Which would be a better vacation spot Costa Rica or Panama?

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RunTex

Both are very similar but also very different.

They share Rain Forests, great beaches on both sides, and the lowest rates of poverty in Central America. Panama is a little less developed in terms of Tourism but not in terms of industry etc. Both are extremely SAFE, great food and great friendly people. The currency in Panama is the Dollar so it is mostly more expensive than Costa Rica.

Panama- Panama city is a nice very cosmopolitan city for Central America. There are several nice hotels here or ones just across the bay and you can take a ferry to those hotels across the bay. The Locks of the Panama Canal are also about a 45min drive or tour from the city.
The Pacific side has several islands called the Peal Islands- Condado is the most popular and very nice with a couple nice hotels.
The Caribbean side has two Island chains- both very different. The San Blas which are goverened by the Kuna Indians are very tropical, white sand beaches and great snorkeling reefs- no scuba diving allowed. These islands are VERY rustic..
The other ones are the Bocas Del Toro Archipelago towards the border with Costa Rica. These are also very nice islands and becomming the "next new place" to go to in Central America. It's very backpacker style still but there are some nice places popping up on some of the islands off of Bocas.

Costa Rica is one of my favorite places too but unfortunately they do not have islands similar to Panama's and are more like Hawaiian/ California beaches than the Caribbeans. Tamarindo, Arenal, Monteverde, Dominical, Manuel Antonio are all places to visit when there.

Have you thought about Roatan or another of the Bay Islands off Honduras since you are looking for Caribbean type?
The beaches and water in the Bay Islands is very Caribbean per say, white sand and 200 foot visability. Not to mention, the second largest reef in the world behing the GBR. Continental and Delta also fly into Roatan on the weekend directly. Just a thought..

smaruccif

Definitely Panama...you can visit the Panama Canal, one unique place and certainly one of the worldÂ´s wonders...you canÂ´t have that in Costa Rica. Besides, food is much better in Panama and Caribbean islands are gorgeous! Also, there is even greater diversity of species in Panama, if you are into ecotourism and you could visit Barro Colorado, an island used by the Smithsonian institute to study wildlife.
Panama is safe and night life is a lot of fun! Very cosmopolitan.

â™¥Doncellaâ™¥

costa rica. it is beautiful there

evileclipse26

They both are great places....go online and see what attracts you better

aymara

Costa Rica
Panama has more poverty but it depend in what area you stay
same with security
Manuel Antonio Samara all the beaches in the Pacific are beautiful in Costa Rica.Places to visit Monteverde
Costa Rica in the Atlantic side and Panama is more similar to the Caribbean islands
Costa Rica has so many micro climates in a small country and doesn't have army

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