Panama

[leela]

Any recommendations?

Panama City, Boquete and Bocas del Toro seem to be the most popular places. But a couple of lightly less touristed locations would be nice. And an 'experience' of some sort.
Has anyone been?

[Liiisa]

In terms of 'experiences': If you have any interest in birds, the Canopy Tower is supposed to be pretty cool. You live up in this old observation tower so you can see right into the rainforest canopy.

[leela]

We seriously wanted to do the canopy tower, but jeeze, was it expansive. Double what the guide book told us it was (which would already have been a big splurge) and that didn't include any of the walks and so on that the place is known for. Ah well.

I did get to see sloths though, and the cloudforest areas around Boquete were great. Also the San Blas islands were wonderful. It was a good trip.

[kraken]

Just don't get a bank account!

[sprite]

sloths are pretty amazing for creatures that barely move. like monkeys in slow motion.

[Liiisa]

Yeah - it is really expensive, which is why I haven't gone there yet, ha! So glad you got to see a sloth, though - they are so lovely.

[tucano]

We had a whistle-stop tour in a day of Panama City on the way back from Ecuador a couple of years ago. Visited the old town, ruins on the outskirts of the city and the Panama Canal (which people seem to either love or hate - I enjoyed it). The guide was an environmental activist so it was interesting to hear her perspective on the development of the city and how it was affecting wildife. They were building a museum designed by Frank Gehry when we went, I think that's open now.

saltwatertales.com/2013/07/14/old-and-new-in-panama-city/