Panamá Viejo, Panama Province, Panama

4.0 (767 reviews) Spent Ranking #28 in Panama City Historic Sites

Well worth the trip

A piece of history, in the early 1500s Panama Viejo was the first city on the Pacific to be settled by the Spanish. The ruins were largely plundered for use elsewhere after being burnt down by buccaneer Henry Morgan. We enjoyed walking through the trees and around the museum. No guide required - take a taxi and read the information by the exhibits.

Address

Vía Cincuentenario, Panama.

Website

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/790

Current local date and time now

Saturday, May 04, 2024, 22:08

User Ratings

4.0 based on (767 reviews)

Excellent
36%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
4%
Terrible
1%

Reviews

  • 4phutty 5:00 PM Feb 25, 2020
    Bone up on the history of Ciudad de Panama
    This historical site on the outskirts of the city centre is worth taking an Uber to, just as it's worth making use of the free shuttle to ferry yourself around the site, which otherwise requires a lot of walking in limited shade under a blazing sun. The museum at the heart of the complex does a good job of contextualising the site and showcasing the lives and customs of the indigenous (and later foreign) population, with some interesting displays on interment rituals and the ultimate fate of the settlement at the hands of Morgan - and, indeed, the pirate captain's own ironic fate. The ruins themselves are what they are, though picking through them does throw up the odd atmospheric moment, and climbing the tower is a must for both the views and the significant drop in temperature. While at the base of the tower you'll almost certainly spot iguanas, too. There is an unexciting but much-needed café on site. WiFi, if you need it, is available in the book store by the front entrance (ask staff for the password).
  • 4ImagineNoHell 5:00 PM Jan 4, 2020
    Go even though the locals said no
    If you like to learn about the history of a place, this has enough for a few hours. This is the first city of Panama, before Captain Morgan, yes, that Captain Morgan, sacked the city and it had to move to a new place, Casco Viejo. You pay at the door and there's a tram that takes you inside. Most of the ruins weren't taken care of so it's really not much left, but it gave me pause always to see places in ruins. To the locals this is a lot of money, but I enjoyed the two little museums and reading about the history. The church tower was worth a climb to the top, but you have to walk up the stairs. After visiting PV, go to the artisans marketplace next door. Be ready to bargain, hard. Be willing to walk away. You can find the same things scattered around the city, so it helps if you know the prices going in.

See also