Jewish Life Walking Tour

Panama is home to one of the most established and active Jewish communities in Latin America — roughly 15,000 strong in a country of 4 million. This walking tour takes you through the heart of Panama City's Jewish neighborhood, where you'll see the landmarks, learn the history, and get a real feel for what daily Jewish life looks like here.

Your guide will walk you through the streets where Panama's Jewish community lives, works, and prays. You'll see synagogues, schools, and community buildings from the outside. Along the way, you'll hear the story of how Panama's Jewish community came to be — from the Sephardic families who arrived from the Caribbean and Syria in the early 1900s to the Ashkenazi wave that followed, and how the two communities built parallel institutions that thrive side by side today.

The tour includes a stop at Super Kosher — one of the largest kosher supermarkets in the world — where you can browse the wide selection of imported Israeli products, fresh kosher meats, and local staples with reliable hechsherim. You'll also visit some of the kosher restaurants in the area, from upscale dining to casual spots, and get a sense of the variety that makes Panama unique for kosher travelers.

It's a walk through a living, breathing community. Your guide shares personal knowledge of the community and can answer the questions that travelers always have: What's Shabbat like here? Where do people eat? How does the community work?

The tour is done primarily by car with walking stops, so it's comfortable in Panama's tropical climate. It's a great way to orient yourself if you're spending Shabbat in Panama or just curious about one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in the Americas.

Tour Highlights

• Walk through Panama City's Jewish neighborhood
• History of the Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities
• See synagogues, schools, and community landmarks from outside
• Browse Super Kosher — one of the largest kosher supermarkets in the world
• Visit kosher restaurants in the neighborhood
• Learn about daily Jewish life in Panama

What to Bring

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sunscreen and hat
• Water bottle
• Cash or card for supermarket shopping