A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Paz vs. Panama City for Beaches, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit La Paz or Panama City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Panama City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

La Paz

La Paz is a beautiful, authentic, and cultural city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Panama City

Panama City is a active, cosmopolitan, and fun-filled beach town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

La Paz and Panama City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Paz or Panama City?

Visitors will usually find more to do in La Paz than Panama City, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. La Paz is better known for its museums, food, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Panama City is more popular for its nightlife, music, and impressive beauty. Panama City is more touristy than La Paz and is known for its watersports, sandy beaches, and year-round beach weather. La Paz is well known for its beautiful beaches, fascinating cultural setting, and authentic local atmosphere. Also, La Paz is famous for Balandra Beach.

How is La Paz different from Panama City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Panama City and La Paz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in La Paz or Panama City?

La Paz is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Panama City does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to La Paz can be an interesting and educational experience. Sights and landmarks around town include La Paz Cathedral, the Museo de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur, the the Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur, and Teatro Juarez.

Panama City does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in La Paz or Panama City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

La Paz is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Panama City is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit La Paz. As the capital of Baja California Sur, you'll find many local restaurants that serve traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. The recipes include seafood and local produce. You'll find everything from food stalls to high end restaurants around town.

Panama City is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are many waterfront restaurants that serve freshly caught seafood. Head to town for a charming atmosphere or grab a bite at a casual eatery. Fried seafood is popular when eating out but you'll also find plenty of options for land-lovers. Most restaurants also have kid-friendly menus.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Nightlife?

Panama City is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, La Paz is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Panama City has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife is particular crazy during spring break, when the town fills with students. Head to the famous Club La Vela or Spinnaker for music and fun at night.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in La Paz. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Music?

Panama City is a beach town with good options for its live music scene. However, La Paz is not a live music destination.

You'll find some good live music in Panama City. A popular way to enjoy music in the area is to find a restaurant with a lounge where local musicians perform.

La Paz is not a live music destination.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Resorts?

If luxury resorts are your style, both La Paz and Panama City have notable options.

With a selection of resorts, La Paz makes a nice vacation spot. There are a number of hotels and resorts around town that make for a nice vacation.

Panama City has a few great resort options. Most people stay in condos that are VRBO's or Airbnbs, but there are resorts in the area as well.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

La Paz is a great destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, Panama City is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to La Paz to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. There are organized diving and snorkeling excursions available around town. It's location by the Sea of Cortez makes diving a world class experience.

Panama City is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Beaches?

La Paz is an amazing city to visit for the beache. Also, Panama City is still popular, but not quite as popular for the beach.

The beaches in La Paz are among the best in the world. The beaches in the area are the main draw, and you'll find beaches that are family-friendly, romantic, or full of amenities. Some consider the beaches in the area among the best in Mexico.

The beaches at Panama City attract visitors from all over. With miles of long white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters, this area's beaches offer a beautiful escape. Head to the area's state parks for the most natural experience. These include St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park. A day trip to Shell Island is also popular.

Is the Shopping Better in La Paz or Panama City?

La Paz is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Panama City is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

La Paz is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Local boutiques, souvenir shops, and art galleries all make for interesting shopping opportunities.

Panama City has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of malls and shopping centers in the area.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Families?

Panama City is a world-class destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, La Paz is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Panama City is an extremely popular beach town to visit for families. This area has large sandy beaches, waterparks, amusement parks, and marine parks. Kids will enjoy playing around at WonderWorks, cooling off at Shipwreck Island Waterpark, and learning about marine life at Gulf World Marine Park. There are also many watersports and water activities that are fun for the whole family.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in La Paz. Older kids will enjoy swimming with whale sharks, whale watching, and experiencing the region's wildlife. There are also many beaches in the area where kids can play.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Couples?

Panama City is notable for its romantic activities. Also, La Paz is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Panama City is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful beaches and romantic restaurants make for a great romantic getaway. This is the perfect place to take sunset walks along the beach and sample freshly caught local seafood.

La Paz is a good city for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy walking along the beach promenade known as Malecon. There are also beaches and amazing animal experiences such as whale watching or dolphin viewing.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Paz is a great destination for backpackers. However, Panama City is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

La Paz is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city offers an authentic experience and hostels that make it a budget-friendly option for backpackers.

Panama City is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Students?

Panama City is notable for students. However, La Paz is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Panama City. It's not the spring break destination that it once was, but you'll still find students hanging out around the spring holidays.

La Paz is not popular with students.

Is La Paz or Panama City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

La Paz is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Panama City is a beach town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in La Paz, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Panama City. Most people need a car in Panama City but there is a trolley service that connects major tourist areas.

Is La Paz or Panama City a more walkable city?

La Paz is a great destination for its high level of walkability. However, Panama City is a beach town with minimal options for its ease of walking around.

La Paz is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable.

Panama City is not a very walkable city. There's often construction and the streets aren't designed for pedestrians.

For even more information, also check out Is La Paz Worth Visiting? and Is Panama City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Panama City or La Paz?

How long in La Paz or Panama City?

Both La Paz and Panama City have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Panama City than in La Paz. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Paz, and 3-7 days is enough time in Panama City.

Families should spend more time in La Paz than Panama City. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in La Paz, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in La Paz than Panama City. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Paz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Paz than Panama City if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in La Paz.

One day in La Paz or Panama City?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the beautiful city of La Paz. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people visit for the beaches. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Panama City. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in La Paz or Panama City?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of La Paz. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Panama City is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in La Paz or Panama City?

The cultural city of La Paz offers museums and nightlife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Panama City. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in La Paz or Panama City?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting La Paz. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people visit for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the cosmopolitan destination of Panama City. This beach town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Paz and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Panama City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Panama City than you might in La Paz.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Paz Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Paz or Panama City?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of La Paz and Panama City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit La Paz or Panama City?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit La Paz or Panama City in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both La Paz and Panama City. Most visitors come to La Paz for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Panama City because of the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

La Paz is around the same temperature as Panama City in the summer. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Panama City fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Panama City this time of the year. In La Paz, it's very sunny this time of the year. La Paz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Panama City during summer. La Paz gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Panama City receives 283 hours of full sun in the summer.

Panama City receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, La Paz usually receives less rain than Panama City. La Paz gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit La Paz or Panama City in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to La Paz as well as Panama City. The autumn months attract visitors to La Paz because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Panama City this time of year.

In the autumn, La Paz is a little warmer than Panama City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Paz in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Panama City averages at about 71°F (22°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Panama City. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Paz this time of the year. In the autumn, La Paz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Panama City. La Paz gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Panama City receives 256 hours of full sun.

La Paz usually gets less rain in October than Panama City. La Paz gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Paz or Panama City in the Winter?

Both Panama City and La Paz are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to La Paz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Panama City for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, La Paz is generally much warmer than Panama City. Daily temperatures in La Paz average around 18°C (65°F), and Panama City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Paz. La Paz usually receives more sunshine than Panama City during winter. La Paz gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Panama City receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, La Paz usually receives less rain than Panama City. La Paz gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit La Paz or Panama City in the Spring?

Both Panama City and La Paz during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to La Paz for the beaches. Furthermore, many visitors come to Panama City in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

La Paz is a little warmer than Panama City in the spring. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Panama City fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

In Panama City, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in La Paz. In the spring, La Paz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Panama City. La Paz gets 292 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Panama City receives 295 hours of full sun.

La Paz usually gets less rain in April than Panama City. La Paz gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Panama City and La Paz