Spread the love

Although Panama City is well known as a banking centre and transit point of global trade, the city’s beautiful Old Town, Casco Viejo, is less familiar. Like Spain’s other colonial-era settlements in the New World, Panama’s historical district reflects a style of architecture and urban planning established 500 years ago, maintained to this day as the ideal blueprint for urban living. Casco Viejo is the place to enjoy Panama City’s hippest bars and restaurants, occupying restored buildings in this atmospheric UNESCO World Heritage Site.

American Trade Hotel dining room.

Among these architectural gems is American Trade Hotel, a lovely property whose traditional interiors evoke a bygone era, albeit one updated with all the modern comforts and conveniences expected by the 21st-century traveller. Located right on Plaza Herrera, one of the city’s pretty squares, American Trade Hotel provides an ideal base for immersion in the Casco Viejo experience; it is close enough to be within easy walking distance of everything but removed enough that the hotel’s serene ambience remains undisturbed. The sensation of being somewhere special is omnipresent, especially in the Garden Terrace rooms, with private patios on one side and private balconies on the other.

American Trade Hotel impresses even before guests enter the building. The stately façade also indicates the hotel’s historical style inside. The entire ground floor is one ample open space, with the entry, sitting, dining, and bar areas flowing one into the other around the central Reception desk staffed by friendly employees. American Trade Hotel’s inner courtyard patio and the rooftop pool deck are equally impressive, as are the guestrooms that come in various shapes and sizes, as is typical in a historic hotel building. The dining area is incredibly welcoming, its tile floors and tropical foliage adding to the specialness of the place. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served here, with a choice of international or local foods. Panamanian cuisine is little known outside the country but provides various tasty options.

A hearty Panamanian breakfast at the American Trade Hotel.

With centuries of history right out the door, American Trade Hotel’s location makes sightseeing a breeze. The fascinating Mola Museum displaying indigenous Panamanian textiles is only a block away, and beyond that are the many churches, plazas, and buildings that give Casco Viejo its charming character. The Panama Canal Museum is a must-see. Explaining the history and construction of the Panama Canal, the museum is located in one of the grandest buildings on Independence Square, the heart of Casco Viejo shared with the Municipal Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the park in the centre of the square that is the site of many festivals and special events throughout the year. Plaza de Francia is at the very tip of Casco Viejo, where the French influence in Panama is most visibly appreciated in the beautiful French Embassy building facing a small park and monumental statues across the green expanse.

American Trade Hotel garden room.

Panama is a land of greenery. The rainforest here is among the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, entirely of plants and animals, and only a short ride from Panama City. Tour operator Advantage Panama is a reliable, professional outfit dedicated to enlightening visitors about the importance of nature in our ever-more urbanised world. Day trips from Panama City to see the famous Panama Canal, the nearby Soberanía National Park, and other sights and activities are easily arranged. So strong is Advantage Panama’s commitment to nature that owner Guido Berguido has created the nonprofit organisation Adopta Bosque (Adopt A Forest) dedicated to the conservation of Panama’s natural wonders.

After a day out, visiting the I Love Panama Chocolate shop may be just the thing for tasty recuperation. Panama’s chocolate is among the purest in the world, and I Love Panama Chocolate’s enthusiastic staff are eager to share their enthusiasm with international visitors. Visitors are only too happy to oblige.