W hen the list of the cheapest cities to
reside in or work was out, some of the
usual suspects were well represented.
Tehran was the ultimate budget city
followed by Jeddah with both having a
rich heritage and a knack for generating
controversies. However, the third cheap-
est city that nobody expected was
Panama City, a calm, safe and welcoming
Central American city known for hats and
canals.
Welcome to Panama City – a Budget
Vacation Spot
The fame of Panama City as a cheaper
destination doesn’t end there. Upon
stepping foot at Tocumen International
Airport, you are given 30-day travel
insurance, issued by the Panamanian
Tourism Authority. A standard cost of taxi
transport to the city center costs just $25
and a luxury limo costing a lot more at
$88, though it is relatively reasonable,
unlike Rio’s $145 and Tokyo’s $427.
Taste Rich, Tantalizing Cuisines
It has many, affordable hotels, right from
Latin America´s first Waldorf Astoria
hotel, Casa del´Horno that sits right at
the heart of a world heritage site, a
creaky antique mansion in Casco Viejo
among others. As for the foods, you will
have the convenience of tasting both the
various native cuisines as well as those
from different parts of the world.
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If you need a budget vacation spot in
Central America, count on this city to
never disappoint.
Forget about marveling at the Panama
Canal’s sheer size and usefulness,
Taboga Island that’s a few miles away is
the real deal. Of course, you will have to
visit Casco Viejo, the dilapidated, but
history-rich colonial quarter where the
once old-town is gradually getting
revived. A moonlit dinner at the prome-
nade is enough to make you relax and
ignite a romance with nature!
Tour Priceless Heritage Sites
Other tourist spots are the famous world
heritage sites; Panamá Viejo or the “Old
Panama” Casco Antiguo that echo the
country’s cultural diversity and The Cinta
Costera 3 in Casco Viejo.
Panama welcomes everyone as it is safe
and economically-friendly. At the
moment, the entire population of this
canal city is about 430,299, which means
it still has a space for more. Panama City,
the Central America´s most
cosmopolitan capital, also offers a more
affordable´gateway to tropical escapes.
It welcomes the east and the west,
off-shore bankers and traders and those
relocating to this perfect retirement
destination. And the resulting cocktail of
cultures makes it a friendlier and more
welcoming city than any other in the
Central Americas, no wonder it was
2003’s American Capital of Culture.
Brief History – Panama City
The city is one of the oldest cities as it
was established by one Spanish conquis-
tador Pedro Arias Dávila in 1519, then
serving as a stopover point for traders.
Right now though, this capital has more
significance as it offers a short-cut route
for cargo ships. It is a favorite for vessels
from all over the world as it significantly
reduces the time spent in the sea while
offering significant cost
cuts.