PANAMA, WHERE THE OCEANS MEET
Panama is a tiny country of just 4 million people half of whom live in its capital city where we started our trip. Even though Panama is best known for its Panama City and Panama Canal, the country has a lot more to offer. Panama’s treasures aren’t just limited to Panama City – they extend far beyond, deep into the waters and the jungle. Thousands of islands lying off its Pacific, Atlantic, and Caribbean coasts, unique wildlife, coffee and cocoa plantations, and unexplored rainforests are there waiting for adventurous souls.
PANAMA CITY, THE OLD, THE NEW AND THE UNEXPECTED
The modern metropolis of Panama City, which is quite similar to Miami, the old city of Casco Viejo or Casco Antiguo, which was finished and settled in 1673 and is now a Unesco World Heritage Site, and the ancient city of Panama Viejo, which has been in ruins ever since it was destroyed by British pirates in 1671, are all combined in one place.
Some interesting facts about Panama:
- Panama Viejo is the oldest European colony on the American Pacific coast. It was established in 1519 by the conquistador Pedraras Dávila.
- Panama is the smallest country in Central America and the 132nd most populous country in the world.
- Panama visitors can swim in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on the same day.
- Panama is the only location in the world where you can see the sun rising over the Pacific and setting over the Atlantic.
- The canal accounts for one-third of all economic activity in Panama.
- The first nation in Latin America to accept the US dollar as its own was Panama.
- On the American continent, the City of Panama is home to the oldest, longest-running municipal council.
- Ecuador is where the Panama Hat is produced.
- Panama has the oldest railroad that is still in use. It makes a round trip from Panama City to Colon.
- Metropolitan National Park is the only rainforest in the world found in the middle of a city, the nation’s capital.
Despite being cosmopolitan, Casco Viejo is full of character and features a variety of architectural styles, such as Spanish colonial structures in addition to French and Antillean townhouses that were built during the construction of the Panama Canal. It’s been enjoyable to wander the city’s tree-lined streets and squares, take in spectacular sunsets from Casa Casco, have some of the best ceviches in the fish market, and discover the Museum of the Panama Canal’s disputed past.
Interesting facts about Panama Canal: http://www.history.com/news/7-fascinating-facts-about-the-panama-canal.
BOQUETE, THE LAND OF ETERNAL SPRING.
Boquete, a picture-perfect, peaceful, and unspoiled village in the foothills of the verdant highlands of Chiriqui, is easily accessible from Panama City through an hour-long flight to David and an hour-long drive. The Geisha brand of coffee, which is among the best and most costly in the world, is grown here.
Full of gardens and lush valleys. waterfalls, lovely flowers, birds, and coffee farms, Boquete is extraordinarily vibrant and resembles a bouquet of flowers. Additionally, it is close to Baru, the only volcano in Panama.
One of those idyllic small towns, Boquete makes you never want to leave and always dream of returning, even if it’s just to witness the elusive Resplendent Quetzal. This time, it had been avoiding us because of the rainy season.
We also did the jeep tour to the top of Baru Volcano in Boquete. It started at 4 am and brought us to the summit just in time to see the sunrise. Being above the clouds among the ever-changing scenery was truly unforgettable.
SLEEPY BOCAS DEL TORO
The last part of our trip was a visit to Panama’s northwestern tropical Caribbean island archipelago Bocas del Toro, a famous eco-tourism destination. We drove to the port town of Almirante and from there had to take a half-hour boat ride to Isla Colon and then another 10-minute ride to Isla Bastimentos.
Bocas del Toro is comprised of about 300 islands of which just 9 are inhabited. Seductively laid back and full of wildlife they are very different from crowded Panama City and manicured Boquete. Unfortunately, our Bocas adventure was cut short because of a severe storm that arrived in the Caribbean. We had to leave a day early to catch the car ferry from Isla Colon as the small boats could not overcome the crashing waves.
We did not do the snorkeling trip to Zapatilla Cays because of the storm and did not visit Star Fish Beach either. However, we saw red poisonous frogs, monkeys, sloths, and a lot of beautiful birds, walked the empty beaches, and enjoyed the warmth of the Caribbean which was a gift in itself.
Sometimes you have to leave the place and only then realize how captivating it was regardless of all the inconveniences and shortcomings and even dirt. Farewell Bocas, the untamed Caribbean beauty!