Molas are colourful panels sewn by the women of the Kuna Indian tribe, who reside here in Panama. Molas are part of traditional costumes worn by Kuna women, four mola panels are formed into the front and back panels of a blouse. In Dulegaya, the Kuna’s native language, “mola” means “shirt” or “clothing”. Traditionally molas depicted the geometric shapes woman traditionally painted on their bodies. Over the last 50 years molas have evolved and now depict everything from wildlife and scenery to political posters.  Molas are created by layering between two and seven pieces of fabric together and then cutting back portions of fabric to create a design and reveal the underlying colours. In Kuna culture women who craft intricate and elaborate molas are highly respected. Some molas take up to six months to complete!

Tourism in Panama has boomed in recent years and molas are now readily available for sale all over Panama City. You will have the opportunity to purchase molas when we visit the artisan market on our Panama City Tour and if you are interested in learning more about Kuna culture consider visiting the San Blas Islands, home to the Kuna’s, on our Kuna Yala & San Blas Islands Tour.

Let us guide through Panama City on our Panama City and Canal Tour.

See a little bit of everything Panama has to offer with the help of our friendly guides.

The day begins at the top of Cerro Ancon where picturesque views of the city are sure to leave you awed. Then we visit the Miraflores locks and watch monstrous cargo ships pass through the canal. A brief tour of an artisan market provides you with the opportunity to purchase gifts for loved ones at home. Lunch on the Amador Casuseway and exploration of a nature trail provide ample opportunities to snap photos. We finish the day in Casco Viejo, where a guided walking tour provides you with insight into this breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you’re not ready to head back to your hotel consider continue your evening in Casco, grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many local restaurants or taking a quick Spanish lesson from the Casco Antiguo Spanish School.

If you want to see more of Panama City consider building a custom tour for you and your friends!

Panama’s landscape is as diverse as its peoples. The cool mountainous regions, the dense mysterious Darien jungle and the picturesque white sandy beaches are just a few reasons to visit Panama. Panama City is a modern metropolis teaming with history and culture. The juxtaposition of new vs old creates a charming city like no other.

We have tours to accommodate every traveler’s destination wish list. From day trips to the Caribbean to custom build cross country trips we do it all! We can take you to every mountain top and beach that the beautiful country of Panama has to offer. Consider combining a tour of Panama City with a Half Day Spanish Crash Course; the Casco Antiguo Spanish School, located in historic Casco Viejo, offers Spanish classes for every level of student. Their individual tailored curriculum and conversational approach allows students to learn to speak Spanish. Let us help you plan your dream vacation to Panama!

If you need any help planning your Panama Adventure, contact us at www.barefootpanama.com
We are the Panama Experts.

My most recent trip in Panama was one of the memorable trips I have ever taken.  We started with a well planned city tour on Sunday, first stop, the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal. We watched ships pass through the locks from the roof deck, had a chance to view a movie on the construction of both the old and new canal projects and spent some time in the new museum. After passing by the old military zone, now the ‘City of Knowledge’, we went to the Amador and an island owned by the Smithsonian.  There you can learn all about Panama; how the land was formed, animals past and present, the American military presence, the flora, and all while enjoying the ocean views and maybe even spot a sloth in the trees. After a delicious and fresh seafood meal for lunch with the best view of the city skyline, we went to Casco Viejo.  Beautiful cathedrals, colonial buildings, and cobblestone streets make this a perfect place to stroll away the rest of the day. Be sure to try flavored shaved ice in Plaza de Francia  and seafood lovers won’t want to miss the famous fish market.

After a short flight Monday morning, we were in a different world, the Comarca de Kuna Yala! There are 365 islands (covered in coconut trees and many uninhabited) that make up the Archipielago de San Blas. The Kuna Indians govern the region with little interference from the national government and even used coconuts as currency until the late 1990’s.  We spent two days soaking up the culture while mingling with the Kuna, shopping for their famous molas and watching the traditional dance. We also soaked up the sun on the white sand beaches and while snorkeling in the turquoise Caribbean ocean.

Back to the city to hop on our transport for the rest of the trip, we crossed the Bridge of the Americas on our way to El Valle.  After about 2 hours, we were amazed at the change of scenery and climate. Located at about 3000ft, in the crater of one of the largest, extinct volcano’s, El Valle’s cool climate is great for hiking, spotting wildlife, and shopping for handicrafts.  There is also a ‘mud bath’, square-trunked tree, and local zoo where you can see some colorful frogs and other exotic animals.

The Pacific beaches of Panama are another one of the many reasons to visit this wonderful country. Surfing some of the best waves in Central America, scuba diving in the national park compared to the Galapogos, or relaxing by a camp fire on the beach while listening to the sea and counting stars… our guide knew all the best spots!

I think the parts of Panama that surprised me the most were the mountains. We drove higher and higher into the bread basket of the country with farms clinging to these hills up to an elevation above 8000ft. The lodge we used had wonderful spa treatments, the freshest food, great view of Panama’s tallest mountain (Volcan Baru) and included a hike in the cloud forest. One day we hiked the famous Quetzal trail to Boquete and even were lucky enough to spot one of these elusive, emerald green quetzal birds.  Boquete is a little lower and is well known for its flowers and coffee plantations but also has zip lines, white water rafting and rock climbing for the more adventurous.

Before crossing the continental divide, we stopped at some nice little hot springs and cooled off in the Chiriqui River.  The views were amazing as we approached Bocas Del Toro.  This is a perfect place to wind up the tour. We visited another national park, sailed with dolphins, snorkeled by the mangroves and enjoyed the Caribbean nightlife.  Unfortunately, we also had to catch our flight back to Panama City and no one wanted to leave.

Our guide left the island the night before so he was there when we landed.  We had plenty of time to test our siesta skills and freshen up before our last night’s dinner. The guide knew the perfect place with exceptional views of the skyline at night. Seeing that our flight wasn’t until late the next day, we decided to test out the cities legendary nightlife… we were not disappointed!

It is easy to see why Panama is becoming such a popular place to travel.  Safe and inexpensive, friendly people and beautiful places, adventure and wildlife, culture and history all make this a place that everyone will enjoy. Thanks to Kevin, our guide with Barefoot Panama we had a most memorable vacation and will talk about it for years to come.

Signed,

One happy traveler.