Things to do and see in Panama
If you want to explore more of Panama than Contadora Island - no problem! It is just a 15 minute flight to Panama City, which can connect you to other points of interest. Panama is most well known for its canal, but it also has much more to offer to visitors. Whether you prefer beaches, mountains, rainforests, or even cosmopolitan cities, Panama has it all. Here are some suggestions:
Panama Canal, Rain Forest, Embera Indian Village
A great way to see Panama is with a guided tour. Inside Panama Tours offers day tours to many popular Panama destinations, including the Panama Canal, Rain Forest and Embera Indian Village. Visit the Inside Panama Tours website for more information and to book your tour.
Bocas Del Toro
Things to do in Bocas Del Toro include: sightseeing, snorkeling, scuba diving, beaches, forest trekking, birdwatching, surfing, marine turtle watching and visiting an Indian village.
How to get to Bocas from Panama City:
By Airplane: Bocas del Toro city is served by AEROPERLAS, AIR PANAMA and NATURE AIR, with flights to and from Panama City, David, Changuinola and San José (Costa Rica). Offices in the Airport, phones: 757-9341 (Aeroperlas) and 757-9841 (Air Panama).
By Car: Interamerican Highway up to entrance to Gualaca (404 Km). Turn to the right and go to the end of the road to Chiriqui Grande (98 Km) and then, at Punta Peña, the road to Almirante (68 km), where you can leave the car in a parking lot. Roads are paved, in good condition. Beautiful views in the mountains.
By Bus: Take the bus to Almirante. By car or by bus: in Almirante take a marine taxi to Bocas del Toro ($8 - 1 hour). The ferry boat Almirante/Bocas del Toro only runs from Mondays to Saturdays.
Bocas Del Toro Photos (click thumbnail for larger view)
Boquete
Boquete can be easily accessed through one hour daily flights from Panama City to David, which is only 30 minutes away from Boquete by car. Many visitors also travel to Boquete from Costa Rica.
Things to do in Boquete include hot springs, trout fishing with a fly, whitewater rafting and horseback riding the many mountain trails.
The valley of Boquete is located in the western highlands of Panama at 1,200 meters above sea level. The town of Boquete is along the Caldera River and is recognized for its fertile lands and year round pleasant weather. Boquete has a cool mountain climate making air conditioning totally unnecessary.
Boquete's surrounding hills and slopes are a mix of dense tropical cloud forest and shade grown coffee plantations providing the perfect habitat for exotic birds, endemic wildlife, stunning flowers and exuberant flora. Boquete is bordered by natural protecting reserves: the Baru Volcano National Park and La Amistad International Park. The "Valley of the Flowers and the Eternal Spring", is home to 20,000 habitants. In the mountains that surround the valley of Boquete live the Ngöbe Bugles, Panama's most numerous indigenous ethnic group who are highly skilled artisans, famous for their colorful chaquiras (beaded necklaces) and "nahuas", traditional dresses. The Ngöbe Bugles Indians (Guaymí) are responsible for handpicking the specialty coffee of the region from November through March. Indigenous families from all over the province of Chiriqui make their way to Boquete during the harvesting season.
Boquete Photos (click thumbnail for larger view)
Panama City
Sites to visit:
- Las Bóvedas (The Vaults), a waterfront promenade jutting out into the Pacific.
- The National Institute of Culture Building and The French Embassy;
- The Cathedral on Plaza de la Catedral
- Teatro Nacional, a performance center with outstanding natural acoustics
- Museo del Canal Interoceánico (Interoceanic Canal Museum);
- Numerous restaurants
- Palacio de las Garzas (Heron's Palace), the presidential palace. There are real herons in the compound.:)
- Amador Causeway; Lined with tropical palm trees, and with magnificent views of the Canal and the Panama City skyline. It took 18 million yards of solid rock cut of the Panama Canal to build this causeway. Great restaurants, hotels, shopping arcades, marinas and a convention center.The causeway is home of the Marine Exhibition Center of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute where visitors can see and touch exotic species of Panama's Caribbean and Pacific marine life, and learn about marine-coastal environments. There is a paved pathway, the full length of the Causeway for a leisure walk, jogging, biking, skating or roller-blading. The causeway is popular for those who want to enjoy a swim in the Pacific Ocean.
Panama City Photos (click thumbnail for larger view)
Old City (Casco Viejo)
Just minutes from downtown Panama City, Casco Viejo is well worth a visit. There are public buses that pass the ruins, or taxis charge about $1.50 - $2.00 from the city.
Casco Viejo is the historic center of Panama City. It is a charming district of narrow streets and two and three-story houses. French Park is a monument to the French builders who began the Panama Canal, and French Embassy. Visitors have a fine view of the Amador Causeway and Bridge of the Americas, and of Panama City's skyscraper skyline to the east. Some excellent museums are found in Casco Viejo, including the Canal Museum, which traces Panama's history as the route connecting Atlantic and Pacific from pre-Hispanic to modern times. Next door is the Museum of National History and the old cathedral, with spires inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Nearby is a small museum dedicated to religious art, found in the old Santo Domingo monastery. At the San Jose Cathedral is the beautiful Gold Altar. Another beautiful building in the Casco Viejo is the Presidential House.
Casco Viejo Photos (click thumbnail for larger view)
