Panama Food and Drink

Food

The cuisine of Panama is very much reflective of the many cultures that live in the country.  Influences from Spanish, American, Afro-Caribbean and indigenous cooking is felt in many dishes. Traditional staples of Panama cuisine include meat, coconut, rice and beans. A wealth of tropical fruit is available in the country and often accompanies meals. The name Panama translates to “abundance of fish”, and with two coastlines, one on the Caribbean Sea and one on the Pacific Ocean, fresh lobster, calamari, crab, octopus and fish are commonplace.

Popular dishes include:

Sancocho: This dish is a popular stew in Panama that contains chicken and vegetables. It is often served with white rice on the side which can be eaten on its own or with the stew.

Carimanola: This dish contains a fried yucca roll that is stuffed with meat and boiled eggs.

Ceviche: Popular on the coasts, ceviche is chopped raw fish, shrimp or conch that is mixed with onions, tomatoes and cilantro. The dish is marinated in lime juice and is often served with tortilla chips.

Empanadas: These pastries, made from corn or flour, are filled with meat, potatoes and cheese.

Arroz con guandu: This dish consists of rice cooked with beans and spices that are flavoured with coconut milk.

Corvina: A seafood dish, Corvina is local sea bass that is fried or baked and served whole with lemon or lime.

Drink

Beer is very cheap in Panama and beers in Panama include Panama Cerveza, Atlas and Soberana which are lighter brews while Balboa beer is a darker, stout-like brand. Panama is also known for its high-quality coffee and Café Durán is a well-known brew. With such a variety of tropical fruits available in the country, fresh fruit juices, known locally as Chichas, are very refreshing. Pipa, juice taken straight from a coconut, is sold by many roadside stalls around Panama. Chicheme is also found at roadside stalls and is a corn-based beverage that is mixed with water and flavoured with sugar and cinnamon. 

Things to know:

Tipping 10% is standard in restaurants in Panama.

Drinking age:

18

Panama Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Panama.

Learn about the history and culture of Panama, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Panama's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information, will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Panama for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Panama tours today!

Extend Your Trip

After your Panama Tour, why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours? These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Chile vacation packages and Easter Island tours, Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises, Peru vacation packages which include Machu Picchu tours and Brazil tours including Iguassu Falls tours among many others.

Book your Panama tour with Goway! 

LATIN AMERICA by Goway is an exclusive division that specializes in planning and organizing Panama tours and experiences. Choose from a simple city stopover, one of our island stays, a lodge and beach stay holiday for sun seekers or snowbirds and more. We want to be your first choice when next you go globetrotting to Panama.