Panama is up there among my favorite places to adventure. From the beaches of Bocas del Toro to the excitement of Panama City and the tranquility of the mountains in Boquete—there is something no matter what you are looking for!

Panama Tips:

Panama is pretty dang cheap and they use the US dollar so that’s really convenient
Panama City is awesome but I would highly recommend exploring some more of the country as well

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations—Panama City:

Isla Taboga: Highly recommend a day trip from Panama City to this gorgeous island a quick boat ride away. There are wild horses, insanely cheap drinks, friendly locals, and it is beautiful.
Do a day trip to the jungle!
- We did this incredible day trip from Panama City with Jungle Land Panama where we got picked up at our hotel, taken to a boat where we cruised through the Panama Canal and Lago Gatun to a floating lodge where we had lunch and hung out in hammocks over the water, then kayaked through the jungle to a hidden waterfall. We also got to hang out with some cool monkeys. Cannot recommend this enough!
Rooftop bar at the Hard Rock: The views are insaneeee (only open at night, as a heads up)

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting—Panama City:

The Panama Canal: One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. The locks are actually very intense and very interesting.
Casco Viejo: The old part of town where you want to spend a majority of your time. This is where to eat/drink/explore

Other ideas—Panama City:

La Rana Dorada: Panama’s first microbrewery! Right as you enter Casco Viejo the brewery greets you. Great beer, fun place to hang out and soak up the culture
Ancon Hill: A giant hill overlooking the city. It’s an aggressive climb to the top, but all paved. You get fantastic views on your way up and from the top.
Casa Sucre Coffeehouse: A great coffee shop in Casco Viejo
Panama Viejo: The ruins of the ancient city, cool to explore. Bring bug spray.
Bridge of the Americas: There’s a lot of hype about this bridge, but it’s just a bridge. You can see it from the top of Ancon Hill and if you’re driving in certain parts of the city, so I wouldn’t recommend just going to the bridge itself

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations—Bocas Del Toro:

Beach. It. Up. Duh, that’s the whole point
I’d recommend staying at Popa Paradise, it’s gorgeous, the staff is super friendly, and we truly loved it. The food was fantastic and not some crappy buffet like a lot of resorts in the area, everything was made individual to us and the place is quite small so you’re not overwhelmed by other guests. There were max 5 people there while we were there

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting—Bocas Del Toro:

Green Acres Chocolate Farm: Explore the jungle, see how chocolate is made, and eat some amazing chocolate while you’re at it!
Red Frog Beach: Depending on what island you’re staying on Red Frog is either going to be way bigger than your island (as was the case for us, we stayed on Isla Popa) or way smaller (if for example you stay on Isla Colon, the main island). It’s a cool place to hang out

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations—Boquete:

Volcan Baru: I woke up at 3:30AM to Jeep it up to the top of the highest mountain in Panama. Seeing the sunrise over both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea at the same time is unreal [also very very cold, come prepared]. You can also hike to the top if you’re ambitious
The Lost Waterfalls: Amazing hiking just outside of downtown Boquete. Take a cab, ask them to return 2-3 hours later (they’ll actually do it, so that’s cool). Hike through the cloud forest to three different waterfalls-or just one or two, whatever you prefer. The hike is pretty intense with lots of ups and downs, so be prepared. Totally worth it!

Other ideas—Boquete:

Boquete Brewing Company: Boquete’s only brewery! Fun place with live music and a food truck. Beer is just okay, but what do you expect in a small Panamanian mountain town!
Los Cangilones: Take a day trip to the canyons, you can jump in and swim!
RetroGusto Restaurant: The best restaurant in Boquete and one of the best restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. It was incredible

Latin America

Tortuga Del Mar: Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

I absolutely loved my beachfront room. The owners are so sweet and it’s nice and small so there’s barely anyone else around. The black sand beach is gorgeous and there are a couple of restaurants and a store within walking distance. Check out my Costa Rica guide here.

La Casa Verde: Banos, Ecuador

This eco-hostel is super relaxing, and the hosts are incredibly nice. There are hammocks, delicious snacks, and great views. Don’t let the word hostel throw you off—I had a private room and bathroom and nothing about it felt hostel-style, it was just a normal hotel with a variety of lodging options. Check out my Ecuador guide here.

Popa Paradise: Bocas del Toro, Panama

This is a gorgeous property! The pool, beach, walking trails and facilities were all stunning. The team here is also super nice and helpful. The food was fantastic and the place is quite small so you’re not overwhelmed by other guests. Check out my Panama guide here.

Arakur Resort & Spa: Ushuaia, Argentina

If you find yourself in Ushuaia at the very bottom of the content, Arakur is a must-stay. The outdoor pool and hot tub was one of the highlights of my entire trip! The views from the entire hotel are unreal. is Check out my Argentina guide here.

New Zealand

Edge Hill Hut: Taupo

The views from this Airbnb are superb! It is overlooking Lake Taupo and Mount Tauhara with sheep and farmland abound. The outdoor deck is packed with amazing amenities—an outdoor tub, fireplace, grill, comfy seating and more. There are thoughtful touches throughout the home and it was very clean and comfy. This airbnb is only a 15 minute drive from downtown Taupō and a little over an hour away from Tangariro National Park. It was also ridiculously affordable for such a nice spot. Check out my guide to New Zealand’s North Island here.

The United States

Kinn Guesthouse Bay View: Milwaukee, WI

The set-up of Kinn Guesthouse is very cool. Each room feels more like a loft apartment and there is a shared kitchen and living room. It is housed above an Italian restaurant and walkable to several great coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Check out my Milwaukee guide here.

Fenway Hotel: Dunedin, FL

The Fenway Hotel is a delightful spot. The hotel is gorgeous, the views from the rooftop bar are superb and the food and drinks are delicious. There is a trail on along the inlet in front of the hotel and you can easily walk into downtown Dunedin which is full of breweries, restaurants, shops and coffee shops. Check out my Dunedin blog here.

Orchards Inn: Sedona, AZ

Orchards Inn is right in the heart of downtown Sedona and the rooms offer spectacular views of the red rocks. Each room is a bit different, but my suite included a lovely fireplace, a spacious balcony, and an extremely comfortable bed. They have their own restaurant as well, 89Agave Cantina, which is delicious. Full Sedona guide coming soon!

North Carolina

This cabin on Airbnb: Bryson City, NC

This cabin had magical mountain views and was the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Outside there is a fire pit and inside their is a fire place so that you can have cozy vibes inside or out. The hot tub was excellent and there were lots of thoughtful amenities. Bryson City & Western North Carolina guide coming soon!

Aloft Wilmington: Wilmington, NC

Aloft Wilmington has loft-style vibes and is right on the Cape Fear River. The rooftop bar has great views and it is centrally located in downtown Wilmington. Check out my Wilmington guide here.

Glamping Unplugged: Boone, NC

Glamping in a dome on a creek in the middle of nowhere? Yes please. This is a fun and unique stay just 20 minutes from Boone. Make a fire, stargaze, fish in the creek, go for a hike—the outdoor possibilities are endless. Check out my Boone guide here.