A Secret for Air Travelers Arriving in Panama

A Secret for Air Travelers Arriving in Panama

February 16th, 2012 | Panama - Travel Tips | No Comments »

While cabs in Panama are fairly cheap, the ride to and from the airport is a massive exception. Although the Tocumen Airport is only a mere 20-30 minutes from anywhere in the city, the price does not reflect this distance. To the dismay of the citizens, somehow all the cab drivers in Panama City came together and decided to make the standard cab to or from the airport a whopping $25. Even the most legendary haggler on the planet will have a tough time getting this price reduced, so unless you enjoy forking unreasonable bundles of cash to cab drivers this can be a huge hassle. Some people spend copious amounts of time trying to save money on their flights Read more

Escape the Heat and Head to the Mountains – El Valle de Anton

February 6th, 2012 | Panama - Adventure, Panama - Must See or Do, Uncategorized | No Comments »

The tropical sun combined with the often overwhelming humidity of Panama make doing anything without air-conditioning quite difficult. After a hot and sweaty week in the city an escape to cool off is an absolute necessity. Now most city-dwellers tend to head to the islands or beaches during their time off and while the ocean is a fantastic place to chill down, I’ve got another equally if not cooler option. An easy 2 hour bus ride from the city, El Valle de Anton is a nice little valley nestled in the mountains of the Coclé Province. The high elevation and persistent breeze gives this small, sleepy mountain town a very cool temperature most of the time, which is the perfect Read more

The Best Place to Buy Sunglasses in Panama

January 26th, 2012 | Panama - Best Shopping | No Comments »

“Hey man where did you get those sweet shades?” I seem to be asked that question almost as often as I get sunburned in Panama, which is on a regular basis. As cheap, nice sunglasses are on the “To-Do” list of most travelers to Central America, Mexico or any country less expensive than their own, I found a gem of a place that I must share with you. Whether you are a traveler just passing through the Isthmus or a resident trying to protect your retinas while looking cool, sunglasses are an important part of your world. While seeing sunglasses salesman on the sides of the road selling their merchandise to drivers is common, these men will never give you Read more

Cheap and Healthy Vegetarian Food in the City

January 6th, 2012 | Panama - Gringo Favorite, Panama - Places to Eat | 1 Comment »

Although I’m one of the farthest things on earth from a vegetarian I appreciate good food whatever the type. A friend recently recommended a small little restaurant called El Jardin Vegetariana in very close proximity to my house so I decided to give it a shot even though it was vegetarian. Spending only $2.50 for a meal consisting of 4 dishes of delicious fresh vegetables, beans, pasta, an eggroll and fresh juice I felt incredible and sad all at the same time. The incredible feeling came from food that was tasty, fresh and with an excellent selection that left me feeling good afterwards. The sad feeling was from knowing that I have been in Panama for so long and didn’t Read more

The Best Hike Near Panama City

December 26th, 2011 | Panama - Must See or Do, The Best of Panama | No Comments »

In my explorations of Panama I often find myself on long bus rides in search of the “best” things the country has to offer. Although this often pays off, sometimes you forget to look in your own backyard for beautiful and interesting things. For a nice, easy and very rewarding hike I had to look no further than Taboga Island, just a short and cheap boat ride from the city. While I had been to this island many times before mostly just to drink cheap beers on the beach and escape the heat of the city for awhile, not until a recent journey had I truly explored all this wonderful island has to offer. While there are at least 3 Read more

Cholo’s – Most Authentic Mexican Food in Panama

December 15th, 2011 | Panama - Gringo Favorite, Panama - Places to Eat | No Comments »

As moving to Panama was quite a random decision for me (read about why I moved here) I had virtually no preconceptions of what the cuisine would be like. Because of its relatively close proximity to Mexico, Spanish language and Latin culture I automatically assumed it would be somewhat similar to Mexican food. However my time in Panama thus far has taught me that aside from the abundance of rice and beans used in their dishes the types of meals are vastly different. Panamanians rarely use tortillas or cheese so large hearty burritos, tacos and enchiladas are typically out of the question. As this gringo comes from Colorado where a large hispanic population has created a some of the Read more

The Best Island in Panama

December 8th, 2011 | Panama - Gringo Favorite, Panama - Must See or Do, The Best of Panama | 1 Comment »

Classifying something as the best is not always an easy task, but after a recent weekend adventure I think I can say with some confidence I’ve found the best island in Panama. Now I have visited the gorgeous party islands of Bocas del Toro and peaceful native islands of San Blas and been thoroughly impressed, but my vote for the best island is neither of these. Slightly lesser known but gaining popularity at a swift pace, Isla Iguana is in the Los Santos province of Panama lying just east of the Azueron Peninsula in the Pacific Ocean. The waters surrounding this legendary island are well known for seeing whales and huge sea turtles when the season is right, but that Read more

Best Panama Deals: Special Travel Deals from Giggi Travel

December 2nd, 2011 | Friends of the Gringo, Panama - Adventure, Panama - Best Shopping, Panama - Family Friendly, Panama - Gringo Favorite | 1 Comment »

Giggi Travel offers you a chance to discover everything El
Valle has to offer at an unbeatable price! Only $49!

Our tour includes:
Transport to and from El Valle
Visit to the Nispera Zoo
Visit to the handicrafts market
Visit to the “El Chorro” waterfall and hiking trails
Visit to the natural springs
Visit to the El Valle museum

Don’t miss out on your chance to discover San Blas paradise in
Panama, at an unbeatable price! Only $180 p/p

Our package includes:
Land transportation to and from San Blas
Boat transportation to the island
2 nights accomodation in cabins
Tours
3 meals a day

Don’t miss out on the exclusive offer from Giggi Travel

Discover the beauty of the Dutch Read more

Playa El Parmar: The Best Place to Learn How to Surf in Panama!

November 28th, 2011 | Panama - Adventure, Panama - Must See or Do | No Comments »

At some point or another anyone who’s stared at the mesmerizing waves of the ocean has wondered what it would be like to hop on a board and surf one. Young or old the idea of surfing appeals to many, but it’s not always the easiest thing to do logistically. As I was raised in the mountains of Colorado I’ve always secretly wondered what it would be like to ride a wave and since I stepped foot in the great Isthmus of Panama I have been trying to figure out how to do it. I heard the World Surf Championships were located down on the Azuero peninsula a few months ago, but these massive swells made for world class surfers Read more

Oferta Simple: The Cheapest Way to Eat Out in Panama!

November 21st, 2011 | Panama - Gringo Owned Business, Panama - Places to Eat | No Comments »

Figuring out how to efficiently experience the vast plethora of culinary options in Panama City is a somewhat overwhelming task. There are so many different neighborhoods with good restaurants that even if you are able to pin down a location to cure your hunger pains it can be difficult to choose from the array of different choices. From Lebanese to Peruvian, Panama City won’t let your stomach down no matter what mood you are in, but how to decide where to go has perplexed me since arrival in this great city. As I currently do not possess a motor vehicle, my primary form of transportation consists of a pair of worn out sneakers, so the majority of my restaurant experiences Read more