The private city and canal day tour is a must when you visit Panama City for the first time. You can do either the half day tour (in which case you do not visit a couple of museums) or the full day tour which gives you the full view of Panama City. Your tour begins at the ruins of the original settlement of Panama City that was founded during the 16^th century.  Though burned to the ground by the Welsh Pirate Henry Morgan (that name ring a bell to all you Cpt Morgan rum drinkers out there?) in the 17^th century, structures from the original settlement remain.  You then move on to the downtown area and international banking district.  Panama is considered the “Switzerland” of the Americas because of our many banks and strategic point of international business. 

The next stop is to the cultural center of Panama City knows as Casco Viejo (Old Town).  Casco Viejo has an enchanted mixture of colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and wide variety of colonial and ethnic influences.  Casco Viejo is rich in history and its museums and churches are sure to fascinate any visitor.  The next visit is to the Causeway, the Amador strip surrounded by ocean which is the Pacific entrance to the Canal.  This beautiful location has many shops, restaurants and bars which offer a magnificent view of the downtown area and skyscrapers. People enjoy exercising in this wide open area as well.  

At the end of the day you have the opportunity to visit the Miraflores locks, where the expert will let you know all about the Canal, how it works, its secrets, and its history.  You will also be able to experience the breathtaking view of the ships transiting through the “8^th wonder of the world.”

Participating in this tour is the best way to learn about Panama before beginning your unforgettable vacation throughout the rest of Panama.

Written By Lucette Robayna

For years Miami has been the shopping paradise for Latinos across the globe and Panamanians have been no different. However, over time, Panama City has begun to rival Miami as a popular vacation and luxury shopping spot for Latin Americans. One aspect of this commercial bonanza has been the development of new, modern shopping malls in the city which have upgraded local commerce.

In the 1970’s and 1980’s local entrepreneurs established the first shopping malls in Panama.  By the mid 1990’s two larger commercial plazas were established, Los Pueblos and Plaza Carolina. The new millennium painted a promising scenario: Panama had a new government, total control over the Canal, an influx of foreign capital and businessmen which helped foster an environment of economic stability and growth.

The first retail group to seize this new opportunity was the creator of the Los Pueblos project.  This group set out to build a more ambitious project in Albrook Mall, located adjacent to the Gran Terminal bus station. This would be the first indoor mall in Panama, with central air conditioning a food court, movie theaters and plenty of popular retail stores.

The Colombian mall tycoon, Pedro Gomez, shortly thereafter began his now popular MultiCentro project, located right on Balboa Avenue in the prestigious Marbella neighborhood. With four levels, a casino, a five star hotel and exclusive products, Multicentro marked Panama’s entry into the world of “modern shopping centers.”  More recently Grupo Roble, a development company responsible for some of Central America’s largest malls, opened the Multiplaza Pacific mall.  Multiplaza set itself apart by attracting more internationally renowned stores and brand names that had previously been known to Latinos only in Miami. 

So today before going to the Sunshine State to fulfill your designer shopping needs, check out one of Panama’s great retail locations.  You are sure to find everything that you are looking for at more reasonable prices, and best of all, at a location less than 20 minutes away from your hotel, cruise ship or your Panama City home.  Enjoy!

Written by Daigitza Forde

As I write this article it is the 23^rd of July, 2008 which means we are right in the middle of the low season here in Panama. What is the low season you ask? In one simple word, “rain.”  They don’t call it tropical rain forest for nothing.  This tropical country needs plenty of rain (not the least of which is to power the Panama Canal) and we are getting plenty of it. However, it is still an interesting time for consumers and tourists alike to come down for a visit.  One of the biggest advantages are the prices.  Hotel and tour prices are a fraction of what they will be during the Christmas and New Years holidays and the 5 months to follow.  An interesting side note is that even during the rainy season, the mornings are almost always beautiful.

The low season takes place from the end of May to about the middle of November.  Some hotels (though fewer each year as Panama continues to grow as a tourist destination) even shut down for several weeks to clean, repair and prep for the high season. Also, many vacation destinations and tour providers take advantage of this “down time” to promote their services to Panamanian residents themselves, often offering great deals and incentives to get out and explore a bit. This is a great advantage that Panamanians have to get to know their country and, ironically, it also coincides with dates of mid-year and national holidays.

Though the best months to visit Panama are November-May, it’s never a bad time to stop by at the “Crossroad of the World.”

Written By : Letsi Fonseca

Often times we have visitors come to Panama with the idea of visiting the Canal and learning a little bit more about this great engineering marvel that we take for granted.  A great way to view the Canal is by visiting the locks. The Panama Canal has three sets of lock and going in order from the Pacific to the Caribbean side they are the Miraflores Locks, the Pedro Miguel Locks and finally the Gatun Locks.  Though not as much a tourist spot, my favorite set are the Gatun locks as you can get closer to the boats there than any other location on the Canal. 

Visitors also enjoy taking a partial or full Canal transit that allows you to experience passing through the locks systems.  When taking part in a Canal transit tour, you begin your journey very early, being picked up at about 7:00 AM and taken to Flamenco Marina at the end of the Amador Causeway. From there, you either take the bus up to the Gamboa National Park and jump on a boat for the partial canal tour back down to Flamenco Marina or you load onto the boat directly in Flamenco and transit the entire Canal to the Caribbean port of Colon.

Another great way to see the Panama Canal is to travel along the old Panama Canal Railway.  It’s a neat ride about an hour long that combines beautiful views with a bit of a history lesson.  One interesting note that tourists often overlook is that you can pass through the Panama Canal without traveling through any set of locks. Gatun Lake is the widest part of the Canal and is a great place to see the Canal landscape, wildlife and to pass a few super-tankers.  

Whatever way you choose to see the Panama Canal, you’re sure to enjoy it.

Written by Myrna Diaz

Thirty minutes from Panama City is the perfect luxury beach escape, The Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa.  This magnificent beach resort offers a magical blend of ambience, first class facilities and amazing customer service. Every room at the hotel has an ocean view and combines elegance with comfort and a touch of Panamanian decor.  Every guest enjoys beautiful rooms from their hotel balcony where they can relax and enjoy the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. 

This luxury resort is nestled on a private beach surrounded by lush tropical flora and fauna.  The resort boasts infinity pools, waterfalls, exotic gardens and three restaurants.  Guests at the Playa Bonita can enjoy a fine glass of wine at the Piano Bar or spend the day at the spa by arranging an outdoor massage, soothing therapies, facials, and body wraps.  For the more active guest, there are beach activities and water sports to enjoy as well.  Day tours to Panama City, national parks, the Anton Valley and other locations can also be arranged through the resort’s tour desk.

For the traveler who seeks a luxury, beach resort experience close to Panama City, the Intercontinental Playa Bonita is certainly the perfect place.

Written by Lucy R

Written by Letsi F

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One of my favorite places to visit here in Panama City is the Amador Causeway.  Why you ask? Well, for one, it’s a place where you are not only going to enjoy a beautiful and unique view of Panama City, the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal, but it is a great place to enjoy some down time with your family and friends.

At the Amador Causeway there are many activities that you can enjoy. One of the more popular activities is renting a bike.  If you are one of those people that enjoy exercise and being outdoors then renting a bike is a great way to enjoy the Causeway.  The Causeway is also the home of the Marine Exhibition Center of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. There, you can see, touch and learn about the exotic species from both the Caribbean and Pacific waters of Panama.  Just down the road from the Smithsonian Institute is the Panama Yacht Club which has become increasingly popular with yacht owners and fisherman alike. 

One of Panama’s greatest features is the diversity of great restaurants that we enjoy, and the Causeway is no different.  Though you can find a combination of fast food, casual dining and typical Panamanian dishes, I highly recommend the restaurants that specialize in sea food. 

I highly recommend that each visitor to Panama City make a stop by the Amador Causeway.

Written by Myrna Diaz

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      “The Perfect Escape” exists within Panama for all beach lovers.  This beautiful, tropical country is quite lucky to have coastline of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  You can find the first beach 75 kilometers outside of Panama City. This tropical escape has beaches for all different tastes and preferences.  From popular spots to deserted beaches and islands, there are so many beaches in Panama that can give you the feeling of euphoria in paradise. 

      For kite surfers, Punta Chame is the ideal place and is located 40 minutes West of Panama City.  Because we have amazing waves, surfers also find Panama a very attractive destination. Surfing rookies, pros or anyone that feels passion for this sport, have many good areas from which to choose–Palmar, Punta Barco, Rio Mar, and Playa Venao are the places to go on the Pacific side and Isla Grande & Bocas del Toro are preferable on the Atlantic side. 

      Golf is another sport that is becoming increasingly popular in the beach areas.  We are credited with three 18-hole golf courses in the Pacific beaches stretching from Coronado to Farallon, which also offer hotels, resorts, restaurants, and supermarkets.  For those who are looking for a bit of nightlife, Coronado and Farallon are the right places to visit due to the plethora of beach bars and casinos in the area.

    On the Atlantic/ Caribbean side, Bocas del Toro and San Blas are the perfect spots for the snorkelers and divers.  San Blas and Bocas are known for their beautiful white sand, crystal clear water, and a magnificent aquatic life.    The ideal sailing journey is around the San Blas islands. Nature lovers find this place the perfect place with its beautiful, unspoiled islands and cultural heritage of the Kuna Indians.  You can relax on a hammock on the island or relax at the beach surrounded by beautiful coconut trees. Bocas del Toro on the other hand has its own unique beach town style—a much more laid back ambiance with great seafood restaurants and bars. 

      As you can see, Panama has a beach destination for everyone!

By Lucy R

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A funny thing happens when you move down to a foreign country to live and work full time—EVERYONE you know wants to come down for a visit.  Don’t get me wrong, when you’re living away from home and your longtime friends and family, you always wants folks to come and visit; but during that first year or so when it’s still new and exciting, it can be a bit tough when they all want to come within the same 2 month period.  So, I’ve devised a solid plan of just a few key sites to show each visitor while they’re here in Panama City—it won’t keep you out of work for a week and it gives visitors a great feel for the city.

1.      The Panama Canal—c’mon, does this even need an explanation?  The Panama Canal is pretty much the one thing that mainstream America knows about the country of Panama.  Aside from the fact that it is loaded with U.S. history and represents one of the most historic engineering feats of all time, it’s a lot of fun to visit.  Best place to go—the Miraflores Locks Museum.  I’ve even gotten to know the waiters at the restaurant there.

2.      Amador Causeway—amazing views of the city and a great place for a long walk on a nice day.  The Causeway was built with the dirt removed from the Canal excavation and is about 5 miles of great sidewalks and views of the city.  I recommend a cold beer and an appetizer at Bennigan’s at the end of your walk.  You might even see a famous face getting off their yacht there at the yacht club….

3.      Casco Viejo—an absolute must see.  Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the traditional
“Old Town” of Panama is undergoing a nice revitalization that is reconstructing many of the old buildings in this part of town.  You would never know you were in Latin America, let alone Panama if someone dropped you off in the middle of Casco Viejo.  Great views of the city and some of the prettiest plazas in Latin America with some great street-side cafes—Plaza de Independencia, Plaza de Francia and Plaza Bolivar.

By Rob H

The Gamboa Rainforest Resort was built in the year 2000, with 198 bedrooms.  It has gorgeous rooms with comfortable beds and each room has a balcony with hammock. It’s a nice place to rest and relax with an enchanting Chagres River and Soberania National Park view.  Among the amenities at Gamboa include 3 restaurants restaurants, spa, library, gym, discotheque, marina, tennis court and a very cool swimming pool. 

I drove about 20 miles from Panama City (about 30 minutes by car) to get to Gamboa. My first impression when I arrived was that Gamboa was a huge “mansion” in the middle of the rainforest. The sheer size of this hotel is amazing in itself.  The staff is quite nice and everyone seems that they are happy working there, everything was impressively beautiful, the rooms are comfortable, the food was delicious, the tours…. I made the most interesting and educational ecological tour that I had ever done before. I came into contact with real White-Face Capuchin monkeys who were eating right there in front of me.  I was also around beautiful butterflies, flying around me, everywhere; I saw snakes, wow, this was scary…. Everything around the hotel was like a real, live rainforest.

Guess what… I am not a nature lover but this was very adventurous and a great experience.  I would definitely like to visit Gamboa again one day.

By Letsibeth Fonseca