A Melting pot of tourist opportunities:
Panama, whose capital has the same name, has a surface of 11,887 square km, which borders to the north on the province of Colón, to the south on the Pacific ocean; to the east on the Wargandí Region and the province of Darién, and to the west on the province of Coclé. Its climate is humid subtropical, warm except for the mountain zones in the east and west of the province. It has countless natural attractions, historical monuments and its citizens are willing to offer the best of themselves to make your visit an unforgettable experience.
From the east border of the province, crossing the Canal basin and all of the coastal extension until reaching its western border, through the Interamerican Highway, you will enjoy to the fullest an efficient and safe road network. We begin this trip in the northeaster border of the province in the town of Chepo, located little more than an hour from Panama City. This region is home to both River and Lake Bayano, the main hydroelectric source of the capital city. The town is very quiet and has a small pier where seafood is collected and redistributed for consumption in the capital.
Its main attraction is its central park, home to the most famous carnivals in East Panama. Through the Interamerican Highway to Chepo, we reach Pacora, a small town with a port in its Pacific Coast, from where ships leave towards the province of Darién. Its main attraction is the Pacora river, ideal for kayaking and river-rafting during the rainy season from July to December. Only half an hour away from the International Tocumen Airport is the mountain region known as Cerro Azul (Blue Hills)
From its tall mountains you can appreciate large parts of Panama City and the Pacific Ocean. Its climate is cool, with low temperatures during the night. Its surrounding forests are home to exotic birds and an abundant wildlife, which you can enjoy through a series of pathways available to all visitors. This mountain region also has small boarding houses and restaurants. To visit these three points of the eastern sector of the province, you will have to take the Corredor Sur from Panama City towards the municipality of Tocumen, until you reach the Super Xtra supermarket to your left, where you will have to turn in that direction and continue the roadway going up the mountain. To reach Pacora and Chepo you must continue the Interamerican Highway after leaving the highway.
Back to the capital city, to reach the National Park Soberanía and the famed Camino de Cruces, where Spain moved the riches coming from South America, you must take Via Tocumen, and turn left at San Miguelito to take the Transistmica Highway towards the province of Colón. Many different species of birds and mammals make this park an invaluable habitat for nature. Another park near the city is the Natural Metropolitan Park. The park consists of dry forest and is home to various species of butterflies, birds, reptiles and mammals. The park has three different trails, easily accessed and covered; and even a small museum with a library and a souvenir store.
Once you cross the Bridge of the Americas towards western Panama, you will find Veracruz, the closest coastal community to the city, and one of the most visited tourist destinations. This is an open and diverse beach, with a beautiful panorama. During the weekends, many visitors come here in their cars, which are parked next to each other in Venado Beach, displaying and competing with their sound equipments. During the weekdays, Veracruz is a very quiet town and an ideal place to spend a while in silence at the beach. Back to the Interamerican Highway, towards the west of the province, is La Chorrera, a quickly growing town, not so much touristic but very popular for its “Chicheme” a cold soft drink made of milk, corn and cinnamon.
The main festivity that gathers visitors from all over the country is the celebration of the Separation of Panama from Spain on November the 28th. From this town you will reach La Arenosa at the Gatun Lake. Here, you can enjoy a calm day while you have a nicely done fish in any of the local restaurants. The lake is very popular for the water skiing, fishing and diving. One of the largest towns is Capira, approximately 40 minutes to the west of the capital city. It is a traditional town with a colonial style. Amongst the towns in the western sector of the province, it is the one with the most popular carnival. You cannot pass through Capira without having a taste of its popular cheeses and bakeries.
The National Park and Natural Reserve Altos de Campana is the first National Park in the country, established in 1966. It protects a large part of the basin that feeds the Panama Canal and its wildlife diversity is reflected in approximately 39 species of mammals and 267 species of birds. The park is also home to 62 species of reptiles and 82 species of amphibians, including the famous golden frog. The Punta Chame beach is located in a small peninsula covered by white sands. This sector has become a favorite for land buyers for the building of beachfront houses. Other famous beaches in the west sector of the province are Gorgona, Coronado, Punta Barco, Costa Esmeralda and San Carlos. The latter is located in the town of the same name in the area of Farallón, and it’s the most important town bordering the province of Coclé. This town is a starting point for different beaches in the sector.
The Panama Gulf belongs to the district of Balboa, province of Panama, and it is a popular destination for locals and tourists. The closest island to the Capital is Taboga, which can be reached in ships from the Amador Causeway. The trip lasts little longer than 45 minutes. Some of the attractions of the place are: its beach, birdwatching, and scuba diving.
There are small hotels and restaurants for every taste. Southeast from the gulf is the Archipelago of Las Perlas, with more than 200 islands and islets. The largest island is Isla del Rey, located around 60 nautical miles from Panama City, only 5 minutes in plane and 30 minutes in ship. The island has 3 km of white beaches, where you can enjoy the extensive Panamanian tropical fauna in its natural environment. It is the second largest island in the country, and is popularly known for its ecotourism, horse riding and spectacular beaches. The province of Panama is without a doubt a melting pot of touristic opportunities for all tastes. From its islands, beaches, mountains and national parks, to the metropolitan city, it offers to both locals and tourists the opportunity of various forms of tourism in a single territory. You’re welcome to come and see us!
PEARL ISLANDS
The Pearl Islands is a group of around 39 islands and 100 islets (many of them small and uninhabited) located in the middle of the Gulf of Panama, around 48 km off the coast of the Isthmus of Panama and with a total surface of around 1,165 square km. The whole Archipelago is part of the Balboa District, in the province of Panama.
The name comes from the abundance of pearls to be found in the area, during the period of Spanish dominion of the region. In this area was found the famous Peregrine Pearl, owned by Phillip II and currently in possession of actress Elizabeth Taylor.
For its incredible amount and diversity of fish and marine species, this archipelago is considered one of the best spot for sports fishing in the world.
The coast line is extremely irregular, which allows for many places for boat anchorage, the largest of these being Bahía Bodega (Warehouse Bay), to the west, with length of a mile and half a mile wide. Furthermore, there are many rivers and streams that eventually flow to the ocean, creating a source of food for many species of fish. This provides many opportunities to fish directly from the shore. The climate is tropical, with temperatures from 68° – 93°F, with an average of 79°F.
Among the most important islands in the Archipelago, Isla del Rey (Island of the King) stands out with 234 square km, the second largest in Panama. This rectangular-shaped island with a tip that extends to the south is located to the southeast of the archipelago. The town of San Miguel is the capital of the Balboa district and the most populated city in the archipelago. In this island there are also other towns such as Ensenada, La Guinea and La Esmeralda.
Pedro Gonzales is the third largest island and is found right north from San José; its main town is Pedro Gonzáles. The San José Island (44 square km) is the second largest island, and the seventh in the country. It is located to the west of Isla del Rey, and has no important towns. San José is the most remote island. This is a private island, with 14,000 acres of jungles and other ecosystems. The island is 90 km away from Panama City, near the border of the tectonic plate and in an area known as “los explosivos”, where the ocean floor drops abruptly to a depth of more than 9,000 feet, offering unequaled deep water fishing.
Contadora Island, located to the North of the Archipelago, is known for its tourist and hotel activity. Originally, this island was used during the conquest for inventories and stock lists for the ships going to Spain. In this island was form the Contadora Group and was the place of exile to the Shah of Iran in 1979.
Other islands that make up the archipelago are Bayoneta, Pacheca, Mogo Mogo,Gibraleón, Casayeta, Casaya, La Mina, Galera, Viveros, Cañas y San Telmo.
