Panama-The Days Were Hot!

The most memorable experience which was felt was returning from a flight from Brazil with one free stop over allowed. I chose to visit Panama as my choice. The dateline was near to the return to Panama of the Canal.

Quick Tips:

enjoy the warm climate.

Best Way To Get Around:

From the airport, took a taxi into Panama City. Enjoyed walking a lot.I saw so much in so little time. Walking allows you to see the culture of the location in better detail.

Located in the center of Panama's new business, shopping and entertainment locations, the Grande hotel offers comfortable accommodations for a relaxing holiday or business trip. Standard Rooms consist of one or more rooms of the following types: Single Bed with bathroom, Twin Beds with bathroom, Double Bed. Tocumen Airport 35 miles, Panama Canal 25 miles, El Dorado 15 miles, Old Panama 15 miles, Museum of the Canal 12 miles.

Situated in the center of Panama City's banking and financial district between Calle 50 and Via Espana, the new Marriott Panama is just 1/2 mile from Panama Bay and one mile from Atlapa Convention Center. The hotel is located between Calle 50 and Via Espana - a well-known local pedestrian area with numerous retail shops.

Health club with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, sauna and steamroom. *
Outdoor pool with sundeck and sunken bar and grill.
They offer discount for AARP and other groupings.
All guest rooms are forty square meters in size with private bath and either one king bed or two double beds, coffee maker, hairdryer, in-room safe, iron and board, mini-bar, remote control color television with cable service and three direct dial telephones with dataport option.

Babysitting, business center, complimentary underground valet parking for registered guests, daily housekeeping, gift shop, Hertz car rental counter in lobby, ice and vending machines, non-smoking rooms, safe deposit boxes at front desk, special facilities for physically challenged guests, valet laundry and dry cleaning service and Club Marquis, Marriott Miles and Marriott Rewards frequent traveler programs -- Restaurant with international menu, 24 hour room service and sports bar with dance floor.

Panama Discovery Tours is a US owned tour agency operating in the business, financial district of Panama City. They offer very many different tours for the curious siteseer. They may be contacted in the U.S. to arrange for brochures of their services at (1-888-726-2621). It would be wise to contact them at least a couple months in advance to select from the many different tour packages offered.

Among several of their tour packages offered are tours to: city and canal tour, takes in the sites of Panama Viejo, Casco Viejo, and modern Panama City. Panama Viejo, the oldest city on the Pacific side of the Isthmus, and the Panama Canal Zone.

The Canal Zone tour includes a visit to the Panama Canal Museum in Panama City's colonial section, Casco Viejo. From there the Panama Canal's administration building, then on to Miraflores locks for a presentation and observation of the southbound traffic passing through the Miraflores Locks' chambers.

Most of their tours are from 4-8 hours in duration. They also have a tour to Panama's Anton valley, located about 75 miles west of Panama City. Other attractions such as the local artisan market, a zoo, the famous golden frogs, square trees, and the sleeping Indian mountain. The mountain is in the shape of a sleeping woman. Legend has it that a young Indian princess fell in love with a conquistadore.

The Canal is both an engineering marvel and one of the most significant waterways on Earth. Stretching 50 miles from Panama City on the Pacific coast to Colón on the Atlantic side, it provides passage for over 12,000 ocean-going vessels per year. Seeing a huge ship nudge its way through the narrow canal, with vast tracks of virgin jungle on both sides, is an unforgettable sight. The easiest and best way to visit the Canal is to go to the Miraflores Locks, on the northeastern fringe of Panama City, where a platform offers visitors a good view of the locks in operation. There's also a museum with a model and a film about the Canal. Boats leave Balboa, a western suburb of Panama City, for a five-hour tour through the locks to Miraflores Lake.

This charming and historical island, 20km (12mi) south of Panama City, has an attractive beach, some lovely protected rainforest, 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 aroma of 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 on 16 July, and involves nautical processions and celebrations. Taboga is a one-hour boat trip from Balboa.

Known for its cool, fresh climate and pristine natural environment, the small alpine town of Boquete is nestled into a craggy mountain valley 22 miles north of David. It's a fine place for walking, bird-watching, horse-riding and enjoying a respite 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 3475m (11,400ft) Volván Barú, 9 miles west, or visiting the Volcano's (35,320-acre) National Park.

Panama's climate is pleasantly tropical, and temperatures are practically uniform the year around, from 73 to 83 degrees fahrenheit in costal areas. Nights are generally cool. In the highlands, temperatures range from 52 to 65 degrees fahrenheit. There are two seasons — rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in April and ends in December. During the rainy season you can expect a shower about once a day with an occasional all day rain. Panama averages 65 inches of rain annually in the Pacific area and 120 inches on the Atlantic side of the isthmus. During the dry season the trade winds blow steadily.

The official language is Spanish. In the principal cities, many people also speak or understand English. Minority groups speak Italian, French, German, Chinese and Hindustani.

Panama's monetary unit is called the Balboa and is equal to our dollar. In fact American paper money is used. Coins are identical in shape, size, weight and value to ours but are printed with a bust of Balboa and the penny with a bust of Uraca, a legendary Indian folk hero. American and Panamanian money is completely interchangeable.

Panama's water is among the purest in the world and in the major cities it can be drunk from the tap. Sanitation standards in restaurants are also high. Milk is pasturized.

Depending on your citizenship, you must have a valid passport with either a visa or tourist card. If entitled to a tourist card, your airline or the consul can supply you one at a cost of $5.00.

You must pay a $20 cash-only airport tax. Make sure you have cash before departing the hotel for the airport.

Eastern Standard (Central Standard during our daylight savings time) Hope this allows for a better understanding of how beautiful Panama really is.

Panama's beaches are sandy so your feet won't be martirized with stones as in other parts of the world. Because the sun is very strong, do not forget to bring slippers too, the sand can be mighty hot at noon!

Within driving distance of the capital and near Fort Kobbe near the Panama Canal there is Kobbe Beach. It has dressing booths and other facilities you might need.

From the Paitilla Airport (in the capital) you can fly to this beautiful island. The plane ticket costs $40.00 round trip. There are about 4 flights per day. The flight lasts 15 minutes, you get a nice view of the causeway and the archipielago.

Nestled snugly within a chain of islands knows as the Pearl Archipielago, and gently lapped by warm Pacific waters, lies the famous and fabulous Contadora Island with its resort and casino. Boasting 13 beaches that are pure white sand, swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, snorkeling, diving, fishing, waterskiing etc. If you are going to stay at the hotel/resort a van will take you and your bags from the runway to the doors of the hotel. It is kind of expensive but believe me it is a romantic getaway from the capital and it is worth every cent.