Want something different than a traditional Panama City tour? Live and experience the local spirit with locals with Victor Peretz of A Local in PTY!

I'm not a usually a fan of tours, but Víctor's tour of the El Chorrillo neighborhood in Panama City is definitely an exception. 

On this unique tour, you'll see where boxer Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran trained, learn about how the U.S. invasion of Panama affected this neighborhood, try local food and drinks, meet locals and watch them play dominoes, and discover the impact of the gentrification of the trendy Casco Viejo historic district.

Víctor and I definitely share a travel philosophy—to veer off the beaten path, away from the whitewashed tourist attractions, and meet the real people of whatever area you're in. This is where you really get educated!

Here are some of my favorite Victor-isms from his Instagram profile: 

The thing that you’ll learn that will have the greatest and longest lasting impact on your life is the global conscience you develop. You don’t see the world as your home country anymore, you see it as the country you started out in and the lands you explored when you left your home. You don’t see news of a disaster abroad and think of it as a world removed anymore, you see it as people with lives just as real as ours who have experienced a tragedy. The allure of the unknown that will lead you to experience everything you can because there is so much to do and see, and because of that, you care about the people who live elsewhere that you’ve never met.

Travel means a lot of things to a lot of people, but ultimately, it’s about broadening your perspectives, immersing yourself in new places and ideas, and learning about how other people and cultures live. Through travel you can become more resourceful, more apt to rise to challenges, and more compassionate about situations others face. If you’ve found yourself sticking to the same few places or types of destinations, you may inadvertently be closing yourself off to many of these amazing life lessons that ultimately can make you a better person. If you’re stuck in a travel run or if you gravitate toward the same few cities, it may be time for you to get out of your comfort zone and do something different.

There is so much more to traveling than sitting by the beach or exploring a touristy neighborhood in a big city (Yes, those things are great too), and much of the magic of travel lies in discovering the undiscovered.

Panama is more than just a famous canal. If you are interested in seeing the non-touristy side of city, this Panama City tour is for you!