The List - 101 Exciting Things To Do in Panama
(retirementdetectives.com) 1) Visit the the oldest city in The Americas. Panama Viejo - 'The Old City' of Panama. Founded in 1519. While Grenada, Nicaragua tries to lay claim to being the oldest city (Grenada was founded in 1524) and Ponce de Leon may have visited Saint Augustine, Florida in 1513, this US city was not founded until 1565. Christopher Columbus himself visited Panama on his fourth voyage in 1502, and tried to start a colony called Santa Maria de Belen on the Caribbean coast, but it failed. Mexico City was an Aztec center, but Panama City is the oldest continuously occupied city in all of The Americas.
Rumors persist that Panama City was sacked and burned by pirate Henry Morgan in January 1671. The truth is that when Morgan attacked, the Governor of Panama ordered all of the gun-powder magazines burned. The subsequent explosion set the entire city on fire! Morgan ransacked and looted the old city for twenty eight days, capturing over six hundred prisoners. The most important remaining structures are the partially restored 40 meter bell tower, the cathedral (built between 1619 and 1626) and the Bishops House. There is an artisans market and a small restaurant at the entrance. The Spanish used Panama as their base to wipe out the Caribe, Inca and Aztec Indians. How is it they were never able to wipe out the hostile Indian tribes of Panama?
On Via Cincuentenario (an extension of Av Balboa/Via Israel). Visitors Center open Tues. - Sun. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Adults $3.00 Retirees $2.00 Children/Students $0.50 cents. Tel: 226- 1757
2) Shop 'till you drop: Start at one of the city's major shopping malls:
• Multicentro Mall on Avenida Balboa in the Patilla district, a European style mall with free concerts and outdoor dining.
• Tel: 208- 2500
• Albrook Mall next to the Gran Terminal bus station, it is a tourist attraction in its own right. Hundreds of stores, two food courts, cinemas, even a live theater.
• Tel: 303- 6255
• Multiplaza Pacific Mall in Punta Pacifica district. Two hundred and fifty stores including Reba Smith's - the expat's favorite grocer that will import whatever you want or can't find anywhere else - for a price.
• Tel: 302- 5380/302- 5381
• Flamenco Plaza on the Amador causeway
• Tel: 314- 0908
Panama also has two famous street shopping districts - Via Espana for elegance/designer goods and Avenida Central for bargains with over 20 blocks of non-stop shopping.
3) Sip a glass of fine wine and sample hors d'oevres at Ma Maison Wine Bar, Calle 49 off Calle Uruguay. E-mail: mamaison@cableonda.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Tel: 264-4608
4) Visit the only tropical forest located within a capital city - the 265 hectare Metropolitan National Park has over 45 species of mammals, 36 species of reptiles, 14 species of amphibians and over 227 species of exotic birds just a short fifteen minute taxi drive away from your hotel. Find one of the over 1,500 different kinds of orchids grown in Panama. The entrance is on Avenida Juan Pablo 11. 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. every day. No entry, however donations are appreciated. Visitors center is open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Guided tours in English and Spanish $6. For safety it is best not to walk in the park by yourselves. Call in advance to book a guide/tour.
• Tel: 232- 5552/ 232- 5516
5) Tour Mi Pueblito: (my tiny village) replicas of a Panamanian interior town, a 1950's Afro-Antilles town and a Kuna Indian and a Choco Indian village. The large compound has a barber shop, church, mayor's office, school, telegraph office, central square, gardens, fountains, street lamps, and typical adobe houses with roofs of creole tile. There is a pollera museum, a grocery shop and a gift shop where you can buy handicrafts. Handicrafts include the amazing ivory-like carved tagua nut by the Wounaan Indian tribe from Darien Province. $2 entry fee for all three villages. Open 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tues. - Sat.
6) Watch how replicas of pre-Columbian gold jewelry are made using the lost wax process at Reprosa Jewelers on Avenida Samuel Lewis and Calle 54.
• Tel: 228- 4913/for tours call 271- 0033
7) Try 'el raspao' - a traditional panamanian treat - an unusual sweet cream/syrup poured over shaved ice. Pick any vendor on the street with a cart. Stroll the Avenue Balboa, named after the Spanish explorer that discovered 'The South Sea' (the Pacific Ocean!) See the construction of the new boulivard/park/walking path being built on landfill in the harbor. Remember, Ave Balboa changes it's name a few times throughout the city - it is Ave Balboa along the water, then it becomes Via Israel in Paitilla, and finally Via Cencuentenario in the San Francisco district when it reduces down to two lanes)
8) Make a withdrawal (win) at a casino!
• Majestic Casino at Multicentro Mall Avenida Balboa near Punta Patilla- international shows such as bolero dancers from Cuba, comedy shows from Mexico, 'vallentos' dancers from Colombia. OR
• Veneto Hotel and Casino, one block from Via Espana, 512 slot machines, 42 gaming tables, large poker room, a Baccarat salon, virtual machines, and betting shop.
9) Dance the night away! Learn how to salsa on Wednesday's, tango on Thursday nights and on Friday night, watch colourful Argentine folkloric dance shows at Pizza Piola on Calle 51 Bella Vista.
• Tel:263-4668
Or dance the salsa and the meringue with Salsa Panama on El Cangrejo near Gaxexa Art University. www.salsapanama.com Eric del Valley Street. Join them when they go out and dance the night away at Belambolero on Calle Uruguay with DJ Ramiro.
• Tel: 264- 2742/Cell: 6657- 5319
10) Take her to a gentleman's club (strip-tease show):
• Elite on Calle 50, continuos shows seven nights a week, “open bar” $30 per person
• www.clubelite.tv
• Tel: 263- 6890
• Jet Set
• www.jetseteleganciaintl.com
• Le Palace, Calle 52 across from The Executive Hotel. Mon. - Sat., Parisian-style striptease shows starting at 10:30 P.M.
• www.nightclublepalace.com
11) Enjoy savory Lebanese foods at Beirut Restaurant, Calle 52 at Ricardo Arias across from the Marriott Hotel - great food, good service at the right prices - try the Hummus and sweet mint tea. 5 star rating from The Panama Restaurant Review (www.panamarestaurantreview.com)
• Tel: 214-3815
12) Take a Spanish lesson - go to a movie (all movies are in English with Spanish sub titles - a great way to learn Spanish!) Cost $4.00. Or Spanish by the Sea / Spanish by the River. Outdoor tropical garden classrooms, all levels, group or private lessons, volunteering opportunities in school/hospitals/orphanages. Cooking and dance classes, river rafting adventures.
• $80 per week Group lessons - 10 hours a week (2 hours/day) and $150 per week for private lessons - 10 hours per week (2 hours/day).
• Accommodations available: Private room $15/night.
• Website: www.spanishbythesea.com
• E-Mail: info@spanishbythesea.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Tel: Bouquete: 720- 3456
• Bocas del Toro: 757-9518
13) Shoot a game of pool at The Rockin' Gorilla on Via Argentina (look for the six foot Gorilla playing a guitar on the thatched roof). Pool tables are $2.50/hr. Win a free bottle on Karaoke Friday nights. Open 24/7, lots of expats.
• Tel: 399-6500
14) SMILE! Get new veneers on your teeth. Panama is a medical tourism destination with state of the art facilities, US trained English speaking doctors and dentists and according to them - all at at a fraction of USA prices.
• Ford Clinic Dental Spa. Royal Center Tower A, 10th Fl. - Dr. Ford has 18 years of experience in periodonticts/implant dentistry. US Trained, English/Spanish.
• http://www.smilepanama.com/
• Tel: 223- 4742
• Y.B. General Dentistry - Dr's Octavio and Anna M. De Ycaza
• Via Israel and Calle 66, Panama City
• Tel: 322-2580
We are going to the dentist next week - we will report back on service and cost.
15) Sittin' On The Dock of The Bay. Watch the boats go by at Bennigan's “La Marina”, a gringo pub on the Amador causeway, great for wings and beer and watching the tide roll away or cheer for US and international sports on the big screen TV's. Soccer is HUGE in Panama!!! When Spain is playing in the World Cup, don't expect prompt service anywhere - everyone is watching the game!
16) See the sun rise on Pacific and set in the Caribbean in the same day OR Scuba dive two oceans in a single day ($150/per person, 2 person min. 5:30 am departure, lunch included.
• Tourista International S.A. Run by the founder/owner since 1971.
• IATA and WATA (World Association of Travel Agencies) certified. Av 12 de Octubre and Via Espana L - 4, Panama City
• Website: www.turitaintl.com
• Email: receptivos@turistaintl.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Tel: 224 - 903/6611-0081
• Cell: 6613-4694
17) Indulge in decadent chocolates and baked goods on the deck of Petit Paris (chocolates are .80 cents each) A little bit of Paris in the tropics. Costa del Este and Marbella. Two shops, one in the City one on the causeway.
• Tel: 391-8778
OR Try Riba Smith's new in-store deli/gourmet products - the chef prepares chocolates in their own kitchen (.30 - .40 cents a piece). Above the Do It Center in Multiplaza Pacific Mall.
• Tel: 229-3999
18) Get killed off on a murder mystery dinner cruise with the Expat Explorer Group. Monthly socials/multiple events and activities.
• E-Mail: expatsinpanama.com
OR Go see a play in English at Theatre Guild of Ancon PO Box 0843-03018 Panama To volunteer or get tickets: Tel: 210 - 0060
OR Live Theatre in Spanish: Has presented A Chorus Line, Bent, Cinderella, Come Blow Your Horn http://www.teatrodepanama.com/
19) Pick out your fish while it is still flopping at The Mercado de Mariscos - The Seafood Market. Take it upstairs and they will cook it for you! The restaurant is above the fish market. It is not a fancy restaurant, but it has the best, freshest, cheapest fish in all of Panama. Savor grilled garlic scallops, ceviche (raw shrimp marinated in lemon juice) grilled octopus or my favorite - corvina (whole grilled sea bass). Near the west end of Avenida Balboa just before you enter Casco Viejo, on the water. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Seven days a week. No phone. No reservations needed. Free parking.
20) Go bar hopping on Calle Uruguay. Check The Visitor, Panama's twice-monthly English tourist newspaper for all of the hottest clubs and latest events.
Make sure you stop into Twist Restaurant - spectacular food they call “eclectic cuisine”, interesting elegant décor and a great nightclub right upstairs. Free secure parking right out front, just off the Uruguay strip, just up from Av Balboa on Ave Frederico Boyd E-Mail: twist@tcarrier.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 302- 7997, Cell: 6551- 1169.
Try The Palms - an elegant restaurant on Calle 48. www.palmsrestaurant.com, E-Mail: palmsrestaurant@cableonda.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Tel: 265- 7256 (265- PALM)
21) Sip some fine Ron Abuelo 7 year-old Panamanian rum at the elegant Bristol Hotel lounge, one of the Leading Small Hotels of the World. Cigars, elegant restaurant. Bella Vista in the Bancaria area. www.thebristol.com Tel: 264-0000
22) Jog on the special causeway jogging paths to the Punta Culebra Marine Exhibition Center. A small marine museum run by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute it has six aquariums of tropical fish including one of giant lobsters. A children's 'touching pool” encourages kids to touch sea cucumbers, starfish, and sea urchins. Both Caribbean and Pacific coral and marine life exhibits and a telescope to watch ships offshore waiting to enter the canal. A chart helps identify the different types of ships. Isla Naos on the Amador causeway, next to Mi Ranchito restaurant. $2 adults, 0.50 cents for kids under 12, $1 seniors. Open afternoons Tues. - Friday. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat/Sun. www.stri.com Tel: 212- 8793
23) Play darts at The Londoner Pub on Calle Uruguay, just one block from Avenida Balboa. 5 P.M. onwards. Tel: 214-4883
24) Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, Cerro Ancon. Tel: 262- 8012. To really discover contemporary Panamanian artists, visit the Imagen Gallery Tel: 226- 2670, the Habitante Gallery Tel: 264- 6470 and the Arteconsult Galeria Tel: 269- 1523 as well.
25) Wrestle a crocodile purse from the only legal, C.I.T.E.S - approved crocodile farming boutique in Panama - the Galaria Drilo on the Amador Causeway. Jewelry, leather goods. Flamenco Island, Amador, site 12, rear of the terminal. E-Mail: delcarmen@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tel: 314- 0961
26) Have a date in your hotel room. Order a bottle of wine, pick out a great movie on TV and order Domino's Pizza! Just like at home. If you are near Calle 50 call Domino's: 263-7377, Bella Vista district: 225- 0000, or in Dorado: 236- 0777.
27) Take a Ride on The Wild Side - jump on a “Diablo Rojo” the 'Red Devil' - former US school buses with flashing lights, disco mirror balls, blaring music, colourful air-brushed paintings all over the exterior and a driver that seems more disc-jockey than driver. It does not matter where you go - it's how long can you stay on that counts. Just put out your arm to flag one down - don't be surprised if they do a full “u - turn” to pick you up, cutting off all other traffic and nearly causing a dozen accidents. Why do you think they are called “Red Devils”?
A three-hour tour is available for $20 from La Chiva Parrandera featuring an open bar, music, lights, and a city tour. E-mail: parrandera@cwpanama.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 269- 8500
28) Try your luck - buy a lottery ticket from one of the 10,000 lottery ticket vendors. Started in 1882 (the current version began in 1919) draws are held every Sunday and Wednesday at 1 p.m., and broadcast live on TV and radio (ever wonder why you cant' find a waiter around 1 o'clock?) Anyone can stop by and watch the drawings live which are held on a stage at the back of a shed on Ave. Peru and Ave. Cuba. between Calle 31 and Calle 32. The ritual is as solemn as a church service with the balls rocked back and forth in a steel cage. Thousands gather to watch in silence as twelve balls are drawn. All this for a grand prize of $2,000!
29) Rent a bicycle built for two and ride the entire length of the Amador Causeway. Have lunch at one of the great waterfront restaurants on the Causeway (For a taste of home try Bennigan's) and shop at the large Duty Free Store at the very end. Bicicietas Moses Amador Causeway Tel: 211- 2579
30) Play tennis - The Adan Gordon swimming pool in front of the Lottery Building on Avenida Cuba in Panama City has courts available for public use. Tel: 500-5320
31) Watch a folkloric dance show over dinner: Restaurante Bar Tinajas, Shows on Tues., Thurs. Fri. and Saturdays 9 P.M. $5 cover charge. Calle 51, just off Ave. Frederico Boyd in the Bella Vista district. Fantastic food - try the “ plato tipico” specials ($12). http://www.tinajaspanama.com/ Tel: 263- 7890/ 269- 3840
32) Take an air conditioned bus from La Gran Terminal to El Valley. Adults $3.50 one way/$7.00 return, 2.5 hours. Every 30 minutes 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Ask for center of the bus seats (for safety, not near the front, or too near the rear washrooms - busy) Spend the day at the Sunday market, eat at Pinnochio's and have a cappachino at Gourmet Coffee. Bus: www.terminal@cwpanama.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 314- 6228
Special Section - Casco Viejo
33) Visit Casco Viejo (aka Casco Antiguo, aka San Felipe) the new location of the burned capital, built in 1673. This new location, at the foot of a large hill and with a shallow water-covered rock shelf surrounding it was much easier to defend. With its 17th and 18th century Spanish colonial architecture and wrought iron railings, it looks and feels a lot like New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina. See the French Quarter where cannons fired upon Colombian warships in 1903 which signaled the independence of Panama from Gran Colombia. Tourist police on motorcycles make sure you stay within the safe areas. This area is a MUST SEE!
34) Have dinner in a dungeon - Las Bovedas in The French Quarter - built into the wall of the city's fortress. Down below was the torture chamber where prisoners were chained up to their necks and when the tide came in, crustaceans would feast on their exposed flesh. Their screams of agony helped many other prisoners chained up above in the dungeons see the evil of their ways and confess - to anything. The high arched brick dungeons are now a bar and quaint restaurant. Entrées $7 - $14. Live Jazz Fri./St. 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Closed Sundays. Otherwise open 5:30 p.m. - 1. a.m. Tel: 228- 8068
35) See the Golden Alter in Iglesia San Jose - carved from mahogany and covered two fingers thick with gold, it was hidden from Henry Morgan's pirates by a clever Augustine priest who painted the massive two-story alter with black oil to look as though it was unfinished wood. Despite the fact that Morgan sacked the city for over twenty days and burned most of the existing buildings, the alter survived untouched. It was moved to it's present location when the City of Panama was relocated in 1673. This is one of the main tourist attractions of Panama. On Ave A between Calle 8 and Calle 9, open 7 am - noon, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. Mon. - Sat. and 5 am - 8 p.m. Sun. No Phone.
36) Watch the Pollera de Gala (the national woman's folkloric dress) being hand sewn in La Casa de la Pollera, across the street from the Golden Arch. These dresses made of fine Irish linens and hand- sewn sequins take thousands of hours and cost many thousands of dollars to make. On Av A and Calle 8. Open 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tel: 228- 8671/223-5375
37) Marvel at the forty foot flat arch built without a keystone in 1756 that seems to defy gravity. Lobbyists pushing for the canal to be built in Panama sent a stamp showing an exploding volcano in Nicaragua to every member of the US Congress and Senate along with a sketch of the arch still standing after hundreds of years to demonstrate how stable Panama was - and the ploy worked. Despite two devastating fires and the almost total collapse of the building the arch stood for over 240 years. Left to the elements, in 2003 the arch collapsed but has since been restored. $0 .75 cent visitors fee. Iglesia de Santo Domingo. Ave A. next to the Colonial Art Museum. No Phone.
38) Visit the Canal Museum (Officially known as the Museo del Canal Interoceanico) housed in the former Great Hotel on Plaza de la Independencia. The hotel was built in 1875. The Museum exhibits include a fascinating history of one of the world's marvels of engineering and a terrific history of The Isthmus. The interior artwork is worth seeing on its own, as is the coin and stamp collection upstairs. Get the English audio guide for $5 as everything is in Spanish. Av Central between Calle 5 and Calle 6. Open 9:30 am - 5:30 Tues. - Sun., closed Mondays. $2 adults, $0.75 students with valid ID. Tel: 211-1995/211- 1649
39) Sail off into the sunset:
• Panama Yacht Adventures vessels from 30 feet to 100 feet, sail and power. http://www.panamayachtadventures.com/ E-Mail: andresn@panamayachtadventures.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 263- 2673/ 6614- 0660
• The Panama Yacht Club Tel: 213-3087/ 6616- 2408
• Club de Yates y Pesca Tel: 227- 0145 D) The Balboa Yacht Club Tel: 228-5794
• Flamenco Yacht Club at the end of the Amador causeway Tel: 314- 0665
• Panama Sailing School. Las Brisas on the Amador Causeway - sailing lessons or a daily sunset and champagne cruise (6 people $450, 8 people $650) or try the Moonlight Madness cruise (6 people $500, 8 people $700) http://www.panamasailingschool.com/ Tel: 314- 3393, Cell (English): 6413 – 6113
40) Sneak onto the secret roof garden of The National Theatre. Bribe your way back stage and climb the windy stairs up above the lights to the secret roof garden with a spectacular view of the entire City of Panama. Inside the lobby, gaze up at the Sistine Chapel-like paintings on the ceiling of the spectacular National Theater opened in 1908 . Hear a concert by The National Symphony, see a performance by The National Ballet or get swept away by Madame Butterfly by The National Opera. Rock and pop concerts, modern dance, and jazz music are all performed here. (It also has the only ATM in Casco Viejo). Between Ave B and 3rd Street
41) Say hello to the President of Panama at Presidential Palace of the Herons, the oldest building in Casco Viejo built in 1673. Ave Eloy Alfaro (on the waterfront) and Calle 6. (NOTE: Tours on Sundays only). If the guards point guns at you is best to leave them be, as the President might be busy at the moment - instead, just shop the shops, try the great restaurants, or visit the magnificent cathedrals in the area. DO NOT tell them Roberto Chocolate sent you!
42) Pick up a gourmet lunch to go from Super Gourmet in Casco Viejo. Avenida A and Calle 6 . Imported cheeses, fine wines, imported beers, cigars, a savory lunch for under $10 Tel: 212-3487
43) Sip Italian coffee and snack on sinfully good cheesecake, listen to the expat gossip at Caffe Per Due Ave A, Casco Viejo. Tues. - Sun (closed Mondays) 8:30 A.M. - 10 P.M. E-Mail: caffeperdue@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 6512- 9311
44) Let the good times roll at the annual Jazz Festival in Casco Viejo in January, but enjoy outdoor concerts in the square all year long. Just follow the music. Enjoy outdoor patio restaurants and bars. Las Bovedas (French Quarter, Casco Viejo) has live jazz in the bar Tel: 228 - 8068
Near Panama City
45) Board The Calypso Queen to Isla Toboga for brunch. This 45 minute, 12 nautical mile trip is half the fun - it cruises past the southern entrance to the Panama Canal and under the 'Bridge of The Americas' on it's way to 'The Flower Island'. You may see dolphins and if you are very lucky, humpback whales on the way. There are no cars on this floral paradise. The church on the island claims to be the second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere (the town was founded in 1524). For info on places to eat or stay on Isla Tobago www.tabago.panamanow.com
The Calypso Queen departs from Isla Naos beside the Marine Exhibition Center on the Amador Causeway (8:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. Mon's./Wed's/Fri's, and 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sat./Sun./Holidays. $10 adult, $7 kids and pensionados (retirees) Tel: 314- 1730/ 390- 2403
46) Cruise the Panama Canal with:
• Panama Marine Adventures www.pmatours.com A partial transit is 4 - 5 hours, departs Flamenco Yacht Club at 10 A.M. Partial transit cost is $115 for adults, $65 for children under 12. Full transit (8 - 9 hours with return transport back to Panama City provided) $165 and $75 for under 12 years. 300 passengers, two air conditioned decks, open viewing decks, souvenir shop, lunch included (chicken, pasta, salad and brownie, free water and soda. (cash bar) Go on a Thursday or Friday when it is less crowded. Ticket office Via Porras and Calle Belen Tel: 226-8917 OR
• Panama Bay and Canal Tours www.canalandbaytours.com. 3 boats holding 105 or 132 passengers or the flagship Fantasia del Mar holding 500 passengers. They were the first company to do canal tours. Their prices and services are the same as Panama Marine except they have a discount for Panamanians. Tel: 209-2009/209-2010
47) Have lunch at Miraflores Locks terrace restaurant while you watch the ships transit the canal, pulled by four electric locomotives called 'mules'. Restaurant (pretty good) operated by the El Panama Hotel. Make a reservation in advance to sit by the railing so you can get an unobstructed view during your meal. The entire one mile long dock is lit up for night-time viewing as well. Entrees $7 - $20. Located on the third floor of the four-story Visitors Center. Museum entry fee: adults $10, students $5 (with valid I.D.) Open 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. www.pancanal.com Tel: 276-8325.
48) Surf's up! Surf or go kite sailing in Punta Chame on the Pacific beaches near Panama City. Tel: 6674- 7772.
Other great surfing destinations: Santa Carolina or Mariato Beach in Veraguas, or Playa Venao in Las Santos. www.purosurf.com, www.eloutside.com, www.surfeapanama.com.
49) Take your significant other to a push/pull. These “motels” are drive-in sex hotels where you pull up, put money in a drawer, and when the doors open you drive into and park in what looks like a self-storage unit. The door to your unit closes and there is a hotel room inside. When you are ready to leave you get back in your car, push the button to open your unit and pull up to the gate and beep your horn to have the exit gates opened, never having seen a human being. Bring your own sheets. With names like “Fantasia” or “La Amore”, these love-nests are usually located right off a highway and identified by a heart in either the logo or in the name.
50) Go 'glow in the dark” bowling Saturday nights at Bolos El Dorado $5-$600 a game, all night $6 after 9 P.M. on Sat. Super Centro El Dorado, Via Ricardo J. Alfredo. E-mail: bolos@boloseldorado.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 260- 2511/ 260- 7868
51) Bet on the ponies: Presidente Remon Racetrack has horse racing every Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Look for the signs for The Hippodrome on Juan Diaz. E-Mail: miguel.gomez@codere.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 300 - 2673/ 300 - 2674
52) Play on the ponies - Polo in Panama! The Hacienda Country Club has just completed a full equestrian facility just 20 minutes from The City. Tucked away in the cool hills of Cerro Azul, season riders and beginners alike can enjoy riding lessons, practice show jumping or play polo. The Panamanian Polo Association holds Saturday tournaments from January to April. International polo tournament are being planned. www.polopanama.com Tel: 392- 9283/392-9284
53) Visit the wild monkeys and crocodiles on the Gatun Safari Tour. This is not a hokey jungle boat cruise - listen when they tell you not to hold the whole bag of treats out to the monkeys. We saw a tourist get his hat taken and almost lost his glasses and his camera when he ignored the tour guide! Crocodile sightings, typical local lunch, trek to a waterfall, kayaks, fishing, nature walk, transport to and from your hotel all included. Adventuras 2000 www.adventuras2000.com E-Mail: info@colon200.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 227- 2000.
54) Negotiate for handicrafts directly from the Kuna. (they use coconuts as currency - and by law, anyone caught stealing a coconut must go to jail, however only US dollars are accepted for souvenirs) Fly into Punta Chico on Air Panama or Areoperlas Regional. Sapibenega Lodge a thatched roof cabins in an authentic Kuna village, private bathrooms, wood floors, fresh water, fans, balconies with hammocks, two restaurants serving fresh seafood, white sand beaches, tribal dance presentations. $140/per person double in high season. www.sapibenga.com Tel: 215- 1406/ cell: 6676-5548
55) Charter a boat - call the vessel 'Cheers' Tel: 6619-6128, or 'La Garota Schooner' Tel: 314- 1288 or the San Blas Sailing Corp. Tel: 314- 1800 or the ultimate: charter a Mega Yacht. Contact Captain/owner Andres Navarro Panama Yacht Charters. $6,500 per day for a 92 foot Mega Yacht with six private staterooms each with it's own head (bathroom), and includes all crew, marina fees, fishing equipment, ice and all fuel costs. www.panamayachtadventures.com Email: andresn@panamayachtadventures.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 263- 2673/ Cell: 6614- 0660
56) Discover why a doomed settlement in Panama forced Scotland to give up its dream of independence and join the UK. In 1698, an ambitious entrepreneur Scot William Paterson convinced the Scottish parliament to fund the colony of “New Edinburgh”. They built Fort Saint Andrew on Caledonia Bay on the Darien coast (Now part of Comarca Kuna Yala). The colonists were completely unprepared for life in a tropical jungle. Disease, hostile Indians, mosquitos, in-fighting and the heat were too much and the colony was abandoned a year later. Despite repeated attempts to re-colonize, shipwrecks, war and disease forced the now debt- ridden Scotland to abandon it's dreams of an empire and join England, forming the United Kingdom in 1707. Flights to Darien available through Air Panama or Aeropearlas Regional Mondays and Fridays.
OR Fenton Travel www.fentontravel.com E-Mail: reservas@fentontravel.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 227- 5215, Cell: 6786- 1394
Province of Darien
57) Set a deep sea fishing record at the Tropic Star Lodge, Bahia Pina. Named by the magazine The Robb Report as the best fishing installation in the world. Over 250 world records have been set from this lodge. The Black, blue and stripped Marlin as well as sailfish are caught year-round. Dorado or Mahi Mahi are caught April - June. Red snapper, grouper, pompano and mullet are caught closer to shore. Recently tarpons have come through the canal and have been caught here. Visits to Indian Villages can be arranged. www.tropicstar.com, Tel: 232- 8375/ 232- 8377
58) Visit the five hundred year old Spanish forts that guarded the famous gold mines of Cana on The Turia (Devil's) River in the Darien Province. Tours are run by the Tourist Cooperative in La Palma. 10 A.M. flights, Mondays and Fridays on Air Panama or 10:25 A.M. flights Mon's., Wed's. and Fri.'s on Areoperlas Regional from Albrook Airport to La Palma. Approx. $114 USD.
Or Fenton Travel, www.fentontravels.com e-mail: reservas@fentontravels.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 227- 5215/ Cell: 6786- 1394
Province of Colon
59) Take the historic one-hour train from the Pacific to the Atlantic (train first built in 1850) from Panama City (departs 7:15 a.m) to Colon (return departs 5:15 P..M. ). Visit the second largest Free Trade Zone in the world (second only to Hong Kong) Over 2,000 companies on 400 hectares, it is the largest cargo storage and distribution center in The Americas. Over $11 billion in imports/exports and over 250,00 visitors go through The Free Trade Zone each year - primarily wholesale. The Zona Libre is not geared for consumer shopping. You need a permit to enter and goods must be shipped to the airport (at a charge) arriving at the airport on your departure date. Best to go to Colon 2000, the smaller duty free mall geared for cruise ship shoppers and tourists. The road to Colon is being rebuilt - it is great for 1/3 of the way - terrible after that.
60) Scuba dive Portobello. About 100 km from Panama City. Turn right at the Rey Supermarket in Sabanitas. DO NOT go into Colon - unless on a tour. It is dangerous for tourists. Try to find Sir Frances Drake's lead- lined coffin, buried at sea on Jan. 28, 1596, supposedly filled with treasure. Pieces of eight, shipwrecks and plunging rock walls are all here to be discovered. Scuba Panama offers diving, dining and sleeping cabins, equipment rentals, dive classes and fishing. info@scubapanama.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: In Panama: 261-4064/261-3841. In Portobello: 448- 2147
OR for a Caribbean taste, continue on to Isla Grande - stay at the Bananas Village Resort. ($70 - $100) www.bananasresort.com E-Mail: info@bananasresort.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 263- 9510, 263- 9766
Boats ($4) from shore run all day into the early evening. Pay the $4 parking, but don't leave anything in your car.
61) Visit the Church and Museum of The Black Christ. Iglasia del San Felipe, built 1814 (bell tower finished 1945 - welcome to the Caribbean where EVERYTHING is slower paced) Life-sized effigy of the nazarene of Portobello - better know as The Black Christ. The alter is adorned with golden images of utensils used in the crucifixion - nails, instruments of torture, and the dice Roman soldiers threw to determine who won his robes. Behind the church is Museo del Cristo Negro de Portobello which displays 63 robes used in the festival, some of which are over one hundred years old.$1 adults, .25 cents children 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 3 p.m./ Saturdays and Sundays.
62) Try fresh-water fly fishing on Gatun Lake contact John Shyne, Panama Yacht Tours. trips to San Blas, Isla Coiba, Bahia Pina and The Pearl Islands available. Office: Calle D off Via Veneto opposite The Expats Center. E-Mail: www.panamayachtours.com info@panamayachtours.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 263- 5044/Cell: 6614-1114
63) Sleep with the birds and the monkeys at the Canopy Tower, a former radar station in the middle of the Soberania National Park. Fourth floor observation lounge/restaurant/library, six double rooms with hot water ($150 for one bed with shared bathroom, $195- $220 per person/per night for suites + 5% tax. $300 deposit required) Gift shop. Meals and bird tour included. Watch ships pass by on the canal, and giant blue iridescent Morpho butterflies flutter past your open windows. National Geographic's Top 50 Eco-Lodges in the World. www.canopytower.com
E-Mail: canopytower@cwpanama.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 264-5720/1 800 930- 3397
64) Stand where the pirates Francis Drake, Henry Morgan and Joseph Bradley all stood - on the top of the remains of Fort Lorenzo at the mouth of the Chagras River near Colon. Over 40 cannons, spectacular views. Don't forget to stop at the lights on the swing bridge over the canal - they stop the cars to make way for the ships to pass into the canal! $5.00 entrance fee per car. Excellent roads. Worth the visit.
65) Walk the former Camino de Cruces trail, built in 1527 and paved with flat stones. It included a water route from Venta de Cruces to Fort Lorenzo. Over 400,000 49'ers used this route on their way to the California Gold Rush. Prior to the creation of this trail, they used the Camino Real (the royal road) from Portobello to Panama City, this dirt mule trail was so rough that passengers carrying gold and silver from Peru and Pearls from the Pearl Islands had to climb on their hands and knees. Described as a narrow, rugged and unprotected trail. This pirate and bandido infested forrest held so many dangers that few made the trip twice.
Province of Cocle (pronounced ko-klay)
(Coronado and Close by stuff)
66) Go Golfing:
• Coronado - 83 miles west of Panama City 18 hole par 72 (7,116 yards pro, 6637 mens, 5535 yards women) plus 9 hole par 3 with night lights. reservas@coronadoresort.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• The Summit Golf & Resort - Jeffery Meyers designed course overlooking the Panama Canal semi-private, 18 championship holes par 72 with club house, restaurant and pro shop (6,626 yards)
• Mantaraya Golf Club at The Royal Decameron Beach Resort, Costa Blanca, an 18 hole par 71 with driving range, practice range and pro shop. www.decameron.com
• Vista Mar - newest course in Panama, near the town of San Carlos. 11 holes now completed, an excellent restaurant open to the public, a clubhouse, a pro shop and gorgeous meditation gardens. Located off the highway on the Pacific Ocean just between San Carlos and Lago Mar.
67) Ride with the wind. Go horseback riding - The Coronado Equestrian Club is one of the best riding clubs in The Americas. Paso, Colombian or Andalusian riding. Shows throughout the year. Restaurant. www.coronadofairways.com
68) Eat lobster and sing karaoke on the beach at Woody’s Bar and Grill, Farallon, just down the beach from The Royal Decameron Beach Resort. Owned/run by a former Canadian Air Force couple (Monique is a Newfie). House special: Lobster tails, three huge shrimp, salad $30. Only place in Panama to get poutine and watch hockey. Email: woodymonique@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 993-2201/ 6480- 0618
69) Dance the merengue with a local: Bar Renacer, right on the main highway in Penonome, Cocle Province, open-air, thatched hut roof, good food, huge dance floor, live bands on weekends. Very friendly patrons. Cheap bar prices and good, local food. Try the Yucca fritas (deep-fried yucca).
70) Stop in (or call) to order “Paella for Two” at least two hours ahead of time at Los Camisones Restaurant, Kilometer 104, which is 10 kilometers east of Santa Clara on the north side of the Pan- American highway, west of El Higo. A long time favorite of middle-class Panamanians, expats and tourists alike. This traditional family-style restaurant housed in a bohio (thatched roof) buildings serves great food in a very pleasant atmosphere. The pepper steak is excellent, as is the pargo (snapper) al ajillo (cooked in garlic). Ask what the fish of the day is - they buy fresh from local fisherman every day. Finish with flaming crepes a-la-mode. Mile marker 104 kilometers. 7 kilometers past the El Valley turn off. Open 11 a.m. - “until the last client leaves” Tel: 993- 3622
Special Section: El Valle de Anton
(Also close to Coronado)
71) Negotiate with the Kuna Indian artists at the famous Sunday Market in El Valle. Get there before the noon buses from Panama City pack the place and drive up prices. Bring a sweater - it gets cool in the mountains (20 - 26 degrees Celsius when the costal temperatures soar over 35 C (95F). 95 kilometers west of Panama City to the well-marked turn-off, 28 kilometers up the winding, paved mountain road. Have an expresso at the Gourmet Coffee shop at the entrance to the town.
72) Treat yourself to a massage, thermal soak or anti-aging mud bath at the Los Mandarinos Spa in the Le Casa de Lourdes Inn - Massages $40 for 30 minutes, 415 for a thermal soak (free to guests of the hotel) and mud wraps $35 - $40. Rooms at the Inn $125 - $205 for a suite (not per person - per room plus 10% tourist tax. Spa, restaurant, Inn. www.losmanarinos.com, E-Mail: info@losmandarinos.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 983-6645
73) Zip over El Chorro Macho waterfall - twice! on the Canopy Adventure in El Valley. A vigorous 30 - 45 minute hike to the first launch pad, then zip down jungle tops past three toed sloth, birds and other wildlife. Go where Muriel Hemingway, Tarzan's grandson and the President of Panama have gone - and lived to talk about it. 1.5 hours, best to go during the weekdays when it is not so crowded. $50 plus 5% tax, ($125 + tax from Panama City with lunch and transport provided) Bring long pants, sneakers, towel and extra shirt (you will want to swim in the waterfall) NOTE: 200 pound weight limit. www.canopylodge.com
E-Mail: birding@canopytower.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Panama City Office. Tel: 264-5720/263-2784. El Valley Tel: 983-6547/612-9176
74) In El Valle (all “V”'s in Spanish are pronounced as “B”'s - so ask for “El Bi yea”). Take a walking tour. It is well worth it to hire a guide (.50 cents an hour) to take you to see the square trees, the petroglyphs (petroglifos), the painted stones, the waterfalls, the hot springs, While in El Valley visit El Nispero, the animal refuge with 100 species of animals and 180 different species of plants and trees, including a golden frog (poisonous), howler monkeys and parrots and toucans, crocodiles and turtles. 1.3 km off the main street - look for the signs. $2.00 adults, $1.00 kids, foreigners $4.00 (get used to it - to Panamanians, you ARE rich). Also visit the small local museum (open Sundays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. $0.50 cents admission), and St. Joseph's, the quaint local church, and have lunch while the buses unload their herds of tourists - both Panamanians escaping the heat and humidity of the City and foreigners.
Province of Veraguas
75) Stay on a floating hotel with Cebaco Bay Sportfishing Club's floating hotel/fishing vessel. This 115 foot mother-ship uses two other vessels to do the fishing, one a 31 foot and the other a 47 footer.
E:mail: info@cebacobay.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tel: 316- 4027
76) Swim with the dolphins off Isla Iguana on the Azuero Peninsula near Pedasi. Over 40 hectares of protected coral reefs, over 4,800 years old. Over 200 different fish species, four different turtle types, dolphins, and humpback whales. White sand beaches, clear waters, and one of the largest bird nesting sites in Panama. Famous for it's proliferation of iguanas the site is operated by a cooperative from the town of Pedasi. Tel: 883- 2165
77) Swim in a crystal-clear mountain lake. Listen to the cool breezes blowing through the pines or fish the tilapia-stocked waters of La Laguna Lake inside Cope National Park. Lounge in the hot springs, swim in the breathtaking waterfalls or tour a coffee plantation in the spectacular mountain town La Yeguada. Start in Santiago. Take the mountain highway past Calobre. Ask where the road to La Yeguada begins. NOTE: 4 x 4 required on this very rough road, but the views and serenity of this lake in the mountains is worth it.
78) Discover gold pre-Colombian artifacts along the river banks in Veraguas Province. One of the mysteries of Panama is where did the indigenous people smelt their gold? Many gold artifacts have been discovered, but the actual smelting facilities have never been found. Almost any river in Veraguas has the potential to have gold artifacts, especially more remote areas that have not been combed through by treasure hunters.
79) Scuba dive with manta rays, eagle rays, whale sharks and schools of tropical fish with www.scubacoiba.com or www.solymarpanama.com or www.santacatalinaboattours.com
80) Go to prison. Tour the former Devil's Island-style penal colony on Coiba Island. This almost 15,000 hectare marine park encompasses two dozen islands and is a refuge of all kinds of wildlife including howler monkeys, leatherback turtles, and tiger-herons. It has the second-largest coral reef in the eastern Pacific ocean. The waters are filled with really big fish - orcas, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, barracuda, amber-jacks, big snappers, three different types of marlin, moray eels, white-tipped, hammerhead and tiger sharks. Sharks and mantas are especially common. In fact, prisoners were not locked up at night - instead the guards locked themselves inside with their guns. The shark infested waters and surrounding jungles kept the prisoners from straying too far. Diving here has been described as a cross between Galapagos Islands and Coco islands in Costa rica. Go through the town of Horconcitos which is 40 kilometers south of David. From here there is a great, newly paved road to Boca Chica and a short fishing boat ride ($1/per person) to Isla Boca Brava. Famous for it’s scuba diving and fishing, this is the lobster capital of Panama. ($5 for a fresh lobster from the fishermen at Playa Hermosa). The other great thing about this area is the dry season starts earlier here than anywhere else in Panama - around November and ends at the same time in April. Panama Big Game Fishing Club. www.panamabiggamefishingclub.com, E-Mail: biggame@panafishing.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 683- 0359 Toll Free USA (866) 281- 1225
Province of Herrera
81) Ride through the desert on a horse with no name. Sarigua Desert near the city of Chitre and the town of Parita in the Herrera Province. Stop at the look-out tower to see the 20,000 acre desert in the distance. This was the site of the oldest indigenous Indian village in Panama (9,500 - 7,000 BC). The Smithsonian is conducting archeological digs to unearth indigenous pottery and stone artifacts.
Province of Los Santos
82) Sit in the square and share a helato (ice cream) in the prettiest town in Panama - Pedasi. The center square with it's ornate iron fences, flowers and walkways is impeccably kept and the towns people are some of the friendliest in Latin America. The road to Pedasi is very well maintained and this drive through cattle country is a must-do. Stay in either the Pension Moscoso (19 rooms $16 - $24) Tel: 995-2203 OR Residencial Pedasi (17 rooms with A/C $16 - $40) Tel: 995-2322
83) Celebrate Mardi Gras in Las Tablas. Festivities begin on Fat Tuesday. Book your hotel well in advance, and do not drink and drive. There is a zero-tolerance policy in Panama - you are arrested and jailed if you say you had ONE BEER. Do not admit drinking even ONE drink or they will have no choice but to arrest you. Take a cab. Penenome and Panama City also have spectacular festivities. Penenome's parade takes place in the river!
84) Catch a tuna off the tuna coast: Pedasi Fishing, Azuero Peninsula www.pedasifishing.com E) Caribbean coast try these E-Mails: captaintony@panamafishingandcatching.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or http://www.panamacraise.com.pa/, or Joberg@hotmail.net.pa This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or hotelvistamar@hotmail.com
Ngobe Bugle Comarca
85) Stay in an authentic Embera village. Besiko, Comarca Gnoble Bugle, north from Chiriqui Province. Organization Cultural Artisano de Besiko, , http://www.destinobesiko.com/ E-Mial: info@destinobesiko.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 721- 1379, 316- 1355 Cell: 6672- 4819
Province of Chiriqui
(Believed to be an Indian name meaning “Valley of the Moon”)
86) Go white water rafting on the Rio Grande River in Chiriqui or on the Chiriqui Viejo River with A) Panama Rafters. Half-Day trips $75 plus 5% tax, Full Day $90 plus tax. Lunch, towels and juices/water included. Class II - Class V rapids. www.panamarafters.com.Tel: 720- 2712 or B) The Chiriqui River Rafting Company - a 2 hour beginner trip (Class II + III rapids) with lunch $85, up to a 4 hour advanced Class III + IV rapids: $105. http://www.panama-rafting.com/ Tel: 720 - 1505 C) Panama Explorer Club on the Rio Grande Tel: 215- 2330.
87) Savor the most expensive coffee in the world! Grown in Hacienda Esmeralda near Boquete, their 'Geisha' coffee smashed the world record in 2007 selling for an amazing $300,000 a pound! Panama took home more coffee awards this year than any other country. You don't have to pay that much to enjoy a good cup. Visit Cafe Ruiz in Boquete (at the end of town) It has great views of the entire valley. Boquete Safaris Tours offer a half-day Wildlife Exploration and El Poco - Coffee farm tour with a cupping (like a wine tasting). 8 a.m. OR 1:30 pick-up at your hotel. Includes water, juice snack, park fees and hotel pick-up. $58 per person, Min. 2 people, http://www.bouquetemountainsafaritours.com/. E-Mail: carol@boquetesafari.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 6627- 8829, 6613- 1472
Our favorite place to stay is Boquete Garden Inn and B + B. Canadians Jay (from England via Toronto) and his charming wife Susan have recently redecorated this already lovely spot right on the river. RATES $87 - $99 (plus an additional $15 for a third person) includes a wonderful fresh fruit and cereal breakfast. Great bar out back, beautifully designed rooms - a five star at three star prices. http://www.bouquetegardeninn.com/ E- Mail: bouquetegardeninn@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 720 - 2376, Cell: 6672- 4958
Take in the flower and coffee festival in Boquete January 8th - 18th. 44 gardens, thousands of different flowers and plants for sale. Locally grown, international award-winning coffees.
88) Get wet - go kayaking, white water rafting, rappel down a waterfall and climb up a cliff, climb a mountain or ride a mountain bike with Panama Rafting. 2 - 4 hour trips from beginner to advanced, $85 - $105 www/panama-rafting.com E-Mail: rafting@panama-rafting.com Tel: 720 - 1505 OR: Adventuras panama 4100 - $125 per person, http://www.adventuraspanama.com/, E-Mail: info@adventuraspanama.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 260 - 0044, Cell: 6679 - 4404
OR: Extreme Adventures Tel: 236- 8146
89) Pick fresh strawberries in Boquete. The name Boquete means “a path between two mountains” Its perpetual spring-like temperatures led A.A.R.P. to name Bouquete the number one place to retire in the world and Fortune Magazine rated it as one of the Top 5 places in the world to retire outside the USA in 2005. The town is wall to wall expatriates with jazz clubs, coffee shops, fine dining and even a Subway.
90) Ride horses bareback on the beach Las Lajas, one of the most spectacular beaches in Panama. 75 km east of David, 35 km east of Horconcitos at El Cruce - look for the elaborate lit- up gates at the highway.
91) Visit Volcan, see Vulcan Baru and both the Pacific and the Caribbean Oceans at one time. Witness the cloud forest, see the breathtaking beauty of the sweeping valleys below. Continue past David on the Tans- American Highway to Conception. Turn right (north) to Vulcan and follow the signs. On the way, 15 km north of Conception, stop at Cuesta de Piedra at the Alan Herr lookout (get a frozen yogurt). In town, if you call Elvia Caballero (Cell: 6476- 8448) she might get you special permit to see the spectacular Macho de Monte waterfalls.
92) Find the Painted Stone under the bridge at Caldera, but first you must get to Jardin La Fontuna and ask permission. Your reward will be secret gardens, a pristine river, waterfalls and pre-Columbian petroglyphs. Under the bridge you will find four ponds with temperatures that range from 41 to 50 degrees centigrade. Do not use soap in the ponds, but bring a towel! To get there, take the road towards Boquete. There is a sign indicating the detour to the right. Past a resort called Rancho de Calderas, at 7.6 kilometeras you will reach the Caldera River. At 11.1 kilometers you will reach the town of Caldera. Use a 4 x 4. The road is very rough. Leave your car parked on the other side of the bridge. Walk four or five hundred meters. There is a door - walk through the door until you find the caretakers house. Pay the $1 per person.
Province of Bocas del Toro
93) Fly to Bocas del Toro for a Caribbean weekend. Round trip $120 - $145. Air Panama or Areoperlas Regional (see resource section for airline telephone numbers)
94) Dive off the dock of your own thatched hut into clear, turquoise-green waters. Fish, snorkel, swim or relax in the Caribbean ambience and atmosphere.
• Punta Caracol Aqua-Hotel, one of The Most Romantic Hotel of The World. 5 thatched huts, 3 suites and one master suite, all on stilts over the crystal clear aqua-green water. Low season $344/High $430 per couple, transport to the hotel from the airport, breakfast, welcoming cocktail, kayak, snorkeling equipment, tea and biscuits in the afternoon and candlelight dinner overlooking the water. Drinks/tips/tours/ taxes NOT included. 100% payment to reserve. Visa/MC/AMEX http://www.puntacaracol.com/ E-Mail: puntacaracol@puntacaracol.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 757- 9718 Cell: 6612- 1088 OR
• Stay at Hotel Macca Bite in Boca del Toro. 11 two-story cabins with air conditioning and private baths on Bastimentos, (the name means “to get supplies” in Spanish after Christopher Columbus re-stocked here in 1502) $220 per couple per night includes breakfast and dinner, cayuco boat ride, basic snorkeling gear, help coordinating tours. Drinks/tips/taxes/tours and transport to hotel NOT included. http://www.hotelmaccabite.com/ E-Mail: hotelmaccabite@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 264-5255/264-5216
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NOTE: On our trip, it rained the entire day and night - and this was during the dry season. Bring bug spray for 'no-seeums”.
Perl Islands
95) Watch magnificent humpback whales glide by and breach off Isla Contradora with Captain Andy of Panama Yacht Adventures http://www.panamayachtadventures.com/ Tel: 263- 2673.
96) Go spear fishing off the Pearl Islands with Hacienda del Mar on San Jose Island http://www.haceindadelmar.net/
97) Charter a private jet, sneak off to the powdery white sands of the island where the TV show “Survivor” was filmed and the Shaw of Iran spent his exile - Isla Contradora - the Counting house - where the pearls were counted and logged before being shipped off to Spain. Buy her some pearls, then pop over to San Jose Island, a private island with one single luxury resort - Hacienda del Mar. Reserve a waterfront table for drinks and dinner, walk on the beach and watch the sunset together before jetting back home. Hacienda del Mar resort Tel: 269- 1787/ 269- 6634. Private jets - SKY MAXX Corp., at Albrook Airport. Hangar 4-D. http://www.maplex.com/ Tel: 315- 0344
98) Suntan nude on a deserted beach in The Pearl Islands (Playa de las Suecas = Swedish woman's beach) on Isla Contradora, the island's nudist beach. Don't bother snorkeling or diving on this beach - there are some pretty fish - that's it! The best place to stay on the island is Hotel Punta Galeon ($114 - $166/night includes breakfast). The airport is right there, but was temporarily closed for runway repairs. We took the ferry from Las Brisas on the Amador Causeway. The hotel overlooks the beach, has good food, a nice pool, great views, good service, it is clean and comfortable. Rent a golf cart for one hour only ($35) You can cover the entire island in an hour easily. The Contadora Hotel (where the cast and crew of Survivor stayed) has been sold and is being torn down. The actual filming took place on three small deserted island nearby - ask any fisherman to take you on his boat for $10. Hotel Punta Galeon: http://www.puntagaleon.com/, E-Mail: reservas@puntagaleon.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 214- 3710, 214- 3720 Panama City reservatons: Tel: 250- 4134
Anywhere and Everywhere!
99) Swing in a hammock on the beach. Remember, no-one ever died wishing they had spent more time at the office. After all, isn't this why you are here in the first place? Drink coconut water straight from the coconut. Swim in the bath-water warm ocean. Read a book. Take today off. Watch the sunset together.
100) Get something special for the people at home. Most retail stores are open 9 A.M. - 6 P.M. Mon. - Sat., shopping malls are open later and on Sundays and Holidays. Best areas: Cinco de Mayo Plaza, Panama City - pedestrian mall. Central Street Panama - markets line both sides of the street. City of Penenome, the main drag has jeans for under five dollars, and two dozen discount shoe stores! You go girl.
101) Call a real estate agent, find an attorney and BUY SOMETHING! This place has everything. Cool mountain breezes, breathtaking beaches, exciting cities, culturally interesting people - and as you can tell from this list - lots to do. This place is a terrific investment: it has great medical facilities, a stable economy, it is safe, a low cost of living, great infrastructure, excellent communications, international banking, pleasant people that sincerely want you here, the world's best retirement benefits, relatively affordable real estate (although it is going up every day) and NO HURRICANES!!! What are you waiting for? Fill out our Destination selection matrix on our website http://www.worldsgreatestreitrementdestinations.com/ and see what locations suit your personal requirements.
Tell them Roberto Chocolate sent you!
