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Urgent Notice re: Yellow Fever Shots

This is to comply with the World Health Organization’s attempt to eliminate Yellow Fever and prevent its spread.

Where to Stay
Basic and inexpensive to sumptuous luxury, Panama’s hotels and resorts are world class.

Why are you coming to Panama? Are you here to enjoy the weather and take in the sights? Are you doing business or here to spend time with your family and recharge your engines. Maybe you are here to see if this really might be the retirement destination that you have been seeking. You see, to a considerable extent, why you are here will determine what sort of accommodations will be the best for you. Panama is lucky, we have it all.

For many families the all inclusive resorts along the beaches are the ideal location and accommodation. Life is easy, the drinks are free and food and drink is always available and best of all, the older kids can help themselves. You find other families which makes the kids happy and the adults often relate well to one another when they have children the same ages. For couples, escapoing “winter” they too wil find many like minded sun seekers at these resorts. Plus the resorts offer you the chance to sample many of the tourist attractions around Panama, to the Panama Canal, up to the Embera Indian encampment, a chance to see authentic handicrafts being made and to buy some for souvenirs.

For others it is the B & B or small hotel in one of the interior towns, surrounded by flowers that is most t attractive.

Many people come to Panama and never leave Panama City. Fortunately there you can find everything from the Marriott and Wyndham Grand Casino Hotel, to the Balboa B & B, near the canal or the Gamboa Rainforest Resort.

Then we have great hotels and resorts together with smaller B & B’s on the islands, both in the Pacific or the Caribbean so, what is your pleasure?

REMEMBER!… Whatever your plans for Panama, if you are coming from mid December to mid April, BOOK EARLY! Most hotels had 90% or better occupancy during those periods last year, and each year more people are discovering this Paradise.

RESTAURANTS
Panama is a “foodie’s” dream come true, so many restaurants such varied cuisine. Choice is good and a wide choice you have; at least in Panama City. Outside Panama City the fine eateries are much harder to find and even good local cafes can be difficult to find. but don’t be afraid to try the Fondas. This is where the locals eat so the food will be decent, fresh, fast and very very cheap. However, you will notice Panama likes everything fried so your choice of non-fried food may be much more limited.

Street Vendors are common, again, particularly in Panama City, and here you can get fresh fruit, fresh sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, empanadas, the iittle pastries wtih chicken beef or cheese filling and many different sorts of drinks. The Italia ice cream carts are a true delight as their product is fabulous.

Unlike Mexico, the water in Panama is generally drinkable so you are unlikely to have stomach problems even from eating street foods.

In Panama City, because of the wide base of nationalities that make up the populace you can get everything you want,from every country imaginable. Greek, Mexican, Italian, Peruvian, Argentinian, European, East Indian, Thai, many fusion restaurants, where two or more cultures come together are common, all the chains from KFC to Macdonalds and TGI Fridays are here. So try a new spot every night and you will never eat the same thing twice.

Outside the city you will find some lovely local restaurants, but check our listings to find out where the new ones, and the good ones are located.

ATTRACTIONS
it will come as no surprise to anyone that the Panama Canal is Panama’s #1 attraction. With three different locks, viewing areas at two of them, Gatun and Miraflores and one set of locks, the ones called pedro Miguel, you can just sit in your car and enjoy. But there is much more to Panama than just the Canal. There are forts on both sides with guns and watching stations intact, there are the ruins and the historic old city, there is Casco Viejo where an historic city is restored to its former glory and life begins gain. there are the art galleries, the Museums. Atlapa Convention center often has events taking place, from the Jazz Festival to CAPAC wit the latest real estate developments on display. Salsa singers, Latin Bands and classical musicians from around the world visit regularly. Teatro Naconal is, as the name suggests the national theater and it has been restored to its former glory and glorious it is. The acoustics are amazing and the artwork is phenomenal so be sure to attend events there when something catches your interest. There are art displays and displays of interior design work, that you can attend. The Smithsonian gives lectures in both Spanish and English, sign up for news about all the latest art gallery openings or attend a live theater production. There are many things to see and to get involved in, if you wish while living in Panama.

ACTIVITIES
Everything from bird watching to spear fishing are available and there are lots of participants in these activities and many others. Golfing is popular and getting more so all the time as more and more golfers come to Panama. There are running clubs and walking clubs, beach walking and beach combing. Fishing and power boating, sailing, swimming, snorkeling, diving, surfing. Water sports of all sorts can be done in Panama.

Bridge and mahjong, book clubs and lectures. Toast Masters is here, and it is a gret way to improve your Spanish, if you are working at that. Learn Spanish, travel the country and learn about the culture, get involved in organic gardening, teach English or Mandarin. So many things to do, so little time.

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