Panama’s Best Hiking Destinations | Panama Special Report Copy

In this Panama Special Report, we bring you the city of Chitré, located in Panama’s Herrera Province.

Chitré is not just any sleepy old rural town and, in recent years, it has overtaken all of its neighbors and Chiriquí in terms of growth. According to the United Nations Development Program, it’s also a great place to live, enjoying Panama’s highest quality of life based on factors such as the education level of its population and life expectancy, measured in the Human Development Index.

The tiny finger of land that pokes out from Panama City’s southeastern corner and into the Pacific Ocean is San Felipe—better known to most as Casco Viejo, Casco Antiguo, or, simply, Casco.

Casco is laid out in grid format like a classic European city. Every few blocks, you’ll find a tree-lined plaza or the spire of a cathedral, all of which casts an Old World charm over the place. At only four avenues wide, the neighborhood is small and compact; a tiny treasure trove of historical structures best explored on foot. But despite all the visual reminders of the past, it’s also constantly evolving…

Most of Panama City’s cultural events are hosted in Casco Viejo. On any given day, you attend a gallery opening, watch a parade, listen to a concert, or stumble upon an impromptu event on the streets. There’s almost always something going on here… The best way to find out about events is to simply wander the streets.

Casco is sought out by tourists from around the world… If the prospect of living in the thick of all the action sounds appealing, Casco is probably for you.