Types of Tourism in Panama
Diving
Panama is one of the few countries in the world where you can dive in two oceans – the Pacific and the Atlantic – without much money and time. All dive sites of the state are located within a few hours drive from its capital. The best time for diving on the Caribbean coast is from March to May and from August to November, and on the Pacific coast – from December to March. The water temperature near the coast reaches +27..+29 degrees throughout the year, at a depth it is +24 degrees. Visibility ranges from 15 to 30 m. The underwater world of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Panama abounds with large marine animals such as humpback whales, various types of sharks, dolphins, giant sailfish, barracudas and tunas. The Caribbean Sea has soft and hard corals, different types of sponges, groupers, anemones, moray eels, lobsters, crabs, rays, dolphins, sharks and many colorful tropical fish.
To date, the most popular dive sites in Panama are located off the Caribbean coast. The pearl of these places is the Bocas del Toro archipelago, which stretches along the western coast near the border with Costa Rica. Its islands offer unlimited diving opportunities. The main dive sites of the archipelago are located at the northwestern tip of Colon Island, between the island Colon and the island of Solarte, off the southern coast of the island of Bastimentos and the Zapatilla Islands, where the National Marine Park of the same name is located. Here you can see entire coral gardens, coral walls, caves and tunnels underwater. Also of interest will be dive sites on the eastern part of the Caribbean coast near the San Blas archipelago and Portobelo National Park, known for the fact that at the bottom of the coastal waters there are various items left over from numerous battles with pirates. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Panama.
The main dive sites of the Pacific coast are concentrated in Coiba National Park, which includes the country’s largest island – Coiba Island and several nearby islands; in the Iguana Island Wildlife Refuge; as well as near the islands Taboga (far from Panama City in the Pacific) and Contadora, which is part of the Pearl Archipelago. The islands of Taboga and Contadora are also the closest dive sites to Panama City. Most Pacific dive sites are coral-covered underwater rock formations formed as a result of volcanic activity. However, the most breathtaking place to dive in this part of the country is the coral reef located near the Damas Bay of Coiba Island. This is the largest coral reef in Central America, it covers an area of 135 hectares.
In addition, in Panama there are opportunities for diving in the Panama Canal and in the Gatun Lakes.and Alajuela. In these places you can see the remains of the first railway of the Isthmus of Panama and a variety of equipment used to build the railway and the Panama Canal.
Beach holidays
Panama is a great place for a relaxing beach holiday, and tourists are very attracted by the opportunity to combine a measured rest with a variety of excursions to the rainforests, to the villages of original Indian tribes and to the main cities of the state. The Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama are only two hours away by car. Near the capital of the country – Panama City – there are such popular beaches as Punta Chame, Gorgona, Coronado, Rio Mar, Santa Clara and Playa Blanca. From Panama City, you can also go to the beaches of the islands of Taboga and Contadora. In the western part of the Pacific coast, you can have a great rest on the islands of Coiba (the beaches of Damas Bay and Playa Blanca) and Iguana.
In the Caribbean, the most popular resorts of the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Its best beaches are Bocas del Drago, Bluff and Punch on Colon Island. and Red Frog on Bastimentos Island. Red Frog Beach is also considered the most beautiful beach in the archipelago. He received his name from the name of a poisonous red frog that lives only on this island. Another famous resort in the Caribbean is the island of San Blas.
Surfing The
Pacific coast of Panama is famous among surfers all over the world. Surfing is possible here all year round. In the province of Chiriqui, in the bay of the same name of the Pacific Ocean, near the border with Costa Rica, there are two private islands called Morro Negrito. The world-famous surf resort Moro Negrito is located on them. The resort was established in 1998. It has some of the best surfing conditions on the planet. The resort has hotels, equipment rental, experienced instructors and opportunities for practicing various water sports.
Other places on the Pacific coast of Panamawhere large waves are observed are the beaches of Santa Catalina and Mariato in the province of Veraguas and the beach of Venao in the province of Los Santos. It hosts annual international surfing competitions. There are opportunities for surfing not far from Panama City, these are the beaches of Malibu and Theta.
In the Caribbean, the best surf spots are in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. They are located on Bluff Beaches, Damper and Punch on Colon Island.
Hiking
There are plenty of hiking opportunities in Panama. Numerous hiking trails dotted all the protected areas of the country. In addition to routes that are designed for bird watching and to get acquainted with the nature of different parts of Panama, historical routes are very interesting in Panama. They run along the Panama Canal. The most popular routes are the Camino de Cruces and Camino Real, along which the Spaniards reached the Pacific coast in the 16th century, and later exported Inca gold to Europe.
Volcanoes
From the western border with Costa Rica to the central regions of Panama stretches the Cordillera de Veragua mountain range. Several volcanoes are located within the range in its western part, including the highest point in the country – the active volcano Baru. It is the only active volcano in Panama. Its height reaches 3475 m. The width of the volcano caldera is 6 km. The last time the volcano erupted in 1550, it is expected that its next eruption will occur in 2035. Volkan Baru National Park is located on the slopes of the volcano. Also in the western part of Panama are the extinct volcanoes La Eguada and El Valle.
Rafting in Panama
There are many rivers that are suitable for extreme tourism. You can go in for rafting in nature reserves and national parks. The most famous river for rafting is the main river of the country – Chagres. The best time to practice this type of tourism falls on the rainy season, which lasts from April to December, at this time the rivers are the most full-flowing and stormy.
Ethnotourism
The first settlements appeared on the territory of present-day Panama more than 10,000 years ago. In the 16th century, the measured life of Indian tribes was disrupted by colonization. After a long confrontation with the Europeans, the Indians were forced to move to remote areas of the country, where they live to this day. These tribes still honor the traditions of their ancestors, living by hunting, fishing and growing crops. Excursions (in detail) to the villages of the indigenous inhabitants of the Isthmus of Panama are very popular among tourists. The Embera Wounan ethnic groups live in the Darien National Park, the Ngobe Bagl (Guaimi) tribes settled in the mountains of the Chiriqui province, in the provinces of Veraguas and Bocas del Toro, and the most famous tribe of Panama lives on the San Blas archipelago. “kuna”. Cruises In Panama, cruises on the Panama Canal are arranged. They last from 1 day to 1 week. During the journey
tourists will be able to visit the tropical rainforests, where a wide variety of birds live, visit observation points overlooking the coast of the country, land on the protected island of Barro Colorado in the middle of the largest artificial lake in all of America – Lake Gatun, and go shopping in the city of Colon, which has been a free trade zone since 1948.
Fishing
In Panama, you can practice various types of fishing – fishing from a boat, fishing from the shore, deep sea fishing and fly fishing. The catch includes fish such as tuna, mackerel, rainbow mackerel, roosterfish, snapper, grouper, seriola, dorado, blue and black marlin. Fishing tours are arranged on almost all parts of the coasts of Panama, but the most popular fishing is on the islands of the Pearl Archipelago, the islands of the Bocas del Toro archipelago and Coiba Island.
