Hitting The Gym In Panama
For those athletes out there, Panama is a great spot to partake in outdoor activities. Hiking, jogging, swimming, and surfing are all great exercise options in Panama. However, Panama does have many gyms available for when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
The two most popular gyms in Panama City are PowerClub and and SportTek. At both of these gyms day passes can be bought or you can purchase a monthly or annual membership. The facilities are excellent with much of the equipment you would expect at home.
The Curves franchise has recently appeared in Panama and offers the same program as the Curves in North America. Curves is a great option for women who would rather work out in a same-sex environment.
Many of Panama’s larger hotels have gym facilities. If you are a guest you can use the equipment for free. If you are not staying at the hotel you can often pay a daily rate or monthly membership for use of the facilities.
Throughout Panama City and the rest of the country you will find small, mom-and-pop type gyms. These gyms offer less classes (if any) than the larger gyms and they often feature the bare minimum when it comes to equipment. One main benefit is that these gyms are just a fraction of the cost of the larger, chain fitness clubs. A privately run small gym in Panama’s interior will set you back about $1 per visit.
Though there are various options for gym-goers in Panama, take your workout outside whenever possible. It would be a shame not to take advantage of Panama’s great weather (especially during dry season!).
| Written by Rebecca Tyre |  |
This post's rating:
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Related Stories
Jazz Festival Hitting A High Note
Gearing Up For Panama’s Biggest Party Of The Year
And The Beat Goes On
5 Ways to Party in Panama Like Paris Hilton
Filed under: Country Guide, Culture, Living & Retirement, News on March 4th, 2009
I gotta say, as a health nut, Panama’s options are pretty lame. The gyms you mention are expensive (similar in price to the US – around $60/month) and usually overly-crowded with people who don’t really want to exercise but rather bonchinche or gossip. Additionally, the hotel gyms are poorly maintained or limited in their equipment.
On a tangent, the amount of health food stores in Panama is frighteningly small. Fresh and exotic fruits and veggies aren’t plentiful (as they should be), organic products are nearly-non-existent, and the general health-conscious vibe revolves around the “dieta” options at KFC and Subway. YUCK!
Besides the gyms, it is worth to mention that Panama City has facilities to practice aerobics. Causeway is great for biking or walking at early morning or in the afternoon. Parque Omar in the San Francisco suburb, is a former Golf field, with a 3.5 Kms. circuit many people visit for running or power walking. It is open all week from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.