Things to see & do in Panama

Things to see & do in Panama:

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/

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 peashooter@gmail.com 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/

Eco 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

**Embera Village, see:

http://www.emberavillagetours.com   **The lady who provides these tours name is Sue Gordon de Barron from Washington State, she is married to an Embera.  Tell Sue Lou said hello if you use her services, she will give you a discount if you mention my name.

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

Gamboa Jungle Lodge & tours:  http://www.qg.com/smartools/ebook/hosted.rails?issue=0bee948c4a67441fb569e8f7b860ef127de991b649994199bc02e8f7b860ef12    

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 (STRI) who has been in Panama over 100 years, has a seminar every Tuesday at 4:00 pm at their headquarters in Ancon in the main auditorium followed by a “social hour”.  The subjects maybe very scientific & over my head, but I always attend when in Panama City—one visit the historian from Washington, D.C. did the address on the history of the Smithsonina in Panama (over 100 years) & what I found interesting is President Roosevelt had the Smithsonian do an environmental study before the canal project began.  see:

http://www.stri.si.edu/

http://www.taboga.panamanow.com/ferry/boats.html

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/

Torti, Panama: about 2 hour drive east of Panama City toward the Darien includes the Hotel Avicar and Restaurant Avicar. The hotel, is a 10 room hotel with swimming pool. Prices ranges depending on the occupancy (beds) from 35.00 to 50.00 US Dollars. The food at the restaurant is a la carte and it ranges from 3.00 to 5.00 US Dollars (steak with rice and salad). Bird watching & jungle tours, for more information contact Luis Gonzalez Nelson at luis_gnelson@hotmail.com or see: www.hotelavicar.com

Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge: Bocas del Toro, see:

http://www.tranquilobay.com/home.htm

**Whale Watching:

www.WhaleWatchingPanama.com

**The lady who provides these tours name is Sue Gordon de Barron from Washington State, she is married to an Embera.  Tell Sue Lou said hello if you use her services, she will give you a discount if you mention my name.