Things to see & do:
Panama City area:
Old Panama (Panamá Viejo) destroyed by the Pirate Capt Morgan.
New old town: Casco Viejo: city built 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 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/
Ancon Theater Guild (“Little Theater”) See: http://anconguild.com/
Balboa: Shopping at the Artisan Center on Balboa Road between what was called “The limits” at El Chorrero & the Balboa YMCA. Probably the best shopping & bargains can be found at this “Flee Market”. It is located at near the top of the hill just before the “Y” in the road that would take you to the Bridge of the Americas or into El Chorrero.
Miraflores Visitors’ Center: See: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/anuncios/cvm/index.html
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.
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.
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/
Panama City area:
Old Panama (Panamá Viejo) destroyed by the Pirate Capt Morgan.
New old town: Casco Viejo: city built 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 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/
Ancon Theater Guild (“Little Theater”) See: http://anconguild.com/
Balboa: Shopping at the Artisan Center on Balboa Road between what was called “The limits” at El Chorrero & the Balboa YMCA. Probably the best shopping & bargains can be found at this “Flee Market”. It is located at near the top of the hill just before the “Y” in the road that would take you to the Bridge of the Americas or into El Chorrero.
Miraflores Visitors’ Center: See: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/anuncios/cvm/index.html
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.
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.
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/