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THE DUFRESNES — TRAVEL HUB / PANAMA

Panama

2 VIDEOS · 1 REGION · VISITED JULY · 3 DAYS
WHEN WE VISITEDJuly
LENGTH OF STAY3 days
SEASONGreen season — sunny mornings, afternoon rain
GETTING THERETaxi from the Costa Rica border
BEST FORSurfers
WALKABILITYHigh
NEED A VEHICLE?No
TOURISTY LEVELLow
BUDGET$$
DAYS WE'D RECOMMEND7

We only spent a few days in David, Panama's second-largest city — a small place most travelers skip. The central park was worth a wander, and so were the local markets, but most people use David as a base for the mountains and beaches nearby rather than the city itself. We came through on a border run from Costa Rica and ended up meeting friends who were spending a few months in the country.

David, Panama David, Panama

What we'd tell a friend

  1. David is genuinely off the beaten path — come here if that's exactly what you're after.
  2. Treat David as a base, not the destination. The mountains and beaches around it are the real draw.
  3. Don't let David be your whole Panama trip — use it to reach other parts of the country.

Who should stay here?

COME HERE IF
  • You like the heat
  • You surf
  • You want somewhere that runs on US dollars
SKIP IT IF
  • You want variety in your food
  • You're not into surfing
  • You're not a city person

The Dufresnes Verdict

FOOD
5/10
VALUE
5/10
FRIENDLINESS
6/10
WOULD RETURN? YES

Travel resources

Holafly Panama eSIM — code THEDUFRESNES for 5% off