I know when a lot of you think of Panama the first \u2013 and quite possibly only thing that comes to mind \u2013 is that engineering marvel the Panama Canal. But I am here to tell you today that although that is definitely a highlight in the country \u2013 it is actually one of numerous highlights!<\/p>\n
In keeping with my travel off the beaten path theme due to the awareness that this is going to be a preferred way for a lot of you to travel \u2013 I have invited\u00a0Aiden Mullen<\/strong>\u00a0from\u00a0NAMU Travel Group<\/strong>\u00a0to share all of the secrets of this somewhat lesser-known vacation destination. Aiden is my eyes and ears on the ground for me in Panama and although he hails from Ireland, he has been in Central America for nearly a decade.<\/p>\n Below you will come to realize that Panama \u2013 which is the southernmost country in Central America – certainly has much more to offer and explore than just it\u2019s famous canal \u2013 although of course you want to experience that too! So, sit back – maybe throw on Van Halen\u2019s popular Panama tune from the 1980\u2019s – and read on to learn more about this country truly blessed by nature.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n **************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n Getting There:\u00a0<\/strong>Good news \u2013 you can easily get to\u00a0Panama City<\/em>\u00a0– which is where you will fly into – from the New York area as well as from the Atlanta area and even from Texas where there are direct flights out of Dallas or Houston. And for my local Austin peeps it would be a quick and simple connection through Houston, Dallas or Mexico City.<\/p>\n Destinations:<\/strong>\u00a0The only major city in Panama to visit is Panama City however there are plenty of other destinations around the country for you to check out.<\/p>\n Casco Viejo is the old town of Panama City. It is a quaint little colonial city featuring incredible boutique properties and an up-and-coming food scene thanks to their amazing chefs who have been all over the globe and then returned back home to open up restaurants to showcase the cooking skills they gained.<\/p>\n And of course \u2013 the Panama Canal – which runs right through the middle of the city and connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean – is an amazing piece of engineering as well as being beyond historical – especially on this side of the world. If you haven\u2019t done a European river cruise and have never gone through locks – this is certainly an opportunity for you to experience what it is like to sail through a set of locks. The lock mechanism is pretty similar to what you would experience on a European River Cruise – but it is just a whole different experience. And Aiden was quick to note that the canal is not just about the experience – but also about what it has given to the city. Because of the Americans coming down to take over the building of the canal at one point \u2013 you will find quite a bit of American influence in the city as we left a lot of our culture behind. So much so that they use US dollars in Panama \u2013 so no need to exchange currency here! And not only American influence can be felt here \u2013 they are actually a multicultural city because of the French influence that was here before the American\u2019s arrived.<\/p>\n While in Panama City there is also the opportunity for some beach time as the Pacific Ocean is only about twenty to thirty minutes outside of the city. Although Aiden did note that Panama is definitely more well known for its Caribbean side beaches.<\/p>\n Another popular spot is the\u00a0San Blas Islands<\/em>\u00a0which are also in the north but little bit more east. This is an archipelago composed of hundreds of islands and a lot of people will rent their own catamaran or sailboat – complete with their own captain – and sail around these beautiful islands. Ummm\u2026count me in!<\/p>\n Sightseeing and Activities:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gastronomy:\u00a0<\/strong>Aiden joked that Panama in general certainly has a little bit of an identity crisis when it comes to their cuisine as there are a variety of dishes to be found from a lot of different locales. Of course, they have traditional Central American foods such as\u00a0patacones, tostones\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0pico de gallo<\/em>.<\/p>\n And as I mentioned above \u2013 they are also home to some incredible international food especially in Casco Viejo (Panama City\u2019s old town) thanks to the young men who have gone all over the world, studied with Michelin-starred chefs and the like, then returned back and opened fabulous boutique style restaurants in small little townhouses.<\/p>\n There is also the\u00a0Panama City Fish Market<\/em>\u00a0where you can pick out your favorite fish right there and the chefs upstairs will cook it up for you just how you like it! And I also asked about fishing charters \u2013 and Aiden confirmed that if you go out on a charter and catch some fish just bring it back to the chefs and they will prepare it for you. In fact, he said the chefs can\u2019t wait to see what you come bac with!<\/p>\n And we cannot forget the coffee! Aiden informed us that it\u2019s always a competition when it if comes to my favorite beverage – because Columbia says that they have the best coffee – and Guatemala says no we have the best coffee – and now Panama says you\u2019re both wrong – we have the best coffee! Panama\u2019s most famous coffee is referred to as\u00a0black gold<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 and it comes from the the\u00a0geisha plant<\/em>\u00a0in the\u00a0Boquete region<\/em>\u00a0in the highlands. And it is a fact that it actually fetches the most dollar per kilo anywhere on planet and is usually sold in Japan. Now that\u2019s a claim to fame! The reason for the high price? The lack of beans – as each plant only grows a few beans. And per Aiden it is delicious but it\u2019s definitely for a different pallet as it differs from the coffee we in the US might be used to.<\/p>\n Accommodations:<\/strong>\u00a0Panama is home to world class lodges like\u00a0Isla Palenque Resort<\/em>\u00a0in\u00a0Boca Chica<\/em>. This beautiful lodge has the distinction of being one of\u00a0National Geographic\u2019s Unique Lodges of the World<\/em>\u00a0and is located in the\u00a0Gulf of Chiriqui<\/em>\u00a0off the coast of the Pacific. Boca Chica is easily accessible as it has an airport nearby that is only a one hour from flight from Panama City and then it is only a 20- or 30-minute boat ride to the island where the resort sits. Here you will find just eight beachfront casitas and one estate villa with six standalone rooms. The beachfront villa estate is tucked away and is sold as a whole for groups of two to 14 people. Are you thinking what I\u2019m thinking? How great would it be to hold a multi-generational family reunion here!<\/p>\n Another fabulous property is the\u00a0El Otro Lado<\/em>\u00a0Private Retreat<\/em>\u00a0in the Portobello area – which is a\u00a0UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/em>. It is located about an hour and a half by car from Panama City and then a quick 20- or 30-minute boat ride, after which you are in the middle of the rainforest in a boutique luxury lodge! Now that\u2019s social distancing!<\/p>\n Updated COVID-19 Information:\u00a0<\/strong>As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Panama. Visitors from all countries are welcome to visit Panama, however,\u00a0non-vaccinated travelers will have\u00a0to present a\u00a0negative COVID-19 test\u00a0for entry. Non-vaccinated travelers arriving from or that have transited through High Risk Countries in the last 15 days will be required to quarantine for 72 hours in a hotel, and the cost of the stay must be fully covered by the traveler.<\/p>\n For the CDC\u2019s most up to date information on COVID-19\u00a0click here<\/strong><\/a>. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Panama\u00a0click here<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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