Panama Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Panama Travel & Tourism, Free Panama Travel Guide Online

Panama Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Panama Travel & Tourism, Free Panama Travel Guide Online

The small nation of Panama has long been a holiday destination and is becoming increasingly popular as interest in eco-tourism and ethno-tourism grow. Within its borders, the cultures of ancient civilizations are preserved and respected. Panama also provides visitors with an abundance of protected areas: 15 national parks, a dozen forest reserves, and 10 wild life sanctuaries. Parque Nacional Darien at the extreme eastern end of the Isthmus of Panama, contains rain forest so thick that parts of it have never been explored. The preserve is home to hundreds of endangered animals.

Panama has the best of all worlds within its boundaries. It is crossed by mountain ranges, covered with large areas of rain forest, and bounded by two long coastlines studded with islands and bays. At several points there is a distance of less than one hundred miles between its Atlantic coastline and its Pacific shores. Most of its residents are located in the central region surrounding the Panama Canal. This major waterway has played a decisive role in the history of the country. Panama City, the capital and largest city, is on the Pacific coast.

The highlight of any trip to Panama is, of course, the Panama Canal. Tours are offered to the Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side of the Canal, and to the Miraflores Locks on the Pacific side. At the state-of-the-art museum at Miraflores, visitors can view three floors of Canal history. There is an observation platform from which to view and photograph ships passing through the locks as they transit the canal. The best time to visit is before 10:00 in the morning for a view of the complete process of moving a large ship through the lock.

It takes 8-10 hours for the average ship to transit the Panama Canal. By train, visitors can cross the isthmus in less than an hour. The train provides travel in style and comfort, in creatively refurbished coaches from the best of the classic 1950s U.S. streamline trains. Some have been fitted with ten-foot-long open observation decks, and one has a full-length dome with roof-level seating.

The capital of Panama is a modern, thriving commercial center stretching six miles along the Pacific coast from the ruins of Panamá Viejo in the east to the edge of the Panama Canal in the west. The old district of San Felipe (also known as Casco Antiguo or Casco Viejo) juts into the sea on the southwestern side of town. Attractions include the 17th-century Metropolitan Church, the Interoceanic Canal Museum of Panama, the Plaza de Bolívar, the presidential palace, the History Museum of Panama and the sea wall built by the Spaniards four centuries ago.

Via España's banking and convention center district moves in counterpoint to this graceful elegance of centuries past. This modern sector sizzles with the bold designs of modern buildings and venues for sophisticated entertainment. Panama City, as a major business center, boasts magnificent luxury hotels designed with the business person and upscale tourist in mind as well as attractive middle range and budget hotels.

Panama City is known for its lively night life. It all takes place in three sectors of the city:

The business district, Casco Viejo, the historic Spanish Colonial sector of the city and spectacular Amador Causeway connecting a string of Panama Bay islands with ocean and city views both day and night. The city offers a wide variety of nightlife spots-bars, discos, pubs and casinos. Restoration and refurbishment within the city has made Casco Viejo one of the city's most fashionable destinations for a night out. Elegant bars, restaurants, and sidewalk cafés are opening. The charm of the old continues to be revitalized.

Attractions outside the city include the Panama Canal, the 16th-century ruins of Panamá Viejo, the Summit Botanical Gardens and Zoo, the tropical rain forest of the Parque Nacional Sobreranía and the 655 acre Parque Nacional Metropolitana.

There are hundreds of islands off both coasts of Panama, and snorkeling, diving, fishing, surfing, and swimming are all popular pursuits. Panama is a natural land bridge that connects North and Central America with South America. Both the northwestern and eastern halves of Panama as well as the canal zone are dominated by rain forests teeming with animal and plant species from both continents. More bird species live in Panama than in all of North America.

Experience this fascinating connection between two vast oceans for yourself. Visit the Republic of Panama, and prepare to encounter a vacation that will never be forgotten.

Panama Attractions: Panama Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Panama Travel & Tourism, Free Panama Travel Guide Online

Panama Canal

Information

The Panama Canal is approximately 80 kilometers long between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This waterway was cut through one of narrowest saddles of the isthmus that joins North and South America.

The Canal uses a system of locks -compartments with entrance and exit gates. The locks function as water lifts: they raise ships from sea level (the Pacific or the Atlantic) to the level of Gatun Lake (26 meters above sea level); ships then sail the channel through the Continental Divide.

Each set of locks bears the name of the townsite where it was built: Gatun (on the Atlantic side), and Pedro Miguel and Miraflores (on the Pacific side).

The lock chambers or steps are 33.53 meters wide by 304.8 meters long. The maximum dimensions of ships that can transit the Canal are: 32.3 meters in beam; draft -their depth reach- 12 meters in Tropical Fresh Water; and 294.1 meters long (depending on the type of ship).

The water used to raise and lower vessels in each set of locks comes from Gatun Lake by gravity; it comes into the locks through a system of main culverts that extend under the lock chambers from the sidewalls and the center wall.

The narrowest portion of the Canal is Culebra Cut, which extends from the north end of Pedro Miguel Locks to the south edge of Gatun Lake at Gamboa. This segment, approximately 13.7 kilometers long, is carved through the rock and shale of the Continental Divide. At this point of the canal, where the engineers cut their way through shale and bedrock to cross the Continental Divide. Its name (‘Culebra' Cut), is from the Spanish word for ‘snake'; the canal curved like one until it was widened.

Ships from all parts of the world transit daily through the Panama Canal. Some 13 to 14 thousand vessels use the Canal every year. In fact, commercial transportation activities through the Canal represent approximately 5% of the world trade.

The Canal has a work force of approximately 9 thousand employees and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing transit service to vessels of all nations without discrimination.

Electric-powered ‘mules' cabled to the ships provide precise directional control, with clearances as low as six inches between the ships and the walls of the locks.

A typical passage through the canal by a cargo ship takes around nine hours. 14,011 vessels passed through the canal in 2005, with a total capacity of 278.8 million tons, making an average of almost 40 vessels per day

Layout

The canal consists of two artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels, and three sets of locks. An additional artificial lake, Alajuela Lake, acts as a reservoir for the canal. The layout of the canal as seen by a ship transiting from the Pacific end to the Atlantic is as follows:

From the beginning of the buoyed entrance channel in the Gulf of Panama, ships travel 13.2 kilometres (8.2 mi) up the channel to the Miraflores locks, passing under the Bridge of the Americas

The two-stage Miraflores lock system, including the approach wall, is 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) long, with a total lift of 16.5 metres (54 ft) at mid-tide

The artificial Miraflores Lake is the next stage, 1.7 kilometres (1.0 mi) long, and 16.5 metres (54 ft) above sea level

The single-stage Pedro Miguel lock, which is 1.4 kilometres (0.8 mi) long, is the last part of the ascent with a lift of 9.5 metres (31 ft) up to the main level of the canal

The Gaillard (Culebra) Cut slices 12.6 kilometres (7.8 mi) through the continental divide at an altitude of 26 metres (85 ft), and passes under the Centennial Bridge

The Chagres River (Río Chagres), a natural waterway enhanced by the damming of Lake Gatún, runs west about 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi), merging into Lake Gatun

Lake Gatún, an artificial lake formed by the building of the Gatun Dam, carries vessels 24.2 kilometres (15.0 mi) across the isthmus

The Gatún locks, a three-stage flight of locks 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) long, drop ships back down to sea level

A 3.2 kilometre (2.0 mi) channel forms the approach to the locks from the Atlantic side

Limón Bay (Bahía Limón), a huge natural harbour, provides an anchorage for some ships awaiting transit, and runs 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) to the outer breakwater

A cargo ship transiting the Gatún locks northbound is guided carefully between lock chambers by "mules" on the lock walls to either side. The total transit from the Pacific entrance channel to the Atlantic breakwater is 76.9 kilometres (47.8 mi). The maximum tidal range on the Pacific side is from +3.35 metres (+11.0 ft) to -3.20 metres (-10.5 ft); hence the lift at Miraflores varies between 13.1 metres (43 ft) at extreme high tide and 19.7 metres (64.5 ft) at extreme low tide. The tidal range on the Atlantic side does not exceed 60 centimetres (24 in).[5] Mean sea level at the Pacific end of the canal is on average about 20 centimetres (8 in) higher than at the Atlantic end.[6]

Limón Bay, on the Atlantic side, is a sheltered anchorage protected by a seawall; however, the space inside the bay is no longer adequate for the number and size of ships using the canal, and many ships wait at anchor in the open sea outside the bay. The anchorage on the Pacific side is open although it is protected by the enclosed topography of the Gulf of Panama.

Panama Canal Sites

Operating since 1914 and considered one of the wonders of the world, this fifty-mile waterway transports ships by raising them from sea level to more than 85 feet via a series of gravity-powered locks.

Miraflores

Locks Visitor Center

30 minutes from Panama City

exhibition halls are open 9am to 5pm. The ticket office closes at 4pm.

Admission Charged.

Modern elevators and stairs are both available

"The Panama Canal is a unique experience which can't be reproduced anywhere else in the world. See 5,000,000-ton vessels rise and drop more than 50 feet as they make their way over Panama from one ocean to another, and learn about the history and future of this marvel of modern engineering." There is an educational museum and a theater inside. There is a restaurant that opens at noon. The best time to view large ships transiting the canal at this point is by 10:00AM. The large vessels move through by appointment and use the morning time slots. There are viewing platforms and a bi-lingual narrator is sometimes available to give details involved in getting ships through the canal. The exhibition halls and short film presentation are excellent.

EXHIBITION HALL 1: Canal History. It portrays the background, technological innovations, and sanitary initiatives that went hand in hand with the construction of the Canal. This exhibition hall honors the hundreds of men and women who made this achievement possible.

EXHIBITION HALL 2: Water: Source of Life. It emphasizes the importance of water, conservation of the environment, protection of the Canal Watershed, and the diversity of fauna and flora. It underscores the ACP's commitment to the sustainable management of this resource and the interoceanic region.

EXHIBITION HALL 3: The Canal in Action. This exhibition hall depicts in an entertaining manner how the Canal operates and allows visitors the experience of being inside a navigation simulator and one of the lock culverts.

EXHIBITION HALL 4: The Canal of the World. This hall provides information on the importance of the Canal to world trade, describes the trade routes it serves and the main commodities, identifies its main users, and allows visitors to get acquainted with the different types of vessels that transit the waterway. In addition, it presents some of the criteria studied to guarantee the future competitiveness of the Canal and benefits to the Republic of Panama.

Gatun

Lake

After Lake Mead, this is the world's largest man-made lake. Gatun Lake forms the central part of the Panama Canal.

Gatun

Locks Visitor Center

48 miles from Panama City

Gatun Locks, at the Caribbean end of the canal, are the canal's largest and busiest. There is a wider time frame for observing ships as they move through the locks at Gatun than at Miraflores because there are two sets of locks that ships pass through at this Atlantic terminus, and only one set at Miraflores (resulting in "one way traffic" there).

Though you must climb several flights of stairs, the visitors' grandstand at Gatun is large and comfortable. On arrival at the locks, there will be the option of short audiovisual presentations on the history of the canal and the mechanics of its operation.

When our train from Panama City arrived at Colon, we found no taxi drivers willing to take us on a simple one-way trip to the locks; they'd much prefer we hire them for several hours or a full day. I'd met two other Americans on the train, and the three of us negotiated a set price of U.S. $40 for a trip to and from the locks with the driver waiting with us for two hours or so. (It's a 20-25 minute drive each way.)

Panama Canal

Railway

Opened in 1855, the 47-mile Panama Canal Railway was the world's first transcontinental railway. Once badly deteriorated, it has been rebuilt into a steel superhighway capable of hauling trainloads of double-stacked shipping containers at 60 mph. Rails are of the continuously welded type of the heaviest weight, the same as those currently used on North American railroads.

Panama

Interoceanic Canal Museum

Avenida Central between Calle 5 and Calle 6

tel. 211-1995 or 211-1649

9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Tues.–Sun., closed Mon.

Small Admission Charge.

Opened in 1997, this history museum chronicles the planning, construction and present-day operation of Panama's landmark canal.

Bridge of the Americas

Spanning the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, this 5,007-foot-long arch bridge connects both North and South America and serves as an important part of the Inter American Highway.

Centennial

Bridge

The Centennial Bridge is located 15km (9 miles) north of the Bridge of the Americas, and crosses the Gaillard Cut close to the Pedro Miguel locks. New freeway sections, connecting Araijan in the west to Cerro Patacon in the east via the bridge, significantly alleviate congestion on the Bridge of the Americas.

Attractions in

Panama City

and Surrounding Areas

El Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz

Plaza Cinco de Mayo, tel. 212-3079 or 212-3089

9 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Fri., closed Sat. and Sun.

Small Admission fee,

Panama's anthropology museum, sometimes known as MARTA, is housed in a massive building that was built in 1912 as the terminus of the Panama Railroad. Parts of it were reopened in 2000 after several years of renovation. The main exhibit, in the room next to the entrance, is dedicated to the Barriles culture, believed to be Panama's earliest major civilization.

Panama

La Vieja

The ruins of the original Panama City are on the eastern outskirts of the modern-day city, east along Vía Cincuentenario.

The site is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily.

Admission charged.

A booklet with a map and history of Panamá La Vieja is available at the museum entrance for a small fee.

There are signs in English and Spanish that explain the history of some of the ruins.

Cathedral at Old Panama

In the ruins of Old Panama, the Cathedral which is several stories in height, is the most picturesque of all the structures remaining.

The Old City (Casco Viejo

)

The "Old Part," also known as Casco Antiguo or the San Felipe district, is the most colorful part of Panama City. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1997. It is a city within the city, and a great place for a walking tour. You can wander down narrow brick streets, sip an espresso at an outdoor café, visit old churches, and see wrought-iron balconies spilling over with bright tropical plants. It has an unusual blend of architectural styles.

This charming old community's churches, pedestrian walkways and historical plazas and palaces make it a must-see on any tour.

Museo del Canal Interoceánico

Avenida Central between Calle 5 and Calle 6

tel. 211-1995 or 211-1649

9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Tues.–Sun., closed Mon.

Small Admission Charge.

The museum is on the left as you face the cathedral. Dedicated to the history of the Panama Canal, it is housed in what was once the headquarters of the French canal-building effort.

Museo de la Historia de Panamá

Avenida Central between Calle 7 and Calle 8

tel. 228-6231

8 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Fri.

Next to the Museo del Canal Interoceanico, this is a small museum containing artifacts from Panama's history as a republic. It is in the Palacio Municipal, a neoclassical building from 1910 that is now home to government offices.

Iglesia de San José

Avenida A between Calle 8 and Calle 9

7 a.m.–noon and 2–8 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 5 a.m.–noon and 5–8 p.m. Sun..

The church's famous Golden Altar (Altar de Oro) is made entirely of pure gold.

Legend has it that the altar was saved from the pirate Henry Morgan during the sacking of the original Panama City when a priest thought quickly and had it painted black, hiding its true value.

Summit

Gardens

Featuring a small zoo and paved trails, this tropical botanical garden features Panama's national bird, the Harpy Eagle.

Metropolitan

National Park

Located right outside of downtown Panama City, this park features hiking trails and a variety of plant species and wildlife.

Casinos

Hotel El

Panama

& Casino

Crown Casino:

Caesar Park Hotel

Fiesta Casino:

El Panama Hotel

Majestic Casinos:

Multicentro

Veneto Casino:

Veneto Hotel

Atlapa

Convention Center

Israel Avenue

Telephone: (507) 226-7000

This 8-acre complex, borders the Pacific Ocean and offers a maximum events capacity of 10,500 persons. It is easily accessible from Tocumen International Airport and only minutes away from major hotels and the International Banking Center.

Teatro Nacional, (National Theater)

Between Calle 3 and 4

The theater was built in 1908 on the site of an 18th-century monastery. It is housed in the same building as the Ministerio de Gobierno y Justicia (Ministry of Government and Justice), which has its entrance on Avenida Central. Inaugurated on October 1, 1908, the neobaroque theater is a concert venue and an example of Old World elegance. The ceiling is covered with faded but still colorful frescos painted by Roberto Lewis, a well-known Panamanian artist. Leaks in the roof destroyed about a quarter of these frescos, and the roof partially collapsed during the rainy season of 2000. It was repaired and finally reopened in mid-2004.

Palacio de las Garzas (Palace of the Herons)

Calle 5, overlooking Panama Bay.

The building houses the presidential office and residence. Visitors are not permitted. The palace and the neighboring streets are surrounded by guards, but they usually permit people to walk by.

Its name comes from the courtyard fountains surrounded by herons.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa Park

Paying tribute to Spanish adventurer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, this scenic park features a statue that depicts the explorer holding a Spanish flag in one hand and a sword in the other. Balboa is considered the father of Latin America's independence from Spain. In 1826 Bolívar called a congress in Panama to discuss forming a union of Latin American states. Bolívar himself did not attend and the congress did not succeed, but the park and the statue of Bolívar commemorate the effort.

Avenida Central

Six-block-long pedestrian mall that is lined with shops and restaurants.

Parque Natural Metropolitano

The entrance to the park is on Avenida Juan Pablo II in the Curundu district of Panama City. Trails are open 6 a.m.–6 p.m. every day. There is no fee, but donations are encouraged.

The park offers a tropical forest within the Panama City limits!. This 265-hectare park is just minutes from downtown and is the place for brief day hikes (up t 2 hours).

Most of the park is dry lowland Pacific forest, now rare in Central America because of deforestation, and is home to about 45 species of mammals, 36 species of reptiles, and 14 species of amphibians.

Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitan)

Built between 1688 and 1796, this is a magnificent example of the religious colonial architecture of Panama.

Attractions outside the City

Monkey

Island

Located in Lake Gatun, this island gets its name for the white-faced monkeys that inhabit it.

Limon

Bay

Located at the north end of the Panama Canal, this 4.5-mile-long and 2.5-mile-wide bay is protected by rough seas by breakwaters at its entrance.

Portobelo

The community of Portobelo, now a fishing village, was, in the 1500s, the principal seaport the Spaniards used to ship gold and silver home from Central and South America. The ruins of the large fort built to guard those treasure shipments are at the edge of the highway and open to all.

Near the fort, there's the Church of the Black Christ. which has an elegantly simple interior and a modest exterior.

Soberania

National Park

(507) 232-7223

Located 15 miles from downtown Panama City, this scenic park features two hiking paths called el Charco in Gamboa and Pipeline Road, both known for excellent birding and wildlife viewing.

Embera

Indian Village

Visitors to the authentic village of Parara Puru have the opportunity to learn about the culture and society of the Embera Indians. The tribe originally came from the lush jungles of the Darien, bordering Colombia. The chief leads the welcome with drums and flutes, then he explains their culture. There is an opportunity to examine their beautiful hand-made crafts and to purchase items. This is a stop included on many area tours.

Canopy

Tower

Ecology and Nature Observatory

011-507-264-5720

Hundreds of species can be seen right from the observation window, most of them clearly illustrated in Panamá's excellent bird guides. The Canopy Tower is also a great place for those with a general interest in exploring the tropical forest.

Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador)

Located at the southern entrance of the Panama Canal and stretching nearly three kilometers into the Pacific Ocean, this popular causeway features many tourist-related venues and activities including hotels, restaurants, and jogging and biking trails.

Isla Taboga

This charming and historical island, 20km (12mi) south of Panama City, has an attractive beach, some protected rain forest, and is home to one of the largest colonies of brown pelicans in Latin America. Known as the Island of Flowers, because at certain times of the year it is filled with the sweet-smelling blooms, the island is a favorite retreat from the city. Taboga has a long history and was settled even before Panama City. There is a small church here, claimed to be second oldest in the Western Hemisphere, and Pizarro set sail from here for Peru in 1524. The island's annual festival is July 16, and involves nautical processions and celebrations. Taboga is a one-hour boat trip from Balboa.

Boquete

Known for its cool, fresh climate and pristine natural environment, the small alpine town of Boquete is nestled into a craggy mountain valley 35km (22mi) north of David. It is a great place for walking, birdwatching, horseback riding, and enjoying relief from the heat of the lowlands. Flowers, coffee and citrus fruits are grown in the area and the town's Feria de las Flores y del Cafe is a popular annual festival held in January. Boquete is a good base for climbing 11,400ft. Volcán Barú, 9 miles west, or visiting the volcano's 35,320-acre national park.

Colon

The Free Zone, located in Colon, 45 minutes from Panama City by car, is the World's largest free zone and duty free shopping area

Colon, at the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal, is a major seaport. Colon resembles other Caribbean cities whose architecture was heavily influenced by Spanish occupation: many long, rectangular whitewashed buildings, usually two stories, with red tile roofs, often embellished with colorful wood trim. A drive down the city's two main boulevards reveals that the city is aging and in need of refurbishing.

Colon has a huge duty-free shopping and warehousing zone with many upscale, multi-story retail stores with name-brand merchandise at tax-free prices.

There is also a large, modern shopping center alongside the cruise-ship docks.

The road north and east of Colon, along Panama's Caribbean (Atlantic) Coast, is more ‘tropical' than on the Panama City side. Its settlements are also considerably older.

Isla Grande

This marvelous "off the beaten track" retreat is an under populated Caribbean-coast island so small that one reaches it only by open outboard motorboat…. and that's precisely its charm. There is said to be one automobile on the island, but it is hard to find. There is a gentle arc of docks and beaches lined with soft drink stands and small restaurants, some on the front porch of private homes.

On the beach in front of houses are the boats of working fishermen. Behind them, is dense jungle. The fish is fresh, the swimming is fine, and the atmosphere is pure relaxation with no need for a clock or watch. Everything is within a ten minute walk of the motorboat launch. There are two hotels a distance apart and a café offering dining, dancing, and a game of pool.

Panama Events: Panama Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Panama Travel & Tourism, Free Panama Travel Guide Online

Events

February or March

Carnaval

is celebrated over the four days preceding Ash Wednesday and involves music, dancing and a big parade on Shrove Tuesday. The celebrations in Panama City and Las Tablas are the most festive.

March or April

Semana Santa (Easter Week)

celebrations at Villa de Los Santos, on the Península de Azuero, are well known.

October 21

The Festival of the Black Christ

at Portobelo on October 21 includes a parade of the famous life-size statue of the Black Christ, and attracts pilgrims from all over the country.

Panama Facts: Panama Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Panama Travel & Tourism, Free Panama Travel Guide Online

Population:

900,000 (Panama City)

Capital

: Panama City

Time Zone: GMT/UTC minus 5 hours Daylight

saving time is not observed.

Average Temperatures

:

Month	High	Low
January	88F	71F
February	89F	71F
March	90F	72F
April	87F	74F
May	86F	74F
June	87F	74F
July	87F	74F
August	86F	74F
September	85F	74F
October	85F	73F
November	85F	73F
December	87F	73F

Local Seasons:

There are two seasons in Panama. The dry season (Panama's tourist season) lasts from January to mid-April and the rainy season from mid-April to December. Rainfall is heavier on the Caribbean side of the highlands, but most people live on or near the Pacific coast. Temperatures are typically hot in the lowlands (between 70F and 90F) and cool in the mountains (between 50F-64F.

The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season, when the humidity makes the heat more oppressive. Rain in Panama comes in sudden short downpours that freshen the air and are followed by sunshine. The dry season is the most comfortable time for hiking. The Darién Gap can be crossed only at that time.

Holidays:

New Year's Day

January 1

Dia de Tres Reyes Magos

January 6

Martyrs Day

January 9

Carnival

February

(Carnival takes place one week before the beginning of Lent and lasts 2 days)

Ash Wednesday

(Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in February or March)

Dia de los Maestros

March 11

Good Friday

March or April (Easter week)

Easter

March or April

Labor Day/May Day

May 1

Dia del Padre

June 16

Anniversary of the Founding of Panama City

August 15

Childrens' Day

November 1

All Souls Day

November 2

Anniversary of Separation from Colombia

November 3

Flag Day

November 4

Colon

Day (Colon only)

November 5

Anniversary of First Call for Independence

November 10

Anniversary of Independence from Spain

November 28

Mother's Day

December 8

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day

December 24,25

New Year's Eve

December 31

Currency:

Panama uses the US dollar as its currency. The official name for it is the balboa, but it is exactly the same bill. Panamanian coins are of the same value, size and metal as US coins; and are interchangeable with those from the US.

Electricity:

Variable - either 110V or 220V

Weights & measures

: Metric

Tourism and Internet Café

Avenida Central between Calle 8 Este and Calle 9 Este, tel. 228-9903, tel./fax 228-7006,

7 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun.

Management can arrange for local guides to give a three-hour walking tour of the neighborhood. The guides have lived in Casco Viejo all their lives. A map painted on the wall highlights important sights in the district. There's also an Internet café, a place to make international calls for a low per- minute rate to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, fax and copying services, and a separate video-game center for children. English and Spanish are spoken.

Getting There:

By Air

Tocumen

International Airport

Tocumen is a large facility and center of flights heading to and from the Caribbean, South America, North America and all of Central America. Also, one European city (Madrid) is served. Tocumen is the hub of Panama's international airline, Copa Airlines. A $21 million expansion of the facilities is currently underway to enlarge the passenger terminal.

Panama

has flights to all Central American countries and to both North and South America; Miami is the principal hub for flights to Panama. Copa is the national airline. There is a US$20 departure tax on international flights, payable only in cash.

By Cruise Ship

Cruise ships dock at Fuerte Amador Marina and passengers go ashore by tender. Here is a large, duty free shopping center at dockside.

By Land

There are three land border crossings between Panama and Costa Rica; Paso Canoas, on the Interamerican Highway, is the most popular, followed by Guabito-Sixaola near the Caribbean coast. There are buses to the border that connect with local services on the Costa Rican side.

The Centennial Bridge

of Panama is only the second major road crossing of the Panama Canal, the first being
the Bridge of the Americas. (Small service bridges are built in to the lock structures at Miraflores and Gatún Locks, but these bridges are only usable when the lock gates are closed, and have limited capacity.)

The Centennial Bridge is located 15km (9 miles) north of the Bridge of the Americas, and crosses the Gaillard Cut close to the Pedro Miguel locks. New freeway sections, connecting Araijan in the west to Cerro Patacon in the east via the bridge, significantly alleviate congestion on the Bridge of the Americas.

Getting Around:

By Air

Panama has a number of domestic airlines and a good domestic flight network. There is an inexpensive bus system servicing all accessible parts of the country.

Transport

Panama has good roads, cheap and frequent public transportation, clean water, and a modern infrastructure.

Panama City

Tours

There are many excellent tours that can be arranged through the hotel concierge or the Tour Desk on your cruise ship. Tours cover Panama City, Colon; the outlying areas; and the Canal.

By Taxi

There are numerous taxi services in and around the cities in both Colon and Panama City. There are fixed rates from the hotels to the city, and vice versa. The average city tour costs $35 for the first 4 hours. You can negotiate extra hours after that.

Outside the City

: Boats are the principal mode of transportation in several parts of Panama, particularly between the San Blas and Bocas del Toro archipelagos. Kuna Indian merchant vessels carry cargo and passengers along the San Blas coast, between Colón and Puerto Obaldía. Cars can be rented in Panama City.

Panama Kids Activities: Panama Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Panama Travel & Tourism, Free Panama Travel Guide Online

Canopy

Tower

Ecology and Nature Observatory

011-507-264-5720

Hundreds of species can be seen right from your window, most of them clearly illustrated in Panamá's excellent bird guides. The Canopy Tower is also a great place for those with a general interest in exploring the tropical forest.

Monkey

Island

Located in Lake Gatun, this island gets its name for the white-faced monkeys that inhabit it.

Panama Canal

Railway

This tour on the newly restored Panama Canal Railway, the western hemisphere's first transcontinental railroad, follows the east bank of the canal that offers excellent views of the waterway and rainforests along its shoreline.

San Jose

Church

Built soon after the first Spanish settlement in the 16th century, this small church features the famous Golden Altar (Altar de Oro), which is made entirely of pure gold. Children will be interested in the story of the priest who protected the altar from the infamous pirate, Henry Morgan, by painting the altar black to disguise it.

Miraflores

Locks Visitor Center

30 minutes from Panama City

exhibition halls are open 9am to 5pm. The ticket office closes at 4pm.

Admission Charged.

Modern elevators and stairs are both available

"The Panama Canal is a unique experience which can't be reproduced anywhere else in the world. See 5,000,000-ton vessels rise and drop more than 50 feet as they make their way over Panama from one ocean to another, and learn about the history and future of this marvel of modern engineering." There is an educational museum and a theater inside. There is a restaurant that opens at noon. The best time to view large ships transiting the canal at this point is by 10:00AM. The large vessels move through by appointment and use the morning time slots. There are viewing platforms and a bi-lingual narrator is sometimes available to give details involved in getting ships through the canal. The exhibition halls and short film presentation are excellent.

Los Cabos Travel Guide |Ontario Travel Guide |Helsinki Travel Guide |Asheville Travel Guide |Zurich Travel Guide |Chattanooga Travel Guide |Saskatoon Travel Guide |Halifax Enfield Travel Guide |Chicago Travel Guide |Dayton Travel Guide |Tulsa Travel Guide |Rome Travel Guide |Biloxi Travel Guide |Jacksonville Travel Guide |Kauai Travel Guide |Alexandria Travel Guide |St. Augustine Travel Guide |Manchester Travel Guide |Columbus Travel Guide |Atlantic City Travel Guide |Cincinnati Travel Guide |Victoria Travel Guide |Kingston Travel Guide |Telluride Travel Guide |Los Angeles Travel Guide |Sandusky Travel Guide |Lautoka Travel Guide |Athens Travel Guide |Hong Kong Travel Guide |Grand Cayman Travel Guide |