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
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
There’s no better way to appreciate and understand a city than a birds eye view and for those of us not financially fortunate enough to possess helicopters I have an easy solution in Panama City. Although it’s a place that us residents of the city see every day not many people take the time to venture up the immensely green hill topped with a gargantuan Panamanian Flag that looms over the city. It almost seems to fall into the background most of the time as we drive around to get wherever we are going that day. Last weekend this Gringo was in a “mountain summiting” type of mood and as Ancon Hill (Cerro Ancon) is the highest point of Panama Read more
One afternoon I was running down Via Argentina, one of the main streets in my neighborhood of Panama City, and came across a pack of 30 or so other runners coming straight at me. Rather than get trampled by this herd of sweaty athletes I quickly performed and abrupt 180 degree turnaround and joined the pack like a fish joining a school of others. At that current point in time my Spanish was slim to none so rather than inquire the reason for this mass session of exercise I just went along with it. After an awesome run of about an hour or so all throughout the city we came to an abrupt halt and everybody started talking about cervezas. Read more
Finding a place to throw money in a slot machine, on a blackjack table or on a roulette number is as easy as getting sunburned in Panama. From the “Vegas-Style” Veneto Casino to the number of smaller Crown Casino’s gambling is a common activity for locals and tourists alike in the great Panama City. For those looking for the rush of making it big, or the more common feeling of losing half a paycheck in 30 minutes, there are a variety of locations to make this happen.
To completely forget you are in a modern metropolis nestled on a canal in Central America, go visit the Golden Lion Casino in El Dorado for a change of scenery. Read more
Depending on your income, lifestyle and fashion sense this can be a difficult question to answer. Panama City’s got it all from modern, luxurious super malls to the lesser known street markets of Caledonia. (Click here to read our article on this off-the-grid shopping spot!) Now being an ESL teaching Gringo on a budget my primary prerogative in searching for clothing is price. I came to this country with very little, and the clothes I did bring were better suited for a holiday by the beach rather than living in a trendy metropolis. My tennis shoes and shorts weren’t adequate dress for educating Panamanian youth or attempting to acquire dates with the beautiful local women so I soon realized Read more
Those who’ve had the good fortune to grace Panama City with their presence are well aware of the crazy local bus system known as the “Diablo Rojos”, but for those yet to visit Panama let me paint a literary picture for you. Visualize your childhood school bus… Seriously, close your eyes and try to reminisce on that large yellow tin can that picked you up at a ridiculously early hour every morning. A large Bluebird brand bus with rows of tiny uncomfortable seats, narrow windows and seemingly no shocks whatsoever so every little bump in the road is absorbed by your personal human seat cushions. When these buses are no longer fit for operation in the USA where do they Read more
This is a very difficult question for many people when they take the bold decision to move to this interesting and quirky, tropical paradise. The city offers such a diverse range of neighborhoods, housing and prices one could spend the better part of a year doing research on what’s the best area to live in! Now this Panamanian Gringo is one of a very laid back nature, and with month-to-month rent being the standard for most apartments in the city I literally just chose the first place I was shown in a neighborhood I was recommended over the web. Please read my article on how I became an ESL teacher in Panama to better understand my situation, but to Read more
Panama is full of little known wonders and in my time here I have had the opportunity to experience several. Even today there are many unchartered and fairly unknown areas of Panama to those outside of the country and many within. On a random week day I had the chance to visit one of the largest man-made lakes in the entire world. Lake Gatun, which forms a stretch of the Panama Canal and carries ships for about 20 miles of their journey through the Isthmus of Panama, was a strange and beautiful place like I had never before seen.
My venture began as we drove about forty five minutes outside of the city where we met a small Read more
