What is the cancellation policy for this tour?

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

How long does this tour take?

Please check the tour page for the exact duration.

Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition

Q: Where does this tour start?

This tour starts at: In Casco Antiguo by General Tomás Herrera who sits on the horse in the middle of the square or block that has his name, in front of Casa Casco and The American Trade Hotel..

★★★★★ 5.0

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Overview

Do one or both sites, for the walking tour we can meet in the colonial city or arrange pick up by writting us a message.
Casco Antiguo de San Felipe is where the new City of Panama was founded in 1673 (the 350 year anniversary was in 2023), built only 5 miles Southwest from where the first city (Panama Viejo archeological site) was left in ruins after the fires started by the Spanish colonials themselves, in an effort to save the strategic position crucial for World Trade since the Pacific Ocean was discovered in 1513, and to avoid the collapse of the Spanish Empire right there and then, to the most famous pirate of the second half of the Spanish Colony, their nemesis who commanded the "Rogue" attack in 1671: Captain Henry Morgan.
Both are World Heritage Sites as per UNESCO.

Gallery

Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition — photo 1

Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition — photo 2

Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition — photo 3

Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition — photo 4

Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition — photo 5

What's Included

✓ Included

Free museums in Casco Antiguo de San Felipe
Guided tour and transport when visiting both sites

✗ Not Included

Foreign Univ. Students w/ school i.d.
Children (6-17)
Panama Viejo archeological Park

Itinerary

Stop 1

We will start walking to the main squares and town center of the San Felipe area, if we have both sites in your tour we will cover the highlights of San Felipe for about 1 hour before going to Panama Viejo archeological site.

Stop 2

As we walk down Avenida "A" (Ave.) we will stop by St. Joseph's Church, where we can get a glimpse of the Gold Altar and a Nativity Scene that is inside the Spanish Colonial Church founded in 1675. We will also stop by the Society of Jesus Ruins (Jesuit monks) and the flat arch ruins (used by the french as evidence that Panama was suitable for the waterway they wanted to build).

Stop 3

On B Ave we will visit the church and the San Felipe Neri Oratory ("cloister") for the Sisters of Charity that are around the Plaza Bolivar area.

Stop 4

Once we walk up Avenida B (Ave.) we will proceed to the main square in the historic World Heritage Site city of San Felipe, Casco Antiguo, Republic of Panama, which is accurately positioned in front of the Basílica Metropolitana Santa María La Antigua (construction started in the year of our Lord 1688 and consecrated 108 years later in 1796) where we will see some of the relics and tradition, and to then walk up Central Ave where we will see evidence of the tracks of the old Trolley as we walk out towards the Church of Our Lady of Mercy inside the entrance of the city.

Stop 5

And we will end our tour walking by the place where the gates to the city would separate the citizen's by hierarchy, meaning the european settler's and the Spanish born in the new world had the right of living within these limits and the native, indigenous and blacks lived outside in the suburbs ("los arrabales"), then we will head back to Plaza Herrera where the tour begun to send off the guests that booked the * "Ruined City tour" optional variation.

Stop 6

We highly recomend to check out this museum on your own time, ask your guide where it is located, pre columbian heritage of the inhabitants of San Blas.

Stop 7

The visitors Center for the archeological site blows our guides away with the knowledge gained.

Meeting & End Point

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Meeting Point

In Casco Antiguo by General Tomás Herrera who sits on the horse in the middle of the square or block that has his name, in front of Casa Casco and The American Trade Hotel.

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End Point

The First city of Panama, which is 8 Kms East and we will include transportation to go there from location in Panama City, pick up fee applies if you are in Tocumen Int'l Airport or out of town.