Think Panama and two things will doubtless spring to mind. The hat and the canal. If you ever have the good fortune to visit Panama City, why not kill two birds with one stone, by wearing the famed headgear to the famed waterway. You’ll be able to enjoy the envious eyes of ladies admiring your debonair look, while watching in awe as vast container ships glide through the canal with mere centimeters to spare. With this ticked off your list, you might believe Panama City has nothing more to offer. You’d be wrong. Before you leave the steamy capital, here are four must do activities you can do with your hat on.

Made in Ecuador, the Panama hat has been worn by everyone from gold miners to emperors. Rain or shine, indoors or outdoors, this stylish headgear is ideal for all occasions.

Parque Natural Metropolitano

Not many capitals can boast a vast tropical forest within its limits. As you walk through this 265-hectare park, you totally forget you’re just down the road from a throbbing metropolis of 1.2 million. Look out for tití monkeys, anteaters, sloths, iguanas, turtles, alligators and tortoises, plus over 250 bird species. A 150 metre high viewing point offers a great panoramic view of the city. Here your Panama hat, originally of Ecuadorian origin, will provide you with perfect protection from pesky mosquitoes.

Casco Viejo

It’s pretty clear that Panama City isn’t the prettiest in city Central America, but it wasn’t always that way. To see how it used to look before it began to sprawl uncontrollably, check out the old city. Full of fine buildings, Casco Viejo might soon be one of the New World’s most beautifully restored Colonial cities. While enjoying this taster of Panama’s past, wear your Panama hat (popular since the 19^th century) to help endear you to the locals.

Museo del Canal Interoceánico

Having exercised your body walking through the streets of the old town, how about exercising your brain in Panama City’s best museum. Housed in the headquarters of the original French canal company, the Canal Museum tells you everything you need to know about the waterway. Panama Canal may look like the epitome of efficiency now, but the building of it was plagued by mishaps, death and near failure. Choose the headgear of fictional detective Charlie Chan, the Panama hat, to help you investigate the facts.

Manolo Caracol

Doubtless, you’ll have worked up a hunger on your adventures in and while there are loads of restaurants to choose from, Manolo Caracol in the old town should be right at the top of your list. Run by a very friendly Bolivian gentleman, it has great food, great wine and great service. Frequented by well to do theatregoers, your Panama hat, once worn by notaries such as Edward VII and Napoleon III, will help you stand out from the crowd.