What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Wonderful tour, plenty of food samples.

  spiwakj,,Jan 24, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Jon is an excellent tour guide and had great knowledge of the neighborhoods we hiked through. You see many local markets and he has great recommendations for all types of food, coffee and other menu items! We truly enjoyed our personal tour through Casco Viejo!

  

  

  

• Best tour in Panama!

  angelw90,,Jun 30, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This tour was an absolute gem. If you want to get out of the touristy areas and see the real Panama, book with John. He will take you to the locals spots and try some really good fresh juices, coffee, and desserts. My entire family loved the tour. Wear your best walking shoes, bring water and a hat. John is very knowledgeable and so kind. There are bathroom stops along the way if you have small kids and air condition stops as well. The people were kind and the history lessons were great. We would definitely take this tour again! Thanks again John.

• Great exploration of lesser known parts of the city

  BT2007,,May 2, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I absolutely loved this unique walking tour through some of the local neighborhoods of Panama City. We visited places and met people I never would have otherwise. Each stop was memorable, and Jon’s knowledge of the area was impressive. I appreciated all the tips on where to shop/eat/drink. If you’re looking for something less touristy, this is just the thing.

• Casco Viejo and Surrounding Areas

  wkathym,,Apr 19, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  A balanced view of the areas in and around Casco Viejo with a very knowledgeable guide, Jon. Off the beaten path, and we learned a lot about the history of the area. The coffee, pastries and chocolate samples were great. Great for coffee lovers.

• Don’t do it. Really! It’s very bad.

  Kim K,,Apr 3, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  1.00

  Don’t waste your time or money on this tour. Jon is an American who has lived in Panama for 3.5 years. He may have some knowledge of Panamanian history and culture, but it’s minimal, AND he talks in fragmented sentences and with disjointed logic. Truly, of seven of us (from 92 to 13 years of age) no one could understand what in the hell he was talking about. He also disparaged the government and other institutions, which seemed off-color for a guest in the country — though I suppose he has the right to do so. He took us to a coffee shop and ordered two cups of coffee and one pastry to share or “taste” between the 8 of us. But it was nothing special or unique. He poured us some juice that he had bought along the way. My son’s juice had a fly wing in it. OK, we’re in a third world country, and I had adjusted my expectations accordingly, but I’ll take my juice sans wings. Then, Jon wanted to finish whatever we didn’t eat — like it was his only meal. The chocolate tasting was fine, and he bought us a chocolate bar, but meh. Who cares? And, for what it’s worth, my son’s two years of high school Spanish was almost as good as Jon’s, which is to say, terrible. We stopped to tour after that because he took us to the slums of the area, where the roads — and what little sidewalks there were — were filled with craters and dog feces and trash. Certainly, do not take this tour if you are not able to walk on rough terrain. He showed us no beautiful buildings or UNESCO Heritage sites — just poverty gardens and squatter houses, where he lectured us on “poor people are not criminals.” I will say one nice thing about Jon: I had accidentally cancelled this tour. When I realized my mistake, I called him, and he graciously met us late and in good spirits. I just wish I would have actually canceled it because it was awful. Save your money and walk around and explore. It’s a beautiful place filled with beautiful people and cultures. Just stay away from this NEARLY FRAUDULENT tour guide.

• An Enjoyable Tour of Casco Viejo & neighbourhoods

  L4578JDgracea,,Jan 8, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I had a wonderful tour around Casco Viejo and the surrounding neighbourhoods! Jon was a great guide, sharing lots of knowledge and history of the places with me. He also brought me to local places that made the best fried chicken, smoothies, and pastries & baked goods. It was such a good experience to walk the markets and the back ways of certain places where most locals would go on daily basis. I loved seeing the different parts of Panama - witnessing the glimpses into the real daily lives of Panamanians in this day tour! Thank you Jon for your time & generosity in sharing your experiences of living in Panama along with these beautiful people with me! All the best mi amigo!

• Explore

  215rasheedah,,Jan 5, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  What a great experience. I was solo on this tour and was able to have direct time to get to know Jonathan. The tour was thoughtfully guided with attention to every detail. Jonathan was knowledgeable and displayed a great passion for the city of Panama. I recommend this tour if you want to explore the area of Casa Vejo with hidden gems along the way.

  

  

  

  

• Ok’d & new blend

  Denise d,,Dec 10, 2024

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Jon provided very local perspective of older neighborhoods, from upscale to very poor. His flare for sharing his personal haunts eith history provided a broad understanding of different residents. Had tasting oops along with local shopping. A good use of time snd money versus high priced shore excursions. Our taxi from port was $20.

• Half-Day Casco Viejo the Real City Guided with a Local Touch Tour

  K8127YZluisa1234,,Mar 29, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Had an amazing and tour with Jon, he took to me places of Panama city i would have not explored on my own. We got some great local food and souvenirs on the way to :)

• Local Vibe

  Barbara A,,Mar 13, 2024

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Jon was great in taking us to neighbourhoods we would not have seen if it wasn’t for him. We wanted an exposure to the local culture and eateries and he certainly met our expectations. His enthusiasm and “treats” make this a a “must do” if your goal is to experience the local vibe.

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