Havana, volcanoes and the Canal

Who it is for

For anyone who wants three small countries, with colonial towns and a canal you can watch working.

Not for anyone looking for a beach resort, since all three stops are cities.

The strategy

Havana comes first, followed by Antigua, with Panama City at the end. Check flights, connections and the transfer to Antigua before booking accommodation; three countries in a week leave little room for delays.

What you will see

• Malecón, Havana. An 8-km seawall avenue, begun in 1901 during the American occupation and finished in the 1950s.
• Arco de Santa Catalina, Antigua. An elevated passage over 5a Avenida Norte, built in 1694 so the nuns of the Santa Catalina Mártir convent could cross the street unseen.
• Casco Antiguo, Panama City. The city refounded in 1673, with a Spanish grid layout and three centuries of overlapping architecture.

Day by day

Havana

1. 1
   Day 1: Habana Vieja and the waterfront

   1. 2Castillo de la Real FuerzaEssential
   2. 1Plaza de la CatedralEssential
   3. 6Museo Nacional de Bellas ArtesWorth a visit
2. 2
   Day 2: Centro Habana, El Vedado and the night

   1. 3MalecónHalf a day or moreEssential
   2. 8Fábrica de Arte CubanoWorth a visit
3. 3
   Day 3: Revolution, the cemetery and the east side

   1. Plaza de la RevoluciónIf there is time
   2. 7Necrópolis de Cristóbal ColónUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. 3MalecónHalf a day or moreEssential

Antigua

1. 4
   Day 4: The colonial grid

   1. 1Arco de Santa CatalinaEssential
   2. 8Cerro de la CruzWorth a visit
   3. 6La MercedUp to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 5
   Day 5: Convents, coffee, and chocolate

   1. 3Convento de las CapuchinasUp to half an hourEssential
   2. 4Ruins of La RecolecciónUp to half an hourEssential
   3. 7Casa Santo DomingoWorth a visit
3. 6
   Day 6: The villages of the valley · if you have more time

Panama City

1. 7
   Day 7: The two old cities

   1. 2Panamá ViejoEssential
   2. 1Casco AntiguoEssential
   3. 4Iglesia de San José and the Golden AltarUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   4. 5Museum of the Interoceanic CanalUp to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 8
   Day 8: The canal at work

   1. 3Miraflores LocksEssential
   2. 7Cerro AncónUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. Metropolitan Natural ParkIf there is time
   4. 9BiomuseoUp to half an hourIf there is time
   5. 6Calzada de AmadorWorth a visit
3. 9
   Day 9: Forest, bay and neighborhood · if you have more time

   1. 8Mercado de Mariscos and Cinta CosteraWorth a visit