Tell me about Panama, Centeral America, 2 days in Panama City then 4 days in David, Sonny?

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dnafemme

I lived in Panama for five months last year. Miramar is a fine hotel, and Ceasar Park is also great, although the food is a little sketchy.

Inside Panama city there is a fantastic Lebanese place called Cafe Beirut. It's right next to the Mariott. In the same area there is a French+Swiss restaurant that actually has excellent wine called Restaurant 1985/Rincon Suizo. It is superb. The Brazilian barbecue Os Segredos da Carne is fantastic, but not vegetarian friendly.

In Panama city you should take a taxi out to the Causeway ($3 from city center). It is a long strip of restaurants that looks out into the ocean. If you are into wildlife you can take a tour out to the Smithsonian Institution's Barro Colorado Island. I don't know how much tours are but a taxi ride to Gamboa where the ferry departs is $40. They also have some fantastic bird watching tours in Gamboa on Pipeline Road.

If you go up to David, there is an adorable little town called Boquete, about 45min away. You can get there comfortably by bus. They have coffee plantations you can tour, and you can hike the Quetzal trail.

On a road parallel to the one that runs from David to Boquete is a beautiful guest house called Finca la Suiza, owned by a swiss couple. It can be a little expensive from a student's perspective, but they have some wonderful hiking trails that run from the lowest tropical points up to a cloud forest. If you catch it at the right time you should see trogons and quetzals. The food is great, and most of the produce comes from the couple's garden. Again you can get there by bus in about 45 min. The bus driver should know where it is. I think the bus that runs past the farm continues on to Bocas del Torro.

I think all these sights are in Lonely Planet. I'd recommend them.

The taxi drivers and peddlers will be aggressive in David. Don't talk to them. I think the bus stands should be clearly marked.

If you fly to David, you want to go with Aeroperlas, from the Albrook airport, which is different from the international one.

All taxi rides in the city should be $1.25, unless you have lots of people and luggage. Then it will be $2. This includes fares to the domestic airport. A taxi from the Tocumen airport is $25, but this can usually be arranged for free with most hotels.

Don't go walking around with bags into neighborhoods that have no windows on the houses. There are police everywhere though, so they should keep you out of serious trouble. Paper clip a $5 bill to your passport. It can get you out of a lot of trouble with the police.

Good luck!!

Kristina W

I have spent the past two days in Pamana City and I would recommend that you spend one day seeing the Canal (transit tours are done Thursdays and Saturdays) and doing another day trip either to El Valle de Anton (to see the rainforest and the town there) or the Pacific beaches.

If you have more time, you can also fly to San Blas Islands or Bocas del Toro on the Atlantic side.

If youÂ´re looking for a place to stay, the Crowne Plaza and the Intercontinental Miramar are both great.

heatherfaerie

i don't know but send me a postcard.

carmelita

sonny, what do you want to know? the best whore houses or dive spots? do you want to go thru the canal as a line handler? i don't know anything about david ecept several hundred cases of dengue fever there last year

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