Legends of Casco Viejo Tour: Uncover Hidden Gems and History in Panama City's Vibrant District

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

Unveiling Casco Viejo’s secrets is a Panama City must-do! On this “Legends of Casco Viejo” tour, a passionate local becomes your guide, whisking you through cobblestone streets. Uncover hidden gems, witness stunning architecture, and be captivated by stories of love, intrigue, and legendary figures. Immerse yourself in Panama’s rich history. Insider tips? We’ve got you covered, from the best eats to vibrant nightlife. Rain or shine, explore in comfort with our umbrellas!

Choose to meet us at the starting point or enjoy the convenience of a hotel pick-up and drop off from any location in Panama City.

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
(720 Ratings)
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Kelly_w
Aug 30, 2024
Would recommend - Richard is very knowledgeable and easy going. It was an informative 2.5 hr journey into Panama's past at a pleasant pace.
Review provided by Viator
Willfz5809lo
Aug 29, 2024
Amazing tour around Casco Viejo - My family and I had an amazing tour around Casco Viejo with Alex. Alex has a wonderful personality, very knowledgeable about Panama’s history and culture, and we loved his high energy. The walking tour is at a nice pace with lots of stops around the old town. We really enjoyed our tour, tour guide, and definitely recommend this for anyone visiting Panama City.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marsha_s
Aug 28, 2024
Great experience! Alex... - Great experience! Alex was an incredible tour guide showing us around the old city. He is super knowledgeable and does a great job explaining the history of the area. Very friendly and a great guy!
Review provided by Viator
Justinjo1729
Aug 27, 2024
Alex, one of the legends of Casco Viejo. - Before we set off for our tour, our tour guide, Alex, gave us a fairly good detailed history of Panama City and how it came to be. You could tell that he has a wealth of knowledge of the town and its history. Throughout the tour, we saw many different parts of Casco Viejo but also saw that pretty much everyone in the town knew Alex. It was a sign that Alex wasn't just some corporate tour guide trying to explain the history of the town, but someone who lives in the town and knows its history. We walked around the area and saw a couple of churches and the cathedral, each with their own histories which Alex tied to the tour and the grand scale of Panama's history. He also took us to a couple of shops and took us through a locals only shop area where shops are lined up along, what I can only describe, as an alleyway. He also warned us of people just trying to rip tourist off, which I could only be thankful for. At the end of the tour, he took us to one of his recommended places to eat, which was near the French Monument. All in all, a fantastic tour. I would 100% recommend that anyone visiting Panama City, look up his tour. You will not be disappointed. Just some tips: -Wear comfortable shoes. There will be lots of walking so you don't want to be walking on uncomfortable shoes. -Bring water. Panama was rather hot and humid at this time, so bringing a water bottle is useful. Alex does stop at a shop during the tour and so you can buy a water bottle if you need it. -Check the weather ahead of time. Alex mentioned buying umbrellas for us if it does rain during the tour. While it briefly rained on our tour, the tour was mostly over and so we weren't caught in the rain for long. It might be worth checking the weather out just in case it rains or if you don't want to go on the tour with rain.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Olga_b
Aug 26, 2024
Great stroll - Was great stroll around the Old town. Alex was awesome. Went to couple museums, PanamaCanal, and plazas
Review provided by Viator
194emmyl
Aug 26, 2024
Tour with Alex. - I had a great experience in Panama with Alex. He was a great guide and knew a lot of a locals. I did this during the layover and it was well worth my time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tomatom94
Aug 25, 2024
Honest guide - Alex was a super guide with lots of knowledge about the history of the city and his country. I enjoyed the city tour and we can recommend it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yakovl361
Aug 25, 2024
Amazing experience with tour guide Alex - Alex was an amazing tourguide. He was very thoughtful to our religious needs throughout the tour. He was also very knowledgeable Bout the town and had very good life experiences to share on the tour about growing up in the old city. I would definitely recommend using Alex for your tour of casco Vieja.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Raynard
Aug 24, 2024
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - This experience was awesome! I wanted to see the city and that what Alex provided! Alex was well knowledgeable about the history! It was cool seeing the city and the locals and we were able to see the Molas being made which was dope! Loved it! I recommend it!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sandra080873
Aug 23, 2024
Very authentic guide with exciting city tour - We were both enthusiastic about the tour because it was very varied, informative and still personal because we were traveling in a small group! Our tour guide Alex has lived here since childhood and was able to tell exciting stories about the neighborhood and Panama in general and its development! Overall, a very authentic and sympathetic tour. It was really fun and I can 100% recommend it! Made new friends right away!:-)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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