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.

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

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.

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

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.

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, 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)

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.

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

This province is divided into twelve districts.
1. Atalaya District (Atalaya): Atalaya District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate population of 8,916 and a land area of about 157 km².
2. Calobre District (Calobre): Calobre District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate population of 12,184and a land area of about 802 km².
3. Cañazas District (Cañazas): Cañazas District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate population of 15,999and a land area of about 800 km².
4. La Mesa District (La Mesa): La Mesa District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate population of 11,746 and a land area of about 516 km².
5. Las Palmas District (Las Palmas): Las Palmas District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate population of 17,924 and a land area of about 1006 km².
6. Montijo District (Montijo, Panama): Montijo District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate population of 12,211and a land area of about 2202 km².
7. Río de Jesús District (Río de Jesús): Río de Jesús District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate population of 5,256 and a land area of about 317 km².
8. San Francisco District (San Francisco): San Francisco District is a district in Veraguas Province.
9. Santa Fé District (Santa Fé): Santa Fé District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate land area of about 1943 km². This district is known for its orchids and Artisan Market that is known for classic Panama hats making and selling. These hats are very durable and cheaper here. Also this market sells handmade indigenous style dresses for women and girls. The district is divided into the following corregimientos: Santa Fé(capital), Calovébora, El Alto, El Cuay, El Pantano, Gatuncito, Río Luis
10. Santiago District (Santiago de Veraguas): Santiago District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province with an approximate population of 74,679 and a land area of about 971 km². This capital city houses the primary industries that include lead for 2H pencils and Spoon Handles.
11. Mariato District (Mariato): Mariato District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province.
12. Soná District (Enrique Arosemena): The district of Soná is a district within the Province of Veraguas and is located in the Republic of Panama. The capital town of this district is also Soná and hosts to the Sona Football Club 1835.

The major towns of this place are:
1. Soná
2. Bahía Honda
3. Calidonia
4. Cativé
5. El Marañón
6. Guarumal
7. La Soledad
8. Trinchera
9. Quebrada de Oro
10. Río Grande
11. Rodeo Viejo
12. El Distrito de Soná

Attractions of Veraguas:

National parks:
• The Coiba National Park: This Park has the largest coral reef of the Pacific Coast of America.
• Cerro Hoya National Park: This Park covers the southwest part of the Azuero peninsula and the surrounding sea.
• Santa Fe National Park: This is a beautiful virgin forest in the northern region of the province.
• La Yeguada Forest reserve: This reserve is known to have an artificial lake for the production of electricity.
• El Montuoso Forest reserve.

Beaches for recreation, surfing and fishing:
• Playa Santa Catalina
• Playa Mariato
• Malena and Torio

• Hiking: There are many mountains with hiking trails in the Province of Veraguas. One can explore the remote places and cultures by mingling with the locals of the province.
• Nature & Wildlife: The Coiba National Park which is a group of 38 islands including Coiba Island which is known as the largest island in Central America offers quite a large amount of nature and wildlife to explore. The waters are spread over an area covering 430,825 acres. This is a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Surfing: Santa Catalina offers big waves making it ideal for remote location surfing.
• Iglesia de San Francisco de la Montaña: This is a church that dates back to the year 1727. It has unique Baroque architecture and is a declared National Historical Monument (declared on January 27, 1937). About Seventeen kilometers from Santiago, this San Francisco de la Montaña Church is stationed. This church has hundreds of hand carved pieces and is known to have the oldest baroque group of altars of the continent. These altars are painted or covered with gold leaf. These altars have Scared scriptures carved on them with scenes, a reflection of the Spanish Catholicism mixed with the Indian culture. This is located few kilometers away from the Pan American Highway.
• Atalaya is the smallest district of the province of Veraguas with an area of about 150 square kilometers. This is to celebrate the Cristo de Atalaya, also known as Jesus of Nazareth and to thank and to ask spiritual, physical or material favors. People drive or walk and some crawl and some get there by taking 2 steps forwards and 3 steps backwards to get there. This celebration takes place after carnival until Sunday of the same week.
• The old houses of Sona: This is a town which depicts the history of the Spanish colonial times and one can see the houses that were built with palm, also called huts between 1828 and 1897. These huts had latched doors for avoiding letting pigs into the huts. There are about 80 of them and only 20 have mud walls. There are preserved traditional houses, located around the Plaza de San Isidro that date back to early 20th century.
• Coiba National Marine Park: Is on the island of Coiba which is the largest island in Central America. There are 37 surrounding islands and islets which are 30 miles off the Panamanian coast in the Gulf of Chiriquí. During the period 1919 to 2004, this island was a political prisoners location and a penal colony for criminals in Panama. 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. This island is known for superior diving and known to be the best along the Pacific Coast from Columbia to Mexico. One can watch for the new marine species including whale and tiger sharks, sperm whales, sea turtles, angel rays and giant schools of fish and some of them are new to science. The crested eagle and several sub-species of agouti, possum and howler monkeys are housed here. It has been given the name of Garden of Eden and is known as the second largest coral reef in the Pacific.

Best time to visit / climate:

Veraguas 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
Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?hl=en&q=veraguas+panama&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Veraguas,+Panama&ll=8.200616,-81.073608&spn=2.88131,3.532104&z=8&iwloc=A

How to get there:
From the City of Panama one can travel via the Inter-American Highway up to Santiago which takes about 4 hours. Take a private transportation or rented car or public transportation from the Terminal of Albrook. For travelling by airplane, take flights with a local airline departing from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport (Albrook).

To get around, a taxi is the best way.

Enjoy your trip to Veraguas with these Amazon travel books:

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

Blogs / Sites about Veraguas, Panama:

• Information on veragus at veragus.org
• Blogs and reviews at travelpost
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at realestate
• Blogs and reviews at travelblog

Images and photos of Veraguas, Panama:

• Images at google
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at travel images
• Images at travelpod

Videos of VERAGUAS, Panama:

VERAGUAS, PANAMA

Living in Panama – Santiago, Veraguas

Santa Fe, Veraguas, Panama – International Living Panama

Playa la Plaza beach Western Azero Veraguas Panama

Ocean View near Torio, Veraguas Panama

Santa Fe de Veraguas Panama 2011

Attractions of Panama City, Panama

• The Old City: This is a World Heritage Site and is nearby Pargue Lefevre. There are churches and building of French and Spanish style along with restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops. Tapas and mojito are restaurants speciality here. Then there is also the Presidential palace, and a Tower that also has a cultural centre.
• Vasco Nunez de Balboa Park: This is a small park situated in la Avenida Balboa and a perfect relaxing place near the sea. Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer, on whose name this park is named. Hence the park has a statue of him with a flag and a sword and, in front a design of sea horse images.
• Pargue Soberania: This is about 15 minutes away from the Panama City and is a hiking place. The hiking trail goes through the rainforests with caves and lakes, and bird watching and fishing too are also part of the overall adventure.
• The Panama Canal: This canal is about 77 km (48 miles). It is a very famous shipping canal and this canal joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and has been the key for maritime trade, saving a huge longer journey around South America. The traffic was about 1000 ships in the early days and present it is about 14,700 vessels a day. This canal has its own measurement system called Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) in tons. It was one of the largest engineering projects of its times, and took a lot of hard work and dedication, and also cost a lot of lives. The alternate much longer route is via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America.

Historical Tours:
• Panama Viejo: This was once the gateway city for the Spanish conquest of Latin America. Presently there are ruins of the battles with the English pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. There is a museum with Spanish exhibits near the site. One needs to know Spanish or take a guide for translation for understanding as the exhibits are mostly in Spanish.
• Casco Viejo: This is an established Spanish colonial city, established in 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.
• Other Highlights include the churches of the 17th century that include the Church of the Golden Altar, the ruins of 17th century convents and residences, original dungeons. There is a French monument for the 22,000 people who died building the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Museum. There is also a restored building which was once the headquarters of the French company which was in charge of building a sea level canal.
• Shopper’s Delight: The popular shopping destinations are Punta Pacifica, Alb rook and El Dorado Malls, the Agenda Central with more local flavor and Latin styles.

Enjoy the Outdoors: The beaches, Trails, national parks, surfing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, relaxing on beach ends and exploring the marine and mammal life is a must scene in Panama city. The crystal clear waters and the winds and the weather are so favorable and good that one can’t miss it.
• Rio Mar: This offers warm waters 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 this is the best in dry season which 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 breakwaters 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.
• Panama Canal Railway Trans-Isthmus Ride: This is a Kansas City railroad which reopened as the historic Panama Canal Railway.
This is a 50 mile railroad ride with scenic ocean view from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. This ride includes the Panama Canal and rainforest scenery.
• Nightlife: There are nightclubs, discos and casinos in the city.
• Ancon Hill and Los Pueblitos: Ancon hill is a prominent hill in Panama City which overlooks the canal and the city. There is a staircase on the bottom of the hill to the top of the road. This is about half an hour walk. The walk is in a rainforest with birds and animals with a double view at summit and a bird’s eye view of the Canal. There are 3 miniature villages at the foot of the hill. These villages represent 3 cultures, the Spanish, the West Indian and the native Indian.
• Panama Canal Rainforest: The Panama Canal rainforests are one of the most 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.
Some other places to see:
• Las Bóvedas, The Vaults is a waterfront promenade jutting out into the Pacific.
• The National Institute of Culture Building and the French Embassy.
• The Cathedral on Plaza de la Catedral
• Teatro Nacional, a performance center, with outstanding natural acoustics.
• Museo del Canal Interoceánico (Interoceanic Canal Museum);
• Palacio de las Garzas (Heron’s Palace), the official name of the presidential palace.

Best time to visit / climate:

Panama City 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 Panama City is in the dry season.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

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.
Domestic flights leave out of Gelabert/Albrook Airport which was once an airbase. Daily flights serve every major town and city in the country. The major carriers are AirPanama and Aeroperlas.

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.
By bus: there is bus terminal which is next to Albrook airport which has regular bus services by Tica Bus.
To get around taxis are the best way.

Learn more about Panama and its capital:

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• Hotels at tripadvisor
• Restaurants at wikitravel
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at panamainfo
• Restaurants at Panamainfo
• Hotels with cheap deals at hotelscombined

Blogs / Sites about Panama city, Panama:

• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at expatblog
• Blogs and reviews at the panama report
• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at blog at panama total

Images and photos of Panama City, Panama:

• Images at google search
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at skyscraperctiy
• Images at galenfrysinger
• Images at wikipedia

Videos of Panama City, Panama:

Panama City – Aerial View

Panama City

Panama Travel and Tourism

Attractions of Islas Secas, Chiriquí, Panama
• Diving: The Secas Archipelago with its neighboring island groups like Ladrones, Paredas and the Coiba National Park, gives us the best adventure diving in the world. This island is governed by five oceanic currents and is rich in eco-regions, such as the Tropical Eastern Pacific. The islands of the Gulf of ChiriquÌ are rich in marine biodiverse life and habitat which are not present in other islands like the Galapagos and Coco Islands. One can watch about 800 species of fish which include about thirty-three species of shark including the Reef White Tip, Scalloped Hammerhead, Bull, Tiger, and the bizarre Guitar shark.
• Kayaking –Sailing- Surfing: There are hidden coves, reefs, beaches along with mangrove forests which is one of the biggest attractions of this island. One can go through all of these on a Kayaking safari.
• There is a blow hole which is also known as Buffona which is a natural phenomenon on Isla Cavada.
• One can do the best surfing from April through October.

Wildlife:
• Whale watching: One can watch the humpback whales only once in a point of year as these are migratory whales. This archipelago allows tourists to get a glimpse of their acrobatic behavior as these leviathans of the deep travel here after miles on icy waters and winter feeding at the poles.
• Bird Watching: The Frigate bird colony on Coco Island at Islas Secas Resort is worth watching and a beautiful experience as one can watch many species of birds.
• 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. During the period 1919 to 2004, this island was a location for keeping political prisoners and a penal colony for criminals in Panama. 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.
• Islas Ladrones: This Island is in the Gulf of Chiriqui and is an island. The word Ladrones means “thief” in Spanish. Islas Ladrones is situated to the south of Boca Chica and is 27 miles to Boca Chica. This island is the ideal point for sport fishing and scuba diving in the Gulf of Chiriquí. This island is full 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 view species of eagles, mobula and devil fish. Sharks of white-tip, black-tip and nurse are also seen all through the year. Among the activities are scuba diving and diving with a visibility of 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 island is given this name due to Central America’s colonial periods for the Indians who were indentured to work in the Spanish mines in those times.
• 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. Boca Chica is a small fishing village that is 5 miles from Boca Brava.
• Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí is in Gulf of Chiriquí and is a national park. This national park was found in 1994 and spread over 14,730 hectares or 36,400 acres. This area has coral reef, mangrove swamp and marine meadows with forests and white sand with temperate air and weather. This has been given the tag “one of Panama’s best kept secrets.” 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.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit this place would be April through October. One can do the best surfing from April through October.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map
Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?hl=en&q=islas+secas+panama&ie=UTF8&hq=islas+secas&hnear=Panama&z=8

How to get there:
This island, Islas Secas is situated to the east of Boca Chica and is 16 miles to Boca Chica. One can reach this island from David’s Enrique Malek International Airport and Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí can be reached by boat from the small fishing village of Boca Chica. From Boca Chica, one can access by a boat. Boca Chica is a small fishing village that is 5 miles from Boca Brava. Boca chica is about an hour from David’s Enrique Malek.
To go around, the archipelago can be rounded by using a boat.

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

• Hotels
• http://www.hotelislaseca.com/
• Tripadvisor
• Travelpod.com
• Boutiquehotelcalamia

Blogs / Sites about Islas Secas Chiriquí, Panama:

• http://islassecas.com/fishing/
• Travelpod
• http://www.headhuntersflyshop.com/wp/?p=2135

Images and photos of Islas Secas Chiriquí, Panama:

• Google Image Search
• Islassecas
• Photosntravels
• Panamarick

Enhance your travel plans through these books from Amazon:

Videos of Islas Secas Chiriquí from youtube:

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing in Panama

Islas Secas Resort

Jose Wejebe visits Islas Secas Resort

Isla Secas

Huge Tuna on Fly Islas Secas Panama

Fishing in Panama, Islas Secas

Landing on islas secas

Kokomo – Panama Islas Secas

Attraction of Providenciales:

Beaches
Providenciales and other islets in the North, South, and East Caicos have some of the great beaches of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The beaches are unique with stunning cliffs, rock jetties, and the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Long Bay Beach on Providenciales which is also called “Provo,” is a special enjoyment as one can kite board here.

Casinos
The Casablanca Casino that is on Providenciales is the major casino on the Turks and Caicos Islands. Provo has other attractions like the Princess Alexandra Marine Park, home to Jo Jo the bottlenose dolphin, shopping and exploring ancient ruins on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Activities
Golf, fishing, snorkeling, and diving are some of the activities on this group of islands.

Golf: There is an 18-hole golf course that is located on Providenciales known as the Provo Golf & Country Club. This club is also home to some exotic bird species, lush landscape and tropical ambiance. Grand Turk also has a mini golf course having nine-holes which is known as the Waterloo Golf club.

Snorkeling and Diving: Scuba divers love to explore the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands. These waters are rich with marine life and other amazing underwater life. One can also enjoy swimming with the fish. Gorgeous reef structures, breathtaking coral walls, and an extensive aquatic ecosystem beneath the waves make it very enjoyable for the diver. There are rentals in the Dive shops and other places that offer scuba and snorkel gear rental.
• Flamingo Divers, Providenciales: Flamingo Divers is a diving group with about 8 divers on board. They take the divers to the premium dive sites including French Cay, West Caicos, Sand bore Channel, and Northwest Point.
• SNUBA Turks and Caicos, Providenciales: Snorkeling trips designed for families, where one can dive to see turtles, stingrays, eagle rays, lobster, tons of fish and of course spectacular coral. This adventure is safe and a lot of fun for the whole family. One can enjoy and explore the world below which is approximately 20 ft below without carrying scuba equipment.

Fishing and Charters: The Turks and Caicos Islands are great for fisherman and for sport fishing in Caribbean. There are an array of game fish including marlin, sailfish, barracuda, and many more.
• Nautique Sports: One can rent a boat and use it for touring and one can do wakeboarding, skiing, and tubing also here.

Provo Ponies, Providenciales: Provo Ponies is a small horseback riding facility that is located in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
Picnics on private beaches and snorkeling with some of the world’s most beautiful fish and coral are the island’s special attraction.
• Caicos Conch Farm: This is the only Conch Farm of the world. One can explore the shelled sea creatures by learning about the life cycle of the Conch.
• Turks & Caicos National Museum: This museum depicts the cultural history of the islands, the discovery and the impact of early European settlement, natural and political history, and the role played in 20th century space exploration.

Best time to visit / climate:

The Turks and Caicos Islands are arid. Providenciales is one of the islands of the Turks and Caicos, and hence the same weather applies here too. In the winter the weather is generally in the 70 – 80°F range. The temperatures easily climb into the 90°F during the summer. The island gets less than 50 inches of rainfall a year. Most rainfall occurs during the hurricane months of summer. Hence better to avoid or at least be careful during this time. Sunshine and breezy cooling winds are the norm in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By plane:
American Airlines serves schedule flights from many US cities to Providenciales International Airport. Other major carriers from the US include Spirit Airlines, US Airways and Delta. British Airways offers flights to London. WestJet Airlines and Air Canada offer flights to Toronto.
• American Airlines offers non-stop service from NY-JFK and Miami.
• US Airways offers non-stop service from Philadelphia and Charlotte.
• Delta offers non-stop service from Atlanta.
• British Airways offers service from London.
• Bahamas Air offers service from Nassau.
• Local airlines offer service from nearby islands.

By boat: One can take a boat from the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas or Cuba.
Getting around: Taxis are accessible from Providenciales and Grand Turk. There are car rentals available and motorcycle rentals too on the island.

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

• Restaurants
• To stay
• Hotels
• Restaurants at Tripadvisor
• Yahoo travel

Blogs / Sites about Providenciales:

• fotosearch
• http://www.providencialesblog.com/
• Travelpost
• http://www.providencialesblog.com/more-beachtown-blogs/
• http://www.providencialesblog.com/more-beachtown-blogs/

Images and photos of Providenciales:

• Google Image Search
• Infohub
• Tripadvisor
• Fotosearch

Some books from Amazon to help you plan your trip to Turks and Caicos Islands better:

Videos of Providenciales from youtube:

Providenciales – Long Bay Beach

Leeward Beach – Providenciales

Grace Bay Beach | Providenciales | Provo | Turks and Caicos Islands | Caribbean Beaches

Bonefishing on Providenciales

Shopping in Grace Bay Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

Touring the Turks and Caicos from Providenciales to Middle Caicos

Approach into Providenciales Turks & Caicos

Beach Providenciales Turks and Caicos

Best time to visit / climate:
Puerta de Tierra has a tropical marine climate and has minimal seasonal variations. The climate is mild but has abundant rainfall in the north coast. June and November are usually the seasons of Hurricane. So avoid this time.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
Puerta de Tierra, Condado is located between Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and Old San Juan, and is a 10 minute taxi ride away from each. To get around, one can just walk around.
US citizens do not need any visa since Puerto Rico is a US territory. A Picture ID should serve the purpose. For other citizens visa and supporting documents are required.
By plane: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is the main airport which is in Carolina, near San Juan. Aguadilla and Ponce also connects with airlines like Jet Blue, Continental and Delta. There are direct flights from US. From the airport, taxi services are available.
By boat: The west coast city of Mayaguez and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic has ferry services available. From Fajardo to St. Thomas, there is a ferry. There are cruise ships that land in San Juan.

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

• Wikitravel – Restaurants
• Wikitravel – Restaurants
• Sanjuanhotels
• http://iguide.travel/San_Juan/Puerta_de_Tierra
• Lonelyplanet

Blogs / Sites about Puerta de Tierra:

• Travelpod
• Billfish tournament
• Lonelyplanet
• Travelpod Link 2

Images and photos of Puerta de Tierra:

• From Google Image Search
• iguide.travel
• Flickriver
• igougo
• From Flickr

Want to know more about San Juan ? Read these books:

Videos of Puerta de Tierra from youtube:

Luis Munoz Rivera park in Puerta de Tierra San Juan Puerto Rico

Luis Munoz Rivera Park and Paseo Caribe in San Juan Puerto Rico

Museums
• Museum of Alcázar
• Altar de la Patria
• Naval Museum of the Atarazanas
• Museum of the Casas Reales :This museum belongs to the colonial period
• Museum of Duarte: This museum depicts the history of the movement and struggle for independence of this place.
• Museum of Natural History
• Museum of Dominican Man
• World of Ambar Museum
• Museum of Modern Arts
• National Museum of History and Geography: This museum is of pre Columbian times and depicts Dominican history.

Parks and recreational areas
• Mirador Norte Park: This Park is in the north of the city and close to Villa Mella.
• Enriquillo Park
• Mirador Sur Park: This Park is situated in the southwest section of the city.
• Independencia Park: This Park is in Zona Colonial.
• Colón Park, located in Zona Colonial
• Las Praderas Metropolitan Park
• The Malecón
• Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso National Botanical Garden
• Dominican Republic National Zoo
• Barrio Chino (Chinatown)
• Parque Nuñez de Caceres

Malls and Plazas
• Acropolis Center Mall
• Bella Vista Mall
• Carrefour
• Diamond Mall
• IKEA
• Jumbo
• Malecon Center Mall
• Megacentro
• Plaza Central
• Plaza Lama
• Plaza Las Americas
• Plaza Naco
• Pola
• Sirena
• Sambil Santo Domingo Mall
• Agora Mall
• Blue Mall
• Galerias 360 Mall
• Sky Mall
• Megacentro

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit this place is January to March, as during June to October this island is subjected to severe storms as this island lies in the middle of hurricane belt. It is best to visit in the Tropical maritime which has seasonal temperature variation.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
By plane
The main airports of the Dominican Republic are
• (AZS) Samana, also known as “El Catey”, located between the towns of Nagua and Samana on the north coast
• (JBQ) “La Isabela” airport in Santo Domingo, for domestic flights and some flights from other Caribbean islands
• (LRM) La Romana on the south east coast
• (POP) Puerto Plata, also known as “Gregorio Luperon” on the north coast
• (PUJ) Punta Cana International in the east.
• (SDQ) Santo Domingo, also known as “Las Americas” on the south coast close to the capital city Santo Domingo
• (STI) Santiago also known as “Cibao International” in Santiago de los Caballeros which is the country’s second largest city.

From Europe: One can fly from Europe via Madrid (MAD) or Paris (CDG).
From US: One can fly from New York, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Philadelphia, San Juan, Atlanta or Charlotte.
One can take a taxi from the airport. Do not forget the tourist card on arrival that cost $10.

By car: In Santo Domingo, Cars may be rented through Hertz, Avis, Prestige Car Rentals and other agencies. Rentals are also available in other major cities. Take DR-1 connecting Santo Domingo and Santiago or DR-7 from just east of Santo Domingo north to near Sanchez. DR takes from east to the Samana peninsula or west along the northern coast.
By boat: Ferry services are available between Mayagüez in Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic.
Get around: One can go around using the bus service, ‘gua-guas’, domestic air flights, Cocotours- one of the Dominican Republic’s leading inbound tour operators or charter air services. Cocotours has offices in La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Samana.

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

• http://wikitravel.org/en/Santo_Domingo#Eat
• http://wikitravel.org/en/Santo_Domingo#Sleep
• Yahoo travel
• Tripadvisor

Blogs / Sites about Santo Domingo:

• http://www.blogsantodomingo.com/
• Travelblog
• Travelpod
• LonelyPlanet

Images and photos of Santo Domingo:

• Google Images
• Tripadvisor
• Trekearth
• igougo

Videos of Santa Domingo from youtube:

Santo Domingo

Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo City – Part 1

Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo City – part 2

Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo