Traveling in Panama, need suggestions!?

Question

I need suggestions of good places to visit/see in the area of Panama west of Panama City all the way to Costa Rica. That is the route I will be traveling.

Answer 1

To the north is Changuinola, a banana plantation town.  From there you can go to Bocas Del Toros [sp].  It's an island.  You have to go to a poor town that begins with an 'A' to catch a boat to it.  Kids will come up to sell you a ticket to one of the boat companies.  

To get to the island from Changuinola, you can take a taxi usually a pick up truck, to the town that begins with an 'A'.  Once in Bocas Del Toros, I recommend renting a bike to ride around.  They have cheap hotels there, too.

On the south side of Panama is David.  I've never been there, but I hear it's nice.  A little out of the way going into Costa Rica though.

If you take a bus into Costa Rica, carry your valuables when you're asked to get off the bus at security checkpoints.  Wisdom that I was given.

By the way, it's all cheap and safe.  The scary parts of Panama are way out east and parts of Panama City.

Answer 2

If you want to see tourist destinations:

El Valle (second largest volcanic crater in the world with a town nestled in it)

Gorgona Beach (beautiful black sand)

Coronado Beach

DeCameron All-inclusive Resort

Playa Blanca All-inclusive Resort

Las Tablas (home to the most beautiful costumes for the carnival queens)

Boquete (home of the world's greates coffee)

Parque Nacional Volca Baru (high green lust and cool)

The beautiful Island of Bocas Del Toro

For other types of information about Panama see http://www.panamaexpertos.com/

Answer 3

I would check out a few panama resource guides. One good one is http://www.panama-guide.com/ , another is http://www.dailypanamablog.com/

A destination you might like is Bocas del Toro, which is on the Caribbean side near Costa Rica. I havent been yet but it is known for lots of great surfing and different tourist activities in a laid back atmostphere. The lonely planet is a good jumping point at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/d...

Answer 4

Skip Gorgona, while it has interesting (and beautiful) black sand (pure iron! just take a magnet) it will toast your feet and the beech is just ordinary and kind of rough.

Visit www.FocusOnPanama.com for some information about your chosen itinerary. But to name a few.

- Have some Chicheme on the Panamericana just outside Chorrera

- Visit the mirador at Campana

- El Valle de Anton (preferably on Sundays) if you have time also go and see the petroglyphs, the termal waters, the zoo

- The old colonial churches in Cocle, Herrera and Los Santos

- El Caño arquelogical site in Cocle

- Volcan, Boquete and Cerro Punta in the highlands of Chiriqui

Answer 5

remember one thing..the rainy season is starting now!!..dry season is from dec to approx may...then it's rain ALL summer!!!

Answer 6

I will totally go to El valle de Anton... There you can go to the Termal WAters and also do Canopy at the waterfall... THis is the best place to buy SOUVENIRS....THey have a little market with lots of souvenirs and at a great price.

Other Places are the Volcan Baru..BOquete and BOcas del Toro...in BOcas el Toro you might want to visit the islands and go to the Beach if the Weather allows it.  There are also some stores in the border, but I wouldnt buy much there.   In Chiriqui there are a few Natural Places that you can visit and maybe you can stop and eat in David.  Comming from Costa rica you will find a lot of beaches on the way...There is an all Inclusive Hotel call  DEcameron..you might want to stop there for a day or two (Dont do it weekends, I really did not like it much it was crowded with Colombians they were loud)...Farther down you will get to the Panama city area...In panama you might want to go to the Canal...and the Cause Way....Night life is pretty busy specially Thursday to Saturday... THere are many little bars that you can visit in the Calle Cincuenta Area near TGIF.  If you want something to the Extreme you might want to take a short Flight to the SAN BLAS Islands...they are Amazing....

Near the border with Panama about 30 minutes to the Costa Rican Side there is a Beach Called Golfito...I liked it when I went about 10 years ago

Hope it helps...