Travel America » Panama City

Central America Travel

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:28:34 +0000

Some of the beautiful locations in Costa Rica, Panama, Belize and Nicaragua are in competition with one another and you can get accommodation here at a very affordable rate. Central America is known for mixed culture and therefore you can see here people having different languages and civilizations.

Central American countries are the perfect place to enjoy either with someone special, or with the whole family. These countries are having several top resorts and hotels and your stay here will be very special and exciting. Here you will not only find historic sites, art galleries, museums, parks but plenty of other activities will keep your schedule tight and you will never face a shortage of things to do here.

You will find the people most receptive here. Native people in these countries are cooperative, ready to share their culture and history with the visitors. Your stay here will be wonderfully unique and you will have a desire to come here again and gain.

Most popular destinations in Central America: In Central American countries Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala you will find many popular destinations such as Panama City, Belize City, San Jose, Antigua, Bocas del Toro, Guatemala City and many more. You will find cheap hotels and restaurant here and you every person in your family will have something to do here.

There are a number of museums and national parks you would like to see. Excellent sea beaches and sunshine will really attract you and you will find yourself enjoying in these beautiful cities. What is more interesting is that you will find accommodation and food here quite cheaper.

Adventures available in Central America: There are lot of adventurous sports in Central America including sea sports such as kayaking in Panama River, scuba diving, motor sporting, mountain biking, rafting, snorkeling and many more. Panama canal adventure in itself is a complete combination of sports and adventure. You will see many excellent engineering marvels in your passage to Panama Canal and in the recent past an excellent viewing center is opened. This will help you understand the architectural thought behind it.

Water sport is more common and you and your family will enjoy fun water sports in the ocean. Some of the fun water sports available to you in these countries include diving, charter sailboats, paddle boating, Para-sailing, fishing, water skiing, snorkeling and many more.

Travel to Panama, The Gem of Central America

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:15:30 +0000

One of the most prized treasures of the Central American Continent is undoubtedly the magnificent nation of Panama. It is certain that even one trip might not be enough to take in and enjoy the wonderful experiences this paradise city has to offer! Tropical Landscapes, dense forests and overwhelming sandy beaches, make Panama an unparalleled holiday destination for couples and family holiday-makers.

The legendary Panama Canal and arrays of other natural attractions of Panama create an alluring invitation for travel lovers. Snorkelling, hiking, off-roading on the sandy beaches, or just peaceful bird watching, Panama has got the best of all!

The wonderful and stunning coastline of Panama opens up to the divine land of Panama country with palm fringed beaches to reveal an environment full of rich wildlife and tropical birds. The history of Panama goes a long way back to the late 1800’s, and tourists to Panama always seek to visit the regions of the Kuna’s; the vibrant natives of Panama, who have co-existed along with Panama’s rich history and heritage.

The best time to travel to Panama solely depends on what you are looking for in your holiday. If you are intending to spend more time along the Panama coastlines facing the housing the Pacific Ocean, then the best time to visit Panama are during the months of December and January. This time of the year the temperate climate creates a rather pleasurable weather with little rainfall. Hiking trips in Panama are also more feasible during these months. However, you must note that airfares and hotel rates can get rather high in these dry-seasons, so it is best to plan and book your trip to Panama well in advance.

When in Panama, be sure to visit a number of must-see places the country has to offer:

Panama City- This vivacious city has lots to offer for travellers in terms of partying, music, dancing, recreation, and exotic food. Noteworthy festivals and events in the city include the re-enactment of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

Colon: This metropolitan jungle town house modern engineering feats, unspoiled beaches, colonial grandeurs and low-lying rainforests. It is here the Panama Canal can be found. The canal extends from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Pacific Ocean, and it is sometimes cited to be as the 8th wonder of the world.

Panama has a number of colorful festivals to offer for tourists traveling in and around magnificent Panama. These festivals manage to portray what Panama is all about, and draw huge crowds every year. Panama is considered to be one of the party capitals of the world, and if you are looking to have some unadulterated fun, then Panama is the right choice for you.

Visiting Panama City or Las Tablas during the Carnival season can really do well to travellers who intend to party and have a good time while in Panama. Everything and anything goes here. However, if you do plan to visit Panama in this time of the year, be sure to book in advance, as hotels are jam packed with holiday makers.

By: Cassidy Williams

Central America Travel

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:58:10 +0000

Introduction: If you are planning to travel for some exotic locations, beautiful sea sores and beaches, variety of sea sports, mixtures of cultures and beauty then Central America is the right place for you where you will not only get these but many more during your travel. You will also find a number of adventure locations in and around some of the Central American Countries.

Some of the beautiful locations in Costa Rica, Panama, Belize and Nicaragua are in competition with one another and you can get accommodation here at a very affordable rate. Central America is known for mixed culture and therefore you can see here people having different languages and civilizations.

Central American countries are the perfect place to enjoy either with someone special, or with the whole family. These countries are having several top resorts and hotels and your stay here will be very special and exciting. Here you will not only find historic sites, art galleries, museums, parks but plenty of other activities will keep your schedule tight and you will never face a shortage of things to do here.

You will find the people most receptive here. Native people in these countries are cooperative, ready to share their culture and history with the visitors. Your stay here will be wonderfully unique and you will have a desire to come here again and gain.

Most popular destinations in Central America: In Central American countries Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala you will find many popular destinations such as Panama City, Belize City, San Jose, Antigua, Bocas del Toro, Guatemala City and many more. You will find cheap hotels and restaurant here and you every person in your family will have something to do here.

There are a number of museums and national parks you would like to see. Excellent sea beaches and sunshine will really attract you and you will find yourself enjoying in these beautiful cities. What is more interesting is that you will find accommodation and food here quite cheaper.

Adventures available in Central America: There are lot of adventurous sports in Central America including sea sports such as kayaking in Panama River, scuba diving, motor sporting, mountain biking, rafting, snorkeling and many more. Panama canal adventure in itself is a complete combination of sports and adventure. You will see many excellent engineering marvels in your passage to Panama Canal and in the recent past an excellent viewing center is opened. This will help you understand the architectural thought behind it.

Water sport is more common and you and your family will enjoy fun water sports in the ocean. Some of the fun water sports available to you in these countries include diving, charter sailboats, paddle boating, Para-sailing, fishing, water skiing, snorkeling and many more.

By: Matthew Reider

Retirees Are Moving to Panama

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:37:38 +0000

Another Panamanian secret has been revealed during the past few years—it is a great place to retire to. In 2001, International Living, the renowned magazine and recognized expert for promoting U.S. expatriate lifestyles, stated that Panama is the best place to live outside of the United States. The American Association of Retired People’s (AARP) Modern Maturity Magazine, has ranked Panama’s town of Boquete as fourth in its listing of the “Fifteen best cities in the world for U.S. retirees.”

Panama’s popularity as a retirement destination is easy to define. This country’s mixture of a high quality of life, easy life-style, retirement incentives and modern amenities allow persons to change their location and lives, with very little problem.

To begin with, Panama is an incredibly beautiful country. It has a diversity of flora and fauna that is found in no other place, due to the Isthmus’ position as the crossroads of North and South America. Potential residential opportunities range over city, mountain, beach and island communities so that a special place can be found to suit anyone’s taste. Once you decide where to settle, you have the security of knowing that, as a foreigner, you can own property easily and are granted exactly the same rights and protections as a Panamanian property owner.

Due to the pull-out of the American military and other factors, prices for Panamanian real estate have remained basically unchanged from the early 1990s (except for “hot” areas like Boquete in Chiriqui and the islands of the Bocas del Toro archipelago). As of this writing some representative prices in the better known areas include: a three-bedroom, apartment in Panama City, $60,000; a two-bedroom condo in a new high rise, $175,000; a four-plex building in the old Albrook military base, $155,000; a three-bedroom house with lot in Boquete, $100,000; and, a home on the beach in Colon, $40,000.

There are a number of real estate land developments ideal for retirees. Foremost among these is Altos de Cerro Azul and Altos del Maria, both within reasonable distance from Panama City but situated in cooler, mountainous areas and with their own residential infraestructure and services such as clinics and supermarkets close by.

Once you purchase your home, you can also bring your personal and house belongings with you tax-free and a new car (for private use) every two years, plus you pay no property taxes on your residence. If all this is not beneficial enough, English, is spoken widely enough so chances are you can converse with at least some of your new neighbors.

Panama is one of the safest countries in the world and has the highest rating for tourist safety from the prestigious Pinkerton Intelligence Agency. Panama is a constitutional democracy with no dictator and no standing army. Due to the presence of the Panama Canal, Panama also enjoys international protection and monitoring.

In terms of health standards Panama is among the top countries in Latin America. Life expectancy is around 75 years. A large percentage of Panamanian doctors are bilingual and have been trained in Europe and the United States. Private medical facilities are among the best in Central America (many are affiliated with major hospitals in the U.S.). In addition, health standards in most parts of the country are quite good as a result of massive sanitation programs initiated during the construction of the Panama Canal. Water is also potable in most of the country and in the cities you can drink straight from the tap.

Making the most of their money is, of course, a prime concern for retirees. The U.S. dollar has always been the republic’s currency. Panama is known for its banking center, which boasts branch banks from nearly all of the international players. On another note, the cost of living is reasonable and is much less than in the States and Europe. Inflation rates are some of the lowest known, normally hovering between 1% and 2%. Plus, pensioners, or “jubilados” to use the Spanish term receive generous price discounts such as 50% on movies and cultural events, 30% on transportation, 25% on utilities, 15% on personals loans and 1% on personal mortgages.

Those settling in Panama can expect the tab for day-to-day living to be significantly less than in “first-world” countries. Nice apartments and homes can be rented for $1,000 or less per month. Grocery prices are 25%-30% lower. A meal at a good restaurant can be enjoyed for $15-$40. First-run movie tickets are $3.75. Concert tickets range from $20-$100. Maid service is around $180 per month. Gardeners cost under $10 a day. A bottle of Scotch whisky can be found for $6.

Purchasing just what you need is not usually a problem. Due to its mixture of cultures and positioning as an international trade hub, Panama offers a wide range of top-quality goods and, therefore, shopping options.

Keeping in touch with friends, family and the rest of the world is no problem. High-band Internet connectivity, cellular phone networks and ADSL in-home phone capability are readily accessible. Full service satellite and cable TV are common.

Regarding accessibility, many major airlines call at Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, including American and Delta. Panama’s international airline COPA flies to 29 cities in 19 countries and now has direct flights from Houston, Los Angeles, Miami (2 1/2 hours), Newark and Orlando. There are also direct flights from the major Central and South American centers. Anyone wishing to travel from the Eastern Hemisphere will probably be routed through the U.S.

Finally, obtaining a retiree visa is a very simple and inexpensive process. All you need is a “clean” police report from the area in which you lived before Panama, a certificate of health from a Panamanian doctor and proof of personal income of $500 per month, with $100 monthly for any dependents.

Given all the benefits listed above, it is no wonder that for those looking to retire, Panama has become the Latin American location of choice.

If you desire more information about retiring in Panama, numerous legal firms offer a full line of advisory and relocation services. Retirement-related reading includes: “Getting to Know Panama”, “The Visitor” and “Focus on Panama”, published by Focus Publications (Int), S.A. (www.focuspublicationsint.com), “Living in Panama” from the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama (www.panamcham.com, under “Publications”) and the Panama Country Kit from International Living’s Panama branch (www.agora-inc.com/reports/pvom/wilvbb31). Another good source of information is Panama Info (www.panamainfo.com).

Americans may want to contact the American Society of Panama (www.amso.org). There are a number of organizations for foreigners and of interest to foreigners including active groups of Alcoholics Anonymous (www.panamakevin.com)

Panama Relocation Services was created to offer full-assistance in the process of moving and relocating in Panama or from Panama to another country. Services include airport pick-up, orientation to Panama, search for and installation in new residence, help in finding schools and doctors and everything a person or family could need in starting a new life. (www.panamarelocation.com)

By: Kenneth J. Jones