Panama City Solo VW Buggy Tour: Private 2-Hour City Safari

Drive through Obarrio, one of Panama City’s most vibrant business and shopping districts, known for its sleek skyscrapers, luxury hotels, and lively street life. From your open-air dune buggy, you’ll see a different side of the city — modern, energetic, and full of contrast with the old colonial quarter

See Panama’s modern side with stunning views of some of the country’s tallest skyscrapers. Among them stands the landmark tower now branded as JW Marriott Panama (formerly the Trump Ocean/International Tower) — at 284 m it’s the tallest building in Central America.
Wikipedia
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Savoury Planet
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At its striking sail-shaped top is the rooftop bar “Panaviera Sky Bar” located on the 66th floor, with a glass-railed infinity pool and panoramic views that stretch from the skyline to the ocean.
The Rooftop Guide
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On your open-top ride through Paitilla, you’ll take in the architectural scale, the glinting towers, and the stunning juxtaposition of urban skyline meeting coast — a perfect photo-stop moment.

Cruise along Avenida Balboa, Panama City’s most famous waterfront boulevard. With ocean breezes, palm-lined paths, and a skyline that rivals Miami, this is one of the most scenic drives in the city. From your open-air buggy you’ll see the Cinta Costera, yachts in the marina, and locals out walking or skating — a lively glimpse of modern Panama in motion.

Drive past Parque Urracá, a leafy waterfront park that separates the historic district from the city’s financial center. Popular with locals for its playgrounds, art sculptures, and sea views, it’s where the urban skyline meets the tropics. From your dune buggy, enjoy the contrast of greenery and glass towers — a perfect quick photo moment.

At the edge of Avenida Balboa lies the Mercado de Mariscos, Panama City’s bustling seafood market. Here you’ll find fishermen hauling in the day’s catch, locals lining up for fresh ceviche, and—if you look up—members of the Panamanian Air Force (a.k.a. the pelicans) circling hopefully overhead. The air is filled with the scent of the ocean and the rhythm of daily life, making this a colorful glimpse of authentic Panama.
Time spent: Pass by without stopping

As you leave the modern skyline behind, your dune buggy climbs the gentle hill into Casco Viejo, the city’s charming historic district. This was once the walled perimeter that protected Panama from pirates and invaders. The old fortifications may be gone, but the sense of history remains — cobbled streets, tiled balconies, and pastel-colored buildings whisper stories from the 1600s. Rolling in with the breeze and the buzz of local life, it’s a dramatic shift from glass towers to Spanish-colonial elegance.

Nestled in the heart of Casco Viejo, Plaza Herrera is one of the district’s most picturesque squares. Surrounded by beautifully restored colonial buildings and boutique hotels, it’s a perfect snapshot of Panama’s old-world charm meeting modern sophistication. Once a gathering place for soldiers and revolutionaries, today it’s alive with cafés, music, and vibrant street life. From your open-top buggy, it’s a scene straight out of a travel magazine — palm trees, balconies, and pastel facades bathed in Caribbean light.

Also known as Cathedral Plaza, this is the historic heart of Casco Viejo — where Panama declared its independence from Colombia in 1903. The square is framed by elegant colonial buildings, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the beautifully restored Hotel Central. It’s the perfect spot to pause and take in the blend of history, architecture, and everyday life that defines Panama’s Old Quarter. From your open-air buggy, you’ll feel the energy of centuries meeting the modern city just beyond the walls.

The famous “Hat Street” of Casco Viejo. Brightly colored walls, cobblestones, and strings of Panama hats hanging overhead make this one of the city’s most photographed corners. From your open-air buggy, you’ll glide right through the scene — a mix of old-world charm and pure Instagram gold. Don’t forget to smile; this is where passers-by often wave and shout “¡Qué carro más cool!” as you roll past.

he Cinta Costera is Panama City’s stunning coastal boulevard, curving gracefully along the bay. It connects the modern skyline with the historic Casco Viejo, offering sweeping ocean views, palm-lined walkways, and a lively atmosphere filled with locals biking, skating, and relaxing by the sea. From your open-air ride, you’ll enjoy the perfect blend of sunshine, skyline, and sea breeze — a true showcase of Panama’s beauty.

This charming square honors Simón Bolívar, the liberator of Latin America, and is one of Casco Viejo’s most elegant plazas. Surrounded by pastel buildings, outdoor cafés, and the grand Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís, it’s a place that perfectly captures the relaxed rhythm of the Old Quarter. As you roll past in your dune buggy, you’ll feel the energy shift — from bustling streets to a peaceful, sunlit square filled with history, music, and the scent of coffee drifting through the air.

Glide along Cinta Costera 3, the coastal highway that curves around Casco Viejo and frames one of Panama City’s most breathtaking views. On one side rise Miami-style glass skyscrapers reflecting the sun over the Pacific; on the other, the cobblestoned charm of the colonial old town. The contrast is pure magic — centuries of history facing the future across the same bay. From your open-air buggy, the panorama feels cinematic, with ocean breeze, skyline reflections, and the city’s energy all around you — a photographer’s dream.

Where Panama shook hands with history! This impressive bronze sculpture celebrates the 1977 Canal treaties between Torrijos and Jimmy Carter — a proud moment you’ll cruise past in vintage style, roof down and breeze up.

At the southern tip of Casco Viejo lies Plaza de Francia, a monument to Panama’s French heritage and the daring engineers who first attempted to build the Panama Canal. The plaza overlooks the Pacific entrance to the Canal and the Amador Causeway — a breathtaking panorama of ocean, city, and sky. Around the square you’ll find art galleries, colonial arcades, and cafés shaded by bougainvillea. It’s one of the most photogenic spots in the city, perfect for capturing that iconic Panama shot from your open-air buggy.

The first of the Amador islands, Naos Island offers sweeping views of the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and the passing ships below. Once part of a U.S. military base, it’s now home to marinas, restaurants, and oceanfront promenades lined with palm trees. Cruising past in your open-top Buggy, you’ll feel the fresh sea breeze and enjoy a perfect photo moment with Panama’s skyline shimmering in the distance.

Designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the BioMuseo is impossible to miss — a bold explosion of color and geometric shapes that symbolize Panama’s biodiversity and its role as the bridge between continents. From your open-air vehicle, you’ll get the best view of its striking rooflines, mirrored against the sea and skyline. It’s a favorite photo stop and one of the most distinctive buildings in all of Latin America.

Next along the Amador Causeway is Perico Island, a lively stretch filled with cafés, restaurants, and ocean views in every direction. From your open-air dune buggy, you’ll cruise past marinas dotted with sailboats and locals out for a seaside stroll. The views back toward the Panama City skyline are incredible — perfect for photos and that “I can’t believe this is real” moment as the sea breeze rushes by.

Flamenco Island is where city views meet open ocean. Cruise along the palm-lined promenade in your dune buggy as yachts sway in the marina and the Pacific stretches out before you. This island hums with restaurants, shops, and vibrant coastal energy.

The iconic Panama Sign on Flamenco Island! With the ocean behind you and the skyline glittering in the distance, it’s the perfect place to capture your classic “I was here” shot. Strike a pose beside your dune buggy as locals wave and music drifts through the breeze.