I left Panama City kicking and screaming — in just eight days, the metropolis had joined a lofty list of my favorite urban centers around the globe. And I’ve taken on spreading the word about this newly cherished destination as something of a personal cause. Far too many tourists only stay in Panama City long enough…

So far I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m obsessed with Panama, a passion that ignited in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City. One aspect of my infatuation? Great design is everywhere — and at every price. Panamericana Hostel When Anders and I first rolled into Panama City, we checked into the Panamericana…

There’s something utterly romantic about train travel, an allure that just simply does not translate to being stuffed into a crusty bus seat and staring out at bumper to bumper traffic on the freeway. Unfortunately, bus travel makes up the vast majority of my movements, with ferries and flights filling in most of the gaps. So…

I have learned from experience that “attending cultural dance performances” is not high on the priority list of most of my fellow backpackers. Don’t believe me? Test how fast the hostel dorm falls silent when you float the idea as a night of fun. Excuse me for loving being entertained! Yes, they can be cheesy, yes…

There are people who adore Panama City, and there are people who use Panama City as a tolerated pit stop before sprinting to more far-flung destinations. In our eight days there, I learned an important distinction —  those who tolerated Panama City stay downtown. Those who can’t get enough of Panama City stayed in Casco Viejo…

When I was loosely planning my Latin American adventures, I had a vague idea that I’d end up in Panama. Flights in and out of the capital were cheap, and I’d heard rumors of a chilled-out island scene in Bocas del Toro. Frankly, though, I didn’t know or think much about it — after all, Panama…