Legends of Casco Viejo Tour: Uncover Hidden Gems and History in Panama City's Vibrant District
4.8
607 Ratings
Panamá
Uncover hidden gems and history on the Legends of Casco Viejo Tour in vibrant Panama City. Explore stunning architecture, local spots, and fascinating tales with a knowledgeable guide.
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Panama City - Regardless of the option you choose when booking this tour, either starting at a meeting point or with the picking up option at your hotel or accommodation in Panama City Downtown. Our guide will welcome you and applying all the biosecurity protocols will guide you to this incredible time full of amazing surprises!

  • Casco Viejo - Casco Viejo (Old Town), also known as San Felipe, is the historic district of Panama City. We will walk around this part of the city visiting the main sites of this area and learning some history by the hand of our expert tour guide.

  • Plaza Tomas Herrera - Departure Point

  • Salsipuedes - Enjoy a market of artisan products, traditional hats, dresses, souvenirs and discover the most incredible murals with graffiti in Panama City

  • Iglesia Santa Ana Panama - Pass by this church destroyed by fire in the year 1854 and was completely renovated only in the twentieth century

  • Cafe Coca Cola - The oldest Panaminian Restaurant in Town

  • Iglesia de la Merced - The Majestic Church of the Religious Order of the Mercedarians, which models the rocks of its original construction in the ancient city invaded by Henry Morgan and his cronies in 1671. Here you will appreciate the once entrance of the new city of Panama, the beautiful architecture that begins to parade before your eyes will captivate you. You will have the opportunity to enter the church and admire the religious art that has survived since the 17th century

  • Mano de Tigre Panamá - Pass By

  • Church of Saint Joseph - The legendary Golden Altar, which survived the looting perpetrated by Henry Morgan and his men, is today the subject of legends and admiration. Here he discovers one of the greatest Christmas nativity scenes in the republic.

  • Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria the Ancient - You could not miss a visit to our Majestic Basilica Cathedral and its Plaza surrounded by History and beautiful buildings.

  • Government Ministry - Government Ministry

  • Arco Chato - Old Convent of Santo Domingo that preserves the remains of the most emblematic architectural piece of the Old Town at the end of the 18th century. Believe it or not, this same piece of architecture EL ARCO CHATO (Flat Arch), was the key during the Panama Canal negotiations between the United States and France.

  • Plaza Carlos V - Plaza Carlos V

  • National Theatre - The National Theater was conceived by the Italian architect Genaro Ruggieri in a neoclassical style. It was inaugurated on October 1, 1908. On its facade there are two sculptures that represent the muses of music and lyrics. We also found six medallions, which honor Wagner, Shakespeare, Moliere, Rossini, Cervantes and Lope de Vega.

  • Paseo de Las Bovedas - The Monumental Ensemble of Las Bóvedas or Las Bóvedas is the name commonly known as the set of works that form the walls that surround the Plaza de Francia. The monumental complex consists of seven vaulted spaces that formed the system city defensive.

  • Palacio de las Garzas - The Palace of Las Garzas, is the seat of the President of the Republic of Panama. It also houses the Ministry of the Presidency and the Institutional Protection Service

  • Independence Square - The Plaza de la Independencia (Cathedral Square) is the main public space of the Old Town. It was the space chosen by Panamanians to celebrate the great landmarks of the city’s history, such as the independence of Spain and later of Colombia. The Plaza is surrounded by the main historical buildings such as the Cathedral, the Municipal Palace and the Panama Canal Museum. During the summer months she dresses in pink by the flowers of the trees that surround her.

  • Plaza Bolivar - This small square is surrounded by beautiful old buildings, as well as restaurants and bars. The original name of the square was San Francisco, but in 1883 it was decided to change it in honor of Venezuelan General Simón Bolívar. In the center of the square you will see a sculpture of Bolivar standing under a great Condor with the legend ‘The nations of America to the liberator Simón Bolívar.

  • France Square - You have reached the end of this incredible journey. Before, the Spanish military headquarters, then it belonged to the Colombian armed forces and prisons in our Colombian era, and finally in our republican era, at the beginning of the twentieth century, our nation honors the French effort for its gallantry in being the initiators of such a difficult project. As you walk on the walls facing the sea, enjoying the delicious breeze from the Pacific Ocean and delighting in shopping for handicrafts exhibited by the artisans themselves, we will end this incredible tour. You can decide if you want to return to our starting point, to take you by car to your hotel in the city or simply stay to taste the gastronomy of the area.

What's Included
  • 2-3 Hours Hidden Alleyways & Passages Guided Tour of Casco Viejo
  • Explore several alleys and popular points of interest
  • Professional and Licensed Local Guide
  • Stroll through the quaint and charming streets of the historic district
  • Small-Group for a more personalized experience
  • Learn about the history and events that shaped Panama
  • Umbrella provided if it rains
Additional Information

Step into the enchanting world of Panama City’s Casco Viejo with a local guide who’s passionate about sharing the stories, history, and culture of this vibrant part of town. Our “Legends of Casco Viejo” tour takes you on a journey through time, where you’ll discover the hidden gems, stunning architecture, and authentic local spots that only insiders know about. Our knowledgeable guide will captivate you with fascinating tales of love, glory, and fortune, as well as stories of intrigue, war, and conflict that have shaped this remarkable area. You’ll also receive insider tips on the best places to eat, drink, and experience the city like a true local. This tour is perfect for anyone who loves outdoor walks and wants to connect with a friendly and personable guide who truly loves this city. Choose to meet us at the starting point or enjoy the convenience of a hotel pick-up from any location in Panama City. Rain or shine, we’ve got you covered with plenty of umbrellas.

Location
Plaza Tomás Herrera
Avenida A
The meeting point is at monument of Tomas Herrera right in the middle of Herrera Square in Casco Viejo. Just in front of the American Trade Hotel. Your guide will be holding a "PanamaVibes" sign.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(607 Ratings)
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Schimanks
Jun 19, 2024
Fun and Informative! - So informative and fun! This tour was great and Alex was an amazing tour guide. He made the history fun and I learned so much about Panama City!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mita_m
Jun 19, 2024
Great Tour - The tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The information we got on the tour was informative.
Review provided by Viator
Valeriedc3758xn
Jun 18, 2024
Exciting & Informational Tour - Alex was extremely knowledgeable and charismatic. We toured the historic churches and sites of Casco Viejo. I would note that you should make sure you bring an umbrella, as it does rain for majority of the year in Panama. Regardless of the weather, I would definitely recommend this trip to learn more about Panama’s history, culture, and architecture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Naomi_d
Jun 17, 2024
Fabulous Panama old town - Alex the guide was knowledgeable and gave us lots of local info. He was lots of fun, made everything interesting. This was a great tour with Alex ask for him.
Review provided by Viator
Mary
Jun 15, 2024
Casco Viejo with Alex - We are taking a week-long Panama tour, but it did not include a visit to Casco Viejo. We are so glad that we booked this extra tour, as we had a great time and learned so much! Alex Biggs was our tour guide. We can’t say enough about him. Alex is a native Panamanian and his pride of country shows. He picked us up at our hotel and was prompt. He was very personable, fun, and knowledgeable. He is a true student of history, providing us with a chronological timeline of what happened when, which country was involved, and why things are as they are. We visited many sites on this walking tour, and Alex allowed us to stop, take pictures, & ask questions. Alex was a great guide and we were very pleased him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christinarp2995ui
Jun 15, 2024
Terrific “New” Old Town Tour - Alex was a superlative tour guide. Full of energy and knowledge, he made the time fly by in a fun and engaging way. I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to learn more about the history of Panama and have fun doing it 🇵🇦
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nina
Jun 15, 2024
June 2024 Casco Viejo - Alex was an amazing guide! Very knowledgable and passionate about the city and history of Panama. He gave us recs for local food, historical sites, and museums along tour route - an excellent way to begin a trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mayra
Jun 15, 2024
Quick Panama Visit - Alex was our tour guide and he was fascinating, The way he explained and told us the story of the city and how it developed was amazing. We were here for only 24 hours and learned so much during this tour. We are definitely coming back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kris
Jun 15, 2024
The history of Panama City! - Alex did a marvelous job on this tour. He knows so much about Panama and its rich history and he taught us a lot. I didn’t really know anything about Panama and am so glad I got to learn about the city, its indigenous history and many of the events that took place over the last few centuries. I would highly recommend this tour with Alex.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
738erickac
Jun 14, 2024
High Quality Experience! - Alex was very informative and gave an amazing history lesson of Panama’s culture and background. Along the tour you visit several historical sites, museums, and hidden gems. The beautiful buildings and colors you pass along the journey are worth the tour by itself. Alex is very knowledgeable and I enjoyed my time on the tour. This is a walking tour, so if you have issues walking long distances and up and down stairs then this is not the tour for you. But if you love history, culture, art, and a guide that has a dash of humor and humility, then I 100% recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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