Getting Out in Panama City

By alantvuong on June 5, 2021

I recently posted about my March 2012 Panama all-inclusive vacation detailing the accessibility and review of Westin Playa Bonita here. Staying on the resort eating, drinking and relaxing everyday for a week can get repetitive, so it is always fun to get out of the resort to do something fun. There was a tours desk in the resort where we asked and learned about different activities.

My friend and I decided on 2 excursions that could be possible for me to do that could accommodate my wheelchair and worth doing. We picked the obvious Panama Canal Tour and Panama Canal Miraflores Locks and City Tour. We also decided to hire our own taxi to get out in the city which was cheaper than booking an expensive excursion.

Panama Canal Tour

Panama is best known for the Panama Canal and this is one tourist attraction that is an absolute must do. The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. This shortcut greatly reduces travel times for ships who carries supplies for trade. The Panama Canal is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

on a regular bus to see the Panama Canal

At the time we went, only 2 canal locks existed as a new larger and wider one opened in 2016. Our day started with getting on a regular tour bus. My friend had to carry me to the front seats of the bus and then have my manual wheelchair stowed in the storage area. The bus ride wasn’t too long but it did stop at a few places to pick up people before arriving at the tour site.

inside the boat

I don’t remember the exact details about the accessibility of the boat but we did manage to get on without any issues. I did have to stay on the main level of the boat while my friend went up the stairs to the upper deck which was uncovered to take better pics for me.

cameras all ready to enter the Miraflores Locks

There were lots of waiting while other boats in front of us got their turn to enter the locks in order of arrival. Once we get to the Miraflores Locks, our tour guide told everyone to get their cameras ready and to capture as many pics as possible. My friend did move around to each window and the upper deck to get me the best pictures of the water level changing and the locks opening and closing.

locks closing

water starting to fill up

After the main event, it was time for our included lunch. It wasn’t anything spectacular but at least there was something to eat. We took a few more pictures on the return boat ride and then it was back to the bus to take us to our hotel.

our included lunch

Panama Canal Miraflores Locks and City Tour

Since we thought the Panama Canal Tour was amazing, we wanted a more thorough experience by choosing the Miraflores Visitor Center and City Tour. Our bus for this excursion was smaller than the previous trip and still did not have a ramp or wheelchair lift. My friend carried me into the front seats of the bus again.

on a small non accessible bus

Once we arrived at the Miraflores Visitor Center, there were inside and outside viewing areas where we can see boats and ships transit. It was really cool to watch the boats from the outside for a different perspective of everything happening.

outside viewing area to watch the Miraflores locks from above

There were also 4 floors of exhibits with informative pieces and live animals like fish, turtles and insects. We also got to see a short film about the Panama Canal’s history. Afterwards, we got back on the bus and was headed to Casco Viejo which is the historic district in downtown Panama City.

checking out the exhibits in Miraflores Visitors Center

The tour guide informed and explained to us some of the buildings and sights that we saw on the bus ride. Once we arrived to Casco Viejo, we were allowed to get out to roam around and visit wherever we wanted to downtown. It was great to see some really old buildings like the city hall and churches.

old city hall in Casco Viejo, the historic district downtown

Accessibility wasn’t too bad as my friend pushed my wheelchair everywhere. If a sidewalk does not have a curb cut, he can easily help me up the step.

exploring the streets of downtown

Taxi Trip

My friend and I wanted to do another outing without having to pay excursion prices so we decided on a taxi trip. Since we needed to buy souvenirs and more, we decided to visit Albrook Mall. It was about a 20 minute taxi ride from our hotel and is one of the world’s biggest malls with over 700 stores and services.

taxi ride with my wheelchair in the back

The mall is so huge that each section of the mall is associated with an animal like Gorilla, Tiger, Koala and more. The mall does have a movie theater, amusement park and even a train that takes visitors around the mall. We didn’t get to see the whole mall but it was cool to check out and eat some food at the giant food court before heading back to our hotel.

at the Gorilla section of the mall

All inclusive vacations are fun but it is always great to venture out of the resort for a change of scenery. We had a great time going through the Panama Canal, checking out the Miraflores Visitor Center, and spending some time at the massive Albrook Mall. Highly recommended.