete with a trip to Soberania National Park. Soberania is great for trekking since it is just a half-hour drive from Panama City.
Pathways in the park will take you through gorgeous rainforests, where birds will serenade you with their melodic melodies, local species will hide in the shade of the trees, and waterfalls will mark the point when you turn around.
Wildlife lovers who want to make the most of their visit to one of Central America’s best birding destinations might consider hiring a guide. In addition, an expert guide will aid in locating the different species that live in the park.
Gay-Friendly And Gay Hotels in Panama City, Panama
Being gay-friendly accommodation means that the establishment is welcoming and inclusive to guests who identify as LGBTQ+. This can include, but is not limited to, having policies and practices that demonstrate a commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ guests, such as non-discrimination policies and providing support and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers.
Some gay-friendly accommodations may also provide amenities specifically catering to the LGBTQ+ community, such as rainbow flags or literature about local LGBTQ+ events or resources. Furthermore, gay-friendly accommodations may be located in an area known for being LGBTQ+ friendly.
While Panama City does not have any specifically gay hotels or resorts, these are the most fabulous and pro-actively gay-friendly hotels in Panama City. There are also hundreds more hotel and hostel options in Panama City if none of these suit your desired budget, facilities or area – but these are the best hotels according to other gay travelers and us.
Whatever your needs are, Panama City has you covered.
Intercontinental Miramar ☆☆☆☆☆
The Intercontinental Miramar is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Panama City for gay travelers. The upmarket hotel offers magnificent rooms as well as stunning views. Whichever room you pick, it has floor-to-ceiling windows that give stunning views of Casco Viejo and the Bay of Panama.
Whether traveling with your significant other or a new friend, you made at Casco Viejo, the nicely appointed bedrooms and apartments are perfect for a romantic trip. The best aspect is that Casco Viejo is simply a scenic seaside drive away, which takes only five minutes.
The rooms are outfitted with all the essential amenities required for tourists to enjoy a good stay at the hotel. Aside from coffeemakers and flat-screen TVs, the rooms also include stylish minibars, so you can start the party without leaving.
You’ll also like the rest of the hotel, notably the spa and fitness center, which are nicely outfitted. The big, comfy mattresses in each room provide a peaceful night’s sleep. Every morning, guests may enjoy a complimentary breakfast buffet, which is meant to help them get their day started well to enjoy their stay completely.
Afterward, make your way to the gorgeous outdoor pool surrounded by lush tropical foliage. In summary, it is a perfect place to relax and soak up the sun while admiring the gorgeous beauty of the Bay of Panama.
It’s no wonder that Las Clementinas Boutique Hotel, situated in the center of Panama City’s thriving and throbbing gay nightlife, is regarded as one of the best gay hotels in Panama City, Panama. The building originates from the 1930s and provides the now-intimate and excellent boutique hotel with the feel of a magnificent guesthouse.
The hotel includes several beautiful socializing spaces decorated with vintage furniture and historical photos. For example, on the rooftop terrace, you may start your day well with a great à la carte breakfast while gazing over the historic city below.
In addition, it provides access to a magnificent garden where one may relax with a cup of tea or sit and enjoy a prix fixe breakfast on Sundays. But, if you want to meet new people, the lobby cafe bar, which residents and guests frequent, is the perfect spot.
You’ll fall in love with this hotel’s suites, which include six enormous one-bedroom flats with fully furnished kitchens and wraparound terraces perfect for entertaining guests. In addition to the comfortable beds, your room will include wonderful hardwood floors, high ceilings, delicate furnishings, and excellent bathrooms with Biogena amenities and rainforest showerheads.
The Casa Sucre, situated in the center of Casco Viejo, is one of the most beautiful and gay-friendly hotels in Panama City’s historic neighborhood. The guesthouse welcomes everyone who identifies as LGBT. However, there are only five rooms available. Its tagline is “Midwest friendliness in the heart of Americas,” thus vacationing here will be a unique and daunting experience.
Moreover, the gay scene of Panama City is only outside the door, and Gatto Blanco is housed in the building right next door. As a result, this is an excellent option for LGBTQ travelers searching for low-cost lodging in the neighborhood.
This historic hostel, which goes back to the nineteenth century, houses a popular coffee shop among the locals, notably the LGBT population. Coffee connoisseurs will like this business, which specializes in beans derived from Panama’s highlands, as a great place to hang out.
You may also nurse your hangover with a substantial à la carte breakfast while taking in the sights and sounds of Casco Viejo. The gorgeous apartments and flats contain elegant designs inspired by colonial-era America and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The apartments provide basic conveniences such as cable television and fully-equipped kitchens, but the most attractive feature is each unit’s charming balcony. In the evenings, guests may relax on these balconies while enjoying the natural surroundings’ spectacular beauty.
Gay Nightlife in Panama City, Panama
The city sleeps when the sun sets, but it displays a vibrant nightlife scene in the dark. It would be best if you spent most of your time in Casco Viejo while in town. The neighborhood is trendy and active, with plenty of pubs, restaurants, and other places to hang out. After a long and stressful day, unwind by heading out to one of Panama City’s numerous busy nightlife places.
Exploring the gay and gay-friendly nightlife in a new city can be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences while traveling – and Gay Panama City is no exception. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet new people and make friends, but you’ll also get a taste of the local culture and learn more about the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
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