PANAMA

PANAMA TRIP REPORT AND TRAVEL ITINERARY

Here a bit from the Panama trip report that contains a lot of travel information about destinations, weather, etc... and some silly anecdotes about our journey too.
"The following day we reached beautiful Santa Catalina, on the Pacific Ocean. It was a touristy place, according to the travel guide, and indeed it was: there were at least 10 tourists (including us) in the whole village! Mostly, there were beaches, coconuts and palm trees."
" The bungalows were right on the beach, a superb one. Few meters behind the bungalows, there was another great beach. This one, however, was inhabited by Tito the crocodile, so it was better to avoid it."
CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE PANAMA TRIP REPORT AND FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGALLERY

PANAMA TRAVEL INFO

Why? Panama is an ideal destinations for all nature-lovers: it boasts two oceans, lush mountains, Caribbean islands and tropical animals. It's one of the safest countries of Central America and is quite unknown to mass tourism. People are nice and kind. Can't ask for anything more...

When to go? Best time is from mid-December to mid-April, the dry season. You'll find a lot of sun and very slim chances of rain... at least on the Pacific coast. In this period most probably you'll be able to enjoy also the Caribbean side of Panama, but you might also get some rain. Still, temperatures are always perfectly warm.
How? A rental car gives you freedom in your travel itinerary and a lot of joy, allowing visiting the most isolated places. However, if you are alone or if you want to focus on the islands, you should consider travelling by bus and boat. Service is pretty good.
How much? Ten euros per night, per person, can provide you a very decent hotel room, and the food can be even cheaper. You have to find the right offer for the flight, which will probably the biggest cost of your trip (unless you live in Costa Rica :)). The Isla Coiba tour is 300 euros for three days/two nights all inclusive: it's not the cheapest option, but still it's not much considering that you are visiting an isolated and unique national park.
To have an idea of the prices of the hotels in Panama click here to find the best offers for accomodation.
Where? A In theory, the most fascinating places are Santa Catalina, Isla Coiba, Bocas Del Toro, San Blas, Boquete. Moreover, many travel itineraries touch Boca Chica, Las Lajas, Panama City and the channel. In reality, what happens is that along the road you'll find many attractive detours: secluded bays, green mountains, deserted beaches, you'll have much choice.
Where else? You could consider visiting Colon and Portobelo, on the Caribbean coast. Also, you might be interested in more hiking in the jungle or on Baru Volcano. It's also interesting to add to your travel itinerary the possibility of crossing a couple of borders: to Costa Rica, by bus, and to Colombia. In the latter case, you should take a boat from Portobelo to Cartagena via San Blas.

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