how
To Get There
The Tocumen International Airport is located 15 miles northeast of Panama City’s center. A taxi to the city costs approximately $25 and takes about 20 minutes. Depending on the visitor’s nationality, a $5 tourist card, available upon arrival, could be required. A visa is not required for US citizens. There is a $20 departure tax.
To Get Around
Avenida Balboa, Calle 50 and Via España all lead to the financial district. Within Panama City, taxis are easy to catch and their fares are based on a published tariff system.
where
To Stay
The Bristol (Aquilino de la Guardia, Tel: 507-265-7844, www.thebristol.com) is a luxurious hotel in the heart of the financial district that has a classic atmosphere and is filled with mahogany furniture and paintings by noted Panamanian artists. The hotel provides excellent personal service. Butlers attend guests 24 hours a day and even deliver a personal selection of music CDs to rooms.
To Eat
Limoncillo (Bella Vista, Tel: 263-5350) brings a New York sensibility to dining in Panama City offering international cuisine with a Panamanian flair, executed by chef Clara Icaza. 1985 Restaurant (Tel: 263-8541) is an award-winning French and seafood restaurant located in the El Cangrejo section of the business district that has an extensive wine list and top-notch cuisine. At Barandas in the Bristol Hotel, chef Cuquita de Calvo prepares Panamanian-inspired gourmet cuisine enjoyed by visiting dignitaries.
To Drink
Wine lovers congregate at The Wine Bar, also located in El Cangrejo, which features an in-house musical trio and more than 300 wines. The atmosphere is casual but intimate. OZ Lounge in Marbella is a favorite gathering place among the local 30-something crowd. Blue, in Casco Viejo, is a small and exclusive bar known for its variety of Martinis. The best time to go is in the early morning hours.
To Unwind
The old colonial city center of San Felipe is the most picturesque and historically interesting part of Panama City, home to many of its most important buildings, museums and colonial churches. Noteworthy are the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Reina Torres de Arauz Anthropological Museum and the Panamanian History Museum.
The Metropolitan Natural Park, a protected tropical forest located within the city limits is a good refuge for nature lovers. The park, which is home to more than 200 different species of birds, mammals and reptiles, features walkways lined by orchids and cedars. The Smithsonian Institution conducts the majority of its forest ecology research in this area.
Panama of course is famous for its canal. One place to see it is from the Bridge of the Americas, which crosses the Canal at the Pacific side just outside Panama City. Most people prefer to go to the Miraflores Locks, a 30-minute drive from the city, where an observation deck offers a great view of huge masses of floating steel being shoe-horned into the locks for passage. For a dose of history, visit the Panama Canal Museum (Casco Viejo, Tel: 211-1650).
what
To Buy
Panama is a good place to buy native Indian art such as woodcarvings, ceremonial masks called diablitos and molas, hand-embroidered appliqués of the Kuna Indians that are made from brilliantly colored cotton textiles. These crafts are available at the Mercado de Artesanías in Plaza Cinco de Mayo and Mi Pueblito in Avenida de Los Martíres.
2003 National Holidays
May 1, Labor Day
October 12, Columbus Day
November 3, Separation from Colombia
November 10, First Cry of Independence from La Villa de Los Santos
November 28, Independence from Spain
December 8, Mother’s Day
December 25, Christmas Day