5.0 Absolutely the best tour you could possibly buy in Panama

Robert_J, May 2026

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.

5.0 See - and eat - Panama!

Dorian_C, April 2026

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!

5.0 We had a fantastic day!...

Candace_M, March 2026

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!

5.0 The perfect way to see the real Panama City

Shaina_R, March 2026

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

5.0 Exceptional Food Tour

CRAIG_C, March 2026

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.

5.0 SORHAY is 5+ star!!!!

Van_S, February 2026

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!

5.0 A perfect day!

LeslyeWL, February 2026

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.

5.0 Fun day with lots of unique experiences

canuck_traveller66, February 2026

Sorhay customized the tour to what we were interested in/liked, so no two tours she does are ever the same. She has a vast knowledge of Panama, food places, and takes time talking to you to see what your interests are. In our case, she squeezed in more of a nature tour as well, taking us out of the city to see howler monkeys, look for elusive sloths (managed to see one), basilisk lizards and caimans. Also toured a large public produce market to get a sense of the fruits and vegetables that go into Panamanian cuisine. Very fun day

5.0 Incredible Day

mjlaurila, January 2026

Sorhey is one of the most personal guides we’ve had on any Viator tour. Before we even got to a food tour, she had spotted a mother and baby sloth on the way to the port to pick us up. We went back to that location and saw three sloths, got some great pictures and videos. She listened to what we wanted to do and not only took us on a customized food and sightseeing tour, but went above and beyond by hitting a couple of shops and finding some souvenirs that my wife wanted to pick up. If you have the pleasure of booking a tour with her, do not hesitate.

5.0 Best food experience ever!

paulringdahl, January 2026

Sorhay did an amazing job of customizing our very local dining experiences and also showing us parts of Panama City that most travelers don’t see. Highly recommend!

5.0 Sorhay was the perfect...

Scott_W, January 2026

Sorhay was the perfect guide through Panama City. She'll take you to eat any type of food you want to try (traditional, fancy or strange) and you'll see a lot of the city on the way. She seems to know people everywhere in the city, and she'll customize the tour based on your interests. We tried high-end dishes from excellent restaurants (she offered many mouth-watering options, but we were too full to try them all). We also (probably shouldn't put this in the review) accepted her offer to stop at Pio Pio, a restaurant named for the sound baby chickens make to a Panamanian's ear, for some deep fried parts of the chicken you won't find on the menu in the US. It was a great experience overall, and I'd gladly recommend this tour to anyone who wants an overview of Panama City with an emphasis on / interest in food.

1.0 Beware — Sorhay the operator cancelled last minute and used a fake reason

hastins2019, January 2026

Immediately after booking on Dec 26 I informed the operator that my wife is vegetarian, but she told me to “remind her again” before the tour. Since pickup was at 9:00 AM on Jan 12, I politely reminded her again the evening before (Jan 11) to avoid any confusion the next morning. Instead she again insisted I should remind her “tomorrow.” I asked her why she can't keep a reminder for herself instead of asking me 3 times to remind, but the conversation then turned unprofessional, and she questioned me me on why I was “so concerned” about vegetarian restrictions and said my wife could just have “fruits”. I’m not paying $420 for fruits — the entire point of a private food tour is local tailored food experiences. Most importantly she abruptly cancelled the tour at 8:26 PM the night before stating fake medical reason. We’ve taken food tours all over the world, and guides usually proactively ask about dietary restrictions so they can plan stops accordingly. If a guide can’t remember basic dietary restrictions, they should note it themselves — not ask the customer multiple times to remind them. Overall, extremely disappointing and not professional. I do not recommend this operator.

5.0 Sorhay Bambu was the best

Anonymous, January 2026

Went on a private food tour throughout all of panama city. Has the best fish chocolate coffee clams.

5.0 Spectacular

laura_p, January 2026

I cannot recommend this tour enough. Sorhay was born to connect with people and share her culture and history. She personalizes everything as she gets to know you. You will go all over the city, try so many different cuisines. Please, do not hesitate to book this experience.

5.0 Lovely experience

ArnieR_13, January 2026

Sorhay was terrific. Want oxtails at a not-very-fancy restaurant that are incredible? Just ask. Want great pizza because the pizza you had the night before was pretty bad, just ask. Want an amazing appetizer at one of the top 50 restaurants in Latin America! Of course. Want to see a sloth that she saw while driving to pick you up? Yes, yes, yes. She is delightful.

5.0 This Nails Panama

Larry_S, January 2026

Sorhay just nails it! This is way more than a food tour; if you want to fully appreciate the country of Panama, this is the tour! Don’t get me wrong; the foods are outstanding. But in this tour, the food is just the thread that weaves you through the fabric of the country. She is a proud Panamanian, intent on effectively giving you a clear slice of Panamanian life. No tourists locations; just real-life Panama, and a look at her special country. I am a strong proponent of taking food tours while visiting new places and new countries because they privide you with a great overview of the cultures, peoples and social aspects of the area. Sorhay provides all of that, and much more. The tour is longer than most food tours because it that much more comprehensive. In what food tour do you go hunting for wildlife, and personally interact with the local people, merchants and shop owners? Always questioning, offering options, willing to adjust itineraries, and intent on exceeding expectations. Worth every minute, and every cost.

5.0 We had a truly amazing time!

Scott_C, December 2025

Handa down the best private tour we’ve ever taken. Sorhay was above and beyond amazing. It was way more than just a food tour. She gave us a glimpse of the history, politics and a view into daily life in Panama. We toured through all different neighborhoods and customized our day based on our interests. Truly an amazing day! Thank you so much for your expertise and kindness. You will not find a more genuine person than her.

5.0 Great way to see Panama City and taste many different foods!

Kim_w, December 2025

Sorhay. Is awesome and caters to each individual guest! This was a great way to get to see many parts of the city that you would probably never see! We had so many choices of foods we could try and we had so much fun doing so! Thanks Sorhay for showing us Panama and the many different food options! ❤️👍

5.0 Must-do event in Panama

Jacqueline_D, December 2025

This food tour was amazing, customized specifically for us, and such a treat! We detoured multiple times, ate and drank such good food (highly recommend the bacalao), and learned so much about Panama! Not to mention Sorai made us feel like part of her family. Thank you!

5.0 Exceptional Tour

gail_g, November 2025

We had a wonderful day, Sorhay was delightful and flexible on where to ga and what to see. We enjoyed seeing Panamá City for the first time and saw a lot of the non-touristy city. Would highly recommend this tour

5.0 Best tour in Panamá City

Lynn_C, November 2025

We were most interested in local food, but our guide also included many interesting highlights of Panamá City. Sorhay was a perfect tour guide. Gave us exactly the type of experience we wanted. Request her if you can. She will create a memorable experience for you

5.0 A Perfect Personalized Panama Experience

kathleene463, November 2025

Sorhay was an excellent tour guide who arranged an amazing tour of Panama City tailored to our preferences in sites, activities, and food. She was extremely knowledgeable about the city and Panamanian culture, and she offered many food and drink options - all of which were delicious, and none of which were the usual tourist fare. Who would think that a food tour would begin with a very close-up encounter with the rare two-toed sloth, but that is how our day began! This is the tour and the guide everyone should choose when they are in Panama City.

5.0 Make this tour what you want!

09beachbum, October 2025

We did the private food tour with Sorhay and had an excellent day. The whole experience was definitely tailored to our preferences. We got to try authentic traditional Panamanian dishes and some modern takes on Panamanian cuisine. She is knowledgeable and very friendly. She even dropped us off at the Panama Canal to finish our day.

5.0 Wow.... book it!

Darrylswife0701, September 2025

This is one of the best tours in Panama, all due to our guide, Juliette. Juliette makes you feel like you are eating your way through Panama with your bestie. She's smart, fun, knowledgeable about the food, the area, and the people. She has a warm and inviting spirit. We went into restaurants to dine with locals that many tourists won't experience. We were not taken to tourists traps! Juliette was engaging describing the food, the preparation, and presentation of the foods and drinks. She had a willingness to educate us about her own family's traditions and customs and to share how the communities, and how different cultures in Panama share traditions. She's the jewel of Panama. We couldn't have closed out our trip to Panama any better than sharing our day with Juliette.

5.0 10/10 – The Best Food Tour in Panama!

Gabriella F, September 2025

If you're visiting Panama and want an unforgettable, delicious experience, book a food tour with Sorhay! You will not regret it! From start to finish, everything was perfectly customized to our tastes and interests. Sorhay is not only incredibly knowledgeable about Panamanian cuisine and culture, but she's also warm, passionate, and genuinely fun to be around. Every stop on the tour felt thoughtfully chosen local spots we never would have found on our own and the food was out of this world. We tasted everything from street food favorites to traditional dishes, all while learning about the history and people behind the flavors. It was so much more than just eating, it was a full cultural im Thank you, Sorhay, for an amazing day ❤️

5.0 Amazing guide. Amazing tour. Amazing experience.

davidmN7361UX, August 2025

Amazing day tour and the food was even better!! Real Panamanian vibes!! Sohray was engaging, interactive and extremely flexible! She had a wealth of knowledge and took us to places way off the beaten path. (For example when my girlfriend wanted to visit the Hindu temple ! What!?? Yep. She took us there.) I won’t go into the food places she took us to because they are top secret. And delicious. 😳😁. Trust Sorhay. Trust the process. We even got to meet the Princess Riley at the end who made sure I knew she was not 3 but a solid 5 years of age! 😂😂🫶🫶 amazing tour overall!

5.0 Absolute must!

Jeffrey_N, August 2025

Sorhay was so personable! She took time to ask about dietary preferences beforehand and then gave an amazing tour of the city and its food! Her warm personality just made it such a memorable experience! She was able to get us into 2 places we never would have gotten into without a reservation If you are thinking of going this tour book it!

5.0 This tour was an...

cageynick, July 2025

This tour was an absolutely amazing experience. Sorhay was knowledgeable, engaging, super nice and fun. She tailored everything to our group, whether it was seeing animals or trying certain foods. Just the best way to get a taste of the real Panamá city!

5.0 Best way to get a taste of the real Panamá City

Berlingame123, July 2025

As others may have said, I would give this tour 5+ stars if possible. Sorhay picked us up at our hotel and made us feel so comfortable and relaxed as we leisurely tasted our way around Panamá City. This tour is tailored to your individual interests and in addition to trying the many varied flavors of local cuisine, we also saw unexpected wildlife including sloths, coatimundi, and a caiman! As we drove to each location, we also learned the fascinating history of this unique place. One of the best tours we have experienced!

5.0 Panama like never seen before.

glecerrykaye_m, July 2025

Amazing, got to see and experience panama in the eye of a true panamanian. Would do it all over again ❤️

5.0 Worth Every Penny

Akil_P, June 2025

I highly recommend. This tour is worth every penny. This is more than a food tour but something you have to do if you visit Panama.

5.0 If you’re a foodie traveling to Panamá, look no further & book this tour!

Monica_B, May 2025

As someone who loves to travel and has done many tours around the world, this food tour was hands down one of the best experiences I’ve ever done. As a former journalist, Sorhay is kind, curious and observant, and she uses these expert skills to customize tours for her clients. My husband and I loved getting to know Sorhay and seeing and eating our way throughout a Panama City that Sorhay clearly loves and shares with her clients. We met a tour guide and left having made a friend. Highly recommend this tour!

5.0 Just do it!

Jeanine_A, May 2025

This was the perfect intro tour to Panama City. We learned a lot about the city and ate fabulous food. I have been on dozens of food tours and this one was a favorite.

5.0 Best Tour in Panama

Emilia_L, May 2025

We had an amazing time on our Panamanian food tour, thanks to our incredible guide, Sorhay. She was warm, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond—especially for our one-year-old. Traveling with a toddler isn’t easy, but Sorhay made everything feel effortless and fun. The food was delicious, the experience was authentic, and Sorhay truly made it unforgettable. Highly recommend booking with her!

5.0 Amazing city and food tour with our guide Sorhay!

MFig24, May 2025

The real Panamanian food tour with Sorhay was incredible! It is not your typical food tour. Sorhay is the BEST host. She picked us up from our hotel and got to know us in order to know our likes/dislikes and cater the tour to what we wanted to try. The tour was what we wanted to make of it. She is friendly, knowledgable and you feel like a local while spending time with her. My wife and I had a great time and would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to both learn the history of Panama and try some amazing local food!

5.0 Not Just a Food Tour

MaryJean_H, April 2025

Our guide was Sorhay. She picked us up from our hotel on time at 10 AM & took us to a traditional Panamanian restaurant nearby called El Trapiche. Sausage was good. It was Saturday before Easter Sunday so the hi-ways & the city was not busy (a bonus!). It was not just a food tour but a sight-seeing tour as well. We would like to see the good & bad areas of the city so she took us there. Very interesting. We tasted many tropical fruits, sugarcane juice with lemon & avocado ice candy. On the way to a coffee shop, we stopped to get some churros. They were the best churros we ever had. They were not the ordinary skinny sugary kind. They’re like eclairs - filled with creme (we had pistachio & caramel), semi-sweet & crispy. For the main course, she gave us 3 choices. My husband chose the seafood tamales at Cantina Del Tigre. Tamales may seem ordinary but it wasn’t. It was not made of corn masa nor wrapped in corn husk. Instead of corn, they used coconut rice & have bountiful chunks of prawns. The sauce was really good, infused with torched banana leaves. Dessert was special made chocolates by Nome. It was a great experience & grateful to have a great tour guide.

5.0 An unforgettable experience.

Emma_M, April 2025

This isn’t just an ordinary food tour. It’s so much more. Sorhay listens to what you want, and tailors the experience to your individual requirements. Honestly, it’s one of the best food tours we have ever been on. We felt so at ease the whole time, like we were with a friend. It was a wonderful experience

5.0 Mom’s 70th birthday adventure

David_K, March 2025

If I could give this review 10 stars I would. Sorhay went above and beyond. We were picked up on time, in a well air conditioned car (so happy for that). She asked what we would like to start with, giving us options based on our taste. My mother grew up in the area and hadn’t been there in over 50 years, but Sorhay was able to fill her in on all the things that had changed and what foods she remembered. We started off driving by my mother’s old house and even got us a tour through it. We stopped for true Panamanian coffee, followed by churros, ceviche, empanadas, oxtails, fish, drinks, and a fruit market. We were presented some of the best food in Panama in non tourist places. The fruit market allowed us to try local fruits and juices that we had never heard of. The tour made our whole trip! It allowed my mom to relive experiences and triggered memories so she could tell us stories of her youth.

5.0 An amazing day in the real Panamá

625valerys, March 2025

Hands down best food tour we have ever taken. Sorhay was the highlight and the food was delicious. We felt like we finally saw the real Panamá with her. Thank you Sorhay for an experience we will never forget. Best wishes to you always. Valery and Scott.

5.0 Believe the reviews

Matthew_M, March 2025

Rarely do I take the time to actually write a review, but I feel the need to share Sorhay with the world. She knew that we were in Panama City to celebrate my wife's birthday and greeted us in front of our hotel with a warm welcome including balloons. As promised, she drove us away from the touristy area, gave us multiple options, and essentially let us choose what we wanted to do. In the car, she was very engaging and made everyone feel special. Her knowledge of everything Panamanian is unrivaled. In addition to multiple stops for delicious food, including a market where she let us sample various fruits that we've never heard of, she gave us an excellent history of the Panama canal, took us atop a hill for an incredible view of the city, and literally pulled up to a patch of trees behind a Papa John's to possibly see a sloth. We saw 4! Even while stuck in traffic, the tour never stopped as she kept the conversation going and bought us local snacks from vendors in the freeway. The portions are sufficient, the food quality is good, and everyone (including an extremely picky member of our group) left full and happy. As a plus, the drinkers in the group had a decent buzz. Admittedly, the price seemed a bit high for a food tour compared to cheaper options but you are getting what you pay for and this tour is worth every penny. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone. Thanks again, Sorhay, for an amazing time.

5.0 Book this - it was the best food tour!

Anthony_G, March 2025

This was the highlight of our vacation. Sorhay is professional, prepared and flexible. Amazing tour!

5.0 A great day in Panama City, including excellent food.

Elaine_R, March 2025

Sorhay was wonderful. She started by asking us what we wanted to see. When we told her that we hadn't seen all the animals we'd hoped to see, she took us to a place to see a sloth (we even saw it move), a colony of coatimundis (including a baby), and a basilisk lizard (that dutifully walked on water for us.) Then on to the food. And, again, she listened to us. She gave us choices. Everything was great.

5.0 Amazing tour experience!

Namrata_V, March 2025

Sorhay was an absolute dream tour guide! She took the time to get to know what we liked and personalized the tour. It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend taking this tour!

5.0 Way more than a food tour! It is a true Panamanian experience

Mecarr87, March 2025

This tour was hands down one of the best tours I have done. Sorhay listened to our likes and crafted a custom experience for us that had Panamanian food and businesses at the core. All the food was spectacular and not only is Sorhay a wonderful person, she’s extremely knowledgeable and connected to the area. We learned, we laughed and we ATE! I can’t recommend this tour enough!

5.0 A MUST for Panamá

Ayanna_F, March 2025

The tour was amazing. Sorhay is an incredible guide; she ensures you experience the best of Panama. It feels like she goes above and beyond to make sure your needs are met to get the real Panamanian experience. We had a group of 8 which could be hard to conduct a tour for, but not for Sorhay! She considered all of our desires and integrated them into a well-rounded tour. Everyone in my group had rave reviews and was amazed at how much we were able to see and taste. Sorhay knows all the spots and will take you where you want to go. Most importantly, Sorhay is extremely personable. She got to know us individually, making the experience more enjoyable. HIGHLY recommend this tour.

5.0 Outstanding

matthewpS4643VB, February 2025

Quite possibly one of the best tours I have ever been on. For several hours, we saw all of the non-tourist spots of the city coupled with some amazing food that only the locals eat. 5 out of 5 stars.

5.0 Much more than a tour!

Mary_T, February 2025

This is much more than a food tour. Sorhay wraps Panamanian culture, history and food in an ingenious way! Every tour is unique as the individual. She also has an uncanny ability to ask questions which also discover yourself! Look at this tour as an investment in your own lifelong learning!

5.0 Sorhay is absolutely...

Christina, February 2025

Sorhay is absolutely fantastic—extremely knowledgeable about Panama, incredibly accommodating, and always eager to help. The restaurants she introduced us to were outstanding, with truly delicious food! As frequent global travelers who often take food tours, we can confidently say this was one of the best experiences we've had!

5.0 The ‘Real’ Panamanian Food Tour is a ‘Real’ Gem!

X1347RVrobertm, February 2025

INCREDIBLE! We’ve taken Food Tours on three Continents and this was THE VERY BEST WE’VE EVER BEEN ON! Sorhay is an amazing guide… extremely knowledgeable of Panamanian history, friendly to everyone she meets, and all food tastings were delicious!! (we still dream about that fire roasted fish over coconut rice)…. We saw a variety of great restaurants, cafes, local markets, had a ton of laughs, and cannot recommend this tour enough. Make this your first activity in Panama City and you will have an overview of the culture, discover hidden gems, and get recommendations of things to do for the rest your trip… this tour was the highlight of our week! - Thanks so much from Mr. Troublemaker, Miss Calm Anna, Mr. Randy Panama, and Miss ‘Just Say It!’ Kathie

5.0 The 100+ 5 star reviews...

Yvonne_C, February 2025

The 100+ 5 star reviews were not wrong. This was the best food tour we have ever taken. Sorhay was an excellent guide. Our tour was personalized to our taste and interests and included delightful spontaneous surprises such as quail eggs from the street and drone footage of sloths. This tour was the highlight of our trip to Panama!