The Old Town of Panama, an almost unattainable tourist attraction for Panamanians

Domingo González, originally from San José de David, western Panama, annually visits the famous Casco Antiguo, one of the most iconic tourist spots in the capital, Panama City. González usually takes a photo with his sister on a pier where you can see the entire city; he says it is a tradition that he wants to keep “until we get old.”

But staying in the area has become almost “inaccessible” for González and others like him because of the high prices, he said.

González, 36, works as a nurse and earns a monthly salary of approximately $2,400. Although he acknowledges that it is not little, he says that “a hotel here can cost you 100, 150 or 200 dollars more a night.”

In relation to other countries he has visited, like Mexico, for example, the costs in Casco Viejo, as it is also known, are high.

The Old Town is on a small peninsula south of the capital. It is surrounded by a blanket of rocky reefs and is one of the most visited sites in the Central American country after the Panama Canal. according to the Tourism Authority.

The most attractive thing about Casco Viejo is its history, as well as the old buildings and streets spread across 29 hectares of land. It has four main squares and seven churches considered historical monuments, an enormous source of history, culture and heroism. The Old Town is also the headquarters of government entities such as the Presidency, which operates in the Palacio de las Garzas, included on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1997.

Increase in tourism and costs

The high flow of tourists in the Casco Viejo has increased prices in the area, he told the VOA Juan Vásconez, president of the tourism company Xplorer Panama. Most of the tourists who visit are from the United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany and the United Kingdom, among other countries, he added.

In the area “there is everything in terms of costs, several options, affordable, economical, as well as luxurious hotels. A year ago, one of the most famous hotels originally from France, the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, was inaugurated,” he said.

The Sofitel hotel costs around $390 per night, plus tax, while a suite room ranges from $600 per night.

Rosmeri Martínez, a 31-year-old teacher originally from Panama City, said that while there is a lot of history in Casco Viejo and you can enjoy “delicious meals,” the costs can be high for some Panamanians.

The US dollar is the official currency in Panama. The minimum wage ranges between 636 and 1,015 dollars per month, according to figures from the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development.

Martínez says that as a teacher she has an income of approximately $1,700 a month.

“At least I wouldn’t come to pay for a night here in the Old Town,” Martínez said. “Suddenly it’s just to come for a walk, enjoy the atmosphere. I haven’t stayed here,” she added.

Daniele Burlotti, an Italian living in Panama who has an import company, acknowledges that the costs are high.

“More or less the prices are at the same level as Europe,” said the businessman. “There is a variety of prices. You can find good restaurants. There are some higher than average and there are also more affordable restaurants if you don’t want to spend so much,” he concluded.

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