The fair weather of
the next three and-a-half months creates the perfect opportunity
to visit almost every corner of the Isthmus, including beaches,
mountains and small towns, which vibrate with colorful country
celebrations. Here are some of our recommendations:
Having fun in the sun. |
Bocas del Toro:
The beaches, coral reefs and easy-going atmosphere of its Caribbean-style,
gingerbread towns have transformed this province, once known mainly
for its bananas, into Panama’s hottest tourist destination.
It is only an hour away from Panama City by plane. Try out Zapatilla
keys, Isla Carenero and Bastimentos National Park.
Coclé:
The “Land of Salt and Sugar” has a lot to offer visitors.
If everything remains constant, it might well rival Bocas del
Toro in the next couple of years. Nestled in its cool mountains
is the resort community of El Valle, which offers refreshing waterfalls,
nature trails, eco-tourist adventures, an interesting zoo and
botanic park and a number of small hotels.
The province’s
coast doesn’t lag behind. Santa Clara beach is popular among
Panamanians, and nearby Farallón thrives with foreign visitors
thanks to the beach hotels that operate in the area. The province
also features quaint small towns, with their Spanish legacy. In
the town of La Pintada, visitors can purchase an authentic Panamanian
folklore hat (not to be confused with the ‘Panama Hat’,
which comes from Ecuador). The town of Natá de los Caballeros
to boasts one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Americas.
Coclé is easily
accesible via the Pan-American highway.
Colón:
January is surf season in the region known as “Costa Arriba”,
the upper coast of the province of Colón, but don’t
only expect high waves. Summer is the best time to see the dancing
of the Congos, troupes of descendants of African slaves who combine
rhythms brought by their ancestors and the Spanish conquistadors
to create vivid and often humorous performances, especially in
the coastal towns of Portobelo, La Guaira and Isla Grande.
The city of Colón,
the provincial capital, celebrates its annual fair at the end
of the season (March 29 - April 8), but the rest of Summer is
the ideal time to shop at the Colón Free Zone, the world’s
second largest tax-free emporium. Visitors can travel to Colón
by means of the Panama Canal Railroad trains and the Trans-Isthmian
Highway.
Chiriquí:
Paradoxically, Panama’s “Summer” months coincide
with the coolest time of year in the highlands of Chiriquí,
with temperatures often dropping into the upper 30s F in some
locations. The picturesque town of Boquete, the “Land of
Eternal Spring”, holds the largest flower festival of Central
America (Jan. 13-22). In the southern plains, the cities of David
and Bugaba celebrate their popular country fairs in mid-march
and late January, respectively. The beach of Las Lajas is the
province’s most popular swimming spot. Chiriquí is
a six-hour drive from Panama City; one hour by scheduled flights.
Darién:
The province’s eco-tourist potential is great, but anglers
will have a treat at Tropic Star Lodge one of the world’s
most prestigious fishing resorts.
Herrera:
The friendly residents of the province of Herrera will invite
you to the San Sebastian de Ocú fair (Jan. 19-23), but,
if you don’t visit the capital city of Chitré for
Carnival (late February), you may regret it. While in Herrera,
visit Sarigua National Park (the country’s only desert).
A branch of the Pan
American Highway leads to the province (located in the Azuero
peninsula) as well as to its southern neighbor, the province of
Los Santos. There are also scheduled flights departing from Marcos
A. Gelabert airport in Panama City.
Los Santos:
At small museums located in the province’s small towns,
one can learn everything from local history to the making of the
pollera, the country’s national attire for women. There
are more festivities in Los Santos than days in a calendar (no
kidding), a large number of which take place during the dry months.
For party lovers, Carnival at Las Tablas (Feb. / March) is a must.
Playa Venao, located in the southern tip of the Azuero peninsula,
is a surfers’ mecca.
The province
of Panama: Forget about the city’s night life for
a while. The island of Taboga is only an hour away from the skyscrapers
by boat, but the pristine paradise of the Las Perlas archipelago
and famous Contadora Island are not that far away either. The
verdant forests of the Canal area harbor some interesting sites
as well, including excellent golf courses and national parks.
For those that can’t
resist the city, we recommend visiting Mis Pueblitos tourist center,
which offers folklore performances. Another venue for such activities
is the Panama Viejo ruin complex in the outskirts of town.
San Blas:
The white sand, coral formations and crystal-clear waters are
simply irresistible. Daily flights to the region, also known as
Kuna Yala, depart from Panama City.
