Panama

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Anyone vacationed or visited?

Thinking it could be an interesting country for a self driving touring holiday for a couple of weeks in early August

We really loved Costa Rica and are thinking Panama could be just as enjoyable but slightly more rustic

[stevej37]

I was there for a short vacation about 7 years ago. Toured the canal and stayed in the old city. The new city is as modern as any here.

Gus (forgot his last name) is a pelican on here and lives there.

If you go, be prepared for no one to understand any english.

[stevej37]

Here's a pic I took of the new city.
It's the financial capital of Central America.
When you say self-driving, where from?

[CurtEgerer]

I was there last week. There's Panama City and, well, not much of anything else besides jungle! The new 1/2 of Panama City is pretty spectacular. And I had no concerns walking about. The old sections maybe not so much. LOTS of investment since they went on the American dollar. I liked Cartagena, Colombia much better and plan to return.

[stevej37]

a pic from the viewing station of the old locks.

[stevej37]

One other thing I remember....driving is a nightmare in the older parts of the city.
I had trouble the whole time with directions because of how the land lies.

If you are at the Pacific end of the locks....you have to travel west to get to the Atlantic locks. Weird, but true.

[Baz]

[LWJ]

Not Panama but Guatemala.

I came back a week ago. It was awesome. We were expecting low cost sunshine. We received a wonderful experience.

Just a data point.

[Skytrooper]

I served in Panama. I didn’t get around to much site seeing.

[stevej37]

^^^ It's a very safe area now...but was that during the time when it wasn't?

[Gus Berges]

Been living here for the past 25 years. How can I be of service Captain Ahab? PM me for whatever you may need....

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

Anyone vacationed or visited?

Thinking it could be an interesting country for a self driving touring holiday for a couple of weeks in early August

We really loved Costa Rica and are thinking Panama could be just as enjoyable but slightly more rustic

Briefly visited. IMO not at all the same kind of country as Costa rica... Panama city, super modern, etc... the canal. The jungle. IMO Costa rica is an amazing destination in terms of its diversity, beaches, cloud forest, animal stuff, friendly people...Hard to replicate above or below. Panama struck me as a more of a one trick pony, but I could be completely off as I did not stay as long... I hear good thing about colombia too, Cartagena in particular. Isn't august rainy season there ?

[Gus Berges]

Panama is definitely not a one trick pony, on the contrary.... It can be as metropolitan as Miami or Manhattan, or it can be as laid back as the many towns that are all over the place in Costa Rica.

Regarding biodiversity, it is a lot richer than Costa Rica, but Costa Rica has done a far better job in marketing this, but the truth is radically different.

Colombia is a different ball game altogether. Much larger economy (about twice as big as Panama and Costa Rica combined...). That said, there may be a reason why so many people are migrating out of there...

[Captain Ahab Jr]

This place is just amazing

Thanks so much for the replies, please don't stop, think Panama it is then

Mrs Ahab and I are well travelled so finding a new country for both of us is easier said than done. 2 weeks early Aug is peak prices, the wrong time or not enough time for quite a few places we want to visit

Chile too cold as it's winter, Nepal/Bhutan too wet as it's monsoon season, Morocco too hot/ too far to drive, South Korea too busy due to high holiday season, Sri Lanka flights too expensive etc etc 1st world problems

Gus, forgot you lived in Panama, feel very privileged to have Pelican with local knowledge, look forward to knowing where to find the hidden best places to visit, if you have time to meet up 1st beer is on me

Deschodt and Curt, thanks for recommending Cartagena, hadn't considered it until you both mentioned it, only had a quick Google but it looks like a city we'd enjoy exploring for a couple of days, only an hours flight from Panama city too

Last year we had trouble deciding between Seychelles and Mauritius. Mrs Ahab suggested the awesome idea that we do both as it was a long way to travel just to see one.

I'm on a mission to visit 100 countries before I'm too old, need to do at least 2 a year from now on so visiting Panama and Columbia both in one trip sounds like a perfect holiday

[Dixie]

Silly me. I was thinking the thread was going to be about this Panama.

[Rot 911]

I was there for a short time back in December 1989. The people we met were not very friendly.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I liked Cartagena, Colombia much better and plan to return.

I have heard that Colombia is THE new hot place to visit and also to retire.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

I was there for a short time back in December 1989. The people we met were not very friendly.

Kurt, that is a real bad ass photo

We're planning on flying in using a commercial aircraft so hoping we're met by friendlies

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Thread bump....

We didn't make it to Panama, last year was a blur

7x Japan, 2x Germany work trips, half my work time in Japan, half my weekends working or travelling, 80hr work weeks, 9 weeks of 11.5hr work days with no time off etc etc

Work was just too much, left no us time, so to fix it for this year, Mrs Ahab and I have been busy

This year we've already enjoyed 2 weeks in Slovenia, have booked long weekends to Slovenia and Brussels and a week in LA/Vegas for SEMA

Just now booked return flights to Panama for 2 weeks driving around, exploring, including a short 2 night break to Cartagena, Colombia

[Seahawk]

That sounds excellent!

I went through the Panama Canal in 1985 on a Aegis Cruiser. The CO let the big dog eat in Gatun Lake:




The locks, seen from the ship, were really something I would recommend:

https://www.getyourguide.com/panama-city-l811/panama-6-hour-panama-canal-southbound-cruise-lunch-t411054/?ranking_uuid=8ded93e5-7efb-405a-8a13-067f3e36c0a5

Enjoy!