Historical context and tropical fruit tastings (guanábana, borojó, orange with raspadura, tamarind sweets) Start your journey at Mercado San Felipe Neri, an emblematic site whose name honors San Felipe Neri. The current building is a rehabilitated gem that preserves the essence of Panamanian popular commerce since the mid-20th century. Begin with a sensory introduction through tropical fruit tastings. Enjoy natural juices while learning about guanábana, prized for its medicinal properties, and borojó, known as the “fruit of love” in the Darién region. Taste refreshing orange with raspadura, the artisanal sugarcane sweetener that has fed Panamanian campesinos for centuries, along with traditional tamarind sweets.

Continue into the heart of the market, exploring the animal products section and learning about the importance of using the whole animal in subsistence gastronomy. Here, you will be introduced to Sao, a pickled pig’s foot dish with deep Afro-Caribbean roots that arrived during the construction of the Canal and became a staple of popular celebrations.

Then experience the Panamanian table at local fondas, where workers traditionally enjoy their “plate of the day.” Taste a variety of dishes including bistec picado, bacalao with coconut rice, plátano en tentación, and guacho de mariscos, a thick rice soup representing the fusion of sea and land.

Walk toward the seafood market while discovering the historical area of the old fiscal checkpoint, where goods entering the city were once controlled. Observe artisanal fishing boats and learn to identify key species such as corvina, red snapper, tuna, and mackerel.

Near the entrance of Casco Antiguo, stop at a traditional kiosk to enjoy ceviche, either corvina or octopus marinated in fresh lime, paired with a local Panama Beer or Balboa.

Continue to La Playita, where you’ll enjoy a refreshing raspao with condensed milk while discovering the striking contrast between the historic Casco Antiguo, founded in 1673 after the destruction of Panamá Viejo by the pirate Henry Morgan, and the modern skyline of Punta Paitilla and the Cinta Costera.

From there, walk through Avenida B and the famous “Sal Si Puedes” passage, once a crowded and labyrinthine hub of Asian and local commerce. Cross through Plaza Santa Ana, which in the 19th century served as the political and social center of the arrabal, the area outside the walls of Casco.

End your experience at the historic Café Coca-Cola, the only café in the world outside the United States that was authorized to use the brand name in its early years. Opened in 1875, it has hosted politicians, intellectuals, and figures such as Che Guevara. Close with hojaldres and tortillas de maíz, accompanied by a national coffee. With this, the journey comes to an end — with the heart full of history and the palate full of Panama.