Different places to travel » Culture

Travel – Los Santos, Panama – famous for its carnivals

Traveller — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:23:19 +0000

Los Santos (The Saints) is a province of Panama with Las Tablas is its capital city. This capital city is famous for its carnivals such as the Festival Nacional de la Pollera (National Festival of the Pollera), the Festival of the Patron Santa Librada; and the Festival Nacional de la Mejorana in Guararé. Los Santos along with Herrara is known to be the birth place of the traditional Panamian dress known as the Pollera. This province is spread on a land area of about 3,804.6 square kilometers with an approximate population of 83,500. Growing corn, rice, coffee, sugar cane and the raising of livestock and commerce are its primary economy.
This province is divided in 7 districts:
• Guararé District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Guararé (capital), El Espinal, El Macano, Guararé Arriba, La Enea, La Pasera, Las Trancas,Llano Abajo, El Hato and Perales.
• Las Tablas District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Las Tablas (capital), Bajo Corral, Bayano, El Carate, El Cocal, El Manantial, El Muñoz, El Pedregoso, La Laja, La Miel, La Palma, La Tiza, Las Palmitas, Las Tablas Abajo, Nuario, Palmira, Peña Blanca, Río Hondo, San José,San Miguel, Santo Domingo, El Sesteadero, Valle Rico and Vallerriquito.
• Los Santos District-Corregimientos that include the of cities La Villa de los Santos (capital), El Guásimo, La Colorada, La Espigadilla, Las Cruces, Las Guabas, Los Angeles, Los Olivos, Llano Largo, Sabanagrande, Santa Ana, Tres Quebrada, Villa Lourdes and Agua Buena.
• Macaracas District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Macaracas (capital), Bahía Honda, Bajos de Guera, Corozal, Chupa, El Cedro, Espino Amarillo, La Mesa, Llano de Piedra, Las Palmas and Mogollón.
• Pedasí District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Pedasí (capital), Los Asientos, Mariabé, Purio and Oria Arriba.
• Pocrí District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Pocrí (capital), El Cañafístulo, Lajamina, Paraíso and Paritilla.
• Tonosí District-Corregimientos that include the cities of Tonosí (capital), Altos de Guera, Cañas, El Bebedero, El Cacao, El Cortezo, Flores, Guánico, La Tronosa, Cambutal and Isla de Cañas.
In 1855, the provinces were divided into the regions of Los Santos and Herrera and in 1941; Los Santos and Herrera were established as one province, named Los Santos. In 1945, Herrera and Los Santos became two different provinces.

Attractions of Los Santos:

Carnivals:
• Festival Nacional de la Pollera (National Festival of the Pollera)
• The Festival of the Patron Santa Librada
• The Festival Nacional de la Mejorana in Guararé.

Beaches: Venado, Achotines, and Guararé cities have many beaches. Isla Iguana beach is well known for its blue water and white sand and this island is just about 25 minutes by boat from Pedasí.

Museums:
• Museum of Nationality (Museo de la Nacionalidad)
• The Museum Belisario Porras
• The Museum Manuel F. Zarate
• The Sitio Arqueologico Cerro Juan Diaz-an archaeological site.

Churches:
• The Church of San Antonio
• The Church of Santa Librada (1872): It is in Las Tablas and is a national monument.

Others:
• Guarare: This is surrounded by the little town of El jobo, Bella Vista, Las Lagunitas, La Guaca, La Pacheca and La Enea. There was an Indian chief named Guarari, who reigned over this part during Spanish colonial times and on whose name this town is named after. The pollera, the montuno and the music are special symbols of this town which are representative of the Panamian culture. This town hosts the festival, Festival Nacional de La Mejorana, which takes place from September 20th to 26th.
• Las Tablas: This city is the capital of the province. It is about 12 kilometers from the port Mensabe on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. This city hosts best carnival celebrations in the Republic of Panama. The national monumental church, the Santa Librada Church, is housed here.
• Playa Venao: This is a long beach of about three miles. It is about 6 hours from Panama City by drive. The waves are ideal for surfing and the waves are about 15 feet tall and never under 4 feet.
• Pedasí: This town is on the Azuero Peninsula which is a small coastal fishing village. The coastal roads are surrounded by scenic cliffs. One can see tide pools, beaches, and a traditional Spanish hacienda from here. There are many houses and lands that are purchased by Hollywood people.
• Red Frog Beach: This is a beautiful Caribbean beach in the province which is ideal for surfing and palms around.
• Isla Iguana Beach: This is a beach off the coast of Pedasi in the Panama Bay. This is protected by a wildlife reserve.
• El Morro: This is a rainforest in Toboga in the province. One can see Pacific Ocean from this area that is topped by this rainforest.
• Herrera: This is a neighboring province that is in Panama. This province got its name after the division of the Los Santos province. Chitre is the capital of Herrara and lies on the coastline of the province. Towards its north are the provinces by Veraguas and Cocle and to its south is Los Santos and to its east are Golfo de Parita and Los Santos and to its west is Veraguas. There are nine provinces in Panama and Herrara is the third in sugarcane production. The main economy is also due to this along with retail, equipment repair, banking, and domestic service. The other main industries include dairy, cattle, commercial fishing, alcohol, ceramics, clay products, mosaics, and cement. This province is popular for its festival Del manito ocueno which originated in the city of Ocu. Herrera is known for its best pottery in the country. There are many carnivals held in Chitré, Parita and Ocú. Chitre’s carnival is the most famous in Panama.

Best time to visit / climate:

Las Santos has a tropical wet and dry climate. The dry season is from January to April whereas the wet season is in remaining year. The best time to visit this place is in the dry season.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
This province can be reached in approximately 4 to 5 hours drive from Panama City.
To reach Panama City:
By plane: Tocumen International Airport is outside Panama City. This airport offers services for Copa Airline, American Airlines (Dallas/Ft.Worth, Miami), Delta Airlines (Atlanta, Georgia), Continental Airlines (Houston, Newark), Avianca (Bogotá, Colombia) and TACA (San José, Costa Rica and San Salvador, El Salvador) along with major Central American airlines, and several South American airlines and European Airlines. There are direct flights between Tocumen and New York, Newark, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Amsterdam, Madrid, and all major cities in the Caribbean area, Central America and South America, like Santiago de Chile.
By train:
Between Panama City and Colon, only one train service operates with a passenger car. This ride is a scenic ride with views of the Panama Canal and the tropical rainforest.

To get around locally, taking a taxi is the best way.

Lonely Planet Panama	Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic)	Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• Hotels at world66
• Restaurants at geckogo
• Hotels at geckogo
• Hotels at allstays
• Hotels at costaricalink
• Hotels at maplandia

Blogs / Sites about Las Santos, Panama:

• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at travbuddy
• Blogs and reviews at the travelpod

Images and photos of Las Santos, Panama:

• Images at google
• Images at travelpod
• Images at travel images
• Images at travelblog

Videos of Las Santos, Panama:

Video de Tamborito en Carnaval de Panama

“Into Panama” Courtrand’s photos around Los Santos, Panama

Los Santos Panama – driving a flooded road

Pedasi – Los Santos – Panama Traveling

Corpus Christy, La Villa de Los Santos Panamá

Travel – Kuna Yala, Panama – inhabited by the Kuna indigenous people

Traveller — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:47:41 +0000

Kuna Yala is a region in Panama which is inhabited by the Kuna indigenous people. The word Kuna Yala means Land of the Kuna. This region is bounded in the north by the Caribbean Sea, to the south by the province of Panama, in the East by Colombia and in the west by the province of Colon. This region is spread over a land area of 3206 square km. Kuna Yala is an archipelago of 365 islands out of which 49 are inhabited. The population is approximately about 36,500. Agriculture, fishery and tourism industry form the main economic activities of the region. The crops of guineo, corn (maize), sugarcane and coconut are the main farming crops of the region. Kuna language is the local language here. El Porvenir is the capital of Kuna Yala. Mola is a tribal art form that is very popular here.

This region is divided into cities:
• Carti
• San Blas Islands
• Puerto Obaldia
• Rio Sidra
• Norgana
• Playon Chico
• Ailigandi
• Mamsucum
• Mulatupo o Sasardi
• Carreto

Ecotours, fishing, snorkeling, and touring of nearby villages are the main activities of the region. There are many beaches in the island of Carti, Ukupseni and Isla Pino.

Attractions of Kuna Yala and around:
• PEMASKY which means Proyecto de Estudio para el Manejo de Areas Silvestres de Kuna Yala: It is a bioreserve inside Kuna yala which started in 1983. This is a natural park near Nasugandi. This bioreserver preserves the heritage and marine and land ecosystems of Kuna Yala.
• The San Blas Islands are a group of 378 islands out of which only 49 are inhabited. It is an archipelago of Panama. These islands lie off the north coast of Isthmus. To its east is the Panama Canal. It has been home to Kuna Indians which are part of Kuna Yala tribe along the Caribbean coast of Panama. These tribes welcome tourists very warmly into their ancestral home. Their official language is Tule but Spanish is prevalent in schools. Tule is the spoken language of Kuna Yala tribes.
• Dog Islands: These islands are famous for snorkeling. One can find variety of tropical fish in these waters.
• There are tiny islands with beaches that are used for sunbathing or swimming.
• Isla Pelicanos: These island beaches are soft with white sand and clear with shallow water over a coral reef making it perfect for snorkeling. One can see tropical, colored fishes. The waves are calm and gentle here.
• The island of Achutupu: This Island has the best beaches for scuba diving. It is here that off of the coast one can see a shipwreck of a Colombian cargo boat which is a popular dive spot. The beaches have transparent turquoise waters.
• Kagantupu, Wichubwala, and Coco Blanco: These have secluded beaches with white sand and palm trees lined up.
• Thatched Hut Village: A tour through a Kuna village where one can see their huts, lifestyle, and costumes is a must do on these islands visit.
• Mola Shopping: The Molas that are created by The Kuna is great for look out as well for buying.
• Pargue Soberania: This is about 15 minutes away from Panama City and is a hiking place. The hiking trail goes through the rainforests with caves and lakes and bird watching, with fishing also being a part of it.
• The Panama Canal: This canal is about 77 km (48 miles). It is a shipping canal that is in Panama and this canal joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and has been the key for the maritime trade. The traffic is about 1000 ships in early days and present it is about 14,702 vessels a day. This canal has its own measurement system called Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) in tons. It is one of the largest engineering projects of the times. The alternate route is via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America.
• Panama Viejo: This was once the gateway city for the Spanish conquest of Latin America. Presently there are ruins of the battles which were fought with the English pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. There is a museum with Spanish exhibits near the site. One need to know Spanish or take a guide for translation for understanding as most of the exhibits is in Spanish.
• Casco Viejo: This is an established Spanish colonial city of 1671. This city was established after the downfall of Panama Viejo in battles and until 20th century, this city was Panama City. Panama bay and other sites depict its history with Spain, France and United States.
• Panama Canal Rainforest: The Panama Canal rainforests are one of the pristine rainforests in the world. The Soberania National Park is about 30 minutes away from Panama City and 45 minutes from the international airport. This is a base for ecotourism.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit these islands is from April to June and November to December. This time of the year is great for snorkeling and scuba diving, as the water is warm, clear, and calm. From January to April is the dry season and a perfect time for sun bathing.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
By plane: There are daily flight services from Panama City to El Porvenir via Air Panama. Air Panama also services Achutupu, Corazon de Jesus (Rio Diablo/Nargana), and Playon Chico.
By boat: There are boat options from Colombia.
Sailing boats are to/from Colombia/Cartagena.
Cargo boats leave to/from Carti Island and Porvenir Island (San Blas Island/Kuna Yala) to Puerto Obaldia into Colombia and motorized boats take only 5 to 6 hours.
By land: The road into San Blas Kuna Yala is vastly improving and is accessible all year round. A bridge has been opened, eliminating the need to cross the river in the vehicle. One can drive from Panama City to Carti in the San Blas Islands.

Lonely Planet Panama	Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic)	Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• Hotels at virtual panama
• Hotels at costaricahotels
• Hotels at costaricapages
• Restaurants at wikitravel
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at you.travel

Blogs / Sites about Kuna Yala, Panama

• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at travbuddy
• Blogs and reviews at the lonely planet
• Blogs and reviews at blogtopsites

Images and photos of Kuna Yala, Panama

• Images at google
• Images at travel-images
• Images at igougo
• Images at galenfrysinger

Videos of Kuna Yala, Panama

Kuna Yala Molas

Kuna yala

Kuna Yala montage

San Blas Panama , Kuna Yala

Kuna Yala (San Blas) Panamá por Marco Simionato (fotos)

KUNA YALA an ECO EXPLORER TOUR

Molas Kunas San Blas Islands Panama

Travel – Hora Sfakion – located in the southwest of Crete

Traveller — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:04:17 +0000

Hora Sfakion is located in the southwest of Crete. It has a tiny harbor and has about 475 inhabitants, and from the population size, you can see that it is a very small place, but well known. It is the capital of Sfakia region, situated to the south coast of Crete. There are many beaches like Ilingas, Filaki and Sweet Water Beach.
Attractions of Hora Sfakion:
• Sweet water beach or Glyka nera: Sweet water in Greece means Glyka. Under the beach there is always drinkable water. One can reach there using a small boat “Delfini” which takes 15min and about 45 minutes by feet. A small tavern is also present for those who like some refreshment.
• Filaki beach: This is a beautiful beach that is near the naturist hotel.
• Hotel Vritomartis: This is the only naturist hotel (where people like to be in the same state as they were when they were born, without clothes) in all of Crete and also in all of Greece.
• Frangokastello Orthi Ammos beach: This beach is about 12km to the east of Chora Sfakion. There is a village named Frangokastello which is 500m to the east from the castle.
• Marmara beach: Marmara beach is about 20 minutes from Loutro and is towards the end of Aradena gorge. By walk it takes 50 min.
• Agios Pavlos beach: This beach takes about an hour by feet from Agia Roumeli and about 2 hours from Agios Ioannis. From Loutro it takes about 3-4 hours. It is a long and almost deserted beach.
• Diving: One can snorkel along the plunging coastline of Sfakion which has small shoals, octopus etc. There are scuba diving, cave diving and night diving available at this place. There are diving excursions to the Gavdos and Gaydopoula islands.
• Agios Nikolaos (or Aghios Nikolaos) is a city or a coastal town on the island of Greek of Crete. The city lies to the east of the capital, Heraklion and to the north of lerapetra and to the west of sitia. This town is the capital of Lasithi. The three faces to the sea of this town are The Lake & port, Kitroplatia beach and the Marina.
• Lake Voulismeni (Límni Voulisméni): This is a small lake which connects to the sea. It is situated at the centre of the town of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete. The diameter of the lake is about 137 m and depth is about 64 m. This lake is connected to the harbour of the town with a channel. There is a small park around it. This lake is popular for its fireworks celebrations on Orthodox Christian Easter day.
• The Cretan diet: This is a traditional local diet of the Mediterranean island of Crete, also called “Mediterranean diet” which is very popular in the place.
• Chrissi Island: For enjoying the quiet presence of palm trees and soothing watered sandy beaches, one can take a boat trip from here to Chrissi Island.
• Visit to Elounda & Spinalonga Island: There are Kritsa’s tourist shops from where one can buy some local hand woven linens, rugs, tablecloths and handicrafts.
• The Katharo plateau above Kritsa and the Lassithi Plateau: This is known for its climate, topography and geology.
• Elounda: It is a town which is a fishing port and has several sandy beaches from the centre square. This port offers boat trips to the island of Spinalonga.

The following can be reached by walking or as below:
• Imbros Gorge:
Chora Sfakion to Imbros (bus) – 30 minutes
Imbros Gorge – 2 hours 15 minutes
Bottom of gorge to Chora Sfakion, via Komitades – 1 hour 10 minutes

• Loutro and Sweet Water Beach:
Chora Sfakion to Loutro (ferry) – 20 minutes
Time in Loutro
Loutro to Sweetwater – 1 hour 15 minutes
Time at Sweetwater
Sweetwater to Chora Sfakion – 1 hour (or boat)

• Askyfou Plateau
Chora Sfakion to Askyfou by KTEL bus – 40 minutes
Askyfou Plateau – Variable, depending on detours and refreshment breaks. (Allow at least 2:30 to 3 hours)
Askyfou to Chora Sfakion – 40 minutes by KTEL bus

• Askyfou, Asfendou gorge and Agios Nektarios
KTEL bus Chora Sfakion to Ammoudari/Askyfou or Kares – 40/45 minutes
Ammoudari/Askyfou or Kares to Asfendos – 2 hours 30 minutes
Asfendos to Agios Nektarios – 2 hours 15 minutes
Agios Nektarios to Chora Sfakion by KTEL bus – 20 minutes

• Loutro, Marmara, Agios Pavlos and Agia Roumeli or Samaria
Chora Sfakion to Loutro by ferry – 20 minutes
Loutro to Marmara by boat – 20 minutes (or walk – 50 minutes)
Marmara to Agios Pavlos – 2 hours 30 minutes/45 minutes
Agios Pavlos to Agia Roumeli – 1 hour 15 minutes
Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion by ferry

• Niato and Trikoukia, in the village of Askyfou
KTEL Chora Sfakion/Chania bus to Ammoudari/Askyfou – 40 minutes
Ammoudari to Niato – 2 hours
Niato to Trikoukia – 30 minutes
Trikoukia to Imbros – 1 hour 45 minutes
Lunch in Imbros. KTEL bus Imbros to Chora Sfakion

• Old village Anopolis and return via
Chora Sfakion to Anopolis – 2 hours 30 minutes
Time in Anopolis
Anopolis to Loutro – 2 hours
Loutro to Chora Sfakion by ferry

• Kalikratis gorge, near of the village Frangokastello
KTEL Chora Sfakion / Chania bus to Kares – 45 minutes
Kares to Asfendos – 2 hours 30 minutes
Asfendos to Kallikratis – 1 hour 15 minutes
Time in Kallikratis
Kallikratis, via Gorge, to Patsianos – 2 hours 15 minutes
Patsianos to Chora Sfakion by KTEL bus – 25 minutes

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit this place is in summer. One can expect showers between October and April. The temperatures are ideal from July to August.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
One can drive over the mountains from the north coast on a good road and some public buses are also available from Agios Nikolas.
Agios Nikolaos (Crete) is about 40 miles from Herakleion Airport (HER). The journey takes about 45 – 60 minutes by car or taxi.

By Bus: There are local bus services available in the place.

By plane: The distance is 40 miles from Heraklion airport to Agios Nikolaos.

Get around:
By Bus: Elounda, Kritsa, Sitia, Heraklion (and from there, Knossos), Malia and Hersonnisos are accessible with a regular bus service.
Among other methods of commute are taxis, scooters, rent car facilities available in the place.

Top Sights Travel Guide: Crete (Kindle)	Rough Guide Map Crete [Folded Map]	Lonely Planet Crete (Regional Guide)

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at travel to crete
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at hotel-stavris-chora-sfakion
• Hotels at explorecrete

Blogs / Sites about Hora Sfakion:

• Blogs and reviews at greece.creteisland
• Blogs and reviews at crete travel
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete

Images and photos of Hora Sfakion:

• Images at sfakiacrete.gr
• Images at sfakia-crete
• Images at explorecrete

Videos of Hora Sfakion on Youtube:

Ferry Trip – Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion – Southern Crete (Greece)

Chora Sfakion – Lefka Ori Sfakia Crete HD 1080i

Chora Sfakion

Xenia Hotel and restaurant – Hora Sfakion

Crete Agia Roumeli – Chora Sfakion

KTEL Bus Ascending on a Mountainous Road Near Chora Sfakion, Crete

Hora Sfakion Folkloristic dance

Travel – Dodecanese Islands – an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands

Traveller — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:47:38 +0000

The Dodecanese Islands (which means “twelve islands”) are an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the South Aegean Islands of Greece. These islands are off the southwest coast of Turkey, to the southward of Samos Island and to the northeastward of the Crete Island. Byzantine churches and medieval castles are the tourist specialties of the island. There are a large number of islands, with the total number being 163, out of these only 26 are inhabited islands. The most well known of the twelve islands is Rhodes, Kos and Patmos with the remaining nine being Astipalea, Kalimnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos and Kastelorizo which are located in the east Mediterranean.
Other islands in the chain are Agathonisi, Alimia, Arkoi, Chalki, Farmakonisi, Gyali,Kinaros, Levitha, Lipsi, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Syrna and Telendos. There are many municipalities that come under these islands and some of them are Afantou Archangelos, Astypalaia, Attavyros, Chalki, Dikaio, Ialysos, Irakleides and Kallithea.

The regions that come under this prefecture are:
• Astipalea: This island is located between Kos and Amorgos and is a small and not very well developed island. This island is on the borders between Dodecanese and Cyclades. The island has traditional villages and wonderful sandy beaches. This island is in the shape of a butterfly.
• Halkiis: This is also a small and not a very developed island that is close to Rhodes. This island is good for those interested in trekking. The island is popular for its traditional architecture, the lovely waterfront, the calm beaches and the abandoned village in the centre of the island.
• Kalymnos is an island that is located between Kos and Leros that is close to the coast of western Turkey. This is the most beautiful island in Greece, that is also well known as the island of sponge fishers. This is actually a mountainous island but it also has two valleys that are best known for its agricultural products. Beaches, castles and churches make this is a popular place.
• Karpathos is an island that is located between Rhodes and Crete. It is the second largest island of the Dodecanese Greece islands. It is known for its clear waters and beaches and hills. This island is full of mountain villages with whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs and the narrow paved streets.
• Kos is the second most popular and the third largest of the Dodecanese islands after Rhodes. It has a good nightlife along with a beautiful landscape and soft sandy crystalline waters. There are verdant forests and the island is rich for those interested in archaeology.
• Leros: This Island is one of the smallest islands of the Dodecanese Greece islands and is full of vegetation, verdant trees, bright colored along with the deep blue of the sea and the golden sand that is the main attraction, attracting people like a paradise.
• Nisyros This Island is to the south of Kos and is a small island with the only ‘active’ volcano of Greece. The capital of the island which is known as Mandraki is a traditional settlement in blue and white colors. The beaches of Nisyros and the roads on Nisyros are not very developed.
• Patmos: This island is to the north of Leros and is known to be the most religious of Greek Islands as Saint John the Theologian who was exiled in 95-95 AD revealed and wrote the Apocalypse. It is located between Ikaria and Leros. The island has whitewashed cubic houses and flowered gardens, surrounded by narrow streets and stone steps.
• Symi: This is a small island that is located between Rhodes and Kos and to the north of Rhodes. The island has scenic towns and villages. This island is close to the Aegean and the Turkish shores and has a coastline of about 85 kilometers. This island is a mountainous island.
• Rhodes: This is the most popular and the largest of the Dodecanese islands. This island is the one of the most favorite tourist destination. This island has nice sandy beaches, picturesque villages and has an Old Medieval Town (the capital) which is very scenic. This island is very popular among the tourists.
• Tilos: This is another small and remote island that is located between Kos and Rhodes.

The provinces of Dodecanese islands are as below:
• Province of Patmos – Patmos
• Province of Kalymnos – Kalymnos
• Province of Kos – Kos
• Province of Rhodes – Rhodes City
• Province of Karpathos & Kasos – Karpathos

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate of is a mild Mediterranean climate; sunny with dry summers and mild winters. The months of July and August has the temperatures as being more bearable and is the best time to visit the place.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
One can reach these islands from Piraeus, Athens.
Most travelers arriving in Piraeus from Athens make use of the very convenient Metro Line 1 that terminates at the Port from where one can take a walk to the Saronic Gulf ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans, or a free shuttle-bus ride to the ships sailing to Crete and the Dodecanese. Direct Airport Express buses run 24 hours between the port of Piraeus and Athens International Airport.

Frommer’s Greece (Frommer’s Complete Guides)	Lonely Planet Greek Islands	Lonely Planet Greece

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at top-hotels-greece
• Hotels at dodecanese-islands
• Hotels at greekhotels

Blogs / Sites about Dodecanese:

• Blogs and reviews at bootsnall
• Blogs and reviews at lonelyplanet
• Blogs and reviews at worldreviewer
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod

Images and photos of Dodecanese:

• images at Google
• Images at greeka
• Images at united-hellas

Videos of Dodecanese:

Dodecanese Islands – Greece
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Karpathos & Kastelorizo : Two of the Dodecanese Islands – Greece

Dodecanese Islands – Greece

Kassos – A remote island

A video tour of Rhodes, Kos and Kalymnos in Greece’s Dodecanese islands

Rodos Island Greece

Travel – Contadora, Panama – one of the islands in the Pearl Islands in Panama

Traveller — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:42:18 +0000

Contadora Island is one of the islands (the 5th largest) of the Pearl islands in Panama. These islands are along the Pacific Ocean and about 50 miles from Panama City. Some of the most popular activities for which these islands are known among tourists includes diving, snorkeling and sports fishing. There are about 13 beaches around the island. The nearby islands offers excursions for the tourists with some of these islands being uninhabited. The natives of this place were Indians until the 16th century; later the Spanish took over the island. The pearls over here were famous and were shipped to Spain from here and hence the name Pearl Islands.
Spanish is the most spoken language with English being the second most spoken language.

Attractions in Contodara and around:
• Fishing is very popular in these islands. Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Yellow Tail Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, Red Snapper, Mero, Corvina, RoosterFish and Bojala are among the fish species that are found here on these islands.
• Pacheca Island is a spot for frigate birds and an ideal spot for bird watching. Swimming from Playa Sueca to Playa Larga is also enjoyable. It is also an area to spot sharks and turtles. Playas Cacique, Galeon and Canoa are other beaches of the place.
• Coral Reefs: One can find arrays of stony corals and reefs in Contadora.
• San Jose Island is another island which is spread over a land area of 44 sq. kilometers and has forests and beaches.
• Golf Cart Rental: There are golf carts available for rent; these being two seater, for golfing or to just move around the island.
• Beach Combing: One can enjoy walking along the beach or looking for shells, sea glass and green stones in beach water. The waters are crystal clear and warm. Mogo Mogo beach can be reached by boat.
• Walking Around: The walk along the island and in the streets is pretty enjoyable.
• Snorkeling from the Beach: There are rentals like Coral Dreams for snorkeling gear. They take one to the best spots for snorkeling from the beach.
• Snorkeling and Whale Watching Tours: There are snorkeling tours along with whale watching by companies like Roxanna and Guillermo at Coral Dreams Dive Shop.
• Fishing and Island Hopping Tours: The local fisherman offer to take the tourists on excursion for fishing. There are different species that one may catch like Sierra, Roosterfish, Dorado, a variety of snappers and Tuna.
• Scuba Diving: Guillermo at Coral Dreams Dive Shop offers even Scuba diving for divers.
• Sailboat Tours: There are sailboat tours by 44ft catamaran with facilities of lunch, drinks, snorkel equipment and kayaks.
• Whale Watching: there are Humpback whales that migrate from both the Southern & Northern hemisphere. About 30 species are available for watching. There are tour packages available for whale watching such as Whale Watching Panama which is offering 5 day and 2-3 day tour packages which include swimming with whale and dolphins too.
• Rio Mar: This offers warmest water and is a best surfing spot. One can also enjoy the beach wind and sip a drink enjoying the view and hear the waves splashing and relax.
• Punta Chame: This beach is ideal for wind surfing and the dry season is the best time for it. The other activity is kite surfing.
• Buenaventura: This beach offers plenty of water activities like surfing, snorkeling, swimming etc. If one is not going for these, just the peace of the beach is enough to enjoy.
• Gorgona: This beach is one hour away from Panama City. One can enjoy the beach activities here too in its warm waters.
• Playa Blanca: This beach resembles Florida beach, Nikki beach. One can swim in warm waters and other water activities.
• Amador Causeway: This causeway gives the best views of Panama City’s skyline and the Panama Canal. This is about a mile long causeway that connects four small islands with rock excavations. They also serve as breakwater to the Pacific Coast to the Panama Canal. A Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research aquarium, souvenir and specialty shops, a cruise port and a yacht marina are some of the causeway attractions. Some of the restaurants have ocean and Canal views

Best time to visit / climate:
The rainy season starts from May through November and a dry season from December through April and hence the best time to travel is from December through March as the humidity is low and rain chances are the least.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By Air: There are multiple flights every day from Albrook Airport in Panama City which takes about 20 minutes.
By Sea: A ferry service is present between the causeway near Panama City and Contadora Island.
Get around: Golf carts, scooters or ATVs are used to travel around the islands. The size of the island is small and hence walking around is also a good option.

Lonely Planet Panama	Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic)	Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at tripadvisor
• Hotels at contadoraislandpanama
• Hotels at travel.yahoo
• hotels at bigtravelweb

Blogs / Sites about Contadora, Panama

• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at blog.panamatotal
• Blogs and reviews at travelblog

Images and photos of Contadora, Panama

• Images at google search
• Images at travelpod
• Images at contadoraislandinn
• Images at pearl-islands-contadora

Videos of Contadora, Panama

Contadora, Panama

Contadora Island Panama

Contadora Island, Pearl Islands – Playa Galeon Beach

Whale watching at Contadora, Panama

Flight from Panama City to Contadora

Silent Flight of Pelicans Over Contadora Island – Panama

Hotel Punta Galeon, Virgin Ocean Snapshots (Contadora Island)

Travel – Bali in Rethymno Prefecture on the island of Crete

Traveller — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:58:54 +0000

Bali is located in a place called Rethymno Prefecture, on the island of Crete in Greece. The tourist attractiveness of this place is that it has many beaches of varying size and for staying purposes, countless hotels and apartment complexes.
Attractions of Bali and around:
• Diving: One can go for guided diving. Take your International Padi divers license at Hippocampus diving centre or enjoy an excursion that is by boat to other beaches and towns.
• The Atali Monastery (or Bali Monastery): This is about 5 kilometers from Bali to the South. This monastery has stunning views. This monastery was built in dedication to Aghios Ioannis (St. John) and belongs to 17th century.
• The church of Panaghia Charakiani: This church is at the eastern end of the cove.
• Bali beach: This beach is located about 33 kilometers from Rethymnon to the East. It is only a kilometer from the National Road to Heraklion. There are four other beaches in this Bali bay, some with sand and some with pebbles. These beaches are not affected by the “meltemia” -northern summer winds.
• For having an entertaining night, there are two nightclubs in the place.
• Rethimno is a city on the Crete island in Greece. It has an approximate population of about 40,000. It actually mints its own coins. There are relics of the Minoan civilization centred at Kydonia east of Rethymno. This town still maintains its antiquity and its old aristrocratic appearance. This town dates back to 16th century and its arched arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remain (making it attractive to tourists). The city’s main income is tourism and agriculture of olives for olive oil and other Mediterranean products.
The Venetian Loggia houses the Ministry of culture today. This town is also known for its wine festival that is held every year at the beginning of July. The other festival in memory of destruction of Arkadi Monastery is on 7-8 November. This town was taken over by the Ottoman Turks in 1646 and ruled for for three centuries. This town was their centre of rule.
• Historic Buildings. The buildings remaining are from the Venetian occupation of Crete dating back to 17th century. They include the Fortessa and the lighthouse.
• The Fortezza: This is the city’s Venetian-era citadel and the best-preserved castles in Crete. It is a fusion of medieval European and Moorish architecture.
• Archaeological Museum Rethymnon: This museum houses objects from the Neolithic to Roman period found in Rethymnon in a Turkish building. These objects have been collected from hilltops sacred sites, in caves and necropolis. It is situated opposite to the Fortezza. The Opening times are from Tuesday – Sunday 8.30 – 15h Monday closed.
• Heraklion Archaeological Museum: This is located on Xanthoudidou Street and it houses finds from the Minoan civilization and excavations across the island of Crete. The find includes the statues of the Snake Goddess, the famous Bull-Leaping Fresco, the enigmatic and mysterious Phaistos Disk, and Minoan seals and jewelry. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the world’s great museums representing the Minoan culture.
• Beaches. This city has unspoilt coastline beaches. There is a 5 mile beach to the west of Rehimno and towards Georgiopoli.
• Parks. There is a small park in the centre which also houses a very small zoo containing some Cretan mountain goats.
• Boat Trips: From the Venetian harbor there are boat trips available to go around.
• Chrissi Island: For quiet presence of palm trees and soothing watered sandy beaches one can take a boat trip from here to Chrissi Island. This is one of the uninhabited islands off Crete. It is about 8 miles from Ierapetra. The island has blue-green sea, sandy beaches, cedar forest on the sand hills and colorful volcanic rock. This island is about 5km in length and of a height 10m.

Other monuments:
• The Neratze mosque (the Municipal Odeon arts centre)
• The Great Gate
• The Piazza Rimondi (Rimondi square)
• The Venetian Loggia.

Museums:
• Archaeological Museum
• Historical and Folklore Museum
• Historical Museum of Crete, Heraklion
• Museum of Cretan Ethnology, Heraklion

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit this place is in summer. The temperatures are ideal from July to August.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
• There is a daily ferry from Pireaus (Athens) to Rethimno Crete Island.
• There are regular bus services from both Chania and Heraklion which stop at the bus station, just west of the center of Rethimno.
• The distance from Heraklion to Rethymno is 80 km and from Chania to Rethymno 56 km. Chania airport is much smaller and far less busy than Heraklion airport.
• For getting around: One can either take a bus or a taxi.

Top Sights Travel Guide: Crete (Kindle)	Rough Guide Map Crete [Folded Map]	Lonely Planet Crete (Regional Guide)

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at tripadvisor
• Restaurants at rethymno
• Hotels at wikitravel
• hotels at greeka
• Hotels at dilos

Blogs / Sites about Bali, Rethimno:

• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at greece.creteisland
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete

Images and photos of Bali, Rethimno:

• images at Google
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at explorecrete

Videos of Bali, Rethimno:

• Bali, Rethimno:

Greece – Crete – Kourna Lake – Bali Beach – Rethymnon from jose on Vimeo.

• Bali – Crete: Freediving

Bali, Crete

Bali in Crete

Seahorses in Bali Crete

Crete Bali 2007

Travel – Agios Nikolaos – a coastal town on the island of Crete

Traveller — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:41:04 +0000

Agios Nikolaos (also known as Aghios Nikolaos) is a city (or a coastal town) on the island of Crete. The city lies to the east of the capital, Heraklion and to the north of lerapetra and to the west of sitia. This town is the capital of Lasithi.
The three faces towards the sea from this town are The Lake & port, Kitroplatia beach and the Marina.

Beaches:
• Ammos (sandy public beach by the marina)
• Kitroplatia is the town centre (shingle & sand) beach.
• Ammoudi and Havania beaches (on the way to Elounda).
• Almiros & Ammoudara (sandy beaches with organized facilities, about 2.5 km east of Agios Nikolaos)
• Istron/Kalo Horio – these are 2 good beaches (10 km),
• Elounda – a small sandy beach (10 km)
• Plaka pebble beach (16 km).

Attractions of Agios Nikolaos and around:
• Lake Voulismeni: This is a small lake which connects to the sea. It is situated at the centre of the town of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete. The diameter of the lake is about 137 m and depth is about 64 m. This lake is connected to the harbour of the town with a channel and there is a small park around it. This lake is popular for the fireworks celebrations on the Orthodox Christian Easter day.
• The Cretan diet: This is a traditional local diet of the Mediterranean island of Crete, also called “Mediterranean diet” which is very popular in the place.
• The Archaeological Museum: This is a museum with exhibits from the whole of Eastern Crete, like the early Minoan cemetery of Mochlos, the Zakros palace, Lato and Elounda. There are plenty of coins ranging from about 330-350 BC to 200 AD exhibited here along with more than 1500 vases from those times.
• The Folklore Museum: This is a museum exhibiting woven textiles, embroideries, handicrafts and a model of an old traditional Cretan house along with Old photographs, paintings and costumes of the olden times.
• The Iris Museum: This museum is housed in a neoclassical building on the 28th Oktovriou pedestrian street that also holds a local flora exhibition.
• Chrissi Island: For quiet presence of palm trees and soothing watered sandy beaches one can take a boat trip from here to Chrissi Island.
• Visit to Elounda & Spinalonga Island: There are Kritsa’s tourist shops from where one can buy some local hand woven linens, rugs, tablecloths and handicrafts.
• The Katharo plateau above Kritsa and the Lassithi Plateau: This is known for its climate, topography and geology.
• The Dikteon Cave: This is a mythological cave which is worth a visit.
• Elounda: It is a town which is a fishing port and has several sandy beaches from the centre square. This port offers boat trips to the island of Spinalonga.
• Sitia town: This town is about 70 km east of Agios Nikolaos and the drive is a scenic coast route. This town has a fortress, waterfront esplanade, some quaint corners and a sandy beach.
• Lato: This is an archaelogical site dating back to the 4th-2nd century BC settlement with nice elevated location and magnificient views. This is a few km from Kritsa village.
• Panagia Kera: This is a triple-nave Byzantine church that dates back to 13th century. It has wall paintings. This church is located in Logari which is about a km east of Kritsa.
• The other sites are Vrokastro and Gournia archaeological sites that are near Istron.
• Spinalonga Island: This Island is across the causeway from Elounda.
• Villages exhibiting local color: Limnes, Zenia, Exo Potami, Prina, Mesa & Exo Lakonia.
• Faneromeni Monastery: This monastery is inland from Gournia.
• Walking: There are many routes and hike paths, going through villages, hills and beaches which are ideal for walking.
• Diving: The scuba-diving centre is about 250 m from the lake.
• Golf: There are 2 golf courses in Crete; one is a 9-hole course and the other an 18-hole course. The first is available about 10 km from Agios Nikolaos located at the Porto Elounda resort. The other is the Crete Golf Club with a full facilities golf course that is about 45 km (about 30 minutes drive) from Agios Nikolaos, between Hersonissos & Kastelli.
• Plaka village: This village is about 15 km from Agios Nikolaos. This has fish tavernas, cafes and a crystal clear pebble beach.
• Almyros beach: This is a sandy beach entering the sea at the southern end. This beach offers a cooling paddle and is about a 20 minute walk from the town center. One can take a taxi from town centre.

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit this place is in summer. One can expect showers between October and April. The temperatures are ideal from July to August.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
Agios Nikolaos (Crete) is about 40 miles from Herakleion Airport (HER). The journey takes about 45 – 60 minutes by car or taxi.
By Bus: There are local bus services available in the place.

By Ferry: Ferry services run to Agios Nikolaos from Athens (Piraeusport), Rhodes, Chalki, Karpathos and Kassos.
Major ferry lines operate to the port of Herakleion with buses connecting at the main bus station near to the port. Ferries run directly to the town via LANE lines from Pireaus and Rhodes.
By plane: The distance is 40 miles from Heraklion airport to Agios Nikolaos.

Getting around:
By Bus: Elounda, Kritsa, Sitia, Heraklion (and from there, Knossos), Malia and Hersonnisos are accessed with a regular bus service.
Among others means of transport are taxis, scooters, and rent car facilities available in the place.

Top Sights Travel Guide: Crete (Kindle)	Rough Guide Map Crete [Folded Map]	Lonely Planet Crete (Regional Guide)

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at tripadvisor
• Restaurants at wikitravel
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at Travel to Crete
• Hotels at booking.com

Blogs / Sites about Agios Nikolaos:

• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at funtouristattractions
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete

Images and photos of Agios Nikolaos:

• Images at fotosearch
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at greekhotel

Videos of Agios Nikolaos:

• Agios Nikolaos:

• Travel guide to Agios Nikolaos:

Agios Nikolaos travel guide

FLY TO AGIOS NIKOLAOS RESORT SIVOTA

Agios Nikolaos – Naoussa

AMMOS BEACH BAR AGIOS NIKOLAOS ZAKYNTHOS

agios nikolaos

AGIOS NIKOLAOS-CRETE

Travel – Elounda – a small fishing town which is on the northern coast of the island of Crete, Greece

Traveller — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:07:01 +0000

Elounda is a city in Crete (Elounda is also known as Elounta or Elouda). It is a small fishing town located on the northern coast of the island of Crete, Greece. Elounda is part of the municipality of Agios Nikolaos. The town has a fishing port and has several sandy beaches easily reachable from the centre square. This port also offers boat trips to the island of Spinalonga. Further, there is a small sandy beach called Elounda in this city. On the Visit to Elounda & Spinalonga Island, there are Kritsa’s tourist shops from where one can buy some local hand woven linens, rugs, tablecloths and handicrafts.

Attractions of Elounda and around:
• Spinalonga Island: This Island is across the causeway from Elounda. This island is accessible by a boat from Elounda and the small village of Plaka. It is a popular tourist attraction in Crete. The name ‘Spinalonga’, means ‘Long Thorn’ that came from the Venitians, which is named after a small island near Venice. Kalidon is the official name. There is a fortress that was built on this island to protect the port of ancient Eloundians. Spinalonga Island is an archaeological site.
• Salt Pans: This is a 15th century site which had salt evaporation pans. These pans were used until the early 1970′s.
• Canal: This was built by the French engineers to ease trade between Elounda and Agioas Nikolaos.
• Elounda Village: This is a fishing village with many shops and beautifully situated restaurants too.
• Agios Nikolaos is a city or a coastal town on the island of Greek of Crete. The city lies to the east of the capital, Heraklion and to the north of lerapetra and to the west of sitia. This town is capital of Lasithi. The three faces to the sea of this town are The Lake & port, Kitroplatia beach and the Marina.

Beaches:
• Ammos (sandy public beach by the marina)
• Kitroplatia is the town centre (shingle & sand) beach.
• Ammoudi and Havania beaches (on the way to Elounda).
• Almiros & Ammoudara (sandy beaches with organized facilities, about 2.5 km east of Agios Nikolaos)
• Istron/Kalo Horio – 2 good beaches (10 km),
• Plaka pebble beach (16 km).

Golf: There are 2 golf courses in Crete; one is a 9-hole course and the other an 18-hole course. The first is available about 10 km from Agios Nikolaos located at the Porto Elounda resort. The other is the Crete Golf Club with full facilities golf course that is about 45 km (about 30 minutes drive) from Agios Nikolaos, between Hersonissos & Kastelli.
• Plaka village: This village is about 15 km from Agios Nikolaos. This has fish tavernas, cafes and a crystal clear pebble beach.
• Lake Voulismeni: This is a small lake which connects to the sea. It is situated at the centre of the town of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete. The diameter of the lake is about 137 m and depth is about 64 m. This lake is connected to the harbour of the town with a channel. There is a small park around it. This lake is popular for the fireworks celebrations that happen on Orthodox Christian Easter day.
• The Cretan diet: This is a traditional local diet of the Mediterranean island of Crete, also called “Mediterranean diet” which is very popular in the place.
• The Archaeological Museum: This is a museum with exhibits from the whole of Eastern Crete, like the early Minoan cemetery of Mochlos, the Zakros palace, Lato and Elounda. There are plenty of coins ranging from about 330-350 BC to 200 AD exhibited here along with more than 1500 vases from that time.
• The Folklore Museum: This is a museum exhibiting woven textiles, embroideries, handicrafts and a model of an old traditional Cretan house along with Old photographs, paintings and costumes of the olden times.
• The Iris Museum: This museum is housed in a neoclassical building on the 28th Oktovriou pedestrian street that also holds a local flora exhibition.
• Walking: There are many routes and hikes, going through villages, hills and beaches which are ideal for walking.
• Diving: The scuba-diving centre is about 250 m from the lake.
• Almyros beach: This is a sandy beach entering the sea at the southern end. This beach offers a cooling paddle and is about a 20 minute walk from the town center. One can take a taxi from the town centre.

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit this place is in summer. One can expect showers between October and April. The temperatures are ideal from July to August.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
Agios Nikolaos (Crete) is about 40 miles from Herakleion Airport (HER). The journey takes about 45 – 60 minutes by car or taxi. Elounda is about 80 km from Heraklion Airport and it takes 60 – 75 minutes by car or taxi to Elounda.
By Bus: There are local bus services available in the place.

By Ferry:
Ferry services run to Agios Nikolaos from Athens (Piraeusport), Rhodes, Chalki, Karpathos and Kassos.
Major ferry lines operate to the port of Herakleion with buses connecting at the main bus station near to the port. Ferries run directly to the town via LANE lines from Pireaus and Rhodes. Take a connecting bus to Elounda from Agios Nikolaos.
By plane: The distance is 40 miles from Heraklion airport to Agios Nikolaos.

Getting around:
By Bus: Elounda, Kritsa, Sitia, Heraklion (and from there, Knossos), Malia and Hersonnisos are accessed with a regular bus service.
Among others are taxis, scooters, rent car facilities available in the place.

Some travel books from Amazon about Crete:

Frommer’s Crete Day by Day	Lonely Planet Crete	Heraklion, Crete (Greece) Travel Guide

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at Tripadvisor
• Restaurants at wikitravel
• Hotels at Wikitravel
• hotels at elounda
• Hotels at booking.com

Blogs / Sites about Elounda:

• Blogs and reviews at aluxurytravelblog
• Blogs and reviews at completely-crete
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod

Images and photos of Elounda:

• Images at google
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at travel.webshots

Videos of Elounda:

Elounda

Spinalonga and Greek Flag

Luxury Resort in Greece | Domes of Elounda

Elounda 2010 – Skisma to Plaka

ELOUNDA 2008 and THEA RESTAURANT

Elounda Beach Party 2011 *** official video in HD

Travel – Boca Chica, on the shore of Gulf of Chiriquí in Panama

Traveller — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:46:37 +0000

Boca Chica is located on the shore of the Gulf of Chiriquí, and is part of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. Boca Chica is a small fishing village (very famous for its fishing, and said to be one of the best kept secrets of Panama), located 5 miles from Boca Brava (a famous island off the Pacific coast of Panama that is in the Gulf of Chiriquí). There is also Bahia de Muertos which is a coral reef. This island and Isla Palenque are connected with a land bridge that is narrow.
This city is known to be approximately populated by 99,000 inhabitants. About 30 kilometers to the east of Santo Domigo de Guzman, there is a beach with the same name, Boca Chica, on the island of Hispaniola. This city is on the western Pacific shore of Panama and is near the border of Costa Rica. This place is famous for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Isla Boca Brava, Isla Palenque, Islas Ladrones and Islas Secas are the other islands surrounding this city.
Fishing is very famous near Boca Chica as it has abundant Marlina, Tuna and Dorado variety of fishes.

Attractions of Boca Chica and around:
• Boca Brava: This is an island in Panama in the Gulf of Chiriquí. One can access Boca Brava from David’s Enrique Malek International Airport. From Boca Chica, one can access by a boat.
• Gulf of Chiriquí: There are many archipelagos and islands and reefs in this area. This area has some of the richest mangroves and pelagic marine species of the world. This area offers activities like boating, sport fishing, surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling.
• Islas Ladrones: This Island is in the Gulf of Chiriqui in Panama. Islas Ladrones is situated to the south of Boca Chica and 27 miles away. This island is the ideal point for sport fishing and scuba diving in the Gulf of Chiriquí. This island has a variety of fish life, and divers can see many varieties of fish species like king angelfish, damselfish, surgeonfish, parrotfish, triggerfish, wrasse, gobies, blennies and Moorish idols. This island is unique as from May to November giant manta rays make an appearance and on a year round basis one can species of eagle, mobula and devil fish. Sharks of white-tip, black-tip and nurse are also seen all through the year along with humpback whales. Among the activities are scuba diving and diving for 30-80 meters and Snorkeling. Boco Chica is an ideal place for scuba diving and sport fishing.
• Isla Palenque: This is an island in Panama in the Gulf of Chiriquí. The word Palenque actually means a refuge for escaped slaves and this is given this name is due to Central America’s colonial periods Indians who were indentured to work in the Spanish mines in those times.
• Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí is in Gulf of Chiriquí and is a national park. This national park is spread over 14,730 hectares or 36,400 acres. This area has coral reef, mangrove swamps, marine meadows, forests, white sand, and with temperate air and weather. It is one of the hot spots of Bouquet. It has an archipelago called Las Isla Parida where one can see green iguanas, humpback whales (from August to October), hammerhead sharks, dolphins and multiple species of sea turtle on its island beaches. One can do scuba diving, snorkeling in the clear waters along with sport fishing in the Chiriquí gulf (which is beyond this national park). Islas Ladrones, Islas Secas, Boca Brava and Isla Palenque are the other islands.
• Coiba National Marine Park: This is on the island of Coiba. There are 37 surrounding islands and islets which are 30 miles off the Panamanian coast in the Gulf of Chiriquí. It is about twenty miles to the southeast of Las Secas and one can reach by boat to this archipelago. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• La Amistad: This is also known as the Friendship International Park. It is a bi-national (Panama-Costa Rica) natural reserve which falls in the mountains of the provinces of Chiriquí and Bocas Del Toro which is on the Panamanian side.
• Islas Secas: This is an island in Panama in the Gulf of Chiriquí. Islas Secas is situated to the east of Boca Chica and is 16 miles to Boca Chica. This island is also another ideal point for sport fishing and scuba diving in the Gulf of Chiriquí.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit this place would be December through March which is the dry season.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
Boca Chica is less than an hour from David’s Enrique Malek International Airport. Boca Chica is a small fishing village that is 5 miles from Boca Brava. There are daily regular flights from United States and Canada to David airport.
To go around, one can access Boca chica by boat, water taxi or by foot.

Lonely Planet Panama	Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic)	Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at bocachicabeach
• Hotels at designhotels
• hotels cheaper deals at hotelscombined

Blogs / Sites about Boca Chica, Panama:

• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at lonelyplanet
• Blogs and reviews at Travelpod

Images and photos of Boca Chica, Panama:

• a href=”http://www.google.co.in/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,17315,18167,23628,26761,26849,26869,27520,27557,27744,27868,27937&xhr=t&q=Boca+chica+images&cp=17&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=bqT8TL-lDImHrAeP-PGZCA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCcQsAQwAA&biw=1024&bih=653″ target=”_blank”>Images at google
• Images at holidaycheck
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at travelpod

Videos of Boca Chica, Panama

Boca Chica

Playa Boca Chica

Travel – Guyana – a country located in north-eastern South America

Traveller — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:00:46 +0000

Guyana is located in in the north-eastern part of South America. It is a country that has an Atlantic Ocean coastline on its northeast; to the east is Suriname; to the west is Venezuela and to the south is Brazil. It is known to be the third smallest country in South America (the first and the second are Suriname and Uruguay). The word Guyana means “Land of many waters”.
It is a non-Hispanic nation in South America along with Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil.
This place’s main events include Mashramani (Mash), Phagwah (Holi), and Deepavali (Diwali). This place is same as that of English-speaking Caribbean. It is also a founding member of the Caricom. The country is mostly populated with Amerindians and is a blend of Indo-Guyanese (East Indian) and Afro-Guyanese (African) cultures like that of Trinidad. It has the same types of food, festive events, music, sports, etc. to that of West Indies. Guyana’s main sports are Cricket and Softball cricket and football along with netball, rounder’s, lawn tennis, basketball, table tennis, boxing, squash and rugby.
English is the officially spoken language along with Creole and Amerindian dialects. This place is mostly either on highlands or on low coastal planes. The highest point is Mount Roraima which is at an altitude of 2,835 metres.
This place was initially a Dutch Colony and by 1815, the British took possession. It got its Independence on 26 May 1966 (from UK) and its National holiday is Republic Day, 23 February (1970) with the Constitution formed on 6 October 1980.
The regions of Guyana are:
• Guyanese Coastal Plain: This plain includes the cities of Georgetown, Bartica, Mabaruma and New Amsterdam.
• Guyanese Highlands: This region includes the cities Lethem and Paramakatoi.
• Corentyne-Berbice: This region includes the city Linden.

The cities of Guyana include:
Georgetown: This city is the Capital of the country and is situated in the county of Demerara.

Attractions of Guyana:
• Mashramani: This is an Amerindian word meaning “celebration after hard work” which takes place on February 23rd and it is also the country’s republic anniversary celebration. One can view a carnival-like event with parades and costumed bands through the city.
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Building: It is the largest and most powerful economic union in the Caribbean and housed in this building.
• Providence Stadium: It is on the north bank of the Demerara River and is the largest sports stadium in the country. There is a mall nearby called Providence Mall.
• Guyana International Conference Centre: It is a gift from the People’s Republic of China to the Government of Guyana.
• Stabroek Market: It is a large cast-iron colonial structure which looks like the statue that was located next to the Demerara River.
• The City Hall: This is a beautiful wooden structure originating from the colonial era.
• Orinduik Falls: This is the most visited falls of Guyana. It is situated on a highland river called Ireng River. This river lies on the border of Brazil and Guyana and joins Takutu River and then the Amazon River. These falls are at the Pakaraima Mountains and is known to be an extremely beautiful scene. The name Orinduik Falls is given after Orduik, which is the Amerindian name of an acquatic plant present at the falls. There are several herbal plants here. The surroundings are soothing and relaxings and one can rejuvenate mind and body. It is an eye for natural lovers and enjoyable site for children and family and one can also go for swimming here.
• St. George’s Cathedral, Georgetown, also known as St. George’s Anglican Cathedral: It is situated on Church Street. This church has one of the tallest wooden structures in the world and is the second tallest wooden church with its height being about 43.5 meters. The architect of this Cathedral is Sir Arthur Blomfield and the church was accessible to public on 1899. This is a National Monument as it was the first church, and it dates back to 1810. The arches are of Gothic style and it gives a historical glimpse into the Guyana of that time. The glasses are stained and portray scenes like Crucifixion and the Ascension and it also has a large chandelier gifted by Queen Victoria.
• Demerara Harbour Bridge, Guyana: This Bridge is a floating toll bridge of length 6,074 feet long. It was opened in 2 July 1978 and is one of the longest floating bridges in the world. The construction of Demerara Harbour Bridge, Guyana was assisted and started under the British Government. It is 1.25 miles long and has 61 spans with even small crafts being able to pass under. This bridge links people of Georgetown to the people living in West Bank Demerara and enhances business and trade in the country.
• Dadanawa, Guyana: This is also called as the Melville’s Ranch and is located on the Rupununi River in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana. It is spread over an area of 2,000 square miles. It is also known to be the largest and most isolated cattle ranch of the country. The name is based on an Amerindian name from of the local Wapishanan of a mountain, Dadinauwau, which is close to Dadanawa, Guyana.
• Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, Guyana: This is a museum of anthropology that is one of the oldest museums of the country. It was open to public in 1982 though open in1974. It was run by a NGO of Government of Guyana. This museum houses collection and artifact of culture of Guyana. It also hosts exhibitions.
The organization takes care of the collection, exhibition and conservation of the artifacts that showcases the spectacular culture of Guyana. Dr Denis Williams (who was an archaeologist) founded Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, Guyana.
• Kaieteur Falls: It is situated in the centre of Guyana and on the Potaro River. It is a natural wonder, very beautiful. It has a single drop of 741 feet which is the largest in the world. It is located in Kaieteur National Park. It is known to be five times higher than the Niagara Falls and two times the height of the Victoria Falls. It is the 123rd tallest according to the World Waterfalls Database and the 19th largest waterfall in terms of volume and in their estimation, the 26th most scenic waterfall in the world.
• Iwokrama Canopy Walkway: It was opened in 2003 of November and has a 154 meter long Canopy Walkway from heights of 30 meters. One can see birds like the Green Aracari, Scarlet Macaw, Guiana Toucanette or Channel-bill Toucan and Red Howler Monkeys.
• Ecotourism: This is a booming industry in Guyana.
• The Rupununi Savannah, The Kanuku Mountains, Marshall Falls, Kyk-Over-Al, Shell Beach, Mabaruma, Lethem and Paramakatoi are some other destinations to visit.

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate is Tropical and moderated by northeast trade winds. There are two rainy seasons which are from May to mid-August and mid-November to mid-January. There is a threat of floods in the rainy seasons and so it is best to avoid this time for tourists.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to visit Guyana: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Luxembourg, Montserrat, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States.

By plane:
The Timehri international airport was named in honor of the indigineous displaced peoples of Guyana; and was renamed Cheddi Jagan International Airport after the President. There are daily international flights into and out of Cheddi Jagan International Airport which is about 40km south of Georgetown. International flights include flights to the US, Canada, UK and the Caribbean with Caribbean Airlines.

By car:
Guyana has roads accessible to Suriname to the East and Brazil to the south.
There are no road links between Venezuela and Guyana. Travel to Venezuela may be done by air via Trinidad or overland through Roraima State in Brazil.

Getting around:
Minibuses travel throughout Guyana and are the cheapest way to travel. Many parts of Guyana are separated by large rivers which can be traversed by way of river taxi. Taxis are a good way to get around in Georgetown or also rent cars.

Some books that will help enhance your trip to Guyana:

Guyana (Bradt Travel Guide Guyana)	Guyana [Hardcover]	Guyana, Guyane & Suriname

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotel
• http://guyanahotels.com/
• http://www.guyanahotel.com/
• http://www.herdmanstonlodge.com/

Blogs / Sites about Guyana:

• http://www.herdmanstonlodge.com/
• Expat-blog
• Travelblog
• Another Blog

Images and photos of Guyana:

• Google Image Search
• http://www.travel-images.com/guyana.html
• pbase

Videos about Guyana from youtube:

Guyana trip 2012

Guyana georgetown 12/6/11

GUYANA IS MY COUNTRY