Built to honor the French engineers and workers who first attempted to construct the Panama Canal in the late 1800s, the plaza serves as both a monument and a reminder of how ambitious the canal project truly was.
From here, you get incredible ocean views, historic walls from the old city fortifications, and some of the best breezes in Casco Viejo.
It’s also one of those places where the contrast between old and new Panama becomes obvious. Colonial buildings behind you, modern skyline ahead of you.
Arriving here in an open-air safari Volkswagen somehow makes the moment even better — especially during sunset, when the light hits the old stone walls and the city starts glowing.