Surfing in Panama!

Panama has some of the best surf breaks in all of Central America! Whether you like point breaks, beach breaks, hollow tubes, or long peelers, Panama has a variety of surf breaks to accommodate your style.

Unlike Costa Rica, Panama is still virgin and you can catch most of the best surf spots by yourself with your buddies. Few people know about Panama's surfing potential, which is a big plus for surfers who visit! However, you better go soon because Panama is becoming more and more popular for surfers from around the globe.

Panama's roads are of the best in Central and South America, with 4 lane highways all over the country for quick access to the surf breaks. The transportation system is very good, and buses and taxis are readily available from the international airport. However, if you are strapped for time, and would like to be picked up and guided to the best surf spots and hotels, try a surf tour by Panamasurftours.com .

Panama is also one of the safest places in the world, so no worries about getting mugged by thugs at the beach, as frequently happens in El Salvador, Mexico, and other countries in Central America. In general, you can surf, roam the streets, party, or shop care free, at any time day or night.

Panama also has an excellent communications system so you can easily call your girlfriend, family or business back home at any time without any hassle. You can even rent a cellular phone for your surf trip, so you can be always in communication.

Panama's hospitals are of the best in Central America, so in the event that you got beatings on the rocks or reef while surfing (God Forbid), you can be guaranteed that you will be assisted by well trained health care professionals.

Finally, Panama is still inexpensive. At the beaches, you can generally get a great meal for under $4, and budget hotels range from $20 to $50 per room per night, depending on your style. Bus transportation can cost anywhere from $0.30 to $15 depending on where you are going.

Beaches of Panama!

Fronting two oceans, Panama offers an expert's choice of beaches, both on the mainland and on islands just offshore. Both coasts have beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, white sand, coral reefs and coconut palm trees. From small coves to miles of open beaches, from sensual sandy beaches to rugged coasts, from popular beaches to deserted beaches, there is a beach for you in Panama. With so many possibilities, in Panama the challenge is choosing which one to visit.

With the exception of Chiriqui Highland, each region in Panama includes a unique and pleasurable beach destination. Only a few minutes drive from Panama City, you can find 80 kilometers of Pacific Beaches stretching from Punta Chame to Farallon offering resort hotels, sport facilities and restaurants for your enjoyment. Sailing enthusiasts can have their fun too in those quiet waters and visit the flower-island of Taboga or the enchanting Pearl Archipelago.

Just as in any other country that has beautiful beaches, there are specific beaches for specific activities. Surfing, which is the most popular water sports in Panama, can be practiced in beaches such as Playa San Carlos, El Palmar, Rio Mar, Punta Barco, Playa Venao and Santa Catalina. Playa San Carlos is only 50 miles away from Panama City, and from that point on there is nothing but sand, sun, and waves. To swim, snorkel and dive, we recommend Contadora Island, the Caribbean cost along San Blas, or the area of Bocas del Toro. If you don't want to drive too far from Panama City, you can visit Kobbe and a few other beaches on the other side of the canal.

CASCO VIEJO

Reminiscent of the French Quarter of New Orleans or perhaps Havana, Casco Viejo is the oldest city on the Pacific coast of the Americas. At the mouth of the Panama Canal, just minutes outside Panama City, the city is a true cultural gem.

When the French made their attempt to build the Panama Canal in 1881, Casco Viejo was where they hung their hangout. So Casco Viejo is filled with French balconies and French architecture which overlaps the Spanish architecture. The Caribbean vibe crept in over the years, making this one of the most interesting architectural and cultural sites in the world.For those seeking a unique, romantic lifestyle or who have a passion for historic architecture and renovations, Casco Viejo is the spot.

To walk through Casco Viejo is to stroll through history. Buildings sitting side by side can be over three hundred years apart in age. Amazingly, nothing seems to clash, despite a wide variety of styles and levels of income. Laundry hands over ramshackle railings, iron balconies have geraniums, potted plants and bougainvillea vines.

The buildings that line the wide, brick streets of Casco Viejo, many of which have expansive balconies, reflect Panama's rich architectural styles and diverse cultures. Casco Viejo is the focal point of Panamanian architectural history, with its picturesque buildings, wide streets comprised of red bricks, churches, ruins and museums. It is here, together, where the identity of Panama City and it's people is best illustrated.

In 1998, Casco Viejo was recognized by UNESCO and the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture as a site of world interest, due to the physical and universal aspects of this historical location. Thus, all of the historical events were considered by the "Consejo International de Monumentos y Sitios"; this is not a governmental agency but provides advice to UNESCO. Casco Viejo, perhaps a commercial point in the past, is now a major tourist destination for those visiting Panama. Terrific photographic opportunities exist, particularly for those interested in architectural structures. Located just minutes from downtown Panama City, this historic community is just minutes in a taxi.

These days Casco Viejo is vibrant with restaurants, highly recommended clubs, bars for a fun or romantic night out. During the daytime visitors can walk arpund the brick paved roads and observe historic buildings and perhaps, if you are lucky, you will get to see the presidential motorcade bringing the President or other dignataries that regularly arrive in Panama for official business. The place is full of memories that, with the help of a tour guide, you will be able to experience. Remember this is place where the rich and powerful used to live and where the history of Panama was executed for the most part of the twentieth century.

Things you may not know about Panama!

Maybe your dream vacation includes an adventurous trip to the jungle or perhaps a recipe of refreshing ocean air mixed with a little pampering is what you crave. No matter what you desire, it's waiting for you in Panama!


80 miles coast to coast, about 135 Km, - Would you like to Scuba dive in the morning on the Atlantic side of Panama (North), have lunch, and then go surfing on the Pacific (in the South part of the country) in the afternoon??

In Panama, it's possible! Would you like to have breakfast in your hotel and then go explore right into the deep rainforest in less than 1 hour?
How does civilization lives along with Nature? Come and find out in Panama!!
Linking South and North America, Panama is bordered by ocean on the north and south and neighbored by Colombia and Costa Rica.
Panama has two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season lasts from January through April. The temperature is generally 80 to 85 degrees and it rarely rains all day.
Did you know The Panama Canal has serviced over three quarters of a million vessels since 1914? and has influenced world trade patterns, increased growth in all countries, and has been a spark of commerce for the vast majority of the planet. A vessel can save up to 10 travel days by using the Panama Canal! Can you imagine all the savings??
Did you know that the word "PANAMA" means lots of fish and butterflies. The Panama Audubon Society has several world records for most species seen on one day (over 400 species seen on 1 day) You can see the white-tipped sicklebill, Rufous-crested coquette, and the Brown-billed scythebill, the Brown-backed Dove and many more.
Traveling to paradise won't take as long as you may think. Depending on your location, you can be enjoying the fruits of the islands and the hearts of the casinos after only a few hours of travel time!

El Valle de Antón

The region is clustered in the crater of a dead volcano from where it gets its special orography: impressive rock formations, thermal waters and abundant vegetation. It is advisable to take a tour of the forest with the help of an ecological tourist guide, who surprisingly enough could be, a nine-year-old child from the area. An obligatory stop on a tour around the area is at the “Petroglifos”, which are antique paintings on rocks whose origin is unknown. The most important ponds are the Los Escondidos and El Chorro de los Machos waterfalls, which have a spectacular view.
We can also find the Canopy Adventure Tour, a specialized tourist operator.
If you are in for the purchase of handcrafts, there are three objects you definitely want to have: figures sculpted on soap rocks, the hand painted pumpkins and the “sombreros.”

Portobelo

Named appropriately so by Christopher Columbus, this picturesque town located by the bay, shows five forts from the Spanish colonial period and the newly rebuilt House of the Treasure of Spain.

There are a number of cannons that accompany the forts, which are on the exact place the Spanish left them on the Fifteenth Century. Portobello is located at approximately two hours from Panama City on the Atlantic coast.

Canal de Panama / Panama Canal

Known as the eighth wonder of the world, it is the narrowest point of jointure between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. This jointure is possible thanks to the interaction of three locks and three artificial lakes.
The Panama Canal is much more than a complex engineering piece, it puts together man’s creativity and ability and the force of nature. The ecosystem that surrounds the Panama Canal is breath taking. It takes 52 millions gallons of fresh water to move each vessel; there is a total of 14,000 vessel that cross the canal on a yearly basis.There are small boats on the Gamboa area, which go on daily ecological and fishing tours to the Gatún Lake. Snorkeling and scuba diving are among other activities you can enjoy, as well as a ride on the transcontinental railroad, which has been touring from Panama City to Colon since 1914.

Panama city

The City of Panama was founded by Pedro Arias Dávila on August 15, 1519, constituting the first city on continental ground of the “new world.” Built by the Spanish on the Pacific Ocean two years later, on September 15, 1521, Panama became a City through a Royal Decree conferred by His Majesty Carlos V of Spain, with which it also received a coat of arms. The City was seized and destroyed by Henry Morgan in 1671, to be then relocated in 1673 to the area known today as Casco Viejo (Old Quarter.) Panama City has been traditionally the political, economic, administrative and cultural center of the Republic. Its history is closely linked to the construction of one of the marvels of engineering of the Twentieth Century: The Panama Canal.


The City is a dazzling mixture of Panama La Vieja (Old Panama), the colonial and the modern city. The daily hurries and commercial activity of the region’s largest and busiest commercial center make a great contrast with the silence and quietness of the Ruins of Old Panama. From the city wall at the Old Quarter you can witness the contrast between history and modern civilization: the tallest buildings in Central America, the Pacific entrance to the canal, the bridge of the Americas and the Coastway, which joins three small islands to continental soil.

Introducing Panama

Located at the geographical center of the American continent, Panama joins North and South America. It borders with the Caribbean Sea to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south, Colombia to the east and Costa Rica to the west.

Panama is the youngest area of land in the Americas, having emerged from the oceans approximately 3 to 10 million years ago. In biological terms, the fact that Panama linked the landmasses of the two Americas helps explain its incredible biodiversity. Despite its small size (75,900 sq. km. to be exact) Panama is home to more than 10,000 varieties of plants and more than 1,000 species of birds. Panama City is the only major Latin American city with a rainforest that is only minutes from downtown.



GENERAL INFORMATION
National name: República de Panamá
President: Ricardo Martinelli (2009)
Land area: 75,990 sq km (slightly smaller than South Carolina)
Population: 3,360,474 (July 2009 est.)
Language: Spanish (official language), English 14% (most Panamanians are bilingual)



WEATHER & TRAVEL SEASON

Panama’s tourist season is during the dry season from December to April. This is true for the Pacific slope, but the Caribbean side can get rain throughout the year.

Daytime air temperatures increase slightly to around 30-31ºC (86-88ºF), but nighttime temperatures remain around 22-23ºC (72-73ºF). Relative humidity drops throughout the season, reaching average values as low as 70%. Relative humidity rises quickly and may hover around 90 to 100% throughout the rainy season from May through November.

The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season, when the humidity makes the heat oppressive. But it won’t rain nonstop – rain in Panama, as elsewhere in the tropics, tends to come in sudden short downpours that freshen the air, and are followed by sunshine. If you’ll be doing any long, strenuous hiking, the dry season is the most comfortable time.

Panama’s high tourist season corresponds with its Pacific-side dry season, from mid-December to mid-April. During these months, there is relatively little rain in Panama City and elsewhere south of the Continental Divide. North of the mountains, on the Caribbean side of Panama, it rains all year round. However, here it tends to rain less in February, March, September and October than it does the rest of the year.

The best time to visit Panama really depends on what you plan to do. If you intend to spend most of your time on the Pacific side, you might want to visit in December or January, when there’s generally little rain and the weather is pleasant.

If you’ll be doing any serious hiking, the dry season is the most comfortable time to do it. For planning purposes, be aware that Panama’s mountains can get very cold at night; if you’re considering camping at altitude (in Boquete, El Valle or Cerro Punta, for example), be sure to bring warm clothing.

If you’ll be spending most of your holiday surfing, bear in mind that swells are fairly constant in the Pacific year-round, though offshore winds from December to mid-April can add a few meters to curl. However, Caribbean swells are a bit more fickle, and are usually dependent on weather patterns in the region.

Other outdoor pursuits are also weather dependent. Rafting is at its best is Chiriquí Province from May to December when the rivers are running high, while diving is best from December to mid-April when the dry season lends better visibility.

During the following festival and national holiday seasons, traveling to and within Panama might be more challening due to exceptional events, parades & activities, road-blockings, increased traffic, increased alcohol consumption, or airline & store closings:

January: New Years Day (January 1)
February: Carnivals (2011: March 4-8)
April: Easter (2010: Apr 2-4 and in 2011: April 22-24)
November: National Holidays on Nov 3-5, Nov 10, Nov 28
December: Christmas Dec 24-25





DOCUMENTATION & IMMIGRATION

The Panamanian authorities require that travelers arrive to Panama with a passport that is valid for at least 6 months starting from the day of arrival.

A visa is required by all except the following for stays of up to 90 days (at the discretion of the Immigration authorities): Argentina, Slovenia, Latvia, Republic of Korea, Andorra, Estonia, Letonia, San Marino, Austria, Finland, Lichtenstein, South Korea, Belgium, France, Lithuania, Singapore, Bolivia, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Brazil, Greece, Malta, Sweden, Chile, Great Britain, Monaco, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Netherlands, The Uruguay, Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Vatican City, Cyprus, Hungary, Norway, Czech Republic, Iceland, Paraguay, Denmark, Israel, Poland, El Salvador, Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Italy.

Since January 1, 2010 you are not required to purchase a tourist card upon arrival to Tocumen Airport. New regulations include this fee (US$10) as well as the international departure tax ($40) already in your airfare.




HEALTH & VACCINATION

Emergencies
For emergencies, there are many good private clinics and hospitals throughout the country, but the biggest and best equipped are located in Panama City. Important telephone numbers are: Police 104, Fire Department 103.

Yellow Fever vaccination
As of November 01, 2008, Panama requires valid Yellow Fever Vaccination to enter or leave the country for the following countries:
South America: Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela.
Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Democratic Rep., Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leona, Sudan.

We strongly urge each traveler to contact his / her travel agent to inquire about updated immunization requirements for travel to other countries and from other countries to Panama.



MONEY

Tipping
The standard tipping rate in Panama is around 10% of the bill. Tip is usually left on the table or with the waiter after having paid for your bill. Some restaurants include the tip already in your total; look for “propina” on your bill and see if you have to add on or if the restaurant has it already included in the price. For guidelines on how to tip your tour guides, go to About Us - FAQ.

Currency
Panama uses the US dollar as its currency. The official name for it is the balboa, but it’s exactly the same bill, and in practice people use the terms ‘dólar’ and ‘balboa’ interchangeably. Panamanian coins are of the same value, size and metal as US coins, though both are frequently used. Coins include one, five, 10, 25 and 50 centavos (or centésimos) – 100 centavos equal one balboa. Most businesses won’t break US$50 and US$100 bills, and those that do may require you to present your passport.

ATMs
Throughout Panama, ATMs are readily available except in the most isolated places – look for the red ‘sistema clave’ sign. Generally speaking, ATMs accept cards on most networks (Plus, Cirrus, MasterCard, Visa, Amex), though a charge is usually levied depending on your issuing bank. The amount that can be withdrawn at one time varies from bank to bank, though it is usually around US$500.

Credit cards
Although they are widely accepted at travel agencies, upscale hotels and many restaurants, credit cards can be problematic almost everywhere else. In short, carry enough cash to get you to the next bank or ATM. The most common credit cards are VISA or MASTER CARD. AMERICAN EXPRESS is also widely accepted.

Tax
A 10% tax is added to the price of hotel rooms. When booking with us, this tax is already included in your rate.

A 7% ITBMS sales tax is levied on all nonfood products. This tax is to be added to your total tour price. The Panamanian government has increased the ITBMS sales tax from 5% to 7% starting April 2010.



TRANSPORTATION

When planning your trip with Ancon Expeditions of Panama, your domestic land, air and water transportation is normally included in your itinerary. You do not have to worry about being overcharged by taxi drivers (charge is not being determined by a taxi meter, but by own “gusto” of the driver) or by getting on the crowded, loud local buses “diablos rojos”.

However, if you would like to go on train, boat or bus rides on your own, here some helpful information:

Train
The Panama Railway Company (PCRC; 317 6070; www.panarail.com; Carr Gaillard) operates a glass-domed luxury passenger train from Panama City to Colón (US$22 one-way, US$35 for a round-trip), leaving Panama City to Colón at 7:15am and returning at 5:15pm every day. It’s a lovely ride that follows the canal, and at times the train is surrounded by nothing but thick vine-strewn jungle. If you want to relive the hey-day of luxury train travel for an hour or two, this is definitely the way to do it. However, bear in mind, that the train does not have seating reservations and it can be very crowded due to its main purpose: transferring the Colon Free Zone executives to and from their work each day.

Boat
Barcos Calypso (314 1730; roundtrip US$10) has departures to Isla Taboga from Panama City at 8:30am and 3:00pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am on Tuesday and Thursday and 8:30am, 10:30am and 4:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. Ferries depart Isla Taboga at 9:30am and 4:00pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 4:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday and 9:00am, 3:00pm and 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. Ferries depart from La Playita de Amador, which is located behind the Centro de Exhibiciones Marinas on the Causeway / restaurant Mi Ranchito on Isla Naos. The easiest way to reach the dock is by taxi (US$4 to US$6).


Air
International flights arrive at and depart from Tocumen International Airport (238 4160), 35km northeast of the city center. International airlines serving Panama City include:
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta
KLM
Grupo TACA
COPA
Lufthansa
Mexicana
Panama’s domestic flight destinations are all within one hour from Panama City and depart from Albrook airport “Aeropuerto Marcos A Gelabert”, in the former Albrook Air Force Station near the canal. You should be at the airport 1 hour before departure.



HISTORY

Panama City was founded in 1519 by the Spanish governor Pedro Arias de Ávila (Pedrarias) not long after Balboa first saw the Pacific. Although the Spanish settlement quickly became an important center of government and church authority, the city was ransacked and destroyed in 1671 by the English pirate Sir Henry Morgan, leaving only the stone ruins of Panamá Viejo.

Three years later, the city was reestablished about 8km to the southwest in the area now known as Casco Viejo. Although the city’s peninsular location meant that it was well defended, the destruction of the Caribbean port at Portobelo in 1746 dealt a heavy blow to the Spanish overland trade route. Panama City subsequently declined in importance, though it returned to prominence in the 1850s when the Panama Railroad was completed, and gold seekers on their way to California flooded across the isthmus by train.

After Panama declared its independence from Colombia on November 3, 1903 in the Parque de la Independencia, Panama City was firmly established as the capital of the new nation. Since the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, the city has emerged as a center for international business and trade.

The city’s only major setback in recent times occurred in 1989, when it was invaded by the USA to oust dictator Manuel Noriega from power. The capital suffered damage both from the invasion itself and from the subsequent looting, and several residential blocks of the El Chorillo district were destroyed by combat-ignited fire.

Today, Panama City is by far the wealthiest city in Central America, and residents are wholly optimistic about the future – and with good reason. Following the handover of the Canal in 1999, and the subsequent closure of American military bases in the country, Panama City is finally in charge of its own destiny. Furthermore, a spate of foreign investment and the recent referendum to expand the Panama Canal means that the capital is likely to continue its remarkable boom.



PEOPLE & CULTURE

Panamanians' culture, customs, and language are predominantly Caribbean Spanish. The majority of the population is ethnically mestizo or mixed Spanish, Indigenous, Chinese, and West Indian. Spanish is the official and dominant language; English is a common second language spoken by the West Indians and by many businesspeople and professionals. More than half the population lives in the Panama City-Colon metropolitan corridor.

Panama is rich in folklore and popular traditions. Lively salsa - a mixture of Latin American popular music, rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock - is a Panamanian specialty, and Ruben Blades its best-known performer and Minister of Tourism since September 2004. Indigenous influences dominate handicrafts such as the famous Kuna textile molas. Artist Roberto Lewis' Presidential Palace murals and his restoration work and ceiling in the National Theater are widely admired.