# Day trips from Panama

> Panama City residents have three tiers: (1) ferry hops from the Amador Causeway — Taboga 30-45min, Contadora/Pearl Islands ~2h; (2) short car trips — El Valle de Anton ~1h50, Autodromo Panama (Chame) ~40min; (3) the Azuero peninsula and Chiriqui highlands are genuine day trips only if you fly — driving is 4h to Las Tablas/Ocu and 6h+ to David/Boquete, but Air Panama runs Albrook-Chitre (~30min) and Albrook-David (~45min-1h) multiple times daily, turning those into workable if long single-day outings.

Canonical: https://rockhopping.com/panama/day-trips  
Source: Rockhopping (rockhopping.com) — a what’s-on guide for 55 island and low-tax jurisdictions.

- **Fiestas de la Virgen del Carmen (Taboga's aquatic procession)** — Taboga Island, Panama Province, PA · 2026-07-16 · ~30-45 min by ferry each way
  A tiny fishing island turns into a floating, flower-strewn procession for its patron saint - one of Panama's most photogenic maritime festivals, half an hour from the city.
  Getting there: Ferry from the Amador Causeway (Isla Naos/Flamenco pier) via Barcos Calypso or Taboga Express, 30-45 min each way, several sailings a day
  https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/la-virgen-del-carmen-patrona-de-pescadores-que-protege-una-isla-de-panam%C3%A1/46795266
- **Fiestas Patronales de Santa Librada & Festival Nacional de la Pollera** — Las Tablas, Los Santos (Azuero Peninsula), PA · 2026-07-19 to 2026-07-23 · ~1h by air + taxi combo; ~4h by car each way
  Panama's premier folk-costume pageant: hundreds of women in hand-embroidered polleras compete for the national Margarita Lozano medal, wrapped inside Las Tablas' biggest patron-saint fiesta of the year.
  Getting there: Fly Albrook (Panama City) to Chitre, ~30 min on Air Panama, then taxi Chitre-Las Tablas ~30 min - about an hour door to door each way. Driving direct is ~4h each way down the Interamericana, only worth it if staying overnight.
  https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/provincias/prepara-festividades-honor-las-tablas-santa-librada_1_2248426.html
- **Festival Nacional del Manito Ocueno** — Ocu, Herrera, PA · 2026-08-13 to 2026-08-16 · ~1h10 by air + drive combo; ~4h by car each way
  Home of the 'Ta' la Manito' brotherhood culture - a lively small-town country fair built around the Mejorana dance and the comic 'Duelo del Tamarindo' verse battles.
  Getting there: Fly Albrook-Chitre (~30 min), then drive/taxi ~35-40 min to Ocu; or ~4h direct drive from Panama City.
  https://municipiodeocu.org/manito
- **TCR Panama Touring Car Championship - Round 4** — Autodromo Panama, Sajalices, Chame district, Panama Oeste, PA · 2026-08-16 to 2026-08-17 · ~40 min by car each way
  FIA-certified 2.6km circuit that opened in 2024; round four of Panama's new touring-car series makes for a straightforward half-day motorsport outing.
  Getting there: ~40 min drive west from Panama City via the Bridge of the Americas and the Panamericana.
  https://racingcalendar.net/championship/tcr-panama-touring-car-championship/
- **Feria de la Carne (Chiriqui cattle & food fair)** — David, Chiriqui, PA · 2026-08-13 to 2026-08-15 · ~1h by air each way
  Chiriqui's cattle country turns out for rodeo, asado stalls and livestock shows - a good excuse to fly up and tack on a Boquete highlands afternoon.
  Getting there: ~45min-1h flight Albrook-David (Air Panama or Copa, multiple daily), then taxi from David airport; Boquete is a further ~40 min drive if you want to combine the fair with the highlands.
  https://mida.gob.pa/2025/08/18/xii-feria-de-la-carne-impulsa-la-modernizacion-ganadera-en-chiriqui/