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Gay Panama travel guide: the best bars, clubs, hotels and things to do

Stefan Arestis
Gay Panama travel guide: the best bars, clubs, hotels and things to do

Our gay travel guide to Panama city: find out about the gay scene, the best gay bars and clubs, things to do, gay hotels, safety tips, and more.

…and God said, “Let there be sexy people”, so he created Panamanians!

Wise words from the Bible itself according to our gay friends Luis and Mario from Panama City…

Panama City is often nicknamed The Dubai of Latin America because of its immense economic growth in recent years and impressive dense skyline. But unlike Dubai, this mighty Latin American metropolis has a far more welcoming gay life, in a country where although culturally conservative, is constantly striving for LGBTQ equality.

Gay couple travel book Nomadic Boys Out in the World

Most will associate Panama City with the famous canal, which is a reason alone to visit. The city is also the gateway to some gorgeous tropical beaches within Panama, like San Blas and gay friendly Bocas del Toro. We stayed in Panama City for a week and loved it. It's full of things to do, plenty of trendy bars, but most importantly, we left with a thirst to return for more. It's also a useful destination because it's one of the major transport hubs in Central America.

This is our complete gay guide to Panama City following with a focus on the gay scene, our pick of the most gay friendly hotels, our favourite things to do, and more.

Heads up: We just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links. That means if you book something through one of those links, we'll get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep our blog going – so thank you in advance for your support! ♥

Landing at Tocumen International airport soon?

Avoid the stress of queuing for a taxi at Panama City's international airports by pre-booking your private transfer now. By doing this, everything is taken care for you from the moment you're picked up at the airport to when you're dropped off at your hotel. You won't have to deal with negotiating taxi fares and you're guaranteed an English speaking driver. The service is available for arrivals to Tocumen International Airport as well as to the Panama Pacifico Airport.

Is Panama safe for gay travellers?

Overall, yes, Panama is safe for LGBTQ travellers, but assuming you stick to the touristic areas of Panama City, Bocas del Toro and San Blas. If venturing beyond, into more local areas, we recommend taking extra care and avoid all PDAs.

Panama is a very conservative country. It has such a strong influence from the Catholic Church that any attempt by the government to pass any progressive LGBTQ laws in Panama almost always gets blocked! As a result, Panama does not recognise same-sex unions and has no anti-discrimination laws to protect the LGBTQ community! To give you an example, a 2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling required Panama to recognise same-sex unions and allow gay couples to adopt. Sadly, the response was a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage by the Panamanian National Assembly in October 2019. The LGBTQ community of Panama has quite a long road ahead of it…

But remember, this is a country where homosexuality was legalised as late as 2008. It has come a long way since then with a popular annual Pride taking place every June, a vibrant gay scene in Panama City and a fantastic LGBTQ community that is constantly growing in confidence.

Panama city gay area

In Panama City, the bulk of the gay scene of Panama City is mainly found in the Casco Viejo old town and the El Cangrejo neighbourhoods. Both are full of foreigners, tourists and ex-pats from all over the world. We felt totally safe here but erred on the side of caution and saved all the hand-holding, dancing and kisses-on-the-cheek for the gay bars/clubs only. As a general rule and to be on the safe side, we recommend you also do the same: avoid any PDAs and save them for the queer-friendly spaces we've set out in this article.

Gay hotels in Panama City

If you want to be in the tourist heart of Panama City, we suggest booking a hotel in Casco Viejo. All the best restaurants, cafes and sites will be on your doorstep here. Over in the El Cangrejo, you're more in the business/financial heart of the city, but closer to the main gay hangouts as explained above.

We stayed in a mix of gay friendly hotels located in both areas and have summarised our experiences of each below to help you pick which is the best for you:

01

Las Clementinas boutique hotel

Casco Viejo

Las Clementinas is a gay friendly boutique hotel in Panama city Casco Viejo

Why we love it


  • Our top pic for a romantic stay
  • Well located in the Casco Viejo old town
  • Elegant and classic boutique hotel bursting with character
  • The rooftop terrace has the best views ever!

Las Clementinas is our top choice for gay travellers who want a romantic stay right in the heart of Casco Viejo.

It oozes character – the public areas are decorated with old photographs and vintage decor. It is set in a charming 1930s apartment building with most of the original features still in place. It feels more like you're staying in a posh guesthouse rather than in a hotel.

The rooftop is another huge highlight, with views over Casco Viejo and beyond. We recommend having your breakfast here, weather permitting of course!

The rooms are ensuite and super spacious. They include a mini kitchen with filtered water. The beds are very comfortable and a pleasure to melt away in after arriving here after a long-haul flight. In terms of location, you have the best bars, cafes, restaurants and shops in Panama City right on your doorstep. The only downside, which goes for any hotel in the Casco Viejo, it can get a bit noisy in the evenings. For me (a heavy sleeper) this wasn't an issue. For Seby (very light and fussy sleeper!), he needed earplugs.

The restaurant at Las Clementinas is worth checking out even if you're not staying here. It opens onto a beautiful garden, decorated with nostalgia-laced photos, tiled flooring, and a handsome marble bar. The food is delicious – a fusion of Panamanian and European serving tasty ceviches and steaks.

As a gay couple, we were made to feel extremely welcome at Las Clementinas. The owner, Paola, is a huge ally to the LGBTQ community and enthusiastically supports Panama City Pride Week every June.

02

AC Hotel by Marriott

El Cangrejo

Marriott is a really cool gay friendly hotel in Panama city

Why we love it


  • Walking distance to the main gay bars of Panama City
  • Everyone here smiles at you and makes you feel welcome
  • Loooovely rooftop pool and Jacuzzi!
  • Trendy lounge bar to hang out at with your beau

We loved loved the AC Hotel by Marriott. It feels grand the moment you enter. The lobby is massive with high ceilings, wide corridors and marble floors. 

As far as customer service goes, these guys have it nailed down to a T. Everyone was so welcoming to us, from the sweet receptionist who checked us in, the hunky staff at their trendy AC Lounge bar to the friendly cleaning ladies.

Our room had plenty of space, complete with a very large comfortable bed. We also loved the views over the city.

The buffet breakfast was so beautifully presented with an impressive offering of both international and local dishes, which included fried dough, yucca, lots of different local breads, and even a natural honeycomb dripping fresh honey. In terms of communal areas, there is a gym, as well as a large outdoor pool and Jacuzzi on the rooftop. We spent a large chunk of the day hanging out here – when it's hot and humid outside, why not spend it by the pool says we!?

In terms of location, the Panama Marriott is located in the El Cangrejo area, which felt extremely safe. The hotel is just around the corner from the excellent Envy gay club. Also nearby is the SoHo Mall and of course, the Avenida Balboa beachfront road, which was our favorite place to come running in the morning.

We recommend the AC by Marriott Hotel if you are based right at the heart of the main gay bars and clubs of the El Cangrejo neighborhood.

STAY WITH A GAY LOCAL

Misterb&b is the Airbnb equivalent for the LGBTQ community. Unlike on Airbnb, you know your host is gay, voiding any nasty surprises when you check-in. It is also a great way to meet gay locals and discover the underground gay scene. Click below to get 10 € (or $10) off our first booking.

03

Waldorf Astoria Panama

El Cangrejo

Waldorf Astoria is agay frienldly luxury hotel in Panama city

Why we love it


  • Divine luxury hotel
  • Walking distance to the main gay bars
  • Just by the Avenida Balboa beachfront
  • Splendid pool area with world-class spa

The Waldorf Astoria is part of the Hilton hotel group, a brand that is internationally famous for being very gay friendly.

Similar to the Panama Marriott, the Waldorf is also located in the El Cangrejo neighborhood, making it a convenient base to be close to the main gay scene, especially El Apartamento bar which is just a block away.

The other reason we loved the Waldorf is that its located just by the Avenida Balboa beachfront, which was one of our favorite hangouts in the city at sunset and also perfect for morning runs.

We stayed in one of the lavish suites. As well as having all the usual Hilton amenities – bathrobe, slippers, Salvatore Ferragamo branded toiletries, etc, it also had a very comfy King-sized bed, and a Nespresso machine to satisfy my hourly caffeine fix, and a welcome plate of yummy macarons. Other facilities in the hotel include an outdoor heated pool with an adjacent whirlpool, a modern 24-hour gym with a full range of equipment, and a highly rated spa offering treatments from “Jet Lag Gurus”.

In terms of food options, the Waldorf Panama has a terrific breakfast buffet, which was our favorite standout culinary memory from our stay here. We may have overstayed our welcome here trying everything on offer from the delicious fresh juices, the different cheeses, bread, and the yummy local Panamanian classics like sancocho soup. The hotel also has two other restaurants, one specializing in French/American fusion food, and the other in sushi.

04

Luna's Castle Hostel

Casco Viejo

Luna Castle in Casco Viejo in Panama is a cool gay friendly hostel for LGBTQ travellers

Why we love it


  • Best budget hostel located in Casco Viejo
  • Hip gay friendly bar to hang out called Relic
  • Full of charm and character
  • A bit looney and very gay friendly!

You also thought of Luna Lovejoy from Harry Potter right? Luna's Castle Hostel is actually a plush and affordable hostel set in a three-story creaky colonial mansion from the 1800s.

It's super hip and cool here, targeted at backpackers. It's sociable, laid-back, and as Lonely Planet put it: “a bit looney and very friendly”!

We think this is the best option for solo travelers and LGBTQ budget travelers who want to be based right in the heart of Casco Viejo. This is also home to the queer-friendly Relic Bar, which is our favorite hangout on weekends.

We love the fact that Luna's does not feel like you're staying in a cheap hostel at all. From the moment you enter, you get an old-world feeling – think high ceilings, ornate balconies, French doors, and a handsome wooden staircase! On the second and third floors, you get an impressive view of Casco Viejo, Panama Bay, and the downtown skyline. The staff at Luna's are young and super charming, which we think is key to what makes Luna's a gay friendly have in Panama City.

Luna's has a strong focus on communal activity which is a great way to connect with fellow travelers. For example, they have a cozy movie theatre showing films until midnight, a communal kitchen, a table tennis area, and spare guitars hanging on the walls for guests to use – Seby particularly loved this! The only downside is Luna's only has dorm beds and doesn't (yet) offer private rooms, which may put off gay couples from staying here.

Gay bars in Panama City

There are no “official” gay bars in Panama City. There are a handful of very queer-friendly places where we felt comfortable with PDAs, which we set out below. They are mainly based in the El Cangrejo and the Casco Viejo neighborhoods.

Heads up: the Malibu Spirits and the hipster Relic Bar did not survive Covid and have closed down. In addition, the iconic Envy gay club in Panama also closed its doors for good in November 2023.

Gato Blanco Rooftop Bar: Casco Viejo

Nomadic Boys drinking mojitos at Gato Blanco a gay friendly bar in Casco Viejo in Panama

Gato Blanco is a trendy gay friendly bar in Casco Viejo and a favorite hangout with LGBTQ locals we met in the city. We love the cool vibe here, the crowd a mix of fashionistas and hip 20/30-somethings out for a few drinks. (The bar staff are also super cute). When we came here it was a Friday evening and they had a live DJ set playing some of the best Latino pop hits.

Gato Blanco is open every day from 5pm until 3am. It is in fact the rooftop lounge of the “Gato Blanco Party Hotel” located at Avenida B 8, a few blocks from the Panama Canal Museum.


El Apartamento Panama: El Cangrejo

El apartamento y el sotano view from the outside, gay friendly hangout in Panama city

El Apartamento y El Sotano is a gay friendly restobar in the El Cangrejo neighborhood located next to a balloon shop. We say this 'cause there is no sign outside, so use the World Globes Balloon shop as a point of reference! Inside, the bar is downstairs where all the fun happens, the restaurant is upstairs. The vibe is very Bohemian with a young, open-minded, mixed crowd mainly in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. There was no issue at all about us dancing together here or the occasional kiss.

El Apartamento Panama is only open from Tuesday to Sunday from 7pm until around 3/4am. It is located at on Avenida Federico Boyd next to “El Mundo de Los Globos” (the balloon shop).


Gay clubs in Panama City

Panama City has a few gay clubs, which we set out below. But also note there are many monthly ad hoc parties that take place at the international hotels such as the Hard Rock. To find out what's happening when you touch down in Panama City, we recommend using Grindr to connect with local guys and also messaging the Gay Pride PTY Facebook page who are very responsive.

Pro-tip: bring your original passport with you when going out to a gay club in Panama City. The doormen are very strict and will only admit you if you have your original ID. A copy or photo of it on your phone will not suffice and they'll just turn you away. 

XS Club Bar: Tumba Muerto

XS club in Panama is one of the best gay nightclubs in Panama with sexy guys

XS is one of the main gay clubs in Panama City where you'll quickly make lots of friends! It's a very local crowd, who welcome foreigners with open arms – we loved it for this! Sadly it's in quite a rough area so we highly advise taking an Uber there and back. As stated above, the doormen will bluntly dismiss you if you don't have your original passport so remember to bring this! UPDATE MARCH 2024: we are advised they no longer do this.

XS is open Thursday to Sunday from 9 pm until 3 am, but we advise heading here after midnight. It is located at via José Ricardo Alfaro, Avenida Juan Pablo II, behind Antiguo Depósito and in front of the SIGLO XXI shopping center in the Tumba Muerto neighborhood.


Discoteca BLG Lips Panama: Tumba Muerto

Blg Lips in Panama organises gay nights with drag queens and shows

BLG is a more upscale gay club in Panama popular with everyone in our LGBTQ family. They play a mix of Latino-pop hits and electro music. They also have drag shows on most nights, but it's mainly in Spanish, so a great way to polish up your gay Panamanian Spanish slang! Themed nights include Foam Parties, male-only parties and a “Girls Night”. Check their Facebook page for details of the next event.

BLG is open Wednesday to Sunday evenings from 8pm until around 3/4am. It is located on Via Transismica, between the Mcdonald's and Bombasa in front of Motores ForfLook – look out for the BLG sign and the Colpan Ford agency.


Gay saunas in Panama City

When it comes to gay saunas in Panama City there are few, in fact just one! Though we advise connecting with local gay guys on Grindr to find out the latest gay scene gossip – places open and close quite quickly here.

HamMan Sauna & Spa: Calidonia

The best gay sauna and cruising bar in Panama city

HamMan is the only gay sauna in Panama City with lots of different themed nights every day of the week like Naked Only, 2for1 Entry and Threesomes! Saturday evening is the busiest night when they have a live stripper and DJ. Wednesday is “University Night” with reduced entry for under 25s.

The HamMan Sauna is open daily from around 5pm until around 3am (5am on weekends). It is located at Calle 32 Este near the National Lottery Building in the Calidonia neighbourhood which is between El Cangrejo and Casco Viejo.


Gay Pride and other events in Panama

When it comes to gay events in Panama, the main one is Pride week in June. However, the big Carnival in February has also become an “unofficial” LGBTQ event to look out for:

Panama City Carnival – February/March

During the big Carnival in late February that takes over the entire country, an “unofficial” gay presence is growing stronger here each year with more and more queer parties taking place over the big four days. We advise checking out the gay bars and clubs listed above which will also host parties Carnival-inspired parties during this period.

Panama City Pride – June

The LGBTQ community of Panama City may have a slight uphill struggle when it comes to getting the government to pass progressive laws to protect them, but the city's week-long Pride festival grows stronger each year since its inception back in 2005 – 3 years before the country legalized homosexuality. The week includes a mix of conferences, live performances, parties, debates, and of course, a large parade which goes from Santa Ana through the Casco Viejo all the way to the Cinta Costera.

PANAMA sign on Avenida Balboa gay guide things to do
The Nomadic Boys ready to start their own Pride Parade in Panama city!

Where to eat in Panama City

Panamanian food, ever heard of it? Neither had we, and you need to! Add these to your Panama culinary bucket list: sancocho, ropa Vieja, carimañoles, hojaldras – all washed down with an ice-cold Balboa! Find out what these all are in our guide to the best traditional foods of Panama and read on to find the best place in Panama City to try some of these out, along with a few other gems in Casco Viejo we discovered:

Cocadas are yummy little coconut cookies from Panama

Get a taste of Panama on a tour

Foodies listen up: you need to do this! It's a 2.5-hour walking tour with a local. There's coffee, chocolate, beer, cocktails, and ceviche. We rate this tour because you not only get a local to show you around Casco Viejo, he/she will also give you their opinion about the best places to eat in the city.

Find out more

Diablicos Restaurant in Casco Viejo

Diablicos is a gay friendly restaurant offering traditional food in Panama city

Look, we're not gonna lie, this felt like a tourist trap at first, but we loved it. If you're staying in the old town, want a flavor of local food, and didn't arrange any local food tours, you can tick off many of your Panamanian culinary bucket list items right here. The bonus is you get a traditional show to watch – we loved the outfits! Maybe it's a bit gimmicky/touristic? Who cares – we personally had a great meal, laughed a lot, and enjoyed taking pictures with the dancers. And all those local foods we listed above? We got to try most of them here and loved it!


Restaurante Casa Blanca in Casco Viejo

Casa Blanca in Panama city is a good option for LGBTQ travellers with delicious ceviche

Famous Caribbean restaurant in Panama City located right in front of Plaza Bolívar in the old town. Seafood is their speciality here – think seafood linguine and basked seabass. But for us, we will never forget Casa Blanca because of their delicious (and beautifully presented!) ceviche. It's presented in a cocktail glass and tastes good! Added bonus, they have Key Lime Pie – one of the best we've tried outside of South Florida.


Nick's Slice Of Brooklyn Pizzeria & Bar

A close up shot of a New York style pizza loaded with toppings!

You can have an authentic slice of Brooklyn-style pizza at this amazing little spot at the Panama City Beach shopping center! Nick was raised in Brooklyn and started making pizza at the age of 15, before eventually moving to Panama and continuing to bring delicious old-school pizzas to Panama. Along with the yummy pizzas, you can also get some mouthwatering tiramisu or cheesecake for dessert, so make sure you leave room!


Things to do in Panama City

For most, the world-famous Panama Canal will be the main draw to the city – it certainly was for us! In addition, we also recommend checking out the Casco Viejo (old town) and the Avenida Balboa beachfront which were also top highlights for us.

The Panama Canal

 

We visited the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center, which is a 20-30 mins taxi ride from downtown. The museum here is super impressive. You get to watch the Canal in action, as large ships approach and need to cross. How it works: the ship comes into the canal and waits to be lifted as the water level is increased. The ship then moves on to the next level where it is lowered as the water level sinks, allowing the ship to continue on its way. For us, this was the highlight of our trip to Panama City – a real engineering marvel you need to see! If time is limited, we recommend joining this tour of the Panama Canal which also includes visiting a local rainforest and a ride on the Panama Canal Railway.


Explore Casco Viejo

Church in Casco Viejo in Panama city one of the best things to do for LGBTQ travellers in Panama city

Casco Viejo is the name of Panama City's UNESCO listed old town neighbourhood. It's a really picturesque part of town with lots of cute narrow cobblestone streets decked with restored Spanish colonial buildings. This is also the most touristy part of town, with lots of restaurants, trendy rooftop bars like Gato Blanco here, souvenir artisanal gift shops, crumbly old churches to photograph and museums like the Panama Canal Museum. We also loved just strolling through the streets and visiting the souvenir and artisanal gift shops. To maximise your time, we recommend a tour of Casco Viejo with a visit to the Panama Canal on the same day.


Avenida Balboa beachfront

Avenida Balboa in Panama city offers great views of the skyline

Avenida Balboa is our favourite part of town. This is the city's long beachfront promenade which we loved coming to in the morning for running and in the evening to watch the sunset together. Sunset's also when all the local sexy guys come to work out at the outdoor gyms, allowing certain tourists (ahem!) to analyse their techniques! Also, that big PANAMA sign on the cover pic of this article? That's right here as well! And for the best photos of the Panama City skyline, we recommend taking it from here (especially at night).


Ceviche at the Seafood Market

Salmon ceviche

Along the Avenida Balboa beachfront is the Mercado de Marisco seafood market. We stumbled on it by accident one afternoon and stopped for lunch. We're so glad we did – it's a hidden gem of a discovery. It's got a lively local atmosphere with lots of small vendors serving different fresh seafood dishes (like ceviche) and cold beer. You buy your food then eat it at one of the many wooden tables lined up along the market. It's full of locals who are super friendly and love meeting foreigners to practise their English.


Discover the pristine San Blas islands

Explore the San Blas islands from Panama city on a day tour Nomadic Boys

San Blas is the tropical deserted island gem of Panama. It's a turquoise-waters-white-sandy-beach paradise right in the middle of the Caribbean around 240km (150 miles) from the mainland. San Blas is made up of over 300 rustic islands, inhabited by the country's Kuna natives. The most famous island is Pelicano Island, which was featured in the Netflix series – “Money Heist”. The islands are (thankfully!) very underdeveloped and rustic. They are incredible, usually the highlight of most travellers' Panama trip. You can visit San Blas on a day trip from Panama City, but if you can, we recommend spending a few nights here.


Plan your trip to Panama

We've put together our firsthand tips and advice to help you plan your own trip to Panama so you can have a fun and safe trip:

Travel insurance: Do not leave home without it. It's a must, full stop. If your flight is cancelled, you fall sick and need to cut your trip short, you lose your bag or get it stolen, it will cover all of that! We've been using to Heymondo for years and cannot recommend them highly enough.


How to get there: You are likely to fly into Panama City, arriving at the Tocumen International Airport. The airport is located around 25km (15 miles) northeast from Casco Viejo, which takes around 30 minutes by taxi. You can, of course, arrange a taxi when you arrive, but we found taxi drivers in Panama City to be quite dishonest, so we opted for Uber instead. However, when arriving for your first time, we recommend arranging a pre-booked private transfer with an English speaking driver to minimise all stress and skip the airport's long taxi queue.


Visa requirements: Travellers from most EU countries, USA, Canada and Australia do not need a visa for up to 90 days as a tourist in Panama. However, when you check-in for your flight, your airline will require you to show that you have a return/onward travel ticket. You can check if you need a visa here.


Vaccinations: All travellers to Panama should make sure they're up to date with routine vaccinations like measles, mumps and chickenpox. Most travellers should also be vaccinated for hepatitis A and typhoid. Some travellers may also need vaccinations for hepatitis B, yellow fever, malaria and rabies, depending on what and where you'll be doing. Check the CDC website for the most up to date info for Panama and also speak to your local doctor or travel nurse.


Currency: simple – it's the US dollar! £1 converts to around $1.24 and €1 to around $1.08. We recommend downloading the XE Currency app.


Tipping culture: Tipping is not generally expected and locals will just round up to the nearest dollar. Most restaurants will include a 10% service charge, but if not, that's a good ballpark figure for your gratuity. For tour guides we were recommended to give a tip of around $10 per day, but note, it is discretionary and not expected.


Accommodation: There are many excellent hotels to stay in Panama City. Our go-to for inspiration and booking is Booking.com because they have an extensive selection and the best prices. They also have free cancellation for most listings, which is handy if plans change last minute.


Sightseeing and adventure: We love the tours and articles on GetYourGuide.com. It's our starting point for inspiration and research as they have good ideas. Booking their tours is also super easy and we've never been disappointed with any we've done.


When to visit: Panama remains warm and tropical all year round, with temperatures rarely dropping below 30°C (around 86°F) in the day and 20°C (around 68°F) at night! Panama has two seasons: wet and dry. The dry season runs from December to March and is the most touristy. The wet season runs from March to December, but rain is very tropical if it happens – ie in short intense bursts then quickly disappears.


Gay map of Panama city

We've made this map for you which shows all the best gay friendly places in Panama City that we've mentioned in this guide. Use it to help plan your own fabulous trip to Panama!

Here's our gay map of Panama City to help you plan your own fabulous stay

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

Click on the book to order:

Gay couple travel book Nomadic Boys Out in the World

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This is our gay travel guide to Panama with the best bars, clubs and gay hotels by Nomadic Boys
Stefan Arestis

Hey everyone, I'm Stefan, the curly-haired Greek flavor behind the gay travel blog Nomadic Boys. Together with my other half, I have explored more than 90 countries across 5 continents. What I love most about traveling is discovering the local gay scene, making new friends, learning new cultures. I've written about LGBTQ travel in numerous online publications such as Gaycation Magazine, Gaycities, Gay Times and Pink News as well as for other non-gay-specific publications including Lonely Planet, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Huffington Post. Check my full bio here.

Morgan

Sunday 17th of March 2024

Local person said Envy club closed in November 2023. Walked by and it looked closed. XS club was fun and they didn’t check passport.

Stefan Arestis

Sunday 17th of March 2024

Thanks Morgan! We've updated our guide :)

Jules Duncan

Thursday 18th of March 2021

Hi,I would like to some info on the price of drinks,food,uber fare from airport and around the city.Also the price of a room stay at guesthouses and hotels.Also are their ATM cash machines in various parts of Panama city for available cash with written English instructions.Thank you.

Stefan Arestis

Thursday 18th of March 2021

We had no problems using the ATMs.

John Wright

Sunday 29th of November 2020

So, do you think that same-sex married couples should, or should not consider living in Panama? I am American, but my spouse is Colombian. We plan to try and get an American Spouse Visa to live and work in the U.S., but if they deny my spouse the visa we will need to look at other countries. I have been trying to look at other countries where same-sex marriage is respected or tolerated. So, I have been considering Uruguay, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Spain. I have thought about Dominican Republic, Panama, and Curacao, but I believe same sex marriage is not respected there. Canada and Australia are hard to get residency visas for retired guys.

Stefan Arestis

Monday 30th of November 2020

All of those are great choices :) Have you checked if they recognise foreign gay marriages?

Gary

Monday 27th of January 2020

In the article about San a Las Islands you referred to the native Indians as “Guna”. I think it is a mistype. The Indians are “Cuna”, with a “C”.

Stefan Arestis

Monday 27th of January 2020

Thanks! We've amended the typo :)

Tomar Higgs

Monday 13th of January 2020

good evening, Hi my name is Tomar higgs, and a group of me and my buddies are planning a trip to panama , our very first time coming there, i wanted to know how is the uber there is there any? and we all gay and wanted to fine gay clubs and bar to hang out at night. i found some tours i wanted us to do as well but mostly have a great time and where is the great shopping area for the merchandises so please if you can email me back i would be gladly appreciate it.

Stefan Arestis

Tuesday 14th of January 2020

It sure does - but only in Panama City :)