The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City

Sorhay was amazing, she customized the tour to match exactly our interests, gave us a chance to stretch our legs and walk through amazing parks and see the skyline of Panama City, we got to visit the market the locals frequent, we had cocktails, and tasted the most amazing local dishes all in the setting the people of Panama enjoy. If you like to embrace local culture and immerse yourself in the places you travel to then this our is for you. Exceptional Value and I could not recommend it more highly.

I cant say enough good things about this tour! Namely the guide, Sorhay was engaging, caring and simply the best tour guide i experienced ever. She felt like family and her choices of sites were top tier! She provided places and choices that represented all walks of life. Her historical knowledge of Panama was comprehensive. Even though the tour was about food the stops and information expanded/exceeded Food. One of the best tours ive ever had. If you go to Panama, a food tour is a must- this particular one. If you can get Sorhay, even better!!

This tour has ABSOLUTELY ruined other food tours for us. My partner and I are experienced travelers, and we make a point of taking food tours everywhere we go. Hands down, this was not only the best food tour we've ever been on, it was the best travel tour we've ever experienced. When we were researching excursions, we almost chose a more traditional food tour because this one was priced a little higher. Looking back, that would have been a huge mistake. Every dollar was worth it, and then some. From the moment we booked, Sorhay was communicative and thoughtful, making sure we knew exactly where and when she would pick us up. Once we met her, it became clear why this tour stands out. She is warm, energetic, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing Panama with visitors. What makes this experience special is that it is completely personalized. Rather than following a rigid itinerary, Sorhay crafts the day around your interests while offering fantastic suggestions you would never think to ask for on your own. My partner and I arrived with a few ideas, and she transformed them into an unforgettable day of eating, drinking, learning, and exploring. Throughout the day, she whisked us around in her comfortable air-conditioned van, introducing us to foods, neighborhoods, stories, and viewpoints that we never would have discovered on our own. Every stop felt intentional. We learned about Panama's rich cultural influences, sampled incredible local specialties, explored markets, tried fruits we'd never seen before, and enjoyed food that reflected the country's diverse heritage. One of the things we appreciated most was that Sorhay knows where locals actually eat. If you've traveled enough, you know that's where the magic happens. This was not a tour of tourist restaurants. These were authentic places filled with incredible food and local character. When we mentioned an interest in Afro-Caribbean cuisine, she immediately knew where to take us. When we had questions about foods we had heard about, her attitude was essentially, "Why read about it when you can taste it?" and she found a way to work it into the day. At one point, after realizing there was one more stop she wanted us to experience, she even turned around in heavy traffic to make sure we didn't miss it. That level of care and attention really summed up the entire tour. Beyond the food, she shared fascinating insights about Panama's history, culture, and people. We visited local markets, spotted wildlife including sloths, and stopped at the Bridge of the Americas for an amazing photo opportunity. The entire experience felt less like a tour and more like spending the day with a knowledgeable friend who loves her country and wants you to experience the very best of it. Sorhay is also funny, easy to talk to, and a traveler herself, which made conversations flow naturally all day long. She even gave us recommendations for places to visit after the tour, several of which we ended up trying and loving. The day flew by. My partner and I left feeling like we had gained a deeper understanding of Panama, its culture, and its food. This experience created memories we'll be talking about for years. If we return to Panama, I would book this tour again in a heartbeat just to see where else Sorhay might take us. If you're considering this experience, stop thinking about it and book it. Come hungry, stay curious, and get ready for an incredible day of food, drinks, culture, and adventure. It was the highlight of our trip and an experience we'll remember forever.

I genuinely have no words to describe how amazing either Sorhay or this tour are. It was, without a doubt, the best tour and one of the greatest travel experiences we've ever had. Perhaps the best way I can describe this tour is: we spent 10 days in Panama City, including a cruise to Aruba, Curacao, Cartagena, and our strongest lasting memory will be of Sorhay and this tour. If you're reading this review, you'll have already seen the price. Laura and I only had 3 days in Panama City before the cruise, so we wanted to get the most out of our experience while trying to balance a budget that was already "over-spent" on the cruise portion. I spent a LOT of time looking at tours, most at a much lower price point - but I kept being drawn back to this one, over and over, because it just sounded so perfect for what we wanted to do. Obviously, we decided to buy 3 tickets, and it was the single best decision that we could have made. The tour itself is really intelligently designed. It's something of a "choose your own adventure" where you can tell Sorhay what types of food you enjoy, and what order you want to eat in. She'll talk out some options with you (all while driving you through Panama and giving you a tour of the city), and then design a customized tour for you on the fly. Everything we ate that day was amazing - many of our best meals on the entire trip, far surpassing the food on our Royal Caribbean cruise. But what truly made this day so special was Sorhay. She was so incredibly sweet, knowledgeable and patient. It's hard for me to really describe what a pleasant day we had with her. She just genuinely did everything in her power to make our day special. She had no concern for her own time or agenda. We never felt rushed, and we just got to relax and enjoy a unique and incredible experience, all while she added so many small, nice touches - down to discreetly taking photos of us and sending them to us, so we could simply enjoy our experience.

If you want to see and experience Panama City, Sorhay will make it happen! She showed us more than we could have possibly seen on our own, plus the food!! What an incredible evening we had!

We had a fantastic day! The tour was wonderful. We went to Panama to celebrate my great aunt’s 90th birthday and Sorhay was able to tailor the tour to fit our needs! We enjoyed great food, learned about Panama and everyday after the tour, my family talked about how good it was! 10/10 recommend!

Our gracious host became a friend as she drove us from tasty treat to tasty treat. She gave us choices and catered to our dietary needs. If you are vegetarian or even vegan, don’t hesitate to sign up! You will get to see neighborhoods you would never see otherwise. My husband and I especially loved going to the home of a woman who makes cinnamon rolls to order, and sampling the fresh fruits we had never tried to at a street market. You are never rushed! We went to one of the top restuarants in Latin America and even met the chef! We only had one day in the city, and we are so glad we spent half of it in this memorable tour! Thank you! Shaina

Sorhay delivered a truly exceptional food tour experience in Panama City. Her depth of knowledge about Panamanian cuisine — and Panama itself — made every stop meaningful and memorable. She offered a wide range of authentic dishes across several neighborhoods, and honestly, you couldn’t go wrong with any of her selections. What sets Sorhay apart is her inquisitive nature. With her journalist’s instinct, she takes the time to understand exactly what you’re looking for — your tastes, your interests, your curiosity about the city — and thoughtfully tailors the experience to match. This is not a cookie-cutter tour. It’s personal, dynamic, and crafted around you. Beyond the food, she gave us a broader perspective of Panama City. Because we’re seriously interested in the area, she guided us through neighborhoods she felt would suit us, while also showing us areas facing economic hardship to provide important context and a fuller understanding of the city. Engaging, insightful, and genuinely warm — Sorhay delivers a five-star experience all the way. Highly recommend.

Best tour of our life time, all because of Sorhay(tour guide). She was second to none, smart, funny and caring. We have certainly exposed to Real Panamanian. The culture, the food, history, architecture, etc. Highly recommend it, worth every penny. All in all, Sorhay, thanks so so much! You are one of a kind and the BEST!

Sorhay is the perfect tour guide – knowledgeable, flexible, and fun. We enjoyed every minute of our day with her, learned about the challenges and opportunities, facing Panama, and enjoyed delicious food. Best ceviche I've ever had! Thank you for a memorable experience.