If you’re considering a Central America vacation, possibly the last place on your list is Panama. You’ve got glorious Costa Rican jungles to the north and mysterious Colombia to the south, why settle for little ol’ Panama? Here’s five excellent reasons.
1. Pirates
Where did all that Inca gold go? To Portobelo, Panama. Set between the Carribean coast and thick jungle, the town of Portabelo was chosen for its strategically defensive position. That didn’t stop it being ridiculously attractive to pirates who peppered the history of Portabelo with attacks for two hundred years until 1761, when pirate Henry Morgan totally sacked the place.
Portabelo it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can take a colonial era train to get there and just nearby are zip-lines through the tree canopy and beautiful beaches for snorkeling. There are still enough remains of forts and the city’s past to relive the days of the pirates. Yarrr!
2. Parque de Amistad
A huge, spectacularly varied park straddling Costa Rica and Panama. From jungly, damp cloud forest to shrubby paramo above 3200m the diversity and strategic importance of the park is what makes it a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There are a huge range of flora and fauna such as tapir, jaguar and puma, quetzal and harpy eagle, spider and howler monkeys. Much of the park is not accessible but around centers like Volcan and Changuinola there is ample opportunity to hike, ride or otherwise explore the park.
3. The Bridge of Life Museum
The “bridge” here is symbolic of the connection between the two American continents, the bridge between two oceans and the bridge between the environment, people, the arts and science: all represented in this innovative new museum to be opened in Sept 2011.
4. Bocas del Toro Archipelago
A collection of beautiful islands set in azure blue waters; with coral reefs, white sandy beaches, a laid-back Caribbean vibe, and there’s even a few surf breaks. What more could you ask for?
Even the main town of Boca is still fairly laid back: though this won’t continue once the secret of the Bocas del Toro paradise gets out.
5. Panama Canal
A massive project that has changed the face of world trade, the Panama Canal is surely a wonder of modern engineering. Thousands died of diseases in the building of this cut through the Isthmus of Panama. To this day it transports 4% of all goods traded in the world, and it is still being enlarged.
