Panama Forum

llseldon
Joined 2013
Posts: 3205

9 years ago

Things to see & do in Panama

9 years ago

Things to see & do:
Panamá City area:
Old Panama (Panamá Viejo) destroyed by the Pirate Capt Morgan.
New old town: Casco Viejo: city build after the destruction of Panamá Viejo by Capt Morgan. This is the combined “barrios” of San Felipe, Santa Ana & El Chorrillo. Central Avenue is a closed street-walking shopping area, Ave B is the Asian shopping street with bargain shops. “Sale se Puedes” is a side street close by vendor with shops in the middle of the street, warning “Sale se Puedes” translates to “get out if you can”, good bargains and I’ve never personally known of anyone not to get out, but “¿quien sabes?”
Amador Causeway: Shopping/clubs/yacht facility including Mi Ranchito Restaurant on first island on the right, best view, prices & view. Balboa (Amador) Yacht Club located just before the causeway (Amador) by the TGI Friday/Town & Country Inn. See http://www.balboayachtclub.com/

Balboa: Shopping at the Artisan Center back side of the YMCA building in the old gym for gifts & souvenirs.

Azuero Peninsula: including Las Tablas, Pedasi & the beaches in this area. This area is a 5-6 hour drive west of Panama City. Best B&B Casita Margarita email [email protected] website www.pedasihotel.com

Beaches-west of Panama City:
1-2 hour drive, beaches include Chame, Gorgona, Coronado, San Carlos, Rio Mar, Santa Clara & Farallon. The PanAm highway “dips” down along the coast in this area & the beaches in this area stretch for about 40-50 kilometers. Hotel Coronado: Gaviota Hotel, Coronado http://www.hotelgaviotapanama.com/index-1.html Coronado phone 240-4526, Panama phone 224-9056 Also the DeCameron & Breezes all-inclusive resorts are located on these beaches.Rio Mar Surf & Skate Camp, Owned by canal tug captain Alan Barnes, Email:
[email protected] Web info: http://riomarsurf.com/ Phones: 345-4010 or Cell 6675-2526

Canopy Tower Bird Watching Sanctuary: Gamboa Road, between Summit Gardens & one-way bridge to Gamboa: http://www.canopytower.com/error.lasso

David, Boquette, El Volcan & Chiriqui Province:
This area is a 6 - 61/2 hour drive west of Panama City.
Very popular for the higher elevation & cooler temperatures located north of David.

El Valle:
Volcanic area 1½ hour drive west of Panama City, week end flee markets, mud bathes, Zoo & a number of excellent B&Bs. Also a number of great B&Bs. Butterfly house, see http://www.butterflyhavenpanama.com/
El Valle info, see http://www.el-valle-panama.com/

Miraflores Locks tourist center:
museum, viewing area of the locks operation & restaurant. See: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/anuncios/cvm/index.html

Summit Gardens Zoo & Gardens just past the “Y” to Gamboa on Gamboa Road.
See http://www.worldheadquarters.com/panama/destinations/summit/

Taboga Island:
Located just south of the Pacific entrance to the canal, about a 35 minute launch ride to the island. See
http://www.tabogaislandpanama.com/

Eco/Nature/Birds/Fish Sites:
Barro Colorado Island: Gatun Lake, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, see:
http://www.stri.si.edu/english/visit_us/barro_colorado/index.php

Canopy Tower Bird watching: near Gamboa, see:
http://www.canopytower.com/error.lasso

Eco Tours:
http://panamatraveltours.com/about_us.html

El Valle Butterfly House: www.butterflyhavenpanama.com

Embera Village, see:
http://www.emberavillagetours.com

Gamboa Rain Forrest Resort: see:
http://www.gamboaresort.com/

Gamboa Ivan’s B&B: Birding Lodge (Bird Watching), see:
http://www.gamboaecotours.com/birding_tour.html

Panama Railroad, Though not eco itself, you will see a lot by riding the train. see:
http://www.panarail.com/home.html

Playa Venao: Azuero Peninsular, El Sitio beach & surf resort, see:
http://elsitiopv.com/

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, see:
http://www.stri.si.edu/

Taboga Island: Located just south of the Pacific entrance to the canal, about a 35 minute launch ride to the island from the Amador causeway. See: http://www.tabogaislandpanama.com/ & http://www.taboga.panamanow.com/

Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge
: Bocas del Toro, see:
http://www.tranquilobay.com/home.htm
Tropic Star Lodge, Piñas Bay, World class Marlin fishing: http://www.tropicstar.com/?source=navyleague

Whale Watching:
www.WhaleWatchingPanama.com

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