This point lies on the western side of Panama City, in the belt of land that was once the American-run Canal Zone, between the old neighbourhoods of Curundú and Ancón and the green slopes leading towards the canal. Ancón Hill, the forested hump that dominates this part of the city, was for decades the administrative heart of the zone, and the area still has the wide lawns, tidy wooden houses and tropical trees of that era.
The rides that start and end here follow a historic thread. The Camino de Cruces was one of the routes the Spanish used to haul gold and silver from the Pacific across the isthmus, first overland through the forest and then down the Chagres River to the Caribbean, where it was loaded onto ships at forts like San Lorenzo and Portobelo. Part of the old trail now lies within Camino de Cruces National Park on the edge of the city, and the Caribbean fortifications are a World Heritage Site, their cannon still pointing out to sea.
The modern roads across the isthmus are a different experience. The main highways towards Colón are fast and often busy, with trucks serving the ports, and some sections are toll roads that use an electronic payment system, so check how that works for your bike before setting out. The older roads through the forest are narrower and more varied, but they can have potholes, flooding in the rainy season and very little lighting. You may see monkeys, sloths and toucans in the trees, especially near the canal and in the national parks.
Panama's climate is hot and humid all year, with a dry season roughly from mid-December to April and a wet season the rest of the year, when afternoon downpours are almost daily. Ride early, carry water and plan for sudden rain. There are fuel stations, supermarkets and restaurants throughout this part of the city, and the Miraflores Locks, where you can watch ships pass through the canal, are not far away. Watching a huge container ship rise in a lock is a fine way to end a ride.