How to Navigate Around Panama City If You Don’t Speak Spanish

Spanish is the official language of Panama and in Panama City you will find that many people speak English, especially the workers at the airport, Panama hotels and in many restaurants.  However, outside of the city center, the locals speak Spanish almost exclusively so it’s helpful to learn a little Spanish before you visit.  It is very important to show respect by having at least a basic understanding of the Spanish language and taking the time to learn a few simple words and phrases will help you in the long run; if you try to communicate in Spanish, it will surely be appreciated. 

City Tours

Panama City has historically been an international crossroads, so its people are accustomed to visitors from all over the world. However, especially if you do not speak Spanish, the best introduction to Panama City is to take a city tour with a bilingual tour operator. City tours usually include the “three Panama Cities” as well as a visit to Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal.

The “three” Panama Cities are the modern skyscraper city, the Colonial-era Casco Viejo and the ruins of the original Panama City in Panama Viejo. The “first” Panama City, Panama Viejo (Old Panama) is a site with the ruins of the original 16th century Panama City. Founded in 1517, Panama City was the first city built on the Pacific Coast of the Americas whose primary function was to facilitate the transfer of riches plundered from the Incan Empire by the Spanish to Spain via the Isthmus of Panama.  The Panama Vieja Museum has exhibits on the history and daily life of this city including artifacts found by archeologists in ongoing excavations. For the most part, the exhibits are all in Spanish so, unless you speak Spanish, this is a visit best taken with a bilingual tour operator. The “second” Panama City is Casco Viejo.  This sector of the city dates from the 17th century Spanish era. There are many historical buildings in this area including 17th century churches and convents as well as18th and 19th buildings which represent Panama City’s history as the crossroads of the Americas. The “third” Panama City, set on beautiful Panama Bay, has a flourishing business district, energetic nightlife and the only rainforest within city limits in the world: the Metropolitan Natural Park.

Getting around Panama City

If you are visiting Panama City for the first time, it is not recommended that you rent a car because the signage is poor and you will likely get lost. Secondly, driving in Panama City is difficult and the traffic can be chaotic.  The alternative is to take taxis which are fairly inexpensive and easy to find. You can flag a taxi easily from outside any hotel and you can go just about anywhere in Panama City for very little money. If you don’t speak Spanish, it’s a good idea to have someone at your hotel write the directions in Spanish for your taxi driver about where you need to go. If you are really not comfortable with your Spanish and you are concerned about communicating with a public taxi driver, there are personalized sight-seeing services available by private taxi. With this service, you will have a knowledgeable English-speaking driver/guide to assist you and, while more expensive than a public taxi, their rates are generally very reasonable.

For the most part, navigating around Panama City is not a problem if you do not speak Spanish.  Panama has also always been an international business crossroads.  Many Panamanians speak some English and those that cater to tourists, speak it fluently.   As long as visitors make an effort to communicate, most locals are happy to help travelers find their way around this beautiful and fascinating city.