There is a version of Panama that appears in almost every backpacker's itinerary. Panama City, Casco Viejo, the Canal, perhaps a few days in Bocas del Toro, then Boquete, Santa Catalina and maybe a trip to the San Blas Islands before continuing toward Costa Rica. Those places are popular for good reasons, but they can create a strange illusion about Panama. They can make the country seem as though it has already been completely discovered. In reality, Panama is one of the best countries in Central America for getting off the beaten path because the places that feel genuinely remote are often much easier to reach than their reputation suggests. The country's geography is almost designed for exploration. Two oceans, hundreds of islands, enormous peninsulas, mountain ranges, jungle valleys, tiny fishing villages, forgotten beaches and protected forests are packed into a relatively small country. The secret isn't necessarily finding somewhere impossible to reach. It is realizing that many places require only one extra bus, a local taxi, a boat arranged in advance, a rental car, or simply the willingness to spend an additional night somewhere rather than rushing through. Panama has more than 1,000 islands according to major travel references, and the country's protected-area system includes an astonishing variety of marine, coastal, mountain and rainforest environments. What makes the country's hidden side particularly exciting is that many of these places aren't "secret" in the literal sense. People live there. Fishermen know them. Panamanians visit them. Local guides have been taking people there for years. They simply haven't yet become standard stops on the international backpacker circuit. That distinction is important. These aren't imaginary secret paradises that exist only on Instagram. They are real communities and real landscapes sitting just outside the routes most foreign travelers follow. And once you understand how Panama works, the supposedly difficult places start becoming surprisingly accessible.
The Great Secret of Panama Is That the Map Looks Harder Than the Country Actually Is
One of the biggest reasons backpackers overlook Panama is psychological rather than geographical. Look at a map and the country seems complicated. There are peninsulas pointing into the Pacific, enormous stretches of jungle, islands scattered everywhere, mountain roads disappearing into the interior and coastal communities that appear to have no obvious connection to the main tourist route. A backpacker traveling with only a few weeks may naturally stick to the places that appear on every itinerary because those destinations have obvious transport connections. But Panama rewards a different strategy. Instead of asking, "How do I get from Panama City to the famous destination?" ask, "What is one interesting place between here and there?" Suddenly the country opens up. A trip toward Chiriquí can become an exploration of the Gulf of Chiriquí. A journey through Veraguas can turn into Santa Fe, La Yeguada, Pixvae or Mariato. A trip toward Bocas can include the extraordinary San San Pond Sak wetlands or the road toward the Caribbean side of the country. A journey through Los Santos can turn toward Cambutal or Isla Iguana. The distances are not always enormous. What changes is the number of connections. You might need to stop thinking like someone taking a standard vacation and start thinking like someone exploring a country. That means accepting that a destination may require a bus followed by a taxi, or a road journey followed by a boat, or an overnight stay before the final connection. The reward is that you can end up somewhere where the international backpacker crowd is almost nonexistent while still being only a day's journey, or sometimes much less, from a well-known destination.
The Gulf of Chiriquí: Panama's Forgotten Pacific Archipelago
If there is one region that deserves to be dramatically more famous among backpackers, it is the Gulf of Chiriquí. The gulf is an enormous Pacific marine landscape scattered with islands, mangroves, reefs, beaches and jungle covered coastlines. The protected Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí encompasses a remarkable marine ecosystem, and the region contains numerous islands that look like they belong to an expedition documentary rather than an ordinary backpacking itinerary. The amazing thing is that you don't have to own a yacht to explore it. The coastal communities around Boca Chica and other points provide access to island excursions, and local boat operators know the waters intimately. Boca Chica itself is a small fishing community that serves as a gateway to the gulf and nearby islands, yet compared with places such as Bocas del Toro and Santa Catalina, it remains surprisingly quiet on the international backpacker circuit. The gulf's magic comes from its variety. One island may have a beautiful beach. Another may be almost completely forested. Another may have spectacular snorkeling. Another may be little more than a jungle covered rock rising from the Pacific. You can spend a day moving through a landscape that feels almost completely disconnected from mainland Panama. The Pacific horizon becomes enormous, the water changes color around reefs and islands, seabirds circle above the boats, and the mainland gradually becomes a distant green line. It is the kind of place where the adventure isn't necessarily one particular attraction. The adventure is being in the archipelago.
Isla Parida: The Beginning of the Island Rabbit Hole
Isla Parida is one of the places that demonstrates why the Gulf of Chiriquí is so fascinating. It is larger and more substantial than many of the tiny islands scattered throughout the gulf, with tropical vegetation, beaches and surrounding marine environments. What makes it interesting for a backpacker isn't simply the scenery. It is the feeling that you have entered a completely different Panama. You can begin the day on the mainland and end it on an island surrounded by Pacific water and forest. The gulf is particularly rich in marine biodiversity, and the islands are part of a broader ecosystem that includes coral reefs, mangroves and coastal forests. Modern travel articles increasingly recognize islands such as Isla Parida, Isla Gámez and Isla Bolaños as quieter alternatives to the heavily visited Caribbean destinations. Yet even with that increasing attention, the region remains a completely different experience from the backpacker highways of Central America. The important thing is to approach these islands as genuine nature destinations rather than expecting a developed tourist infrastructure. The less developed the island, the more important it becomes to organize transportation and supplies before leaving the mainland.
Isla Gámez, Isla Bolaños and the Island-Hopping Mentality
One of the biggest mistakes travelers make when visiting Panama's islands is thinking they have to choose one island and stay there. The Gulf of Chiriquí rewards the opposite approach. The islands are close enough in a regional sense that boat trips can turn the entire gulf into an enormous playground. Isla Gámez and Isla Bolaños are examples of the smaller island destinations that can be incorporated into boat excursions. They are fascinating precisely because they don't have the overwhelming tourist infrastructure found in more famous island destinations. You get beaches, tropical forest, marine life and the sensation of being somewhere that hasn't been packaged into a massive international tourism machine. The key is to arrange transportation through established local operators and pay attention to weather and sea conditions. Islands can look extremely close on a map while the Pacific between them can become serious water. This is not a place to improvise boat transportation casually. The adventure comes from the isolation, but the isolation also means planning matters. Once that simple planning is done, however, the Gulf of Chiriquí can feel remarkably accessible.
Isla Cebaco: The Giant Island That Somehow Stayed Quiet
Isla Cebaco is one of the great examples of Panama's strange tourism geography. It is a substantial Pacific island in Veraguas province, yet it remains far less prominent internationally than Panama's famous Caribbean islands. Cebaco has the ingredients that would make another island country turn an island into a major tourist attraction: beaches, jungle, fishing communities, Pacific views and a strong sense of isolation. Yet it remains relatively quiet. This is precisely the kind of place that adventurous backpackers should have on their radar. Cebaco is not necessarily about ticking off one famous attraction. It is about experiencing island life. The journey itself becomes part of the story. You are no longer simply moving between tourist destinations. You are going somewhere because you want to see what is there. That difference is enormous. On a highly developed island, transportation is often invisible because everything has been built around visitors. On a place like Cebaco, the geography remains part of the experience.
Isla Escudo de Veraguas: The Wild Frontier
Then there is Isla Escudo de Veraguas, one of the most fascinating islands in the entire country. It is important to distinguish this from ordinary beach destinations because Escudo is not simply a tropical island with some nice sand. It is an isolated, protected landscape with exceptional biodiversity and a very different logistical character. MiAMBIENTE describes it as the Paisaje Protegido Isla Escudo de Veraguas Degó, and as recently as March 2026 the ministry was installing camera traps and research plots to study the island's mammals, birds and plant diversity. The island is particularly fascinating because of its isolation and endemic wildlife, and its forests, beaches and unusual geography give it an almost prehistoric atmosphere. But this is one destination where the phrase "easy with planning" needs a qualification. Escudo is accessible compared with truly expedition-level destinations, but it is not a place where you should simply show up expecting a regular tourist ferry. Access depends on local transportation, sea conditions, coordination and appropriate permissions or arrangements. MiAMBIENTE has also included Escudo among protected marine areas that may be closed during periods of bad weather or prohibited navigation, which demonstrates just how important conditions are. The fascinating part is that the difficulty is mostly logistical, not impossibly remote. If you organize the journey properly, you can reach a place that feels vastly more remote than the actual journey suggests. That is precisely the kind of adventure that Panama hides so well.
Calovébora: The Gateway Few Backpackers Think About
The northern coast of Veraguas is another world entirely. Calovébora is particularly interesting because Panama's Tourism Authority has highlighted the area as an important gateway toward Isla Escudo de Veraguas. In 2025, ATP specifically visited Calovébora and described its beaches as among the region's major attractions and as a gateway to Escudo. This is the kind of place that demonstrates why slow travel matters in Panama. A backpacker rushing from the capital toward Bocas could pass through enormous portions of the country without ever realizing that these communities exist. But if you deliberately take the time to explore Veraguas, suddenly the northern coastline becomes a destination in itself. Calovébora isn't famous because it has a giant resort district or an international nightlife scene. It is fascinating because it feels like the edge of the map.
Punta Burica: The Forgotten Peninsula
At the extreme western end of Panama, where the country's Pacific coastline pushes toward Costa Rica, lies Punta Burica. This is one of those names that sounds more like a geographic expedition than a backpacking destination. The peninsula is remote, rugged and dominated by the Pacific coast, forests and rural communities. It is exactly the kind of place that attracts people who want to understand what Panama looks like beyond the tourist route. Punta Burica is fascinating because it feels like the country is running out of road. The further west you travel, the more the landscape becomes rural and the more the Pacific dominates the horizon. There are beaches that receive little international attention, forested hills and coastal landscapes where the primary rhythm is local life rather than tourism. But Punta Burica deserves an important caveat: this is not the place to assume that every road shown on a map will be straightforward. Some sections can be rough, services are limited and conditions can change. It is a destination for travelers who are comfortable planning carefully, checking road conditions and relying on local knowledge. The reward is one of the strongest senses of geographical adventure in Panama.
Pixvae: A Pacific Fishing Village That Deserves More Attention
Pixvae is another place that perfectly captures the hidden Panama concept. Located in the coastal district of Las Palmas in Veraguas, Pixvae has significant potential for ecotourism and marine activities according to Panama's Tourism Authority. The village is interesting because it is not trying to imitate a major tourist destination. It is a coastal community with its own rhythm, surrounded by Pacific scenery that has enormous potential for exploration. For a backpacker, Pixvae offers something increasingly rare: the ability to arrive somewhere beautiful without immediately feeling like you're entering a tourism machine. The coast around here can be incorporated into a broader Veraguas exploration involving Mariato, Santa Catalina, islands and other Pacific communities. Instead of treating the map as a series of famous destinations, you can turn the entire coastline into one long adventure.
Mariato: The Pacific Coast Before the Crowds
Mariato is one of Panama's most underrated regions. It is often overshadowed by Santa Catalina, which has become internationally famous as a surf and Coiba gateway. Yet the broader Mariato region contains a tremendous amount of Pacific coastline, rural communities, mountains and jungle. Recent travelers discussing less-known Panama destinations regularly point toward Mariato as an area with numerous surf spots and comparatively little international attention. The attraction is not necessarily a single landmark. Mariato is valuable because it gives you access to a broader landscape. You can explore beaches, small communities, forested areas and coastal roads while experiencing a version of Panama that feels far removed from the polished tourist circuit. It is the kind of place where renting a vehicle or arranging local transportation can unlock an entire region rather than one attraction. The secret is that Panama's most interesting destinations are often regions rather than individual points on Google Maps.
Torio: The Little Coastal Town With a Huge Landscape
Torio is another one of those names that can be almost invisible to foreign travelers despite being surrounded by spectacular nature. Located in Veraguas on the Pacific side, Torio sits in an area where rivers, forests, beaches and ocean come together. It has become known among people searching for quieter Pacific experiences, but it remains a fraction as famous as the country's major tourist destinations. Torio is particularly interesting because it gives you a combination of rainforest and Pacific coastline without requiring the massive journey associated with some of Panama's most remote areas. It is also a great example of the type of place where staying longer changes the experience. One afternoon is not enough. The attraction is the landscape around the village, the rivers, the beaches, the hills and the possibility of simply wandering into a part of Panama where international tourism hasn't dictated the rhythm of the place.
Santa Fe: Panama's Forgotten Mountain Town
Santa Fe in Veraguas is perhaps one of the most exciting examples of a hidden destination that is actually surprisingly accessible. It is a mountain town surrounded by waterfalls, rivers, forests, agricultural land and the Parque Nacional Santa Fe. Panama's Tourism Authority has recently begun emphasizing Santa Fe as an emerging tourism destination, specifically highlighting its combination of nature, adventure and culture. During a 2025 visit, ATP explored waterfalls, agrotourism farms, coffee, organic agriculture, orchids, cascades, petroglpyhs and the coastal gateway of Calovébora. That is an astonishing amount of variety for a destination that remains relatively unknown among international backpackers. Santa Fe is particularly appealing because it doesn't require an expedition mentality. It is a real mountain community with roads, accommodation, local farms and tourism businesses. You can base yourself there and explore outward rather than constantly packing your backpack and moving to another town. It is one of the best examples of how a place can be both genuinely off the beaten path and realistically accessible.
Santa Fe's Waterfalls and Agrotourism
What makes Santa Fe especially fascinating is that its attractions aren't limited to scenery. ATP has highlighted farms such as El Salto and María y Chon, where visitors can experience agriculture, coffee, orchids, organic produce, waterfalls and local food. El Salto in particular offers cascades, agricultural experiences, petroglpyhs and locally produced chocolate, while María y Chon combines coffee production, orchids, plants, rural accommodation and nature experiences. This is exactly what an authentic backpacking experience can look like when you move beyond famous attractions. Instead of spending your entire trip photographing a landmark, you spend the day walking through someone's agricultural landscape, tasting locally grown products, swimming near waterfalls, drinking coffee and learning how people actually live in the mountains. Santa Fe is not trying to compete with Boquete. It offers something different.
La Yeguada: The Highland Landscape Nobody Talks About Enough
La Yeguada is another fascinating place hiding in plain sight. Located in Veraguas, the area is associated with the Reserva Forestal La Yeguada and a beautiful reservoir surrounded by mountains and forest. MiAMBIENTE's protected-area reservation system lists the Reserva Forestal La Laguna de La Yeguada among Panama's protected areas. What makes La Yeguada interesting is the combination of cool highland atmosphere, forest, water and relatively low tourist density. It feels very different from Panama's tropical beach destinations. You can wake up surrounded by green mountains rather than palm trees and experience a side of the country that many backpackers simply never realize exists. The area also has agrotourism possibilities, with ATP listings including accommodation, hiking, streams, viewpoints, food and coffee experiences around La Yeguada. For travelers moving through central Panama, La Yeguada is a perfect example of a destination that doesn't need a famous attraction to be worth visiting.
Cerro Punta: The High Country Above the Tourist Route
The jungle.
The rain.
The empty beach.
The stranger who became a friend.
The tiny restaurant.
The local who showed you something.
The mountain road.
The ridiculous journey that took twice as long as expected.
The sunset you had completely to yourself.
Those are the Panama memories that become stories.