Casco Viejo: Location, Location, Location — And Yes, It’s Safe

If you’re coming to Panama and not staying in Casco Viejo, you might want to reconsider. Seriously.

There’s a reason seasoned travelers, expats, and international business leaders are drawn to this historic district. It isn’t just the cobblestone charm, the colonial balconies, or the hidden cafés tucked behind centuries-old doors — though those help. It’s the location. Full stop.

We’re close to everything that matters.

Flying in for a conference at the Panama Convention Center out on the Amador Causeway? Casco is the closest high-style neighborhood to the venue — a quick, scenic drive away. If you’re senior leadership, this is where you want to be. Quiet. Walkable. Sophisticated. And when the meetings are done, Casco gives you the kind of evening you hope a trip like this will offer.

Proximity Matters — and Casco Delivers

• We’re 25–30 minutes from the airport.
• We’re 10 minutes to the city’s financial core.
• And we’re $4 to $6 by Uber from just about anywhere — unless you’re rolling big, in which case sure, take the Escalade.

You want views? Casco is the spot to watch the sun melt into the Pacific. Rooftops, plazas, balconies — it’s almost impossible not to find a perfect perch to catch golden hour.

You want soul? Mass at one of our historic churches will stir something in you, even if you haven’t stepped inside a pew in years.

You want adventure? Casco is the ideal launchpad for the kind of outings people dream of:

• Gamboa Rainforest and the Monkey Boat Tour (a must)
• Miraflores Locks — a true marvel of human engineering
• Taboga Island — a quick 20-minute boat ride from the Amador for a perfect beach day
• Metropolitan Park — easy hiking and the chance to spot sloths, toucans, and other wildlife roaming freely

So What’s the Catch?

There isn’t one.

Casco Viejo has heart. It has grit. It has grace. It’s where stories live and history breathes. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or coming back after many years away, you’ll feel it the moment you walk the streets.

Everything is here — and everything is possible from here.

Out and about with James.