Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition

5.0 (9 reviews) 2–4 hours Free cancellation

out of 5

9 reviews

5.0

Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Casco Antiguo & Panama Viejo World Heritage eXpedition, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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.

Bus Tours Private and Luxury Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Archaeology Tours Car Tours Shore Excursions

At a glance

Duration: 2–4 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English, Spanish
Written guide: Spanish
Operated by: Lift-Intl

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–12 years) · Youth (13–17 years) · Adults (18–56 years) · Seniors (57–100 years)

What is included

Included

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

Not included

Not included: Admission fees: Foreign Univ. Students w/ school i.d.
Not included: Admission fees: Children (6-17)
Not included: Admission fees: Panama Viejo archeological Park

Itinerary

Plaza Tomas Herrera

10 min

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.
Plaza de Francia

22 min

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).
Church Of Saint Francis Of Assisi

15 min

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.
Plaza Mayor

11 min

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.
Iglesia Santa Ana Panama

15 min

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.
Museo de la Mola

Passing by

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.
Museo Panama Viejo

one hour Admission not included

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

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

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.

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.
Same spot usually when doing only San Felipe, if you have a short lay over and need to get back to the airport the same rate applies for returning with us (paid to the guide directly).

Pickup points

Hotel Parador Panama City
YOO Panama
ART CASCO The Hotel
Hotel Red Room
Zen Motel By Rgs
Lavanderia Wet Clean
Hotel Mio Panama
Hotel En Colombia y No En Panana
Hotel Suites Ambassador
Hostales Globales
Residence Inn by Marriott Panama City
Hotel Doral

and 139 more pickup points

Pick ups at PTY Airport will have a $35.00 "cash to guide" fee for two +$10.00 each if three guests or more (anytime, each way), and $15.00 +$3.00 each if 3 guests or more, each way. Note: Doing both sites together - NO FEE, EXCEPT airport or out of town pick ups.

Using your ticket

Admittance to the Panama Viejo Visitors Center to be paid at the stand onsite.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

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

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Options

Casco Walking tour+Ruined city

Museum, Ruins, Visitors Center: The Nat'l Park is a World Heritage Site, it has a permanent and a temporary museum exhibit that adds value to this tour.

Panamá Viejo, +500 y/o City: The 1st City settled on the Pacific side of the America's was dubbed after the birthplace of the Queen: "Castilla de Oro".

Historic and Cultural: The anniversary of the foundation of this City was in 2019, that celebrated 500 years in 2019.

Duration: 3 hours: The walking tour of the Casco Antiguo lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and this is a great complement to that experience.

Driving 8 Kms East, "Uptown": After the walking Tour of San Felipe, we go uptown beyond Panama City, towards the historic ruins of Panama Viejo.

Sedan, SUV or Van: We adjust for the comfort of our travelers to their group size.

Visitors Center: The library, visitors center and crafts store will offer you the opportunity to find souvenirs for those that await for you.

Pickup included
Casco Antiguo Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hours: On average