The
Globetrotting
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Panama, a country of long history and unique beauty. Famous for the canal but unknown to many for the indigenous people living there, the tropical beaches and the incredible nature.
Travelled in January/February 2016
Panama City
Panama city combines it all, the modern with the traditional, the vibrant rythms with the tranquil, peaceful life....Panama has it all.
There are two main bus stations in the city, Albrook and Maranon.
The long promanade (Avenida Paseo del Mar) that leads to Casco Antiguo is an ideal place for walks and where you can appreciate the beauty of the city. Amazing views of the skyscrapers on the one side and the old city on the other. There are so many lovely corners in Panama and so many things to explore.
There are 3 huge shopping malls inside the city, the Metrocentro, the MultiPlaza which is also the most expensive and the Albrook shopping mall opposite the Albrook bus station. It's near Metrocentro where the heart of the modern part of the city beats.
Panama Canal Railway, the oldest transcontinental railroad in the world, connecting Panama city with Colon.
'Mi pueblito' is another place you can visit during your stay in the city.
Panama canal
The Panama canal is a 78-kilomentre canal that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific ocean and it's one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. The French failed to finish the opening of the canal and Americans took over reattempting to open the canal. It is estimated that more than 25.000 people died during the canal's costruction due to yellow fever and malaria. It was finally opened in 1914 with USA having complete control of the canal. After Panamenias rioted over it in 1964, a treaty was signed in 1977 which transferred control of the canal to Panama but gave the USA the right to use military force in the area around the canal for defence reasons.
Today it receives millions of visitors every day. Entrance fee is 15$ and it's open from 9am to 5pm every day. Buses leave from Albrook station.
There is also another canal the Juan Miguel in Panama and Gatun near Colon.
Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro is a place buzzing with life. Tropical beaches, great nightlife and many tourists all year round. The main island is Colon island and where the heart of the Bocas beats.
From there you can book tours to see as much as you can or just hop to another island to spend the rest of your holidays.
Book a tour for Bastimentos island for 25$
Take the boat to the island across Isla Colon, called Carenero, for just 1$ and explore this beautiful of this tiny island. when you get off the boat, you follow the path to your right and you will find lovely beaches, beautiful hidden corners and places to relax and enjoy yourself. There's a hostel on the island as well if you want to isolate yourself from the busy Isla Colon.
There are buses from Almirante to Panama city and Santiago.
Panama viejo
Panama viejo is definately worth a visit. It was the first capital of Panama, which was founded in 1519 by the Spanish conqueror Pedrarias Davila and destroyed by Henry Morgan, a notorious pirate, who attacked the city in 1671. After the attack, the city was relocated on the other side of the present Panama city, exactly where Casco Antiguo is today. To get there, you should take the bus from Albrook bus terminal just outside the station. Let the driver know you go to 'Panama viejo' archeological site. Τhe bus stop is just outside the entrance.
Entrance fee is 8$.
Casco viejo
Next to the skyscrapers and the modern part of the city, lies peaceful and picturesque Casco viejo,the old city of Panama. After the town of Panama viejo was distroyed, the Spanish came to rebuilt the city here.
Wonderful new hotels and hostels, bars and restaurants, shops and some old houses fill the area of Casco Viejo.
The area has changed a lot over the years.
If you get a bus from Maranon bus station, you get off at Santa Ana area and you have to walk a bit until Casco Viejo. This area is a bit dodgy but still very interesting to explore. Make sure you walk there before only during daytime and never show off your valuables. Careful with cameras and mobiles. Just a corner down the street, you see a different world, buildings are brand new and tourists all around you. You know you're in Casco Antiguo and much safer. If you enter Casco Antiguo from the promanade, you'll have no problem at all.
San Blas
San Blas Archipelago is situated on the Caribbean coast of Panama. Kuna Yala is an area of many islands some of which inhibited by the Kunas,the local tribe and some others for tourists.
It's definately a paradise on Earth and a must-do place in Panama.
If you are heading there,make sure you book transportation at least.There're no buses going to the port but only 4x4 cars and you need to book one.You can also book accommodation but this is not always necessary.Summer or around and after Christmas and Semana Santa(Holy week) are high season and the islands are small with a few cabins each,so you better book well in advance.
Isla Perro is quite popular but my favourite is Isla Aguja.
Contacts:
Luna'sCastle hostel in Casco Viejo in Panama organize transportation and tours to the islands.Very good reviews from fellow travellers.
http://www.lunascastlehostel.com/travel-info/san-blas
For more information and more contacts:
Las Tablas
The Carnival lasts for 4 days and it's all about drinking and having fun.
There's also the traditional side of it and what I was desperately looking for during my stay there.I finally discovered a beautiful little village of Santo Domingo where on the last day of the Carvinal,on Tuesday afternoon the are traditional events taking place.Santo Domingo is only a few kilomentres away from Las Tablas and you can use public transport and taxis(which cost 3$ one way) to get there.
Photo taken during the Carnival in Las Tablas
Boquete
Boquete is a picturesque mountain village only an hour away by bus from the town of David. The route is very pleasant as it's very green with beautiful scenery. Many house gardens are well kept and full of flowers.You can make it a day trip to Boquete or spend a couple of nights there.The whole Chiriqui area is very green with lush vegetation.
David to the boarders is 60km.So you can make it a stop there before you head to the boarders.There are some hotels in David.The town itself is worth visiting and walk around away from the centre.Mainly wonderful colonial houses with well-kept garders full of trees and flowers.One day is enough or David and one or two in Boquete.
Photo taken during the Boquete Flower Festival.
Taboga island
Portobello
Portobello is such a beautiful place to visit. Visit the fortress of San Lorenzo and the beautiful village.
I took the bus from Colon to Portobello but you can change to another town if you want to skip Colon.
Colon: If there is a place that is dangerous in Panama, this is the town of Colon. If you decide to go, stay on the main road leading to the Colombus statue and back.There are gangs and can rob you of your belongings when police is not around. Be extremely careful and try not to look as a tourist. Yet I found it an interesting town to visit. So if you are the adventurous type of traveller, still go but be extremely careful.
La Angosta beach on the way to Portobello . It's a very beautiful beach but don't expect to see any tourists there. if you decide to stop there for a swim, the bus will leave you on the main road and you have to walk down the beach (you can't see the beach from the road). The route is amazingly beautiful and there are many spots worth exploring until you get to Portobello.
Taboga island is a volcanic island in the gulf of Panama 20km from the city. The island is connected to a long history. It has been the home of conquerors, pirates, soldiers, artists but also the birthplace of a saint.
As it is the nearest beach destination for locals and tourists it gets full of people especially during holidays and weekends. Make sure you go to the pier quite early to secure a ticket if you travel on a busy day.
There are many hotels and hostels on the island. You can get a leaflet for all useful information from the pier in Causeway where ferries leave from. A taxi from the centre to the pier is around 8$.
The ferries depart from Amador Causeway / there are many ferries during the day. The company is called Calypso Ferries.
Festivals in Panama:
There so many festivals in Panama throughout the year!
November is the month of the national festivals(fiestas patrias)
The famous Carnival in the City of Panama but also Las Tablas and various other cities around.Mark the dates:3rd, 4th, 10th and 28th November.There are huge processions in the Panama city.
The Carnavalito takes place the weekend after the Carnival in Las Tablas and it's less intense but still beautiful.
Another festival worth seeing is in the town of Guarare in june.
Panama Jazz Festival: For Jazz fans from 16th to 22th January in Panama city.
Festival de la Pollera:July
For those who like flowers and coffee,The Chiriqui January Flower and Coffee Festival in Boquete. Book ahead if you want to stay in Boquete for this 10-day festival or you can stay in Davidand make it a day-trip in Boquete.
South of Panama is the Darien Gap. It's impassible during the rainy season and dangerous to cross any time of year and only a few 4wd vehicles make the passage.Only by plane or boat one can cross to South America from Panama.
Tica Bus Route: From Tapachula in Chiapas,Mexico all the way down to Panama city.Passengers can stop for extended days in the terminal cities in Central America and their tickets are still valid.Although, reservations mus be done to reserve a seat to continue travelling.
Tica runs 38 air-conditioned, 54-ppassenger buses that have reclining seats,toilets,TV and video. Tickets can not be purchached online!
From Panama city to San Jose,Costa Rica two bus services:
Tica Bus (Costa Rican company) www.ticabus.com
Buses leave Panama at
Expreso Bus (Panamanian company) www.expresopanama.com
Buses leave Panama at...
Tickets are purchased at Albrook Terminal in Panama city. Make sure you have your passport with you! When you get to the station at the day of your departure, go back to the ticket window to check in and have your ticket stamped.
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Coiba island
Santa Catalina and the Coiba island is worth a visit.
Tours to the Coiba island are quite expensive. Prices are between 65$ to 80$ and the most expensive usually include some food which is in my opinion not worth to pay for.The tours are the same.You set off as early as 8/9am and it takes almost an hour to reach the first island.You stop there for a swim or snorquelling or both.Then you are taken to the main island for a couple of hours to have lunch and relax.(Head to the top of the hill..ask for the mirador where you can see the ocean and the island you where before...and monkeys.lizards and other animals on the way.
After that, you do some more snorquelling on two other coral reefs while on the boat and you head to Santa Catalina around 4/5pm.
Sea life is incredible! We saw turtles swimming, dophins playing with the waves and amazingly colourful fish I had only seen in zoos.
Embera
The Embera and the Wounaan are two of the seven tribes living in Panama.You can find them in their communities in the jungle not very far away from Panama city. There are organized tours that cost 210$ but I visited one of the tribes for only 65$ and 3$ for the buses.
How to get there? Easy! Just get a local bus from Albrook to La Cabima (buses leave from Albrook outside the station). When you reach La Cabima you take another bus (little white vans) that takes you to the pier where people from the tribe are waiting for you (first you need to get in contact with people from the community). You are in Chagres river and in the middle of the jungle. First comes the tour to the Waterfall and the the visit to the village.The welcome is with music and there will be a talk from the leader, food and fruit and you can walk around if you like. People are friendly and ready to answer any questions you may have. You can also support the community by buying handmade jewellery and other handcrafts.
Conctact me for all the information and the contact numbers you need.
Crossing Boarders:
One of the things I enjoy the most when I travel....is crossing borders!The idea of leaving one country to get to another and the whole process fascinates me. So in this trip I decided to enter Costa Rica from Paso Canoas on my way up to Nicaragua and enter Panama once again this time, from Sixaola on the Atlantic side. Panama borders with Costa Rica with three borders:Paso Canoas on the Pasific side, Sixaola on the Atlantic side and Rio Sereno somewhere in the middle of the country.
Paso Canoas
From Panama to Costa Rica.
Paso Canoas is a very busy crossing with thousands of cars and people crossing every day.The bus from Panama city or David will leave you a few metres from the first offices (you see a staircase and a big 'Welcome to Panama' on it). This is where the office windows are. As soon as you are done from there,continue until you get to the other side.There is around 200m you have to walk. First comes the bank where you can change money(with an ATM outside), then the bus office where you get your ticket to your destination (just next to the bank). Then a few metres down the road, the immigration offices of Costa Rica. Make sure you are waiting where says 'Entradas' There you have your passport stamped and give you an immigration form to fill in. You will be sent to pay for your entry fee (there's a little van for this reason-not an office, just at the back of the same building,exactly where you came from). You come back, queue up once again at the same immigration window and you're ready.
The bus for San Jose leaves exactly from there. There is a waiting area where an officer will check all luggage before you get on the bus.
Sixaloa
(From Costa Rica to Panama on my way back from Costa Rica.)
The bus leaves you at the terminal. All you see is a steep hill or some stairs going up the hill. Before you go up, look at your left hand side and you'll see a small restaurant and a tiny office window. This is where you have to pay your entry fee. Entry fee for Panama 3$
Then you go up the hill...and if no officer asks for your documents...go straight across the bridge which is over the Sixaola river. This is the crossing to get you to Panama. There's a new bridge recently constructed and you'll get to see the old iron bridge on your right. Cross the bridge and you are in Panama!
Hand your passport documents to the office there and go down the hill to the immigration office you have your passport stamped. At the immigration offices, you might be asked to show proof you are exiting the country. Just there after the immigration offices and on your right, there's a parking where the private buses (white vans) for Almirante stop. If you want to get on of these, you pay 12$....for nothing if you're not really in a hurry! Well, your other option, the cheap one, is.....
Wait for the local bus (20minute ride 1$) or take a shared taxi to Changuinola (1,50$) and then a mini-bus to Almirante (40minute ride 1.45$) if you are heading to Bocas del Toro. From Changuinola there are buses for the rest of Panama. The bus for Changuinola leaves just outside the Guabito supermarket exactly on the other side of the parking (go under the bridge and you will see it). Tell them you are going to Bocas and they'll leave you 1' walk from the docks. *At Changuinola ignore any taxi-drivers telling you there're no buses or you'll miss the boat if you wait for the bus. Buses are frequent and you'll have no problem at all.
ATM's-I haven't seen any in Sixaola! Exchange your remaining colones for US dollars before you leave Puerto Viejo if you are entering Costa Rica from Panama, you can use your US dollars until you get to Puerto Viejo, you may need to round up a bit if you're paying for something like the public bus from the border.
Useful tips:
Many European travellers can travel to Panama with their passport only(no need for visa) and have a 180 day permit to the country.
Entering the country from Costa Rica:
More Photos of Panama:
'Mi pueblito' the traditional Panamenian village inside the vibrant city of Panama.
Women and girls with the Panamenian traditional costume, the 'pollera' in Santo Domingo village.
El Valle de Anton, one of the greenest and most colourful villages in Panama.
A Kuna woman making a 'mola', name of the fabrics made by the Kunas.
Ruins of Santo Domingo church in Casco viejo destroyed by a fire in 1756.
'Estrella' beach on the other side of Colon island, Bocas del Toro.
Majority of the photos were taken during this holiday.
Only two photos were used through Google search.