I receive emails on a routine basis telling me that “we are coming to Panama to explore, help me with some suggestions”. I often plan entire itineraries for clients suggesting places to visit, places to stay, entertainment and of course the best places for a little rest and relaxation. I let International Living wear out people on real estate tours, I do things a little different. So let me share some thoughts with you if you are considering coming to Panama to visit and perhaps to live. This post is full of ideas and links so whether it is your first trip or you are returning and want to see other places, read on. While in Panama City, there is the Panama Canal and museum , the Gamboa rainforest, nightclubs, casinos, restaurants and more. Next up we have the many beaches and of course the mountains here in Chiriqui, all of which you can visit within a 10 day trip. Stretch it to two weeks if you can.
First off, you are on a great adventure and are soon to follow what I did in 2006 when I first visited Panama. I saw the train coming and got off the track in 2007 and bought a place here. It was natural having been born here and my wife fell in love with our home town of Boquete. But first, here are some suggestions.
As for your initial trip, plan to stay overnight in Panama and perhaps see the sights the next day spending a second night as well. Hotels that I like are the Courtyard Marriot at Multiplaza Mall and then there is the best place, Trump Ocean Club. You can visit the Panama Canal and Museum and maybe Gamboa rainforest in one day or stretch it out to two if you can maybe stay over night at the Gamboa resort.
As a side note on your flight into Panama, you can arrive with a VIP service called Royal Tocumen Saloon where they meet you at the plane and process your immigration paperwork, customs and you wait in a comfortable lounge and relax. When you luggage is in your drivers trunk, they escort you to the car, double check your luggage and you are off to the hotel. My driver runs the fleet at Courtyard and can coordinate with the VIP service to insure that you arrive to your hotel about 45 minutes quicker than normal arrival. The VIP service is $65 per person.
You next leg should be to either drive around the country of Panama or initially, arrange a transport (recommended) to one of the hotels along the coast from the City to Coronado. Playa Blanca is nice as is Coronado and Buenaventura is the best if you want to experience the coastal living close to the City.
Another nice place to visit is Pedasi and you may be able to get an Air Panama flight there (if they start up flights next year) and back which makes it a lot easier than the 5 to 6 hours it may take you to drive. It is a small fishing village with around 3,000 people total scattered around the area and maybe 100 expats. From Pedasi you can adventure further around the coast to Venao where the coast is really beautiful and the surf is great too. The pace is slow and people like it that way.
Next leg would be to fly from Panama City to David, the capital of Chiriqui. You can easily drive up here to Boquete and make this a home base to explore around our 11,400 foot mountain called Volcan Baru. We have zip lines through the rainforest, rafting, hiking, horseback riding, coffee tours and lots of restaurants and a few nice bars too. Boquete is home to 20,000 people and around 1,500 full time expats so it is a real community with our own playhouse, farmers and artist market and more. There is at least one group for any possible activity you can think of and you can find yourself overwhelmed with more activities than time. That said, there is always time to meet with friends at the Panamonte and sit around the fireplace sharing a glass of wine (my favorite place). We have many hotels to choose from depending upon your budget from $79 to $400 per night.
You can go around the mountain and visit Volcan, Cerro Punta and stay at the end of the road at Los Quetzales lodge.
Ruta Sur, To Volcan and Beyond
Next you can go to the coast at Boca Chica which is about an hour and a half and stay there at Boca del mar or Seagull Cove Lodge . From there you can take a boat excursion out to the hundreds of islands, snorkel, swim or just keep a beer can floating in your hand while soaking in neutral water off of white sandy beaches.
Paradise on the Chiriqui Coast
My friends at Boquete Outdoor Adventures can arrange any tour that you can think of while you are here.
I would allocate 2 nights in the City, maybe one or two on the coast around Coronado, maybe two nights in Pedasi and at least 4 nights here in Chiriqui with at least one night in Boca Chica. If you skip Pedasi add the two nights to Chirqui and you will not be bored or disappointed. You can also fly from David to Bocas del Toro and spend two nights there then fly back to Panama City before you head back to the US.
I hope that this helps. If you ever want to chat, I can be reached on a US line 305-448-1003 or email me at tbrymer@brymerpa.com If it bounces for some reason, try tbrymer@brymerpa.net
Best regards,
Tom Brymer
“The master in the Art of Life does not distinguish much between his work and his play, his work and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. He barely distinguishes which is which. Simply, he perceives his vision of excellency in everything he does, leaving others to decide if he is working or playing. To his own eyes, he is always doing both.”
www.panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com
Panama Address
Valle Escondido 128
Boquete, Chiriqui, Rep. de Panama
Panama Phone 507.6810.1074
US Address
10719 SW 104th Street
Miami, Florida 33176
US Phone 305-448-1003
US Fax 305-448-9009