PANAMA CITY, Panama — Known for its famed waterway, Panama’s capital boasts more than just a spot to watch the ships cross through the engineering marvel.
Visitors can chose between a swim in the Pacific or the Caribbean, hear tales of pirates looting the city’s original site, find bargain shopping, sample tropical fruits and try their luck at the horse races in Panama City.
OUTDOORS: Head to the Amador Causeway and snap photos of Panama’s downtown or the Bridge of the Americas, where traffic crosses over while ships cruise through the canal. Once part of the off-limits Canal Zone guarded by the U.S. military, the Causeway has become a favorite of locals and tourists. The thin strip surrounded by the ocean houses duty free shops, restaurants, hotels and dance clubs. Construction signs and sites make it evident that there’s more on the way. Kiosks sell hammocks, guayaberas, hats and molas, brightly- colored fabrics with elaborate, hand-sewn designs of the Kuna Indian tribe.
By day, 20-somethings and families catch the cool of the ocean breeze while biking, in-line skating, or jogging along the Causeway. It’s a strenuous and humid walk, so renting multi-seat bikes at the stretch’s entrance works best.
For a day of diving, snorkeling and other water sports, head for Taboga Island, on the Pacific coast. Ferries bound for Isla Taboga leave from a Balboa pier and the Causeway each morning and return in the late afternoon.
MUSEUMS: Check out any of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s stations. Visit one of the island sites, such as the Barro Colorado Field Research Station, for a boat ride across the canal’s Gatun Lake and a chance to see a half-dozen native monkey species in their natural setting.
At the Marine Exhibition Center in Punta Culebra, view sloths, pelicans and other tropical forest-dwellers along with an unfettered view of the ships crossing and the rhythmic pounding of waves crashing on jagged rocks. Both kids and adults will be mesmerized watching the crab-eating shark and hearing the boas slithering in the dry forest walk within the park.
CUISINE: For breakfast, sip a frothy cafe con leche, made with locally-grown coffee beans, or cinnamon tea. Beer connoisseurs should look for local brews Soberana, Balboa and Atlas, which have a light taste that’s thirst-quenching in the sticky climate.
Pencas offers a view of the ocean and authentic Panamanian cuisine, which is inexpensive even at many upscale eateries. On the restaurant’s menu are mini-tamales wrapped in plantain leaves, pesada de nance (a cereal-textured fruit dessert with bits of white cheese), dorado en salsa de coco (fish in coconut sauce) and ojaldas (a fried bread).
On Wednesday nights, Pencas features a troupe of foot-shuffling folk dancers and a live band complete with accordion. As the show wraps up, dancers and some of the servers extend their hands for a dance with audience members. When I told our waiter that I didn’t know the steps, he turned to my mom and asked “Does the lady dance?”
HISTORY: History buffs should explore the remnants of Panama’s colonial past to learn about its history in the quest for riches in the Americas. Just a taxicab away from most points in the capital city is Panama la Vieja. In 1671, Panama la Vieja was sacked by pirates, led by Sir Henry Morgan. Red-brick streets, a cathedral spire and crumbling walls, arches and buildings of the Spanish settlement era remain.
Guided tours telling of the colony’s former grandeur and demise are available.
Some miles away is the Casco Viejo, an old colonial neighborhood with narrow streets and pastel-colored buildings in the midst of renovation. Its architecture resembles New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Just like locals have for centuries, watch the sunset from the Paseo de las Bovedas, a sea walk along an old Spanish military fort that served as a prison. Other sites include the Catedral Metropolitana, El Teatro Nacional and the unguarded Church of the Golden Altar.
GAMBLING: Place a bet on the horse races at the Hipodromo Presidente Jose A. Remon on a Thursday afternoon and mingle with locals and visitors. The horseracing park also opens weekends and holidays.
NIGHTLIFE: Hit the Causeway or the city’s financial district for some dancing, dining and drinking.
ELSEWHERE: Panama City also connects travelers by plane, bus or boat to other provinces. You can spot large green plantain leaves and dozens of noni plants heading out of the capital city.
– The province of Colon is where gold and silver from the Americas passed before being transported to Europe. Explore the cannons and the lush green Spanish fortress in Portobelo.
– Bocas del Toro offers scuba diving and national parks for trekking.
– Baru volcano is Panama’s highest point at 11,408 feet. Close by is the alpine town of Boquete, in the province of Chiriqui.
Copyright C 2005 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
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+507-836-6542 / 43 (Panama) | 1-(305)-503-9957 (USA)
Carnaval is a movable party celebrated between the months of February and March. In Panama this is a party taken very seriously, people prepare for months, sometimes even making reservations for places to stay as soon as the party is over, so six months before it is almost impossible to get a hotel room or even rent a car.
With the exception of Brazil, nowhere takes its Carnaval season–the week before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent–more seriously than Panama.
The celebrations in the city of Panama are commonly designated areas for artistic presentations and people drinking and eating on the streets, also some street discos play their music and entertain the crowds. Via España is the main area for gathering and the local media brings international tropical music all for free. The “mojadera” (throwing water at the eager crowd of women in bikinis, families with their kids, couples and groups of friends) is held at specified places around Via España and ease the sun’s token on the crowds.
Las Tablas (a picturesque town in Los Santos) is the most traditional place to celebrate Carnavales, if you don’t mind the water shortage in some hotels and houses, and huge amounts of wet people. The popular contest between the two “queens” one for up street and one for down street, are a must see with huge fireworks displays and luxurious costumes on flashing cars, followed by their “tunas” or followers chanting the “dirty” stories of the opposing queen. Each team invests around half a million dollars for the decoration and dresses of their queen.
There’s another option in Penonomé (province of Coclé) where you can party in a healthy environment, if you’re a tourist and don’t have locals to guide you, stick to the areas surrounding the park. In the river “Las Mendozas” you can see the floating boats parade, where the princesses for each day show their costumes and followers show their support.
I personally love this party in a town called “Ocu” but it’s more difficult to get a place to stay if you don’t know the locals, it is very folkloric mixed with all the options of a modern day party.
Photo: Courtesy of IPAT
There’s celebrations all over the country, in cities such as Santiago (Veraguas), Dolega (Chiriquí), Las Lajas beach (Chiriquí), Chitré (Herrera), Pedasí (in the province of Los Santos) but all of these are celebrated with smaller crowds.
If you are into partying non-stop, drinking 24/7 and eating typical food, this is the party for you!
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