13 Wonderful Things To Do in Panama City — ALONG DUSTY ROADS

Cycle The Amador Causeway & Cinta Costera

If the sun is shining, this should be near the tippy top of your list of things to do in Panama City.

Cycling the Amador Causeway (and the Cinta Costera that leads to it) transformed our whole perspective and appreciation of the city as a place and urban landscape. It’s also where you’ll find some of the best panoramic views of the old and new skyline, especially in the golden early evening light.

Once part of the former Canal Zone – a 16-km-wide strip of land around the canal that was effectively American territory on foreign soil, complete with its own laws, schools, and military bases – the Amador Causeway was for decades only accessible to US personnel and Canal Company employees. Built from the rock and earth excavated during the Canal’s construction, it links four small islands: Naos, Culebra, Perico, and Flamenco.

Today, it’s a sweeping, four-mile stretch of reclaimed land turned into one of the city’s most scenic and well-thought out public spaces – linking four small islands: Naos, Culebra, Perico, and Flamenco – whilst the Cinta Costera (Coastal Belt) is a new arc of road that curves out over the bay, carrying traffic around Casco Viejo rather than through it.

There are several bicycle rental companies, and dedicated cycle lanes run the entire length – along both sides of the causeway – with an orange/red path for pedestrians and a grey one for cyclists. It’s wide, almost entirely flat, and well maintained, and one doesn’t have to be particularly active or fit to head out and enjoy this.

If cycling both ways, you’re looking at around 24km.

On one side, you’ll see fishing boats bobbing against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers, composing a scene that feels more Hong Kong than Central America. When the tide’s out, locals wade in to collect cockles (or some sort of shellfish); pelicans dive; families fish off the edge of the promenade, and young lovers share secrets. On the other, calm turquoise water, palm trees, and green hills frame a quieter, more natural bay that feels far removed from the glass and hum of the city.

Frank Gehry’s colourful BioMuseo sits on the route – and if that’s in your plans, it’s a good idea to combine – whilst there are also plenty of benches, shaded viewpoints, and lots of explainer boards about the area’s history and biodiversity. At the end of the Causeway, you’ll find various restaurants, a marina, a shopping mall, and a cruise terminal – we didn’t linger for longer there, but for some it may be an enjoyable place to hang out and eat.

We spent just over three hours out on our rented bicycles, with lots of stops for photos, but you could easily extend it into a half-day or longer! Note that the route is also fully pedestrianised so, if you’re a runner or a walker with time on your hands, do head out that way too. In fact, this would be a dream to run if you’ve got your trainers and it’s not too hot.