PANAMA,the crossroads of the
hemisphere, has become one of the hottest
business and leisure travel destinations
in the Americas. With canal expansion
underway, the tiny isthmus nation is poised
to reap the rewards of being the bridge
between the continents.
1 Explore the Canal. The Panama Canal is the lifeblood of the city. A
visitor center in Miraflores, just a few
miles from downtown, lets guests see
the immensity of the locks and view
animated shows about its history.
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2Wander Through Casco Viejo. San Felipe (a.k.a. Casco Viejo) is
the heart of colonial Panama City and
home to sites like El Salón Bolívar
where El Libertador in 1826 launched
failed efforts to establish a multinational congress. Also check out Panama’s national theater and colonial
churches like La Iglesia de San José.
3 Discover the Amador Causeway. At the southern entrance of the
canal, the causeway boasts magnificent views of the city skyline and has
long stretches to walk, bike or skate.
4 Spend Some Money. If you like affordable quality merchandise,
don’t leave without visiting the Panama City malls. Try Albrook Mall on
Avenida Marginal or MetroMall on Vía
Tocumen, or both.
5Spoil Your Palate. With Panama’s mix of cultures you can sample
some incredibly diverse foods.
Check out Vía Argentina and local
restaurant favorite El Trapiche for a
Fiesta Panameña combination plate
with sample-sized portions of up to
seven dishes.
8Pump Up Your Adrenaline. Ex- treme sports like white water
rafting are available within only a
few hours of Panama City. Operator
Aventuras Panama in Edificio Celma
in El Paica offers day-long trips for all
levels of expertise.
6Dance. When the sun goes down, Panama’s bars and clubs come
alive. Visit the city’s central club area
on Calle Uruguay.
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7Get Away to the Beach. With Pan- ama’s almost 1,550 miles ( 2,500
km) of coastline, it’s impossible not to
find a beach. For crystal clear water
and legendary beaches, visit Bocas
del Toro Archipelago, a 40-minute
flight from the city.
9Experience Panama’s Festivals. Learn about the many cultures of
Panama by visiting one of the many
annual festivals in the interior. Among
the best are the Festival of Flowers
in Boquete (January 1–10), the Festival of Azuero (April 22–May 2) and
the Feria del Mar, a four-day event in
September near Bocas del Toro.
10Walk in the Clouds. If you want to experience the intense beauty of a tropical cloud forest, the Parque Internacional La
Amistad (PILA) will stun you with its
treasures. Located in the province
of Chiriqui, it’s just a one-hour flight
from the capital.
photograph by marivi gonzalez
