Most people think they know Panama. A transit point. A canal. A layover with
a great airport. They're wrong. Panama City is one of the most underrated
cities in the Americas. And in November, it runs its most important race.
A skyline that rivals Miami. A colonial quarter that feels like stepping into
another century. A food scene that blends Pacific, Caribbean, and Afro-Antillean
influences into something singular. And the canal, which you will run past on
race day, is in person one of the most jaw-dropping engineering feats you
will ever see. This is the 50th anniversary edition of the Maratón Internacional
de Panamá. We wouldn't miss it for anything.
Panamá
the city
panamanian flag
casco viejo
old quarter
colonial
the course
the canal
rooftop skyline
at dusk
puente centenario
Panamá · República de PanamáNovember 2026
Panama City, Panama · November 13–17, 2026
Come for the marathon.Stay for the city.
No scrambling for pasta the night before. No Google Maps rabbit holes through
a city you've never run. Just good miles, good people, and a city that quietly
earns your heart long before you cross the finish line. This is the 50th
anniversary edition. We wouldn't miss it for anything.
Run Like a Local · Panama City Edit
Okay, but what do I actually get?
Edit 003 / Panama City
Stay & Move
Hand-picked Boutique Hotel5 Nights · Casco Viejo or Miraflores Waterfront
Panama City Street Food TourCeviche, patacones & things with no English name
Do
Curated Local GuideEat, drink, explore & recover like a Panameño
Group Runs Along the Cinta CosteraThe most scenic sea-level run in Latin America
Casco Viejo Walking TourUNESCO World Heritage · Architecture worth getting lost in
Race-Day SupportWe'll be out there on the course
Sample Itinerary
Five Days in Panama City
← Drag to explore →→ Swipe through the days
Day 01
Friday, Nov 13
Arrive & Feel the City
Check in, shake off the flight. We'll take the group for an easy run along
the Cinta Costera, Panama City's iconic six-lane seafront boulevard. At mile
zero you can already see the glass towers of Punta Pacifica on one side and
the old colonial quarter on the other. An early taste of exactly what race
day will feel like. Evening is yours to explore Casco Viejo.
The Pacific is right there. The city is right there. So is the canal.
Day 02
Saturday, Nov 14
Canal & Casco Viejo
The day before the race: bib pickup, the Pedro Miguel Locks, and a slow
wander through Casco Viejo. One of the few times you'll stand at the exact
point where the race course turns around. The Miraflores Visitor Center is
worth every minute. Dinner is early, strategic, and at a place you'll
actually remember.
One canal. Two oceans. One very big lock.
Day 03
Sunday, Nov 15 🏅
Race Day
The Maratón Internacional de Panamá starts in the pre-dawn heat. Cinta
Costera, out to Pedro Miguel Locks, back along the canal corridor. Fifty
editions. This is the one. By the time you cross the finish line, the
Pacific sun is warm, your legs are honest, and Panama City has earned
your full respect.
50th anniversary. You're part of the history now.
Day 04
Monday, Nov 16
Recovery Day
No alarms. Slow morning, big breakfast, sea air. The afternoon is yours:
Amador Causeway, Casco Viejo without a timeline, ceviche at a spot that
doesn't have a website. Panama City runs on a different clock. Today
you run on its terms.
Panama on a Monday after a marathon is a very good thing.
Day 05
Tuesday, Nov 17
Farewell (or San Blas)
Last morning on the Cinta Costera if your legs cooperate. Checkout,
goodbyes, and a city that already feels familiar. For San Blas guests,
this is where the real adventure begins.
You came for a race. You're leaving with more than a medal.
Optional Add-On
The San Blas Islands. Three hundred and sixty-five islands. Ninety percent
uninhabited. A catamaran. Tuesday November 17 through Friday November 20.
The most remote finish line you'll ever cross.
Day 01Depart Panama City → San Blas
Embark from Portobelo and sail east into the Guna Yala archipelago. No
roads, no Wi-Fi, no reason to check your phone. Anchor off a palm-covered
island as the sun sets over the Caribbean. The only agenda: do absolutely
nothing. After five days of racing and city life, the silence is a gift.
Day 02Island Hopping
Three islands in a day. Snorkeling in water so clear you feel like you're
floating in glass. Lunch on a sandbar that disappears at high tide. An
afternoon on a beach with no name, no sunbeds, and no soundtrack except
the water. The Guna people have protected these islands for centuries.
You are a guest.
Day 03The Final Islands
Last full day on the water. Starfish beach at dawn. The kind of afternoon
that makes you forget what day it is, what city you flew in from, what
you were worried about before you left. After dinner aboard, we begin
the evening sail back toward Panama City.
Day 04Return & Departure
Arrive back in Panama City Friday morning. Transfer to the airport for
international flights, or stay one more night if you can't bring yourself
to leave. We completely understand. We're here for it.
San Blas add-on is +$2,200 per person. Three nights aboard
a private catamaran, island hopping, snorkeling gear, meals, and a captain
who knows every sandbar. Flights not included. Minimum 6 guests required.
How It Works
The Route to Race Day
1
Reserve Your Spot
A $500 deposit secures your place. Non-refundable. Your spot is real, your place is held.
2
Register for the Race
Sign up directly with the official race organizers. They require each runner to complete their own entry and waiver. Not sure where to start? Just ask.
3
Let's Talk
A quick 1:1 call with Alberto to go over your goals, your pace, and everything you need for race week. Including how to train for the heat.
4
Train
You've got a race to run. Get after it. Panama is warm and humid, so factor that into your prep. Need a nudge? We've got you.
5
Show Up
Settle your tab, pack light, and arrive. You run. We handle everything else.
Panama City Edit · November 13–17, 2026
Pricing
Runner
Double occupancy, two beds, subject to availability
$3,600
per person
Supporter
Double occupancy, two beds, subject to availability
$3,300
per person
San Blas Add-On
3 nights catamaran · San Blas Archipelago
+$2,200
per person
Single Supplement+$500For single occupancy
Deposit
$500 secures your spot. 50% due 90 days before departure. Full balance due 30 days before departure. Deposit is non-refundable.
Race Registration
Not included. Race organizers require each runner to personally agree to their waiver and terms. Need help navigating registration? We've got you.
Not running? Come anyway. You don't have to race to Run Like a Local. Supporters, partners, and anyone who'd rather explore Panama City while you're out there running the canal corridor are more than welcome. Same trip, same experience, same great company. Coming with a group? There may be something special in store. 👀
San Blas minimum: The catamaran add-on requires a minimum of 6 guests. If the minimum isn't met, we'll reach out before final payment to explore options.
Life happens. Here's how we handle it.
Our cancellation policy, plain and simple.
Deposit
Non-refundable at any time. Your $500 holds a real spot. Someone else could have taken it. We need firm numbers to build these groups.
Cancel between 90 and 30 days before departure
Your prepayment can be applied toward any future Run Like a Local trip, valid for one year from your cancellation date.
Cancel within 30 days of departure
No refunds or changes. Everything is locked in at this point: vendors, accommodations, logistics. No exceptions.
We strongly recommend travel insurance to cover the unexpected: trip cancellation, interruptions, medical emergencies. Life happens. Get insured. Need help finding the right policy? We can help.
