Accommodation

There are many accommodation options at all different price levels in Panama. From luxurious resort to eco-adventure hotels to budget hostels, Panama is host to many accommodation options. Although the tourism industry is less developed in Panama than in neighboring Costa Rica, the isthmus is still relatively inexpensive and it is easy to find comfortable digs for low prices. Whether your budget is US$200/day or US$20/day, you can find a clean and dry place to lay your head for the evening.

Hostels

Hostels are a great way to experience Panama on a budget. Especially ideal for young and/or independent travelers, hostels often offer dorm-style sleeping accommodations with as few as 2 to as many as 12 fellow travelers sharing a room. Many hostels also offer private rooms, which are sometimes hard to come by during the high season, but can offer the perfect hostel/hotel balance. If you are traveling with one other, double rooms for as little as US$20/per night total, can give you a place to call your own at cheap price, all the while still affording you the luxury of visiting with fellow adventurers/hostel dwellers. While not found in every town and city in Panama, there are plenty of hostels in the major tourist destinations and backpacker hot spots throughout the country (i.e. Boquete, Panama City, David, Santiago, Bocas del Toro).

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Hotels

There are a wide variety of hotels for every budget in Panama. From small, budget hotels that will cost you little more than a hostel to luxury resort hotels, Panama has it all. In smaller towns like Santa Catalina on the Pacific coast and Cerro Punta in the highlands, there are often limited choices hotel-wise and they tend to be more modest. However, while modest, these rooms are usually comfortable and clean and have private bathrooms. In the San Blas archipelago, you can find a range of hotels that start at US$35/night at the Hotel San Blas (including 3 meals a day and boat tours) to slightly higher end hotels like Yandrup Island Lodge for US$60-$80/night (also including meals and boat tours).

If your budget has given you more wiggle room than the average shoestringer, but you are lacking the funds to stay in luxury hotels, there are a smattering of moderately priced mid-level hotels in Panama. Hotels in the US$40-$100 range tend to be a big step up from the cheaper options and afford guests significant comfort at a low price.

With a still developing tourism industry, Panama is home to a handful of luxury resorts that are still relatively modestly priced. For US$200-$500/night, you can stay in private bungalows or luxury hotel suites from Bocas del Toro to Panama City. Boutique luxury hotels like the Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge are becoming more common in places like Bocas del Toro. For US$260-$795/night, guests can stay in private cabins built over the Caribbean Sea. Spas and other luxury hotels are also easily found in the mountains near Boquete and in Panama City.

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Eco-Resorts

Already popular in Costa Rica, these adventure accommodations are quickly popping up around Panama. Located in a variety of locations throughout the country, these resorts offer guests comfort with a close proximity to nature. They often operate 100% or nearly 100% off the grid, making their own power and filtering their own water. They also offer tourists opportunities like jungle hikes, zip lining, river rafting and bird watching dependent on location.

Home Rentals

With a growing ex-pat community blooming in Panama, it is becoming easier to find both short-term and longer term vacation rentals throughout the country. In Boquete, where an ex-pat retiree community is quickly growing, it is easy to find a comfortable home to rent. Beach rentals and other properties are also available either for shorter 1-2 vacations or for several months at a time.

Camping

While there are definitely areas in Panama where you can camp, there are very few designated camp grounds in the country. Hostels and hotels are also still so cheap, sleeping in a bed in favor of the ground quickly becomes appealing. In addition, with heavy rains during certain times of the year, camping is not always the easiest (or driest) option. However, if you are set on pitching a tent during your Panamanian vacation there are a few good places to do so. Many hikers like to camp on the way up to the highest point in Panama, Volcan Baru. Camping near the top of the mountain and summitting early in the morning provides a better chance of being able to miss cloud cover and see both oceans from the top. There are also bunk style camping opportunities in several of the national parks (like in La Amistad in the highlands), where you can roll out your sleeping bag on a wooden bunk in the ranger station for only a few dollars a night.