Panama is in many ways a kid-friendly country, and it’s easy to find activities, accommodations, and restaurants that cater to families. The more rugged and remote parts of the country, however, are not always appropriate places for young children. This is especially true of most parts of the Darién.

DAY 1
Arrive at Tocumen International Airport and transfer to a hotel in Panama City or in the less-hectic former Canal Zone. The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a particularly promising possibility for families.

DAY 2
Spend the morning visiting Casco Viejo and the ruins of Panamá la Vieja. After lunch, head over to Amador Causeway and explore the aquariums at the Smithsonian’s Centro de Exhibiciones Marinas. Have dinner in one of the causeway’s open-air restaurants.

DAY 3
Take a tour of Miraflores Locks and then head to Gamboa for a ride up the Gamboa Rainforest Resort’s aerial tram. Visit the flora and fauna exhibits, being sure not to miss the serpentarium and the butterfly pavilion. Another option is a boat trip on Lago Gatún to visit the islands of the Primate Refuge and Sanctuary of Panama, home to five species of monkeys. Have lunch at the resort’s lakeside Restaurante Los Lagartos, where’s there’s a chance of spotting caimans and fresh-water turtles. Stop by Summit Botanical Gardens and Zoo on the way back to Panama City. The highlight will probably be the harpy eagle exhibit.

DAY 4
Take the early-morning train across the isthmus and explore the Spanish ruins of Portobelo and Fuerte San Lorenzo. Stop by the mile-long Gatún Locks and, if possible, take a boat trip down the lower Río Chagres, which ends right below the fort at San Lorenzo. Take the train back to Panama City.

DAYS 5–6
Transfer to one of the resorts or smaller hotels at Coronado, Farallón, or Santa Clara. Spend a couple of days playing in the surf and splashing in the pool. It’s generally easy to arrange other activities, from horseback rides on the beach to banana-boat rides in the ocean.

DAYS 7–8
Transfer to El Valle de Antón for cooler weather and a taste of the highland forests of Panama. For older kids, consider the Canopy Adventure zip-line tour. Other possibilities include horseback riding, a visit to a small zoo with golden frogs and other exotic creatures, easy bike rides, walks to petroglyphs and waterfalls, and shopping at a bustling crafts market.

DAY 9
Return to Panama City for shopping and additional sightseeing.

DAY 10
Transfer to Tocumen International Airport for the trip home.