Tourist Attractions in Panama

We took a ferry to Taboga Island for a day of beachs and relaxation. And it looked good from a distance. It was a beach, and not much else. The promise of restuarants and pristine beachs was a fabrication. We had a snack at a lovely hotel/restuarant. A small fruit plate, a memosa( Which didnt have any champagne) and a cappacino was $16. There were a couple other places to eat but I wouldnt eat there unless I was desperate. The beach was small and dirty. We walked around a bit and it only got worse. Broken glass and debris from the sea was everywhere. We were able to rent a shower and a changing room, which was a faucet mounted up high and a closet without a light or a lock. It was really a shame because it was a picturesque island and it could be a wonderful place. We were stuck there all day because there was only one boat to pick us up. I hope that it will get some attention and some cleaning in the future.

If you are staying at the Royal Decameron Playa Blanca, do not go on the Canopy Walk tour.

THis 6 hour tour, which features 'Zip Lines', actually involves a total of about 60 seconds of total 'zipping' during it's 6 hours. the reason is - they don't tell you that they take twice as many people as can go to the park, so while one half of the group enters the park, the other half is dropped off in a dumpy town that has a sad excuse for a market. THen, two hours later, you are picked up, and taken to the very poor canopy tour.

Also, they take you to some hot spring, that looks like a 10 foot diameter concrete pool, that you have to pay extra to see!

NOT WORTH THE MONEY OR THE TIME!!!

Unique Suggestions: Do not go on this tour - there are too many other things to do - like the quad tour into the mountains that is AMAZING!! You will see much more of the Panamanian landscape this way, and get to have fun in the process - rather than spending your vacation day waiting from place to place.

Fun Alternatives: Quad Tour
Jet Skis
Horseback Riding
Mountain Biking
Hiking

There are too many alternatives - this tour should be ended.

Allegro Tours, in Panama City is a Travel Agency without enough Experience in LOCAL Tourism.

Unique Suggestions: Avoid it, They are beggining offering Local tours and tranfers, without the experience requeried, not the best service at all.

Fun Alternatives: Jasmine Tours
Margo Tours
Viajes Tivoli

No place else to go when you disembark at the Cristobal Pier; only this small area with local dancers and liquor and souvenir shops and some handicrafts displayed by natives.

Unique Suggestions: Please be aware that these locals are wearing nothing more than body paint and loincloths, so if you have children with you, you can choose how to handle the experience.

Fun Alternatives: The un-dressed natives are in the area IN BACK of the shops - they are in the handicraft booth section, so you could just skip that whole area.

the airport taxis with a sign SET on their plaque has a fare of 10 USD each person for travelling to Downtown PC, sharing with another 3 persons. if you want the taxi for yourself, it will cost 25 USD.
Most of the hotels offers FREE pick up.
buses and regular taxis are not allowed to enter the terminal, there is the maffia!
Otherwise, and not carrying lots of bags, theres a bus sation 5 minutes walking, left side of the gate, where you can take a regular taxi to PC, about 10 USD for yourself or buses 0.25 cents that leave you an hour later to downtown. of course dont do that at nightime!

The carnival was just a big booze party with the same program everyday. Afternoons: they spray water over people in the street. Evenings: talent show for local children who sings and dances (the kids are good, but are interrupted by the host screaming something every 15 seconds). Nights: dj plays music but talks through the whole song.
And this goes on for 5 days. The carnival naturaly also makes accomadationprices go high.

Unique Suggestions: Go there after the waterflushing but before the talantshow for some really cheap drinks.
Look for accomadation away from the Parque Simon Bolivar where the carnival its held.

Fun Alternatives: Since the carnival only takes place ones a year its quite easy to avoid. If you like me gets surprised that its held during your stay, go to other islands during daytime.

* If you need to stay in Panama 5 or more hours waiting your next flight, you can try to go out of the airport but take attention or make a registration of the hour in your passport because this is the unique demostration , with the customs stamps, of the moment when you go out of the airport.
If you don't make it, you can have a lot of problems when you want to go in again, and if the time is not market you need to pay the tax .

'La Central' is a place where you can buy whatever you want very cheap, but be very careful with your personal belongings, I told this a thousand times to my friends, and once we got there one of them lost his VISA card (somebody took it from his pocket, he did not even notice when).