What to do & see in Panama
8 years ago
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 thecombined “barrios” of San Felipe, Santa Ana & El Chorrillo. Central Avenueis a closed street-walking shopping area, Ave B is the Asian shopping streetwith bargain shops. “Sale se Puedes” is a side street close by vendor withshops in the middle of the street, warning “Sale se Puedes” translates to “getout if you can”, good bargains and I’ve never personally known of anyone not toget out, but “¿quien sabes?”
Amador Causeway: Shopping/clubs/yacht facility including Mi RanchitoRestaurant on first island on the right,best view, prices & view. Balboa (Amador) Yacht Club located just beforethe causeway (Amador) by the TGI Friday/Town & Country Inn. See http://www.balboayachtclub.com/
Double Decker Bus Tours in Panama City: www.citytourspanama.com.
Azuero Peninsula: including Las Tablas, Pedasi & the beaches inthis area. This area is a 5-6 hour drive west of Panama City. Best B&BCasita Margarita email [email protected] website www.pedasihotel.com
Beaches-west of PanamaCity:
1-2 hour drive, beachesinclude 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 Alsothe DeCameron & Breezes all-inclusive resorts are located on these beaches.RioMar Surf & Skate Camp, Owned by canal tug captain Alan Barnes, Email:
[email protected] Web info: http://riomarsurf.com/ Phones: 345-4010 orCell 6675-2526
Canopy Tower Bird WatchingSanctuary: Gamboa Road, between SummitGardens & one-way bridge to Gamboa: http://www.canopytower.com/error.lasso
David, Boquette, El Volcan& Chiriqui Province:
This area is a 6 - 61/2 hourdrive west of Panama City.
Very popular for the higherelevation & cooler temperatures located north of David.
El Valle:
Volcanic area 1½ hour drivewest of Panama City, week end flee markets, mud bathes, Zoo & a number ofexcellent 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/
1. Zip-line (Canopy Adventure) 983-6547 & Fax 263-2784
2. Bird Watching (Guias Pioneros de Cocle) Cell. 6569-2676
3. Hiking the India Dormida (Sleeping Indian Princess) Efrain Trujillo Cel 6591-1991
4. Guide to the India Dormida (Sleeping Indian Princess) Cell. 6615-8181
5. El Nispero Zoo
6. El Valle Museum, Sr. David & Padre Noto, by Catholic Church, Cell. 6524-9790
7. Visit Orchid Center (APROVACA) Tel. 983-6472
8. Serpentarium Cell. 6569-2676
9. Thermal Pools Cell. 6621-3846
10. Local Farmers and Artesan Market
11. Piedra Pintada (Petroglyphs) Cell. 6615-8181
12. The Butterfly Haven (NEW) – See a myriad of butterflies in their natural environment.
Miraflores Locks touristcenter:
museum, viewing area of thelocks operation & restaurant. See: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/anuncios/cvm/index.html
Summit Gardens Zoo &Gardens just past the “Y” to Gamboaon Gamboa Road.
See http://www.worldheadquarters.com/panama/destinations/summit/
Taboga Island:
Located just south of thePacific 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 ridingthe train. see:
http://www.panarail.com/home.html
Playa Venao: Azuero Peninsular, El Sitio beach & surf resort,see:
http://elsitiopv.com/
Smithsonian TropicalResearch Institute, Ancon, see:
http://www.stri.si.edu/
Taboga Island: Located just south of the Pacific entrance to thecanal, 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