Story by Panama Jack
News for today is Brian the editor of Templar Times left Panama last week to return to up-state New York after working on this blog for 6 long months and producing 3 wonderful storys. Brian truned over the helm of Templar Times to Panama Jack, editor of the Panama Visitor's Guide www.republicofpanama.net and several other newspapers and websites in the Republic of Panama. Jack's Panama Visitors Guide gets over 400 visitor's a day to his site, Thats over 12,000 people read his website a month. Now some people like to brag about HITS on their website, I would like to break that down in laymen's terms. 12,000 visitors = 30,000 hits a day and over 700,000 hits a month. So put that in your pipe and smoke it. The format has been changed and the name of the blog also. So welcome to the new Panama Times Blog. This blog will supply you with all sorts of information that you need to know when you visit Panama. Along with the right real estate websites and the right restaurant websites and the vacation website, also hotel information and Panama News. Panama Jack would like to thank Brian for his hard work on making this blog the most interesting on the internet. Thank You Brian.
At Your Service
Panama Jack
507-6675-0806 in Panama
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Negotiations on Honduras
Panama Headline News
Negotiations on Honduras
Set for Saturday Morning
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
and wire service reports
President Óscar Arias Sánchez expects to convene the next negotiating session over the future of the Honduran presidency about 10 a.m. Saturday. The opposing sides have selected their designates to represent them at the bargaining table.
Meanwhile, Interim Honduran President Roberto Micheletti said he is open to resigning as long as ousted President José Manuel Zelaya is not allowed to return to power.
Micheletti made the comment to reporters Wednesday in Tegucigalpa. A day earlier Zelaya said that he would accept nothing less than full reinstatement and said Saturday was the deadline.
The new round of mediation talks is aimed at resolving the ongoing political standoff between the two rivals. Aides to Arias said they expected the discussions to continue at least through Sunday.
Zelaya's representatives will be Arístides Mejía, a former minister of defense in Honduras; Milton Jiménez, a former foreign minister, and Enrique Flores Lanza, the secretary to the Presidencia.
Micheletti will be represented by Carlos López, a former foreign minister; Arturo Corrales, president of the Partido Innovación y Unidad; Mauricio Villeda, vice presidential candidate for the Partido Liberal, and Vilma Cecilia Morales, a former president of the Corte Suprema de Justicia. in Tegucigalpa.
Arias is mediating the dispute involving the two men and he called on Zelaya to be patient with the process, as did the United States. Zelaya is not making the mediating job any easier.
Zelaya has said the people in his country "have the right to insurrection" in order to force the caretaker government to return him to power, following his ouster June 28.
Micheletti has said he will only discuss the deposed president's return to Honduras if Mr. Zelaya faces charges of treason and abuse of power in court.
The interim government says it expelled Zelaya from the country last month because he was trying to illegally change the constitution to extend his power.
Meanwhile, a new public opinion poll indicates that Zelaya is more popular than his interim replacement.
Results of the Gallup poll, published Wednesday, indicate Zelaya has a favorable rating of 46 percent, although a nearly equal number of respondents (44 percent), have given him an unfavorable rating.
Respondents gave Mr. Micheletti a 30 percent approval rating. His unfavorable rating stood at 49 percent.
Monday, Mr. Zelaya issued what he called his "ultimatum" to the interim government, saying it must give him back the presidency within a week. Zelaya said if he does not resume office by then, he will consider the discussions a failure.
Zelaya and Micheletti met separately with Arias last week at the Costa Rican leader's home in Rohrmoser.
The United States and the Organization of American States have called for Zelaya's reinstatement. The U.S. also has called for all parties in the crisis to give the talks a chance to succeed.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs Wednesday said the United States continues to believe that Mr. Zelaya's removal is not in accordance with democratic principles.
U.N. Official Wants End
to Honduran Press Curbs
Special to A.M. Costa Rica staff
A U.N. official has called for restrictions on press freedoms to be lifted in Honduras.
He is Koïchiro Matsuura, head of the U. N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
“I am deeply concerned about reports of restrictions on the media and harassment of journalists in Honduras,” said Matsuura.
“In situations of crisis, it is especially important to ensure that the media can report freely and without intimidation,” he added.
Since Zelaya was forced from office on June 28, human rights and press freedom organizations have reported severe restrictions on news media by blocking cable television transmissions and Internet access, as well as arrests of and attacks on journalists, according to a U.N. press release.
Matsuura also condemned the killing, apparently unrelated to recent political events in Honduras, of Gabriel Fino Noriega, a radio reporter, in San Juan Pueblo in the country’s north.
The reporter was shot July 3 by an unidentified gunman as he left Radio Estelar, a local station on which he presented a daily news program. He was also the local correspondent for Radio América, a national radio station.
“Using violence to silence journalists constitutes an intolerable attack on the fundamental human right of freedom of expression and on the whole of society’s ability to enjoy human rights,” said Matsuura.
Negotiations on Honduras
Set for Saturday Morning
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
and wire service reports
President Óscar Arias Sánchez expects to convene the next negotiating session over the future of the Honduran presidency about 10 a.m. Saturday. The opposing sides have selected their designates to represent them at the bargaining table.
Meanwhile, Interim Honduran President Roberto Micheletti said he is open to resigning as long as ousted President José Manuel Zelaya is not allowed to return to power.
Micheletti made the comment to reporters Wednesday in Tegucigalpa. A day earlier Zelaya said that he would accept nothing less than full reinstatement and said Saturday was the deadline.
The new round of mediation talks is aimed at resolving the ongoing political standoff between the two rivals. Aides to Arias said they expected the discussions to continue at least through Sunday.
Zelaya's representatives will be Arístides Mejía, a former minister of defense in Honduras; Milton Jiménez, a former foreign minister, and Enrique Flores Lanza, the secretary to the Presidencia.
Micheletti will be represented by Carlos López, a former foreign minister; Arturo Corrales, president of the Partido Innovación y Unidad; Mauricio Villeda, vice presidential candidate for the Partido Liberal, and Vilma Cecilia Morales, a former president of the Corte Suprema de Justicia. in Tegucigalpa.
Arias is mediating the dispute involving the two men and he called on Zelaya to be patient with the process, as did the United States. Zelaya is not making the mediating job any easier.
Zelaya has said the people in his country "have the right to insurrection" in order to force the caretaker government to return him to power, following his ouster June 28.
Micheletti has said he will only discuss the deposed president's return to Honduras if Mr. Zelaya faces charges of treason and abuse of power in court.
The interim government says it expelled Zelaya from the country last month because he was trying to illegally change the constitution to extend his power.
Meanwhile, a new public opinion poll indicates that Zelaya is more popular than his interim replacement.
Results of the Gallup poll, published Wednesday, indicate Zelaya has a favorable rating of 46 percent, although a nearly equal number of respondents (44 percent), have given him an unfavorable rating.
Respondents gave Mr. Micheletti a 30 percent approval rating. His unfavorable rating stood at 49 percent.
Monday, Mr. Zelaya issued what he called his "ultimatum" to the interim government, saying it must give him back the presidency within a week. Zelaya said if he does not resume office by then, he will consider the discussions a failure.
Zelaya and Micheletti met separately with Arias last week at the Costa Rican leader's home in Rohrmoser.
The United States and the Organization of American States have called for Zelaya's reinstatement. The U.S. also has called for all parties in the crisis to give the talks a chance to succeed.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs Wednesday said the United States continues to believe that Mr. Zelaya's removal is not in accordance with democratic principles.
U.N. Official Wants End
to Honduran Press Curbs
Special to A.M. Costa Rica staff
A U.N. official has called for restrictions on press freedoms to be lifted in Honduras.
He is Koïchiro Matsuura, head of the U. N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
“I am deeply concerned about reports of restrictions on the media and harassment of journalists in Honduras,” said Matsuura.
“In situations of crisis, it is especially important to ensure that the media can report freely and without intimidation,” he added.
Since Zelaya was forced from office on June 28, human rights and press freedom organizations have reported severe restrictions on news media by blocking cable television transmissions and Internet access, as well as arrests of and attacks on journalists, according to a U.N. press release.
Matsuura also condemned the killing, apparently unrelated to recent political events in Honduras, of Gabriel Fino Noriega, a radio reporter, in San Juan Pueblo in the country’s north.
The reporter was shot July 3 by an unidentified gunman as he left Radio Estelar, a local station on which he presented a daily news program. He was also the local correspondent for Radio América, a national radio station.
“Using violence to silence journalists constitutes an intolerable attack on the fundamental human right of freedom of expression and on the whole of society’s ability to enjoy human rights,” said Matsuura.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Beaches and Islands of Panama
Beautiful Beaches in a Pairadice of a country.
This beach is also a great surf spot and collides with Punta Chame, they are separated by a river where there is a great surf spot called Malibu Beach. There are many new condos projects, resturants and hotels being built in these communities.
Punta Chame:
The beach which has some of the best white sand in the Republic of Panama. It is a long stretch with water on both sides and only a few houses compared to the other popular Panama beaches. The place is a world class spot for kite surfing and sport fishing.
Coronado:
Here you will find the most developed of all Panama beaches. It is a gated Panama beach that comes with restaurants, bars, groceries stores, large beach homes and Panama beach condos. Besides from its developments, it has a beautiful bay were you can also find good surfing and it is only minutes away from Malibu Beach.
It is hard to think of any metropolitan city anywhere with so many fine beaches nearby. Along the Pacific Coast just outside Panama City, there begins a string of pretty beaches of white sand and sapphire blue waters. This is the preferred location for the vacation homes of Panama’s wealthiest families. Getting there is easy, just an 45 minute drive from the Panama Canal and Panama City on a modern four lane highway. This lovely coastal area of Panama has Central America's only beach front golf course. Mike Kennedy would love to surf and golf in this community. Malibu, Punta Chame, Gorgona, Coronado, Rio Mar, Santa Clara and Playa Blanca. It does not get any better than this.
Beaches
San Blas
Four beach areas not to miss if you are a beach aficionado:
Isla Contadora, Isla Taboga, Bocas del Toro and the San Blas Archipielago.
Beaches near the Panama City
Within driving distance of the capital and near Fort Kobbe by the Panama Canal is Kobbe Beach. It has dressing booths and other facilities you might enjoy. Playa Blanca, Farallin
Playa Blanca is about a 90 minute drive from Panama City and is an excellent beach and rivals Miami Beach. There are may resorts located here including: Royal Decameron Beach Resort, Golf & Casino and Barcel?? Playa Blanca. Isla Taboga
Located in the Archipielago of Panama Bay and only a fifty minute cruise by boat from Panama City, you will find the stunning island of Taboga (known as the "Island of Flowers"). The boats depart from Pier 18 at the Port of Balboa at 8:30, 11:30 and 14:00 and 16:00 and costs is usually $6.00 round trip. On the way you will pass right under the Bridge of the Americas along with the huge container ships going into to and from through the Panama Canal. This island is one of the most tranquil and quietest locations you will ever visit because it has only 1,500 inhabitants and no cars. Taboga‚ magic will fill you with a remarkable feeling of calm and peacefulness. There are many attractions that can be seen as you walk along its beautiful lanes covered with flowers. Taboga is a small island but is large in history. In 1532 the Spaniard, Pizzarro launched his attack against the Inca's from Taboga and the church of San Pedro is the second oldest building in the western hemisphere. In recent years, Taboga has been a fishermen's village and offers a charming and comfortable environment of sand and sun. Exactly how the island got its name is still a question today. A number of people believe that Taboga is an Indian name for fish, and many others believe it means "mountain of water". Founded in the XVI Century by the Spaniards it has been a history of important events, a strategic port for the people from Spain during the time of the conquest of Inca Empire.
Panama Jack recommends going to the private beach of the Taboga Hotel to the right of the port. An entrance fee of $5.00 is worth the money as you can rent a beach umbrella, enjoy a Pin?° Colada with a seafood lunch and enjoy the white sandy beach where the water is so clear and blue. Word has it that if you reserve a room at the hotel before going there, you can go to the island on the hotel's private boat. Bocas del Toro
Bocas is one of Panama's top tourist attractions and with good reason. Where else can you take pleasure in beautiful beaches with scarcely a person in sight? There are many beaches located on and around the 206 islands. Bocas has not been hit by big scale tourism and its marine environment has remained unspoiled. It is a haven for manatees, tarpon fish, fresh water turtles, caimans, the red frog found only in this region, the beautiful red-billed tropic bird, the brown booby and 131 other bird species, 36 of which are on the endangered list according to the World Wildlife Fund. Over a dozen coral reefs (studied by marine researchers of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) and the red and white mangrove trees protect and nurture a unique marine environment. Las Perlas
Haceinda del Mar is nestled within a chain of islands known as the Pearl Archipelago (Las Perlas) lays the magnificent Isla San Jose. With gentle breezes and surrounded by warm Pacific waters, the resort boasts of organic home grown food, a spring-fed swimming pool and caba?±as that are awesome. Isla Contadora
Isla Contadora Island Resort is a magnificent facility with old-world charm and elegance. It has a casino, boasts 13 beaches of pure white sand, swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, snorkeling, diving, fishing, and waterskiing, just to mention a few activities and amenities. Isla Contadora Island Resort is awesome. If you are going to stay at the resort a van will pick you up from the runway and transport you to the doors of the hotel. It is a romantic getaway that is worth every cent. Isla Grande, Province of Colon
From Portobelo drive beyond to the village of Guaira and there you can take a small powerboat to the Isla Grande,it is just a few hundred yards offshore). The beach is exceptional and you will probably have to yourself on weekdays. On weekends the locals arrive in force. San Blas Archipelago, San Blas
The San Blas Archipelago is a chain of tropical isles along the Atlantic coast of the Republic of Panama that stretch along approximately 200 miles of Panama's Caribbean coastline. The San Blas territory is defined from the seaward continental shelf to the top of the jungle-clad continental divide. Around 50 of over 365 of these islands that make up the Archipelago chain are inhabited. About half of the islands are within sight and easy traveling distance of the jungle and hills of the mainland The San Blas Islands offer two matchless attractions The Caribbean islands are of spectacular beauty and you have an opportunity to visit the villages of the San Blas Indians to learn about their fascinating culture and way of life. The San Blas Archipelago is situated in indescribably beautiful aqua waters and were selected as one of the top two "best cruising destinations in the world" by Cruising World and Le Monde Voyage magazines. Here you feel refreshingly "away from it all" ‚ ah far from modern civilization and close to nature. The popular CBS‚ Survivor program chose one heavenly San Blas island, Sapbeinega for a thank you reward‚Äù party for the Survivor competitors. The islands have been the subject of numerous National Geographic articles over the years- indeed this is an experience ‚Äúright out of the pages of National Geographic.
Accommodations consist of simple and comfortable native style cabins with roofs and walls made of thatched palm trees. The all natural accommodations blend in perfectly with the tropical scenery and are in harmony with nature. You may find Panama Mel Gibson hanging out with friends on one of these beaches, Mel has purchased a large tract of Panama beachfront.
Kuna Yala Province - San Blas Archipelago
One of the most beautiful parts of Panama is the archipelago of San Blas. Located along the Caribbean coast it is comprised of 365 islands called the San Blas archipelago. It was established in 1938 as an autonomous Indian territory . The land and marine park of Kuna Yala offers both land and sea treasures. On the mainland, the Cordillera de las San Blas ‚mountain range rises above this gorgeous, unspoiled, unexploited and relatively unknown island paradise.
Named the San Blas Islands by the Spaniards, and officially known as Kuna Yala (territory of the Kunas). Its 365 islands spread out along 212.5 km bordering the Caribbean coast. The continental and island territory covers 5,875 km2 and it borders with the Province of Colon on the west, with Colombia at the extreme east and south with Panama and Darien provinces. San Blas has a population of over 32,000 ethnically homogeneous people called Kunas. They are originally from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia .
The Kunas have a structured society that adheres to strict rules. Kuna elders meet on a regular basis and decide the regulations and programs that need to be implemented. Women are held in high regard and they are considered the pillars of the society. Women wear short-sleeved mola blouses, a long skirt wrapped around their waists and a colorful scarf. Their ankles and arms are adorned with rows of beads.
They are in charge of stitching the bright colored cloths, molas, which they use as part of their own daily wear and which now, with the increasing number of tourists visiting their islands, provide income to the families. Molas are well known in Europe and Japan and are popular in the US through sales made in Costa Rica.
Contestants in the Miss Panama Pageant wear dresses with mola motifs and technique.
The U.S. Armed Forces had a special side-treaty with the Kunas. The men were employed on most U.S. bases, Pacific to Atlantic, and were provided with living quarters. Many worked as janitors and cooks and general handymen. The women stayed back home. After the Americans left, many remained in the vicinity of Panama City and Colon and other towns because of the availability of jobs but this time they brought their families with them. A large number have stable jobs, have bought their own homes and their children attend college in the cities. More and more Kunas are moving to the mainland in search of jobs. In the past, their economy consisted of growing coconuts which were traded for food, clothing or accessories and the mainland territory provided them fresh water and farmland to grow crops.
The Kunas are very protective of their natural resources as they have a special spiritual rapport with nature. Their territory is jealously guarded and no trespassing of the "wagas" (non-Kunas) is allowed. Wagas who have had cottage hotels on the islands (with consent by the Kunas) have had their permits revoked at no notice for not respecting their traditions. Nowadays Kunas have many simple lodgings on their islands. Usually the cost of the lodging includes three meals and excursions to the uninhabited islands for swiming and snorkeling. There are eco-trips to the mainland forest as well. Of the approximately 50 island communities Porvenir, Nargana, Wichub Wala, Nalunega, Carti-Guptupu and Ailigandi are some of the largest. For a fee you can even arrange to camp on one of the nearby tiny islands, but bring your own food and water.
Getting There
Aero Perlas provides daily morning departures to six different San Blas communities. Flights are also available through Aero Taxi and Aviatur. An overnight stay is necessary as there are no afternoon return flights. One of the shortest trips is a 30-minute flight to El Porvenir and there is lodging available at Nalunega and Wichub Wala and at Carti.
A Weekend in San Blas story by Jeremy Shorenstein
In a world where there are few places left that can truly be called paradise, San Blas easily fits the bill with its beautiful sandy beaches, temperate clear waters, and native cuisine. My friend Juan Carlos told me that I must visit San Blas during my one week visit to Panama or else it would be a wasted trip. While driving in Juan Carlos’s truck (a 4x4 is a must when driving to San Blas), we were given an amazing view over the tropical rainforest while en route to Carti, a coastal town with an air strip, where caught a boat with the native Kuna Yala people to Isla Aguja(a-goo-ha). When the boat pulled up to the island I felt as if I were in a fairytale; I thought only places this stunning existed in children’s stories and on postcards. Aguja is one of 365 beautiful small islands scattered with palm trees, giving ample space to set up a hammock and relax. For what felt like a steal of a price, we received three meals a day and sleeping arrangements in a small tent. The food was exquisite! Unfortunately we took our trip during the time of lobster repopulation; however we were pleasantly greeted with fried fish, coconut rice, and patacones (fried plantains). After arriving, eating, and setting up our tent for the night, the rest of the day was spent relaxing in the sun and spying on the secret lives of barracuda, squid, and an assortment of colorful reef fish. That evening we had another delicious meal, followed by conversation with other international travelers varying from Chilé to South Africa. While drinking coconut juice out of a freshly opened coconut, a Russian man named Serge told us how he spends one month of every year in San Blas because it is so gorgeous. Before bed we smoked Cuban cigars on the dock, looked at the stars, and wondered how such an enchanting place could exist.
The following morning we were greeted with an offer to take a ride to Isla Perro (Dog Island) where a sunken ship has become a snorkeler’s paradise. We snorkeled around the entire island, easily seeing down 20-30 feet, followed by a quick nap in the sun, some dinner, and another nap under a palm tree. While leaving that night I felt as if I had been transported to another world and was now leaving what could easily be described as heaven. Fortunately the drive back left for another amazing evening view over the rolling hills of Panamanian rainforest. I have never experienced such serenity as I did on those islands and plan to return as soon as I can for some pure and undeniable relaxation.
This beach is also a great surf spot and collides with Punta Chame, they are separated by a river where there is a great surf spot called Malibu Beach. There are many new condos projects, resturants and hotels being built in these communities.
Punta Chame:
The beach which has some of the best white sand in the Republic of Panama. It is a long stretch with water on both sides and only a few houses compared to the other popular Panama beaches. The place is a world class spot for kite surfing and sport fishing.
Coronado:
Here you will find the most developed of all Panama beaches. It is a gated Panama beach that comes with restaurants, bars, groceries stores, large beach homes and Panama beach condos. Besides from its developments, it has a beautiful bay were you can also find good surfing and it is only minutes away from Malibu Beach.
It is hard to think of any metropolitan city anywhere with so many fine beaches nearby. Along the Pacific Coast just outside Panama City, there begins a string of pretty beaches of white sand and sapphire blue waters. This is the preferred location for the vacation homes of Panama’s wealthiest families. Getting there is easy, just an 45 minute drive from the Panama Canal and Panama City on a modern four lane highway. This lovely coastal area of Panama has Central America's only beach front golf course. Mike Kennedy would love to surf and golf in this community. Malibu, Punta Chame, Gorgona, Coronado, Rio Mar, Santa Clara and Playa Blanca. It does not get any better than this.
Beaches
San Blas
Four beach areas not to miss if you are a beach aficionado:
Isla Contadora, Isla Taboga, Bocas del Toro and the San Blas Archipielago.
Beaches near the Panama City
Within driving distance of the capital and near Fort Kobbe by the Panama Canal is Kobbe Beach. It has dressing booths and other facilities you might enjoy. Playa Blanca, Farallin
Playa Blanca is about a 90 minute drive from Panama City and is an excellent beach and rivals Miami Beach. There are may resorts located here including: Royal Decameron Beach Resort, Golf & Casino and Barcel?? Playa Blanca. Isla Taboga
Located in the Archipielago of Panama Bay and only a fifty minute cruise by boat from Panama City, you will find the stunning island of Taboga (known as the "Island of Flowers"). The boats depart from Pier 18 at the Port of Balboa at 8:30, 11:30 and 14:00 and 16:00 and costs is usually $6.00 round trip. On the way you will pass right under the Bridge of the Americas along with the huge container ships going into to and from through the Panama Canal. This island is one of the most tranquil and quietest locations you will ever visit because it has only 1,500 inhabitants and no cars. Taboga‚ magic will fill you with a remarkable feeling of calm and peacefulness. There are many attractions that can be seen as you walk along its beautiful lanes covered with flowers. Taboga is a small island but is large in history. In 1532 the Spaniard, Pizzarro launched his attack against the Inca's from Taboga and the church of San Pedro is the second oldest building in the western hemisphere. In recent years, Taboga has been a fishermen's village and offers a charming and comfortable environment of sand and sun. Exactly how the island got its name is still a question today. A number of people believe that Taboga is an Indian name for fish, and many others believe it means "mountain of water". Founded in the XVI Century by the Spaniards it has been a history of important events, a strategic port for the people from Spain during the time of the conquest of Inca Empire.
Panama Jack recommends going to the private beach of the Taboga Hotel to the right of the port. An entrance fee of $5.00 is worth the money as you can rent a beach umbrella, enjoy a Pin?° Colada with a seafood lunch and enjoy the white sandy beach where the water is so clear and blue. Word has it that if you reserve a room at the hotel before going there, you can go to the island on the hotel's private boat. Bocas del Toro
Bocas is one of Panama's top tourist attractions and with good reason. Where else can you take pleasure in beautiful beaches with scarcely a person in sight? There are many beaches located on and around the 206 islands. Bocas has not been hit by big scale tourism and its marine environment has remained unspoiled. It is a haven for manatees, tarpon fish, fresh water turtles, caimans, the red frog found only in this region, the beautiful red-billed tropic bird, the brown booby and 131 other bird species, 36 of which are on the endangered list according to the World Wildlife Fund. Over a dozen coral reefs (studied by marine researchers of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) and the red and white mangrove trees protect and nurture a unique marine environment. Las Perlas
Haceinda del Mar is nestled within a chain of islands known as the Pearl Archipelago (Las Perlas) lays the magnificent Isla San Jose. With gentle breezes and surrounded by warm Pacific waters, the resort boasts of organic home grown food, a spring-fed swimming pool and caba?±as that are awesome. Isla Contadora
Isla Contadora Island Resort is a magnificent facility with old-world charm and elegance. It has a casino, boasts 13 beaches of pure white sand, swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, snorkeling, diving, fishing, and waterskiing, just to mention a few activities and amenities. Isla Contadora Island Resort is awesome. If you are going to stay at the resort a van will pick you up from the runway and transport you to the doors of the hotel. It is a romantic getaway that is worth every cent. Isla Grande, Province of Colon
From Portobelo drive beyond to the village of Guaira and there you can take a small powerboat to the Isla Grande,it is just a few hundred yards offshore). The beach is exceptional and you will probably have to yourself on weekdays. On weekends the locals arrive in force. San Blas Archipelago, San Blas
The San Blas Archipelago is a chain of tropical isles along the Atlantic coast of the Republic of Panama that stretch along approximately 200 miles of Panama's Caribbean coastline. The San Blas territory is defined from the seaward continental shelf to the top of the jungle-clad continental divide. Around 50 of over 365 of these islands that make up the Archipelago chain are inhabited. About half of the islands are within sight and easy traveling distance of the jungle and hills of the mainland The San Blas Islands offer two matchless attractions The Caribbean islands are of spectacular beauty and you have an opportunity to visit the villages of the San Blas Indians to learn about their fascinating culture and way of life. The San Blas Archipelago is situated in indescribably beautiful aqua waters and were selected as one of the top two "best cruising destinations in the world" by Cruising World and Le Monde Voyage magazines. Here you feel refreshingly "away from it all" ‚ ah far from modern civilization and close to nature. The popular CBS‚ Survivor program chose one heavenly San Blas island, Sapbeinega for a thank you reward‚Äù party for the Survivor competitors. The islands have been the subject of numerous National Geographic articles over the years- indeed this is an experience ‚Äúright out of the pages of National Geographic.
Accommodations consist of simple and comfortable native style cabins with roofs and walls made of thatched palm trees. The all natural accommodations blend in perfectly with the tropical scenery and are in harmony with nature. You may find Panama Mel Gibson hanging out with friends on one of these beaches, Mel has purchased a large tract of Panama beachfront.
Kuna Yala Province - San Blas Archipelago
One of the most beautiful parts of Panama is the archipelago of San Blas. Located along the Caribbean coast it is comprised of 365 islands called the San Blas archipelago. It was established in 1938 as an autonomous Indian territory . The land and marine park of Kuna Yala offers both land and sea treasures. On the mainland, the Cordillera de las San Blas ‚mountain range rises above this gorgeous, unspoiled, unexploited and relatively unknown island paradise.
Named the San Blas Islands by the Spaniards, and officially known as Kuna Yala (territory of the Kunas). Its 365 islands spread out along 212.5 km bordering the Caribbean coast. The continental and island territory covers 5,875 km2 and it borders with the Province of Colon on the west, with Colombia at the extreme east and south with Panama and Darien provinces. San Blas has a population of over 32,000 ethnically homogeneous people called Kunas. They are originally from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia .
The Kunas have a structured society that adheres to strict rules. Kuna elders meet on a regular basis and decide the regulations and programs that need to be implemented. Women are held in high regard and they are considered the pillars of the society. Women wear short-sleeved mola blouses, a long skirt wrapped around their waists and a colorful scarf. Their ankles and arms are adorned with rows of beads.
They are in charge of stitching the bright colored cloths, molas, which they use as part of their own daily wear and which now, with the increasing number of tourists visiting their islands, provide income to the families. Molas are well known in Europe and Japan and are popular in the US through sales made in Costa Rica.
Contestants in the Miss Panama Pageant wear dresses with mola motifs and technique.
The U.S. Armed Forces had a special side-treaty with the Kunas. The men were employed on most U.S. bases, Pacific to Atlantic, and were provided with living quarters. Many worked as janitors and cooks and general handymen. The women stayed back home. After the Americans left, many remained in the vicinity of Panama City and Colon and other towns because of the availability of jobs but this time they brought their families with them. A large number have stable jobs, have bought their own homes and their children attend college in the cities. More and more Kunas are moving to the mainland in search of jobs. In the past, their economy consisted of growing coconuts which were traded for food, clothing or accessories and the mainland territory provided them fresh water and farmland to grow crops.
The Kunas are very protective of their natural resources as they have a special spiritual rapport with nature. Their territory is jealously guarded and no trespassing of the "wagas" (non-Kunas) is allowed. Wagas who have had cottage hotels on the islands (with consent by the Kunas) have had their permits revoked at no notice for not respecting their traditions. Nowadays Kunas have many simple lodgings on their islands. Usually the cost of the lodging includes three meals and excursions to the uninhabited islands for swiming and snorkeling. There are eco-trips to the mainland forest as well. Of the approximately 50 island communities Porvenir, Nargana, Wichub Wala, Nalunega, Carti-Guptupu and Ailigandi are some of the largest. For a fee you can even arrange to camp on one of the nearby tiny islands, but bring your own food and water.
Getting There
Aero Perlas provides daily morning departures to six different San Blas communities. Flights are also available through Aero Taxi and Aviatur. An overnight stay is necessary as there are no afternoon return flights. One of the shortest trips is a 30-minute flight to El Porvenir and there is lodging available at Nalunega and Wichub Wala and at Carti.
A Weekend in San Blas story by Jeremy Shorenstein
In a world where there are few places left that can truly be called paradise, San Blas easily fits the bill with its beautiful sandy beaches, temperate clear waters, and native cuisine. My friend Juan Carlos told me that I must visit San Blas during my one week visit to Panama or else it would be a wasted trip. While driving in Juan Carlos’s truck (a 4x4 is a must when driving to San Blas), we were given an amazing view over the tropical rainforest while en route to Carti, a coastal town with an air strip, where caught a boat with the native Kuna Yala people to Isla Aguja(a-goo-ha). When the boat pulled up to the island I felt as if I were in a fairytale; I thought only places this stunning existed in children’s stories and on postcards. Aguja is one of 365 beautiful small islands scattered with palm trees, giving ample space to set up a hammock and relax. For what felt like a steal of a price, we received three meals a day and sleeping arrangements in a small tent. The food was exquisite! Unfortunately we took our trip during the time of lobster repopulation; however we were pleasantly greeted with fried fish, coconut rice, and patacones (fried plantains). After arriving, eating, and setting up our tent for the night, the rest of the day was spent relaxing in the sun and spying on the secret lives of barracuda, squid, and an assortment of colorful reef fish. That evening we had another delicious meal, followed by conversation with other international travelers varying from Chilé to South Africa. While drinking coconut juice out of a freshly opened coconut, a Russian man named Serge told us how he spends one month of every year in San Blas because it is so gorgeous. Before bed we smoked Cuban cigars on the dock, looked at the stars, and wondered how such an enchanting place could exist.
The following morning we were greeted with an offer to take a ride to Isla Perro (Dog Island) where a sunken ship has become a snorkeler’s paradise. We snorkeled around the entire island, easily seeing down 20-30 feet, followed by a quick nap in the sun, some dinner, and another nap under a palm tree. While leaving that night I felt as if I had been transported to another world and was now leaving what could easily be described as heaven. Fortunately the drive back left for another amazing evening view over the rolling hills of Panamanian rainforest. I have never experienced such serenity as I did on those islands and plan to return as soon as I can for some pure and undeniable relaxation.
Islands of Boca Del Toro
Boca Del Toro the Venice of Latin America
Bocas del Toro is a 500 square km (200 square miles) province in the Republic of Panama located west of the country bordering with Costa Rica between the Talamanca Continental Divide and the Caribbean Sea. It is a land of contrasts. Most of it is covered in virgin forests. People live mainly in the coastal lowlands and on the bigger islands: Isla Colon, Almirante and Bastimentos. The archipelago consists of 6 big islands and over 200 islets. The indigenous groups such as the Ngobe-bugle and Naso-Teribe remain in the highlands and engage in farming or work on the banana plantations.
It was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his fourth and last trip in 1502. Its inhabitants are the descendants of a wave of African slaves brought from the Antilles and San Andres Islands and the local indigenous population. They became farmers and fishermen. At the end of the nineteenth century, the United Fruit Company established its banana plantations and Bocas, particularly Changuinola, became the banana growing center of Panama.
The town of Bocas del Toro is the capital of the province and has recently become a significant tourist attraction. American, French, German, Italian, Dutch and local tourists visit Bocas to enjoy its rustic cane and wood hotels and cottages some of which are built on piles over very calm waters. Restaurants are plentiful and they offer local and haute cuisine. In the daytime visitors engage in snorkeling, diving, fishing, bird and marine turtle watching or fishing, or they just simply bask in the sun on white sandy beaches and become mesmerized by the crystalline-clear waters. Surf lovers (beginners to advanced) can stay at Rancho Paraiso Surfside Eco Resort and get 100 miles of some of the best short boarding and body surfing in the world. The evenings are cool and tourists take pleasure in taking a leisurely walk on main-street stopping for a night cap at one of the calypso bars.
Bocas has not been hit by big scale tourism and its marine environment has remained unspoiled. It is a haven for manatees, tarpon fish, fresh water turtles, caimans, the red frog found only in this region, the beautiful red-billed tropic bird, the brown booby and 131 other bird species, 36 of which are on the endangered list according to the World Wildlife Fund. Over a dozen coral reefs (studied by marine researchers of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) and the red and white mangrove trees protect and nurture a unique marine environment.
Bocas is an hour away from Panama City by plane. Overland travel can take over 10-12 hours up the Pan-American Highway and then north across the Talamanca Cordillera to a ferry in Chiriqui Grande or Almirante. Water taxis in Bocas are the main means of transportation to the bird sanctuaries, mangroves, beaches and some of the fancier hotels, like Punta Caracol.
Bocas del Toro is a 500 square km (200 square miles) province in the Republic of Panama located west of the country bordering with Costa Rica between the Talamanca Continental Divide and the Caribbean Sea. It is a land of contrasts. Most of it is covered in virgin forests. People live mainly in the coastal lowlands and on the bigger islands: Isla Colon, Almirante and Bastimentos. The archipelago consists of 6 big islands and over 200 islets. The indigenous groups such as the Ngobe-bugle and Naso-Teribe remain in the highlands and engage in farming or work on the banana plantations.
It was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his fourth and last trip in 1502. Its inhabitants are the descendants of a wave of African slaves brought from the Antilles and San Andres Islands and the local indigenous population. They became farmers and fishermen. At the end of the nineteenth century, the United Fruit Company established its banana plantations and Bocas, particularly Changuinola, became the banana growing center of Panama.
The town of Bocas del Toro is the capital of the province and has recently become a significant tourist attraction. American, French, German, Italian, Dutch and local tourists visit Bocas to enjoy its rustic cane and wood hotels and cottages some of which are built on piles over very calm waters. Restaurants are plentiful and they offer local and haute cuisine. In the daytime visitors engage in snorkeling, diving, fishing, bird and marine turtle watching or fishing, or they just simply bask in the sun on white sandy beaches and become mesmerized by the crystalline-clear waters. Surf lovers (beginners to advanced) can stay at Rancho Paraiso Surfside Eco Resort and get 100 miles of some of the best short boarding and body surfing in the world. The evenings are cool and tourists take pleasure in taking a leisurely walk on main-street stopping for a night cap at one of the calypso bars.
Bocas has not been hit by big scale tourism and its marine environment has remained unspoiled. It is a haven for manatees, tarpon fish, fresh water turtles, caimans, the red frog found only in this region, the beautiful red-billed tropic bird, the brown booby and 131 other bird species, 36 of which are on the endangered list according to the World Wildlife Fund. Over a dozen coral reefs (studied by marine researchers of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) and the red and white mangrove trees protect and nurture a unique marine environment.
Bocas is an hour away from Panama City by plane. Overland travel can take over 10-12 hours up the Pan-American Highway and then north across the Talamanca Cordillera to a ferry in Chiriqui Grande or Almirante. Water taxis in Bocas are the main means of transportation to the bird sanctuaries, mangroves, beaches and some of the fancier hotels, like Punta Caracol.
Islands of Panama
Coiba: Ecotourism Jewel in the Pacific
Story by Luis Miguel Blanco / The Panama Post
The Island receives visitors in its paradisiacal beaches (Photo courtesy of STRI)
The Management Plan of Coiba contemplates an investment of $ 11.5 million over the next 5 years to improve attention and surveillance
Coiba's National Park of 270,125 hectares in the Panamanian Pacific Ocean, now has a plan that will allow gradual and scientific exploitation for the benefit of all mankind, thanks to the efforts of multiple entities, including the U.S. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), with a site in Panama and the National Environmental Authority (ANAM).
Research to update the knowledge about the potential of Coiba was launched in May 2006 and it was determined that it´s necessary to use only 2% of the area where the camps of a former criminal penitentiary were located, for infrastructure, according to Juan Maté, Director of the plan, which will require an investment of $ 11.5 million in five years.
Maté explained to The Panama Post that the plan will be developed gradually and that the Island now receives one daily visit, of around 120 visitors, mostly seniors, residents of the Granito de Oro Island.
He said that the Island has an airstrip in good condition and that the project includes the transformation of the former criminal penitentiary( which had 4.000 prisoners even though its capacity was for 1,000), into a museum landscape.
Maté, a marine biologist, explained that the main threat to the conservation of Coiba, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005, are not the visitors, but the 2,500 heads of cattle that roam in the island, a legacy of its former operation as a prison, and that´s why there is a plan to remove them.
A trip by plane to Coiba from the capital of Panama takes about 45 minutes and the experience is worth it because the place has hot springs, paradisiacal beaches, endemic species of flora and fauna, terrestrial and aquatic, freshwater, the largest white coral reef in the Eastern Pacific and archaeological remains of ancient pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Island and its neighboring islets. A permit from ANAM is required for visiting.
Of its total land area, 75% is covered by primary forest, without the intervention of man, which is going to be kept that way.
In terms of marine exploitation, Maté explained that 35 sites have been established for sports and craft marine fishing, all more than a mile away from the shores of the islands.
At the request of ANAM, the Smithsonian led the team in charge of updating the original plan, with funding from the Organization of the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), the Foundation of the United Nations and Conservation International.
The team was composed by professionals from various disciplines such as planning of protected areas, geographic information systems, terrestrial biology, marine and fisheries, ecotourism, and legal issues, among others. As defined by Act 44, which created the Coiba National Park, the group worked closely with its Board of Directors, the Scientific Committee and ANAM.
According to Ligia Castro de Doens, outgoing Minister in Issues Related to Environmental Conservation, and General Manager of ANAM, "the Management Plan is the guiding document for the management of the Coiba's National Park," for the preservation and sustainable use of a natural World Heritage.
The director of STRI in Panama, Eldredge "Biff" Bermingham said: "The Management Plan is an excellent example of the union between science and planning for resource management for the benefit of the entire world."
Maté said they need about $ 11, 5 million to implement the plan at a rate of about $ 2, 5 million annually, over the next 5 years, in order to provide Coiba of surveillance and preparation as an ecotourism destination in the Pacific waters, not allowing new buildings, although now two cruises arrive during the season.
This protected area is part of the Eastern Pacific Marine Corridor, along with the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador), Coco's Island (Costa Rica) and Gorgona and Malpelo Islands (Colombia), all but Gorgona declared Natural World Heritage Sites of the Humanity by UNESCO.
Story by Luis Miguel Blanco / The Panama Post
The Island receives visitors in its paradisiacal beaches (Photo courtesy of STRI)
The Management Plan of Coiba contemplates an investment of $ 11.5 million over the next 5 years to improve attention and surveillance
Coiba's National Park of 270,125 hectares in the Panamanian Pacific Ocean, now has a plan that will allow gradual and scientific exploitation for the benefit of all mankind, thanks to the efforts of multiple entities, including the U.S. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), with a site in Panama and the National Environmental Authority (ANAM).
Research to update the knowledge about the potential of Coiba was launched in May 2006 and it was determined that it´s necessary to use only 2% of the area where the camps of a former criminal penitentiary were located, for infrastructure, according to Juan Maté, Director of the plan, which will require an investment of $ 11.5 million in five years.
Maté explained to The Panama Post that the plan will be developed gradually and that the Island now receives one daily visit, of around 120 visitors, mostly seniors, residents of the Granito de Oro Island.
He said that the Island has an airstrip in good condition and that the project includes the transformation of the former criminal penitentiary( which had 4.000 prisoners even though its capacity was for 1,000), into a museum landscape.
Maté, a marine biologist, explained that the main threat to the conservation of Coiba, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005, are not the visitors, but the 2,500 heads of cattle that roam in the island, a legacy of its former operation as a prison, and that´s why there is a plan to remove them.
A trip by plane to Coiba from the capital of Panama takes about 45 minutes and the experience is worth it because the place has hot springs, paradisiacal beaches, endemic species of flora and fauna, terrestrial and aquatic, freshwater, the largest white coral reef in the Eastern Pacific and archaeological remains of ancient pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Island and its neighboring islets. A permit from ANAM is required for visiting.
Of its total land area, 75% is covered by primary forest, without the intervention of man, which is going to be kept that way.
In terms of marine exploitation, Maté explained that 35 sites have been established for sports and craft marine fishing, all more than a mile away from the shores of the islands.
At the request of ANAM, the Smithsonian led the team in charge of updating the original plan, with funding from the Organization of the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), the Foundation of the United Nations and Conservation International.
The team was composed by professionals from various disciplines such as planning of protected areas, geographic information systems, terrestrial biology, marine and fisheries, ecotourism, and legal issues, among others. As defined by Act 44, which created the Coiba National Park, the group worked closely with its Board of Directors, the Scientific Committee and ANAM.
According to Ligia Castro de Doens, outgoing Minister in Issues Related to Environmental Conservation, and General Manager of ANAM, "the Management Plan is the guiding document for the management of the Coiba's National Park," for the preservation and sustainable use of a natural World Heritage.
The director of STRI in Panama, Eldredge "Biff" Bermingham said: "The Management Plan is an excellent example of the union between science and planning for resource management for the benefit of the entire world."
Maté said they need about $ 11, 5 million to implement the plan at a rate of about $ 2, 5 million annually, over the next 5 years, in order to provide Coiba of surveillance and preparation as an ecotourism destination in the Pacific waters, not allowing new buildings, although now two cruises arrive during the season.
This protected area is part of the Eastern Pacific Marine Corridor, along with the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador), Coco's Island (Costa Rica) and Gorgona and Malpelo Islands (Colombia), all but Gorgona declared Natural World Heritage Sites of the Humanity by UNESCO.
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