LANDSCAPE TRAVELING
panama
WITH PETRA VAŠKOVÁ
PANAMA CITY
city of many faces
tRANSPORTATION
In my opinion, the best way to transport in Panama City is by Uber (including transport from the airport). The prices are quite low and you don’t have to worry about the price changing and losing money as when taking a regular taxi there. It is also possible to use the typical Panama colored buses.
tHE CITY
The level of the Panamanian capital is rising rapidly due to the wealth of the Panama Canal. But it seems to me that it looks like that just on the surface. The main coastline built by skyscrapers looks luxurious from a distance, but if you walk between them you will not find any luxury. A lot of neighborhoods are falling apart and it’s pretty dirty.
CASCO VIEJO
Casco Viejo is an old historic Panama-city district belonging to the UNESCO. The neighborhood is commonly called San Filipe and is full of beautiful houses, churches, restaurants and bars. There is a varied nightlife. I tried the great rooftop bar Tantalo Terrazza.
oTHER PLACES
There are several interesting places to visit in Panama city. MIrador Cerro Cedro is a hill in the Metropolitan Park. It has beautiful views of the city and breathtaking nature. It is also possible to visit the Panama Canal or take a nice walk around the Mirador del Pacifico.
tABOGA
beautiful island near panama city
tRANSPORTATION
Taboga is located near Panama city. The locals use this island for a relaxation on the beach, as there are no nice ones right next to the big city. You can reach it by boat from the port of Amador on Isla Flamenca. The connection runs several times a day and lasts about 40 minutes.
iSLAND TABOGA
It is a relatively small island within sight of Panama city. It has beautiful nature, peace and spacious beaches. I volunteered on the island for a month at the Taboga Palace Spa Hotel and life here never ceased to surprise me. It is beautiful. I also recommend going around the island on a boat, you can meet dolphins.
SAN BLAS
caribbean dream
tRANSPORTATION
I got to San Blas by chance when I met a traveler. He took me to the Caribbean across half of Panama, arranged transportation to one of the islands and an overnight stay. It is also possible to use organized bus tours from Panama City.
aBOUT SAN BLAS
San Blas is a group of mini islands in the Panamanian part of the Caribbean. It is pure beauty and so far almost without tourists. Although it is a majority gain for the locals. There are only small cottages on the islands or the possibility of camping without electricity, no hotels. We had a tent, but in the end I slept among the palm trees in a hammock. You have to experience it!
vOLUNTEERING IN PANAMA
In the summer, I decided to extend my vacation before going to college. Through the great site https://www.workaway.info/ I found a host for volunteering in Panama. So I went to Central America alone for a month and I can only recommend such an experience. I worked on the island of Taboga in the great smaller hotel Taboga Palace SPA. I worked about 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week for sleeping and all-inclusive food. As a dream come true, live for free in paradise with minimal effort. There are plenty of volunteer offers in Panama. There are great people who need help and will give you everything they have for exchange.