Panama City, Lima, and Medellin

Hi. We've been to Machu Picchu and lived in Colombia a couple years (and also visited Chapala but not Ajijic.) So a non-answer to your second question is my suggestion to head to Cartagena when you're finished in Medellin. If you didn't see this week's Monday Night Travel on Colombia with RS and his son, you could find it someplace on this website for more ideas. Have a great trip!

If you have enough time in Panama, consider taking a tour of the canal. There is a train that goes parallel to the canal.

We have been to Peru twice and love that country and the cuisine. We have found that every country in S. America has unique cuisine.

If you don't have guided tours already in Lima, I can recommend an excellent tour company. It is Monica Tours Peru.
monicatoursperu@gmail.com

I would think about staying in Medellin for a little longer and taking a day trip or overnight trip to Guatapé. If you're into hiking and waterfalls, Jardín is also a beautiful town to visit. Going up to the North coast is also an option. Cartagena, Minca, Palomino, the rosario islands, are all good options.

We haven't been there in a few years, but our guides told us that personal safety was a factor in walking around any non-touristy locations in Lima and in Panama City. We did view the Panama City old town on our own, but had a driver drop us off and pick us up from the hotel. We walked around our ritzy section of Lima but did not go more than a half-mile from the hotel. I would not have walked anywhere in Colon, where our small ship cruise started from in Panama. Note: I grew up in New York City/Manhattan.

You don't make clear whether civil engineering/The Canal or jungle hiking are important to you in Panama. I believe the real jungle in Panama can by quite hazardous.

Our Galapagos departure included Guyaquil, where we were also told to be careful. We were told to only visit places that had Tourism Police patrols. I am fairly sure you are not interested in visiting the rather mall-y, purpose-built waterfront promenade we walked around on our own.

I haven’t been to Panama in 3 decades and prior to its invasion by the U.S., but I agree with avoiding Colón. I transited the old canal 3 times and it was interesting, but I’d love to see the new locks. I had no problems walking around Panama City during the day, but like many S. American cities, I wouldn’t walk around at night. I’d love to tell you the towns we visited outside of P. City, but I can’t remember them.

In Lima we stayed in the Miraflores area. There was an Indian market about a mile from our hotel on Avenida Petit Thouars 5321 near the intersection of Jr Gonzales Prada. I would have like to spend more time in the historic center than was provided in our tour. At Machu Picchu we stayed at Sanctuary Lodge. Hopefully your tour does too because you get to spend more time at the ruins by getting in earlier and staying later.