Panama Travel Guide and Map

Kuna Yala Tours

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:35:20 +0000

Fish- Ask a local fisherman to take you out and show you his craft. They fish for a number of different species out here using some of the most basic fishing tackle you’ve ever seen. The dugout canoe and perfect little islands will make even the anti-fisherman in your party an addict.

Island hopping- A visit to San Blas is not complete until you do some exploring—boat around to the hundreds of white sand islands, many of which are only inhabited by only a palm tree or two. Use Expediciones Tropicales for the trip of a lifetime: a kayak excursion through the picturesque islands of San Blas. Prop yourself up by a big piece of driftwood on your own island and take a look around—life isn’t so bad is it? Phone: 317.1279 Email: info@xtrop.com Website: www.xtrop.com

Ha-Kuna Matata- It means ‘no worries’ and life in Kuna Yala does appear to relatively worry free. Take a day trip to one of the 40 or so inhabited islands, wandering through the narrow pathways, between straw huts and children at play. Contribute to the economy by purchasing some handicrafts or molas from locals.

Snorkel- Go for a snorkel in the glisteningly-clear Caribbean Ocean just off your porch. How often do you get to walk out your back door wearing your snorkel gear, then jump into the water? Unless you live on a houseboat, I’m guessing never.

Kuna Yala Hotspots

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:32:45 +0000

Sunsets- Watch one of the most spectacular sunsets in the world: The skies and waters here are so clear and pristine that any sunset is a memorable one. Swing back in your hammock or sit out on the beach and enjoy the show.

Mola- Find a Kuna women making one of her famous molas and ask if you can try your hand at it. This age-old practice and world-renowned art is so delicate that one mola can take up to a week to complete. You may not want to sit in on one from start to finish, but the effort is what counts.

Kuna’s and Football- Despite their small stature and innocent appearance, the Kuna Indians are incredibly good at sports, primarily volleyball and soccer. Challenge a few of the Kunas to a match and see if you can dethrone them as champions of Comarca Kuna Yala.

Kuna Yala

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:30:30 +0000

The San Blas archipelago is unlike anywhere else on earth. Its white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, and lazy palm trees are everything we have come to associate with a tropical paradise. To add to the archipelago’s allure are its inhabitants, the Kuna Indians, who have withstood hundreds of years of fierce attempts of invasion yet live peacefully today on nearly 40 of their 365 islands. San Blas, otherwise known as the Comarca de Kuna Yala, sits quietly on Panama’s Caribbean coast and is represented by several Kuna-run hotels. A day trip to an uninhabited island is a must-do, where you will sit back and feel what it is like to have a panoramic waterfront to your self. After fishing for sea bass with locals or kayaking around stunning mangroves, return to your breezy hammock for a cool afternoon nap. Don’t expect any extreme sports or lively entertainment, because relaxation is the name of the game in Kuna Yala. Read a good book, catch up on your crosswords, or don’t do anything at all. You’re in paradise.

Darien Tours

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:27:45 +0000

The Tropic Star Lodge- The Tropic Star Lodge offers numerous fishing packages and over 40 world records have been broken from their premises: black marlin and Pacific sailfish are among the big catches. While reservations at Tropic Star can be difficult, catching a big one once you’re on a trip with them couldn’t be easier. Phone: 1.800.682.3424 Email: bonnie@tropicstar.com Website: www.tropicstar.com

Ancon Expetitions- The Darien is so well known for its birding, that no trip there would be complete without a formal tour and guide of the various species, led by world-renowned Ancon Expeditions. Keep your eye out for eagles, various types of hummingbirds, macaws, and other rare birds above while you trek through dense rainforest. Phone: 269.9415 Email: info@anconexpeditions.com Website: www.anconexpeditions.com

Ecocircuitos- Hike the famous Harpy Eagle Trail and an Old Growth Forest then float through a mangrove forest, all the while learning the ecosystems around you. Ecocircuitos Panama will take you on the overnight adventure of a lifetime, a trip designed for the ultimate explorer. Phone: 314.1586 Email: annie@ecocircuitos.com Website: www.ecocircuitos.com

Panama Exotics Adventures- Recently documented by National Geographic, experience the total immersion within a Wounaan Indian village. Venture with professional guides into the lost and pristine tropical rainforests of the Darien, as you live in traditional indian huts, eat traditional indian food, and enjoy traditional indian customs. Take a walk in the jungle, try your hand at fishing, or meander down the river through mangrove forests and bubbling brush. Panama Exotics Adventures will be with you every step of the way, for perhaps one of the most unique tours in the world! Email: info@panamaexoticsadventures.com Website: www.panamaexoticsadventures.com

Darien Hotspots

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:24:57 +0000

Quezal- Spot a mythical golden-head quetzal: Within your jungle walks, keep your eye out for the legendary bird of Mayan, Toltec, and Aztec kings. The quetzal bird is so beautiful and rare that European settlers once believed it to be a figment of the natives’ imagination. Now, bird watchers from around the world flock to the region in hope of realizing this lore.

Playa de Muerto- Spend an evening in Playa de Muerto—the coastal region and home of a traditional Embera village. The area, whose name literally translates to Beach of the Dead, will enliven your trip by introducing you to local Indians and their traditions as well as some of the most virgin rainforest out there.

Yaviza- While you can’t forget your national visa or passport, you will forget the concrete jungle that is modern civilization as we know it. Stop over in Yaviza, the final point on the Pan-American Highway, where you’ll find the ancient ruins of an old Spanish fort which at one point protected an entrance to vast colonial gold mines.

Wildlife- Well, you won’t be getting attacked by any animals on this trip, but the Darien is about the closest place to see nature at its purest. Seek out the elusive jaguars and pumas and monkeys that call this jungle home. Taking photos home with you is OK. Taking animals is not.

Darien Province

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:21:21 +0000

As relatively untouched and wild as much of Panama is, the Darien is on a completely different level. While it is Panama’s largest province, it is also the country’s least inhabited. The northern side of the Darien has been subject to environmental damage, but the southern half—home to the National Park—is completely pure and untapped. Bird watching in the southern Darien is regarded as some of the best in the world and the biological diversity rivals any dense forest elsewhere. This southern Darien, with its thick jungle, high peaks, low valleys, and immaculate beaches, is the spot for adventurous travelers. Jaguars, giant anteaters, harpy eagles, and other rare species wander through the jungle with the utmost pride, as they represent one of the most untamed spots in the Americas. Alongside its biodiversity, the province is inhabited by Indians of the Wounaan and Embera tribes who subsist on hunting, fishing, and raising foul. These Indians also construct famous canoes known as “piraguas”, which serve as the Darien’s only main mode of transportation.

Pearl Islands Restaurants

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:19:22 +0000

Restaurante Sagitario- Restaurante Sagitario offers good home cooked Panamanian food at a low price. This place is a sure bet with meals around $2-3 and you’ll feel like you’ve really made it home.

Hotel Punta Galeon Resort- Hotel Punta Galeon Resort has a nice restaurant that has a magnificent view of the ocean and you don’t have to have a reservation to savor the grilled the corvina. They also offer descent sandwiches and a good robust breakfast. Situated on bluff overlooking Galeon Beach.

Supermercado Contadora- If you are planning a picnic, be sure to stop by the Supermercado Contadora. This tiny market sells basic eats that you’ll need if you plan to stay out at the beach all day. Grab some sandwiches, sodas, snacks, and your favorite beverage and chill-ax!

Pearl Islands Hotspots

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:26:51 +0000

Beaches- Isla Contadora holds some of the best beaches in the world. Head over to Playa Larga to spot some marine life or if you enjoy sunbathing in the buff than Playa Galeon is the place for you. By far the best beach for snorkeling is Playa de las Suecas. All of these beaches can be reached in 20 minutes with an ATV.

Isla Contadora- With five coral reefs off the coast of Isla Contadora, the snorkeling is amazing and the amount of marine life remarkable. Expect to see schools of angelfish, puffer fish, and parrot fish and maybe a couple white tipped reef sharks. But don’t worry white tips are not aggressive to people.

Survivor- The Pearl Islands have played home to several seasons of the adventure reality show Survivor and here, is where you can write home to your friends, and claim you are on a deserted island—because you almost are! You can drink out of coconuts and make houses out of logs. Just don’t invite that annoying host Jeff Probst.

The Pearl Islands

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:24:17 +0000

Once home to the former shah of Iran, the islands that make up the Archipelago de Las Perlas are now host to some of the wealthy and with good reason. It’s paradise here! In fact, you probably have a screensaver of one of the 90 or so named islands that have tan-sand beaches, sea turtles, multi-colored fish, turquoise waters, and coconut palms leaning towards the sea. The islands first gained notoriety in the early 16th century due the wealth of oyster beds that abound in its waters. Located southeast of Panama City, Isla Contadora is the most popular of the islands with daily flights from the capital. While various seasons of Survivor have been filmed here, you’ll be far from roughing it: these islands are amazing!

Hererra Tours

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:48:19 +0000

Seco- Get tipsy when you visit the Seco Herrerano distillery. Here you can see how they make Panama’s national drink seco. Come during the sugar cane harvest season from mid-January to mid-March so you can see tons of sugarcane being smashed in giant presses. From there, the juice is fed into huge containers where it ferments. Fax over your request for a tour to Carlos Cedeno (who only speaks Spanish). Phone: 974-9621. Fax: 974-9593.