A Perfect Afternoon in Casco Viejo, Step by Step

Start with real Panamanian home cooking at Fonda Lo Que Hay: the menu changes daily depending on what came in from the market that morning, so ask what they recommend before sitting down.

Two blocks over, the Museo de la Mola (MUMO) is dedicated to the mola, the traditional textile art of the Guna Yala comarca — a perfect half hour of air-conditioned digestion time.

Karavan gathers clothing, jewelry, and objects from Panamanian designers and artisans — a good stop for a souvenir that isn't a fridge magnet.

Walk to the tip of the peninsula for Plaza de Francia and its seawall promenade, lined with plaques honoring the thousands of French workers who died during the first attempt to build the canal.

The mid-afternoon heat calls for an artisanal ice cream or sorbet at Granclement — flavors rotate and often include local fruit like passionfruit or soursop.

Close out the afternoon by heading up to Tántalo's rooftop just before sunset, with the Panama City skyline as a backdrop — arrive early, it fills up fast.