Places / North & Central America / Panama
David
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At a glance
- Country
- Panama
- Region
- Chiriquí Province
- Population
- 150,000 (district)
- Best time to go
- December to April
- Main airport
- David Enrique Malek International (DAV)
- Coordinates
- 8.43°N, 82.43°W
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Overview
David is Panama's third-largest city and the capital of Chiriquí province, a hot, busy commercial town on the plains near the Costa Rican border. It has few sights of its own and is mainly a transport hub.
Still, it is a useful base. Within an hour or two you can reach the coffee farms and cloud forests of Boquete, the summit of Volcán Barú and the island-dotted Pacific coast.
Things to see
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Parque Cervantes
The shady central square is the heart of town and a good place to watch local life.
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Photo: en:User:Halbinger, Public domain Volcán Barú
Panama's highest peak, where on clear mornings you can see both the Pacific and the Caribbean.
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Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Bateau ivre assumed (ba, Public domain Gulf of Chiriquí National Marine Park
Protected islands, reefs and mangroves off the coast, with snorkelling and whale-watching.
Things to do
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Photo: Original: M. Pereira Derivative work: Danyele / Hameltion, CC BY-SA 3.0 Day trip to Boquete
A cool mountain town known for coffee tours, hiking trails and hanging bridges.
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Photo: Ayaita, CC BY-SA 3.0 Las Lajas beach
A long, wide Pacific beach with gentle waves and few crowds.
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Hot springs at Caldera
Soak in natural thermal pools by a river in the countryside north of the city.
Where to stay
City centre
Practical hotels around Parque Cervantes, close to the bus terminal and restaurants.
Hotels in City centreBoquete
Many travellers prefer to stay in the cooler highlands and pass through David.
Hotels in Boquete
Getting around
Taxis are cheap and plentiful in town, and frequent buses connect to Boquete, the coast and the Costa Rican border.
The airport is a short taxi ride from the centre. Long-distance buses from Panama City take around seven hours.
When to go
December to April is the dry season, with clear skies in the highlands. The rest of the year is wetter, with heavy afternoon rain.
Plan your trip to David
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.