Not quite yet a “hot” tourist destination, Panama, the word which means “an abundance of butterflies and fish”, is slowly becoming an alternate choice for tourists seeking the sun for their winter vacations. This fact is resulting in an increase in Panama tourism. I started this blog on Panama because of my love of the Panama Republic. I love Panama City, its ambiance and excitement and the beaches so close to Panama City. And Panama’s location, between two oceans adds to the excitement. You can see the sun rise in the morning over one ocean and see the sun set on another.
Who knows why it took so long for tourists to start discovering Panama? Maybe it was because of the history, or that it was a bit farther than the other typical holiday destinations of the Caribbean islands or the mystique that is Panama. But tourists are just beginning to flock to Panama on their winter retreats from cold nasty weather.
Travel to Panama can be motivated by a number of reasons. Some people want to take a Panama Canal cruise, to discover and experience what is considered by many, the eighth wonder of the world. Truly an engineering marvel, the Panama Canal, constructed in the 20th century by the Americans, is a sight to experience and you can find any number of companies conducting Panama Canal cruises including Princess Cruises. If you are looking for a hotel that is close to the Panama Canal, you could try the Country Inn & Suites Amador. I heard of one guy who had travelled to Panama, just to see the Panama Canal because he considered it to be the one great adventure he had to have in his life. Everybody has their reasons to travel to Panama.
Another reason tourists are choosing Panama travel is that Panama offers wonderful beaches and virgin rainforests to explore. Hiking through the rainforests, observing nature where it is most unspoiled is an adventure many tourists to Panama are seeking. One luxury resort in Panama which makes it possible is the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. This all inclusive resort in Panama offers ecological tours to explore the rainforest, or you can board a tram to experience an aerial tour of the rainforest. Gamboa Rainforest Resort also offers fishing tours and is close to the Panama Canal. With many tourists seeking alternative eco-tourism, Panama offers another alternative.
Other tourism to Panama are those that want to visit the city of Panama, perhaps to visit the historic area of the city, known as El Cangrejo to go to the museums, see the old churches and cathedrals and architecture. Panama City itself is a blend of the old and the new, an urban center that is bustling with excitement, business, nightlife, the Latin- Caribbean lifestyle. Currently growing with many new building projects, the skyline is a jewel against the sky at night, overlooking the Gulf of Panama to the Pacific Ocean. Panama City offers fantastic shopping opportunities, great architecture, restaurants, bars and casinos. It is truly an exciting tourist destination and so close to the beach where there are many Panama city beach hotels, both in the city, close to the Panama Canal and near the white sandy beaches, unfettered by masses of tourists. Did you know that within a couple of hours, you can swim in two different oceans in Panama? Choosing from any of the vast number of hotels in Panama is easy because there are so many available to stay in from the small hostels like La Casa de Carmen to the high rise buildings in the city to the beach resorts such as the Royal Decameron Beach Resort or the Playa Blanca Beach Resort which is an hour and 15 minutes away from the city of Panama. So Panama offers a lot, blending both the old and the new, the urban lifestyle and the resort-like atmosphere.
It’s easy to travel to Panama. You can either book a Panama Canal cruise from many destinations, or fly there in only four to five hours from any number of states in the U.S., such as Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Newark, New York, Los Angeles, and Orlando. From Canada, you can fly either from Toronto or Montreal. Tour operators such as Sunwing.ca or Nolitours offer all inclusive vacations to Panama at a number of different resorts.
Tourists are looking for new destinations that are safe to travel to. Panama travel is increasing, offering unspoiled beaches, lush vegetation, friendly hospitable people, a rich cultural heritage, a tropical climate, wildlife and oceans to explore. Panama is a vacationer’s paradise, still somewhat relatively unknown and unexplored.
