(Plz note that this review was resubmitted to correct a typo in Gonzo’s last name. No other changes).
Our tour was provided by Beautiful Tours Panama. Our tour guide was Gonzo Horna, also the owner. Simply put, he did a fantastic job. He picked us up at the hotel on time. His vehicle was very clean and had great air-conditioning. His written and verbal skills were exceptional and he responded very promptly to any and all questions via text prior to the tour. When we first met Gonzo, his English was so excellent that you would’ve thought he had relocated here from the States. However, he’s a native born Panamanian. Once we entered the van, he reviewed the day so as to manage expectations and give us a better understanding of the two UNESCO sites that we would be seeing. He has a pleasing personality and was very open to any and all discussions, suggestions and questions. We first visited Panama Viejo (located 8 miles ENE from downtown) the original site of Panama. While there, Gonzo enthralled us with his knowledge of the history of the origin of Panama City and its fateful encounter in 1671 with the pirate Captain Henry Morgan. From there, we travelled downtown to Casco Antiguo (a.k.a., Casco Viejo), the relocated location after 1671 for Panama City. Casco Antigua was full of restored buildings (with differing architectures), churches, artisans with their shops, and restaurants. Once again, Gonzo was full of information and made the locations come alive with his descriptions, including their histories. Simply put, Gonzo has our unreserved recommendation as a tour guide for Panama. He made the day fun and we came away with a much better appreciation for the city, its history and attractions.