Legends of Casco Viejo Tour: Hidden Gems with Panama Vibes Tours





Description
Exploring Casco Viejo’s secrets is a must-do when visiting Panama City! On this ¨Legends of Casco Viejo¨ tour, a passionate local guide will lead you through the iconic cobblestone streets of this historic district. Discover hidden gems, admire colonial architecture, and be captivated by stories of love, intrigue, and legendary figures that shaped Panama’s past. Want insider tips? We’ve got you covered, from the best local eats to vibrant nightlife recommendations. Rain or shine, we ensure your comfort with our umbrellas! Choose to meet us at the starting point or enjoy the convenience of hotel pick-up and drop-off from any location in Panama City.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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 (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.
Departure Point
Enjoy a market of artisan products, traditional hats, dresses, souvenirs and discover the most incredible murals with graffiti in Panama City
Pass by this church destroyed by fire in the year 1854 and was completely renovated only in the twentieth century
The oldest Panaminian Restaurant in Town
Pass by this 17th-century church, one of the few structures whose original stone façade was brought from Old Panama after the 1671 attack.
Pass By
Pass by this historic church famous for its Golden Altar, a baroque masterpiece that survived the 1671 raid on Old Panama.
Pass by this historic church famous for its Golden Altar, a baroque masterpiece that survived the 1671 raid on Old Panama.
Government Ministry
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Tour with Pickup and Return / Tour with One-Way Pickup For hotel or accommodation pickups, your driver will meet you in the lobby at the selected time. For cruise travelers arriving at Amador Cruise Terminal, your driver will be waiting at the main exit with a sign that says "Panama Vibes." You’ll see them as soon as you exit through the door. There will be several drivers, but the one with the sign is yours. Important for Meet Us at the Starting Point: This option does not include pickup service. You will need to head to the designated starting point at the Monument of Tomas Herrera in Casco Viejo.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(2,108)
Engaging tour guide. Very good for a basic overview of the history and makor landmarks of casco viejo.
The tour was awesome! Our guide Alex did an amazing job teaching us so much information and showing us some of the hidden gems of Casco Viejo. He also gave great recommendations of places to eat and places to visit. I even was looking for a specific shaved ice cart, and Alex knew exactly where to go! Definitely book this tour with Alex!
Alex shared alot of personal insight and explained everything well in detail.
Great tour! Smaller group meant more time to explore all the area had to offer and the host was very knowledgeable! The only thing I'd tell anyone is the restaurant at the end of the tour was good, but overpriced in my opinion.
Casca viejo is lovely, and this tour is a great way to get introduced before venturing out on your own. This tour was exactly the right length, with exactly the right number of stops, and Alex worked really hard - rain was threatening the whole way, but there he was with a perfectly timed umbrella, shopping, or museum stop, every time it came down! Really impressed too when he stopped the tour to run across the road to help a blind man cross. Always glad to be dealing with a kind person.
Alex was a terrific tour guide — knowledgeable, full of energy, friendly and clearly very proud of his city! We truly enjoyed this tour and would recommend it highly.
Booking the Legends of Casco Viejo Tour: Hidden Gems with Panama Vibes Tours is an absolute must, especially if Alex is your guide! He provided a brilliant, clear historical account of the area, seamlessly weaving the past into a narrative that was fascinating and effortless to follow. Rather than just reciting dates and facts, Alex truly made the city come alive through his vibrant energy and masterful storytelling. It was an engaging, thoroughly enjoyable experience, and I cannot recommend touring with him enough.
Convenient meeting place. Small groups with personal attention and two way conversations with our guide. Our group consisted of three solo travellers and one couple. Our guide, Alex was very knowledgeable and fun to be around. Overall it was a great tour!
Our guide was very engaging, the route was perfect for exploring the area, and the recommendations for restaurants and things to do afterward were excellent. Highly recommend!
Learnt a lot about the old Town and Panama from Alex. Really hot but Alex found shade for everybody.



