Veneto Hotel and Casino in Panama

The Veneto Hotel and Casino on the Via Veneto and Eusebio A. Morales is located in the financial district of El Cangrejo is one of the finest of the luxury hotels in Panama City. It is rated as a 5 star hotel in Panama. It is also centrally located in the shopping district so if you are looking to do some shopping, it’s in the great location for tourists and business people alike. However, if you are travelling to Panama with children, this would not be a hotel to book in. There are lots of men’s clubs in this area. A better choice if travelling to Panama with children would be one of the beach resorts in Panama where there is lots of fun for kids and the true beach resort experience.

It is a luxury hotel, very stylishly designed, flat screen TVs in your suite, marble tiled bathrooms – all the modern amenities for your stay in Panama City. You will not be disappointed with the comforts the Veneto Hotel & Casino provides, including in room dining, orthopaedic mattresses, crisp linens, in-room safe, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, mini bar, coffee maker and plush bathrobes, to name a few. The hotel also provides a full service spa called the Bamboo Sea Spa & Gym (one of the best spas in Panama City), quality restaurants, and an enormous casino, all on the premises of the hotel. There is a great swimming pool where you can cool off and relax in the sun. Think of a Las Vegas style hotel and casino, but with lots of style and you can get a good picture of the Veneto Hotel and Casino.

You have your choice of rooms or suites if you desire the ultimate in luxury, including 18 Junior Suites, two Executive Suites with 1 bedroom and for the finest, two Grand Presidential Suites are available. Prices for a room range from $135 - $165 US per night. The larger suites start at $200 per night. Your breakfast is included in the cost of your hotel room or suite. Of course, if you decide to stay at this luxury hotel in Panama, check out the different rates offered by different travel sites because prices always vary. You can also book online at the hotel’s own website at venetopanama.com.

While staying at the Veneto Hotel, relax and rejuevate at the full service Bamboo Sea Spa and Gym. This spa is one of the best spas in Panama. Services include a variety of massages: Therapeutic massage, oriental, stone therapy and a hydrotherapy Vichy shower massage. Other spa services include a variety of facial and body treatments and natural spray tanning. Absolute bliss and a wonderful way to re-energise!

For Panama fine dining, there are a variety of restaurants serving seafood, steak or Italian food. Their Ristorante Vivaldi serves either buffet or menu items for breakfast and for dinner, you can choose from any number of Italian gourmet dishes, fine wines and Italian desserts. Other options for dining available include the New York Steakhouse, the La Fontana Sushi Lounge for fresh sushi or, as already mentioned, you could order room service if you wish to remain in for the night.

The Veneto Hotel also has a couple of bars on the premises, namely the V Bar and the Bamboo Sea Pool Bar. For nightly entertainment, you must drop by the Casino at the Hotel Veneto for the excitement of gambling at a casino in Panama. The Casino is open 24 hours a day where you can play the table games, the slots or play in the tournaments.

Hotel staff are friendly and professional, rooms are clean and you can truly enjoy your stay whether for pleasure or business, at the Hotel Veneto and Casino, a luxury hotel in Panama.

Accommodations in Panama

There are a wide variety of accommodations in Panama, some are reasonably priced and some are expensive. Depending on your needs and budget will help you decide what hotel to stay in. Differences between hotels are great, so check out our hotel reviews of the many hotels in Panama.

Outside of Panama city, in the more remote areas, there is limited accommodation. During the festival times of Panama, the hotels book up fast, so remember to make your hotel booking early and in time. If you are visiting Darien or the San Blas islands, hotel accommodations are very basic and eco-friendly.

Panama city hotels are numerous and you can find some of the best luxury hotels in the city. Many are equipped with business convention facilities and some of them have their own casinos. Some of the larger hotel chains are located in Panama City including Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels, Holiday Inns and Radisson.

We have done hotel reviews on some of the major hotels in Panama including Hotel Bristol, Marriott Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Deville, Radisson Decapolis and Intercontinental Miramar. Check out our site for these hotel reviews.

For less expensive hotels in Panama, you could try the Executive Hotel which is an impeccable hotel in the banking center of the city – which caters to business people. High quality furnishings and all the modern amenities of a great hotel. There is a very popular jazz bar in the hotel but only a café for dining. However, there are plenty of good restaurants nearby. Breakfast is included in the cost of your suite. Their website is at executivehotel.com for more information.

Another reasonably priced hotel in Panama City would be the Plaza Paitilla Inn on Via Italia, Punta Paitilla. The hotel is circular in shape, ultra modern and giving your fabulous views of Panama from every angle. The Plaza Paitilla offers special rates and bargains for those interested. Check out their website at: plazapaitillainn.com.

You could always try a bed and breakfast inn while in Panama. On the Calle 49, Belle Vista, you will find El Litoral. Built in a colonial wooden home, French owned, with simple, tasteful décor, you will find this an elegant place to stay while in Panama City. Their website is at litoralpanama.com for more information and booking.

There is certainly a wide choice of hotels in Panama City in which to stay on your vacation or business trip. Remember to check out what each hotel offers and remember to book early for your vacation in Panama.

Panama Resorts

Many people on their first vacation to Panama want to stay at one of the many Panama resorts for their holiday. This is probably the best decision, when a country is not known to you. You know you will get a relaxing vacation, lots of activities, close to a beach for relaxing, swimming and other water fun in the sun. You know the price is all inclusive so there are no surprises. If you love Panama after your first trip, you will be back for more and want explore other venues and hotels in Panama, such as the San Blas Islands, Bocas del Toro or Boquete, to name a few. The following is just a short guide to some of the resorts in Panama.

The most popular resorts in Panama would have to be Intercontinental Playa Blanca, Gamboa Rainforest Resort, The Royal Decameron, and Playa Bonita. Why are they the most popular? Well, they offer everything that one has come to expect at a resort, everything is taken care of for you. They are excellent resorts, offering great food, activities, the beach, pools, spas and free drinks. Most of them are rated 4 star resorts, but to be truthful, they should be classified as 5 star resorts in Panama. We’ve written long reviews of these resorts on this site, but here we are adding some more resorts such as the Mango Beach Club Resort and the Playita Resort for you to consider when booking your vacation in Panama.

The Royal Decameron Beach Resort:

The Royal Decameron Beach Resort is on the beach, just 90 minute from Panama City. This is a popular resort destination in Panama for tourists and most especially first time visitors to Panama. Read more about the Royal Decameron Beach Resort in our article here on this site.

The Gamboa Rainforest Resort:

Interested in eco tourism, and want to visit your first rainforest? The Gamboa Rainforest Resort could be the best place for you to stay. Exploring the rainforest, swimming, spa treatments and many more activities are yours. Read more about the Gamboa Rainforest Resort here.

The Playa Blanca Resort:

Playa Blanca Resort, also about 90 minutes from Panama City will offer you ecological adventures and beach time on your travel to Panama. The Playa Blanca Resort has its own secluded beach and is another one of the luxury resorts that are popular for tourists. Lush tropical vegetation full of wildlife surrounds the resort Another perfect place to kick back and enjoy the beach, the pool and the natural surroundings.

Read more about the Play Blanca Resort on our website here.

The Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort and Spa:

The Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort and Spa on the beach. Just think sun, sand and surf. The sunrises and sunsets over the Pacific ocean are gorgeous. The resort is magnificent, with nicely decorated rooms. It’s a favourite resort for tourists from around the world.

Read more about the Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort and Spa on our website here.

The Mango Beach Club:

The Mango Beach Club in Bocas Del Toro is definitely a romantic getaway. Rooms start at $79 US during the low season. Close to the town of Bocas del Toro, it is situated on a beach beside the ocean. There are 14 rooms and one suite in the Mango Beach Resort. All rooms come with air conditioners and there are kitchen supplies if you need them. Breakfast is included in the price of the room and internet is available. There is a pool close to the Playa Mango beach. There are hammocks available for those who want to truly kick back. Great food is available at the hotel restaurant. The staff is friendly and the service is good.

This resort is an excellent choice for people looking for a tranquil place while still having quick access to the town of Bocas del Toro. Activities include swimming, exploring and relaxing on pristine beaches or kayaking to the reefs.

The Playita Resort:

Not far from Boquete by a few hours drive, at Los Santos on the Azuero Peninsula you will find the Playita Resort. Owned by Lester, the service is wonderful and personal. This is a nature lover’s paradise, not for someone who wants to stay at the Marriot. The wildlife photography opportunities are amazing. The resort is beautiful, one and two bedroom units surround a central kitchen and outdoor dining area. Local foods, fresh fish and tropical fruits are plentiful on the menu, all prepared to order, fresh and delicious. Rooms come with air conditioning, and are well cared for. There is no hot water, no cell phone access. A room starts at $70 per night plus 10% tax. The beach is small, with white sand and protected. Mask, snorkel, fins can be rented. Fishing trips are arranged and if you catch something, they will clean and cook your big catch.

As you can see, there are many diverse resorts in Panama for you to choose from where you can experience the resort experience, nature, the beach and surf. Panama is the most wonderful country, the newest vacation destination, just waiting to be explored.

Budget Hotels in Panama

Panama is becoming an expensive place to travel to unless you stay in one of the budget hotels in Panama. If you are looking for a bargain, you can check out some of my previous articles on discount accommodation in Panama after reading this one about budget hotels in Panama. There are some cheap hotels in Panama, but as in all things in life, you get what you pay for. However, these hotels are basic, clean and you have to decide if you like the location and if the amenities of these cheap hotels in Panama are enough to suit your needs. You can also visit Panama on a budget by staying at an all inclusive hotel or resort in Panama where some great deals can be had. I highly recommend some of the all inclusive resorts in Panama by Nolitours or Sunwing.

On the other hand, if you want more information for your vacation in Panama, you can check out my article on Sunwing’s combo packages which offer stays in one or two hotels or resorts in Panama. These packages are only available for part of the year. You can visit Panama City and stay in one of the hotels in Panama and then combine it with a stay at, let’s say, the Gamboa Rainforest Resort and experience the rainforest and all of Panama’s tropical splendour. Other hotels in Panama all inclusive package deals include Intercontinental Playa Bonita, Playa Blanca Resort and two nights at the Playa Bonita Resort Crown Plaza Hotel, Holiday Inn Panama Canal

The following are some information on more budget hotels in Panama.

Hotel Residencial Texas

The Hotel Residencial Texas is a two star hotel in Panama located at Calle 31 Este , entre Avenida Cuba y Avenida Peru in Panama City. It’s just two blocks from the main street of Panama, the Avenida Central. This hotel is basic, clean and offers both single and double rooms with private and shared bathrooms. The rooms start at $61 per night and are spacious and clean but the beds are hard (as judged by some guests).

Service is good, the staff helpful, though not many of them speak English. They will also provide airport transfer for $10.

It’s a child friendly place, has 24 hour front desk, luggage storage, free parking, air conditioning and this is a non smoking hotel in Panama. Breakfast is not included.

Hotel Costa Inn:

Hotel Costa Inn is a 3 star hotel in Panama City, located at Peru Avenue and 39th Street next to the Centro Medico Bellavista. The room rates start at $30 per night. All rooms have air conditioning, cable television, telephone, refrigerator, room service, private bath with either a shower or a Jacuzzi depending on which room you book. Depending on your room, you can also have a nice view of Panama Bay. You can get a package deal from them where your meals are included in the price of the rooms.

The Hotel Costa Inn also has a restaurant (serving breakfast, lunch and dinner) which has both Panamanian and Spanish food on the menu. Their speciaties include corvina or sea bass and also Panamanian beef.

Comforts at the Hotel Costa include parking, a swimming pool and terrace overlooking Panama Bay on the 7th floor. They offer conference facilities with all the equipment you need to book and plan your business functions.

Hotel Malparaiso:

The Hotel Malparaiso in Panama is located in the center of the city at Calle34 is a 75 room hotel with single, double, triple and family suites. It has nice rooms which are spacious. The rooms start at $40 per night with breakfast included.

Amenities in this hotel include free internet access, wifi in your room. There is free parking, the front desk is open 24 hours, and luggage storage, It is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator. Your room includes satellite TV, air conditioning, telephone and a fridge. There are laundry and dry cleaning services available. If you are staying more than one night, transportation to the airport is available for free, and if only for the night it’s going to cost you $15.

Your vacation to Panama doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. There is budget accommodation available and if you search, you can find a clean, safe budget hotel in Panama.

Luxury Resorts and Hotels in Panama

Panama is a country which is known for its natural splendor. Whether it is miles of pristine white, sandy beaches or stretches of lush green rain forest areas, there is nothing to beat the sheer variety on offer in this beautiful country. The natural beauty of the country brings in hordes of tourists and people who want to retire in Panama to this country each year. With millions of tourists thronging Panama, it is not surprising that you can find many luxury resorts and hotels in Panama.

Most of the luxury resorts in Panama are located along the coast. Almost all of them offer spectacular views of the ocean. Moreover, the lure of the sun and a variety of water sports is another factor that drives tourists to these sea side resorts and hotels. It is for this reason that most of Panama luxury resorts are located along the waterfront facing the scenic view of the blue Pacific Ocean.

Apart from the beaches, vast stretches of rain forest are another major attraction in Panama. In fact, it must be among the few places which offer this unique combination of attractions. You can find many luxury resorts in Panama within these rain forests too. They offer a romantic getaway, which you will cherish for your lifetime. One good example for one such getaway is the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, located in the Soberania National Park Rainforest. With the Panama Canal and the Chagres River nearby, this resort is ideally located to discover some of the most beautiful places in Panama.

Another one of the well known luxury resorts in Panama is the Playa Bonita Resort and Spa. Nestling amidst sun, sand and surf, you can soak in beautiful views of the sunset and sunrise from the elegantly decorated rooms of this magnificent resort. The views of Pacific Ocean from this resort are what make it a favorite with tourists arriving from around the world.

The Playa Blanca Resort with its own private beach is another one of the luxury resorts that is very popular here. The lush tropical vegetation that surrounds the resort is something that is to be seen to be believed. The exotic gardens and the impressive architecture, make it a perfect place to drive away all blues, relax and soak up the sun.

With Panama slowly becoming a popular tourist destination, it is always recommended that you book your accommodation well in advance. Most of the Panama luxury resorts offer online booking facilities which you can use to book. A simple online search can put you in touch with booking at most of the luxury resorts and hotels in Panama. Check out other articles on this site to read about all of the resorts and hotels in Panama.

Photos Courtesy of Instituto Panameno de Turismo

Luxury Hotels in Panama, the Hotel DeVille

Located in the financial district, the Hotel DeVille, one of the finest luxury hotels in Panama, is one of the most fabulous places to stay. This hotel in Panama is located exactly at Calle 50 y Beatriz M. de Cabal. Very posh, designed for a very discerning clientele, a night at the Hotel DeVille will cost about $160 - $450 a night, depending on whom you book through. The only drawback to staying at the Hotel Deville is that they don’t have a swimming pool. A trip to the beach is no problem, as the beach, specifically the Pacific Ocean, is very nearby. Also nearby, you have everything that the city of Panama can offer you, including restaurants, bars, great shopping, art galleries, bank head offices, law firms and casinos.

The Hotel DeVille, with tasteful, French inspired design, is reminiscent of the times when the French were the first to attempt to build a Canal at the Isthmus. The front lobby is elegantly decorated with gray sofas, lounge chairs, soft lighting, newspapers and a recessed ceiling.

This boutique hotel offers air conditioned, spacious rooms with high beamed ceilings. In total, there are 23 Junior Suites on four floors, 4 luxury suites, 4 grand suites, 2 luxury grand suites. Prices for these suites start at $160 per night. (As I mentioned earlier in this article, it depends on which company you book with. Each suite has high ceilings and exposed beams, two telephones, high speed internet, large deluxe marble bathrooms, hair dryer, alarm clock radios, mini bars, local or international newspapers delivered to your room, safes, coffeemakers butler and concierge services, laundry and drycleaning and cable TV. The rooms are furnished with 18th-century-style mahogany desks and armoires, beds with plump duvets and pillows, contemporary sofas, Oriental rugs and vases. Unfortunately, there is no bar, or health or recreational facilities available at the hotel. The hotel is very clean; the windows are soundproof which will keep out the very noisy nightlife of Panama city.

The service is helpful, professional and very friendly, offering you attentive, personalized service. Hotel DeVille offers you all the comforts, security and technology (for business meetings) you might need for your stay.

If you are travelling on business, the Hotel DeVille has three meeting rooms, large enough to seat 80 people and comes with the latest audio visual equipment to ensure your meeting goes smoothly which you can book at the Business Center. Also, at the Business Center, you will find computers, photocopiers, faxes, and translation services.

For dining, there is the Ten Bistro restaurant serving an excellent fusion type menu by the well known chef, Fabian Migny. Entrees will cost you about $10. It closes at 10:00 p.m. nightly, early for a restaurant in Panama City. A good breakfast comes with the cost of your room.

Guests, both business and leisure travellers have been extremely pleased with their stay at this boutique luxury hotel in Panama. It would certainly be worth your time and money to check out this, one of the nicest luxury hotels in Panama for business and leisure travellers.

Other Beach Hotels in Panama

San Blas Islands Resorts, Hostels, Hotels and Home Stays

I have already told you about one of the most beautiful places in Panama, a series of islands called the San Blas Islands and some of the beach hotels in this wonderful place that should be a holiday destination for you if you are trying to either escape the winter blahs or society in general. I was going to follow up here with more hotels and accommodations in the San Blas Islands because this group of 378 islands is really fantastic for a tropical island escape. Think of: desert island in the tropics.

If it’s your first time visiting Panama, you can include a visit to the San Blas Islands as well as staying in Panama City to really get an all round experience of the country. There are several companies online that offer such packages, such as a company known as Latin Destinations. This company offers six such packages ranging in price from $1,190 to $2,000 US. Their various packages include the following:

• Caribbean Flavour of Panama
• Native Cultures of Panama
• San Blas Islands – Panama Rainforest
• Jungle, Islands and Beaches of Panama
• Panama Culture and Beach
• The Best of Panama

These vacation packages include your round trip international flights, all airport transfers, daily breakfasts, hotels and hotel taxes. I’ve probably managed to pique your curiosity by now because if you read my last article on San Blas Islands hotels, you might be thinking they could possibly be your next holiday destination, your honeymoon destination or an actual escape from the stress that modern day living has been giving you lately.

The Caribbean Flavour of Panama offers you two nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort (explore the rainforest at this resort), 2 nights in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, 2 nights in the San Blas Islands with full board and tour and three nights in Panama City for a total of 9 days vacation. There are differe nt choices of hotels for you to stay in and you can vary the number of nights in each place.

The Native Cultures of Panama package is a great introduction to the native cultures of Panama including the Kuna Indians, the indigenous people of Panama. Your 10 day vacation includes four nights where you can choose from 14 different hotels in Panama City, two nights in Chiriqui - Boqueta, two nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, a two night trip to San Blas Islands including tours, and breakfasts at all the hotels.

Another interesting package you might consider would be their Jungle, Islands and Beaches of Panama for nine or more nights including: four nights in Panama City, two nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, three nights in Playa Blanca, and two nights in the San Blas Islands with your accommodation, food and tours included.

Another package offered by the Latin Destinations Company is their Panama Culture and Beach package. This vacation package to Panama will cost you $1,189 US for an eight night stay and includes two nights in the San Blas Islands, food, lodging and tours, three nights in Panama City and three nights in Playa Bonita.

The other package they offer to Panama is called The Best of Panama. This is a 13 night package with three nights in Playa Blanca, three nights in Bocas del Toro, two nights in Panama City, two nights in the San Blas Islands and three nights in Playa Bonita. The price for this package which includes breakfast at all the hotels is $1,969 US. This is a great deal!

The benefits of these packages include the possibility of experiencing much more than you could if you just booked an all inclusive package at one of the beach hotels in Panama. You’ve got the combination of great price and value here. Better still, is the fact you can choose from a selection of hotels in Panama City, Chiriqui – Boquete and Bocas del Toro and you can choose how many nights you want to stay in each place. In other words, these packages are totally customizable.

Like I have said in my previous posting, if you want to go and visit the San Blas Islands, book through a travel agent that specializes in tourism to the San Blas islands and Panama. They can arrange your vacations and show you tour packages you might be interested in.

I also promised that I would give your some more hotel information about other beach hotels in San Blas Islands Panama. You must remember that you will not find the same standards as some luxury hotel in North America or Europe. If you want a “Best Western”, you are headed to the wrong place. You won’t find a McDonalds here either. Try one of the other beach hotels in Panama such as Playa Bonita Resort, Playa Blanca or the Decameron Resort if you are not ready for a tropical island escape.

These islands are gove rned by the Kuna Indians. They own these accommodations which are completely eco tourism at its best. Some of the hotels, lodgings and accommodations do not have 24 hour electricity and hot running water available. However, they are a beautiful escape to a tropical island and you will experience nature, beautiful unspoiled beaches, eat delicious fresh sea food and live “close to nature”. You will have your own bathroom and some of these beach hotels in San Blas Panama are lovely, rustic, primitive and you’ll get the best sunsets of your life. There is snorkelling, sw imming, fishing, sun sets over the Caribbean like you’ve never experienced, your own hammock, meeting the Kuna people and discovering their culture and way of life. This is eco tourism at its best. Completely, literally, unspoiled.

Dad Ibe Lodge

The Dad Ibe Lodge has three cabins for its guests, no air conditioning, marvellous views from your verandah which sits over the sea, a private bathroom, and hammocks. Stress? What stress can you possibly remember as you lie in your own hammock facing the sea, one eye barely open during siesta time ? Y o u don’t need air conditioning because you have the soft, cool wind blowing in from the sea. At this lodge in San Blas, you can go fishing with the Kuna, snorkelling and visit the Mangroves. The menu includes fresh sea food such as king crab, lobster, fresh fish, local food and drinks. Prices for th e cabins range in price from $128 for one person to a high of $341 US for a triple, not including ta xe s and include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also included in the price are transportation to and from the island from the Achutupo Airstrip, tours to a Kuna village, tours to the Kuna Yala Rainforest and river, and trips to Ogobwili Island for swimming and snorkelling.

Yandup Island Lodge

For about $80 to $90 US for a double (low season – high season), you can stay at Yandup Island Lodge. They have eight Kuna style cabins, five of them over the water and two on the beach. The cabins over the water have private bathrooms. The beach front cabins have outside bathrooms. Your fresh seafood meals will depend on the catch of the day. The owners of the hotel provide you with tours to a Kuna village, snorkelling or whatever you would like. There is great snorkelling on the island or the owners will take you to other islands. There is no hot water and the electricity from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Other places to stay in San Blas Islands

Accommodations in the San Blas Islands can cost anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars a night. For this price you will get your meals, transportation to the islands and excursion tours. You can find backpacking hostels and home stays, such as Robinson’s, Eulogio’s Place, Franklin ’s or Nixia’s on the islands as well, depending on your budget needs.

The deserted white sand beaches, the great snorkelling and swimming, the tropical flora and fauna, the mangroves and the culture of the Kuna people await you in the San Blas Islands. What are you waiting for? Start planning your tropical paradise escape now. These are just some of the wonderful things that await you when you search for beach hotels in Panama and find yourself headed to one of the San Blas Islands instead.

More Panama Canal Hotels

Not far from Panama City, 8.05 km (about 15 minutes to Panama City) to be exact, located in the City of Knowledge, the Holiday Inn Panama Canal is a spectacular new hotel for tourists looking for hotels in Panama to stay at. Situated in the perfect location for a marvellous view of the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks, if the most important part of your vacation in Panama is to see the Panama Canal, this might be the right hotel for you.

This new Panama Canal hotel offers one suite and 136 large rooms to guests, a swimming pool, meeting rooms, wireless internet access, fitness facilities and a business center for the business traveller. The rooms are air conditioned, with either a king bed or two double beds and priced at about $160 per night. Rooms provide all the modern comforts and amenities you could expect from Holiday Inn worldwide. Your room comes equipped with a plasma satellite TV, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, safety deposit box, internet access for a charge and a coffee/tea machine. The holiday Inn Panama Canal is exceptionally clean and the staff is friendly and very professional providing great service.

There is one restaurant serving excellent cuisine and one bar. The Canal View Café offers, obviously from the name, a spectacular view of the Panama Canal and great food. You can also get snacks at the Bar.

You could also choose an all inclusive vacation in Panama and get an excellent deal on the price for somewhere between $1,225 - $1,785 Canadian dollars for a one week stay, depending on when you choose to take your vacation in Panama. This price for this package is offered by Sunwing vacations which have a website at sunwing.ca. Sunwing also offers great fly now, pay later financing for your vacation in Panama. You can also choose with Sunwing an all inclusive package whereby you combine this hotel with another hotel resort such as the Playa Blanca Resort or the Gamboa Rainforest Resort in another location which is a great idea to see and experience more of Panama. You can then tour the Panama Canal, watch the ships and Panama cruise lines make the epic journey through the Canal and then experience a resort type holiday at a beach hotel in Panama city or perhaps explore the rainforest at a resort known as the Gamboa Rainforest Resort.

The City of Knowledge is an interesting city, quite beautiful to visit and there are some malls close by if you want to do some shopping in Panama.The City of Knowledge was once an American Army base and has now become a small city which has become known world wide as a center for technological research and education.

For other hotel options for Panama Canal hotels, there are some other hotels for you such as the Melia Panama Canal or the Country Inn & Suites Amador. Read the reviews of these hotels and make the decision to stay at one of these hotels, whichever suits you best. I still think the best option is one of the all inclusive packages offered by Sunwing that lets you combine two hotels for your one or two week stay in Panama. This way, you get to experience both the Panama Canal and then either the rainforest at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort or a beach hotel resort in Panama atmosphere. There are also hotels in Panama City available in these combination all inclusive hotel deals to Panama.

Enjoy your vacation and whichever hotel in Panama you choose, you will want to return again and again to this beautiful country, rich in wildlife, rainforests, unspoiled beaches, warm, friendly people and a rich cultural heritage. There is so much to see and experience in Panama.

San Blas Islands Hotels in Panama

For your second vacation to Panama, the San Blas Islands should not be missed. There are many San Blas Island hotels, lodging, hostels and accommodation you can book for your tropical island getaway. Located on Panama’s north east coast (Comarco de Kuna Yala), the beautiful San Blas Islands, controlled by the indigenous Kuna Indians since the 1950s, an undiscovered tourist mecca, are slowly becoming a highly desired tourist destination. There are a total of 378 islands in what is known as the San Blas Islands. The Kuna Indians live on 49 of these beautiful islands. The Islands are 20 - 40 minutes away by airplane from Panama City. The San Blas islands are a completely different experience from the hotels and resorts in Panama.

Although you won’t find much in the way of luxury San Blas accommodations, what is available would be classified as basic but you can find some wonderful lodges with cabanas over the water on some pretty magnificent beaches, equipped with private verandas and hammocks. If you choose to visit the San Blas Islands, you are in search of sun, relaxation, the outdoors and a tropical beach environment. The beaches here are like something out of Paradise. You can also visit the villages of tropical outdoors and you can meet the Kuna people to experience their culture and way of living. My best recommendation is to book your San Blas Island trip through a travel agency who is familiar with booking vacations in the San Blas Islands.

The Kuna Indians run the San Blas Islands, with their own language, customs and traditions. The economy of the islands is based on tourism, coconut sales and fishing. However, it is not yet a very commercially developed tourism industry. The islands are surrounded by reefs which offer wonderful snorkelling and diving experiences. A wonderful souvenir to buy here would be the mola, made by the Kuna women, made of multi-colored fabric, decorated with images of geometric designs, fish, birds and animals of the jungle. Best time to visit here is between April to June. Just like in Paradise, you will find white sand, unspoiled deserted beaches, coconut trees, mangroves and the jungle.

If you really must stay in a luxury accommodation, you could always find a hotel in Colon Province which is not far from the San Blas Islands. If you stay on the mainland, you could find hotels in El Porvenir and travel to the islands from there. Which islands should you visit? Try Kagantupu, Coco Blanco or Achutupu Island. If you wish to totally escape, aim your travel plans to the eastern part of Comarca de Kuna Yala, a less visited part of the San Blas Islands. How to get to the San Blas Islands? Take a Kuna merchant ship from Colon, or fly from Panama City – it’s only a 20 minute flight.

There are hostel accommodations available on the San Blas Islands (such as Nalunega and Wichubwala) which I will discuss later in this article, but on the Kuanidup Island you will find the Cabañas Kuanidup. A little more expensive than the hostels, the cabanas are somewhat primitive, you share showers and bathrooms with the other hotel guests. The cabanas are small, the beds are foam mattresses, but comfortable. There is no electricity and at night, you use kerosene lamps. The Cabañas Kuanidup, are situated on a small beach. Meals are included in the price you pay.

Kuna Niskua Lodge

The Kuna Niskua is owned by a Kuna Indian who has the advantage of knowning all the San Blas Islands. This is not a luxury San Blas accommodation, not easy to find on the Islands and is not located on a beach. There is solar powered electricity, the rooms are clean, and each room has its own bathroom. For meals, you will be able to eat lots of fresh seafood. The rates at the Kuna Niskua Lodge are affordable and include the price for local tours.

Dophin Lodge

The Dolphin Lodge can be classified as an eco-tourist lodging and one of the nicest San Blas Islands hotels. This is an all inclusive accommodation in San Blas. Travelling to the lodge is by way of flying into Mamitupo and then taking a boat. The tropical beach is superb. There is a restaurant here with an excellent menu for dining, plenty of fresh delicious seafood and a small bar to stop in for a drink. You get a private bathroom here and 24 hour electricity in the bigger suites. Some of the cabanas are on the beach and you can relax in the back on a hammock. The standard rooms get electricity for most of the day. You may end up having a cold shower sometimes. Besides relaxing on the beach, visiting other nearby beaches, swimming, hiking, snorkelling and kayaking, there is volleyball and the staff at the Dolphin Lodge can arrange a tour for you of the local village of the Kuna people.

Sapibenega Kuna Lodge

As with all San Blas accommodation most are basic and could be described as rustic. This is the experience you will expect when visiting the San Blas Islands. The San Blas Islands offer a eco tourism experience where you will be close to nature and the sea. Close to what I could call luxurious San Blas accommodation would have to be the Sapibenega Kuna Lodge which offers 24 hour availabity of electricity, private bathrooms with a shower and hardwood floors, composting toilets, hot water, some lovely cabanas over the water, and some on the beach, with queen and double beds. The Sapibenega Kuna Lodge has a restaurant, delightful for romantic dinners. Other “modern conveniences" include satellite phone, ceiling fan and your balcony is equipped with hammocks. The sunsets are glorious.

To get to this luxury hotel in San Blas, you would fly from Panama City, to Playon Chico which takes about 40 minutes and then a guide from Sapibenega Kuna Lodge will bring you by motor canoe to the lodge which takes about 8 minutes.

Coral Lodge

The Coral Lodge is also a luxury hotel in San Blas. In another completely isolated, unspoiled location, this eco tourist resort is on a white sand beach, with villas sitting over the water. The suites have Jacuzzis, a living room, a private verandah with hammocks. There are two restaurants and a bar called the Cayuco Café Bar. The Casona Bohio restaurant is for romantic dinners of Latin, Caribbean and Mediterranan cuisine. The beaches here are pristine and the coral reefs provide excellent snorkelling opportunities. Your hotel price is all inclusive and includes your room, meals, non alcoholic drinks, kayaking and snorkelling gear. This is definitely luxurious San Blas accommodation where you can truly escape and enjoy one of the most beautiful tropical places in the world.

These hotels in San Blas Islands are reached by taking a flight from Panama City to whichever island you choose and then arranging with your lodge/hotel for transportation by boat. Vacationing in the San Blas Islands is definitely an escape to Paradise.

Hotels in Panama at Carnival Time

If you haven’t already booked your hotel in Panama for the Panama Carnival, you may already be too late. Hotels in Panama book up very quickly around Carnival Time. Another option for you would be to try and make a reservation at one of the hostels in Panama City, such as Villa Michelle is owned by Ivonne or La Casa de Carmen, two hostels I have already written about on this site. Staying at a hostel or with a family in Panama will give you something that you probably won’t get as much of by staying at a resort or hotel, and that is an authentic Panamanian experience. The added bonus is the friendly people you will meet. Then again you might already be visiting Panama and staying at one of the all inclusive resorts in Panama during the week of the Carnival. You are in luck, just ask at your hotel’s information desk or ask the concierge how you can go about attending the Panama Carnival.

The Panama Carnival, both the parade and most of the festivities take place on the Vía Espana, in Panama City on the Friday before Ash Wednesday (in February) every year. This year, the exact date this year would be February 25, 2009. A new Carnival Queen is elected chosen for the Carnival, of course replacing the Queen from the year before. The parade and other events precede four days of revelling and partying which is a lot of celebration, fun and enjoyment. Go for it! And don’t plan for an early bedtime; you’ll be up late, drinking, dancing and celebrating with all the people of Panama.

What would a parade be without a Queen? A queen is chosen and will star in the Panama parade. Whatever hotel in Panama City you choose to stay in will probably also be holding events and food and other such revellary. The atmosphere is one of celebration and so you should celebrate too! Water trucks spray the people, water balloons get tossed, music is playing and everyone is having fun.

While in Panama for the Carnival, if you have time, you should also visit some of the beaches on Panama Bay on the Pacific Ocean or, if you have time, try to visit some of the beaches on the Caribbean side of Panama. And, one thing you must not miss if this is your first visit to Panama is a tour of the Panama Canal. Many hotels offer day or overnight trips to the Panama Canal. There are Panama Canal hotels in the area for you to choose from such as: the Melia Panama Canal situated at Gatun Lake or the Country Inn & Suites Amador next to the Panama Canal entrance, where your suite’s balcony has either a view of the famous Canal and the Bridge of the Americas to the Pacific Ocean or a view of the gardens. You are still close enough to Panama City to drive in to visit the Carnival.

Whatever resort or hotel in Panama City you chose to stay in at this time of celebration during Carnival time, don’t miss the fun!

All Inclusive Resorts and Hotels in Panama Combo Deals

For the first time visitor to Panama, you may be interested in learning about the all inclusive resorts and hotels in Panama combo deals. This may be one of the best ways to begin your first visit to Panama. Some travel companies such as Sunwing offer one and two week all inclusive holidays not just at one resort in, but combine it with another hotel resort in Panama. You benefit by being able to experience a resort in Panama and then a change in location and hotel in Panama.

Not only does Sunwing offer this very interesting combination of hotels in Panama, but they also offer a “fly now, pay later scheme known as FlysunwingPaylater. You don’t have to pay for six months or the alternative is you can pay in equal instalments of a minimum of $26 per month. What could be better than that, what with the weather and the snow, and still another six to eight weeks of rotten winter weather to come?

What is exactly Sunwing offering? They offer combinations of various all inclusive resort and hotels in Panama which give your either a beach resort in Panama , a Panama Canal option or an ecotourism experience at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. All you have to decide is what type of vacation in Panama you actually want to have.

Intercontinental Playa Bonita, Gamboa Rainforest Resort or the Crowne Plaza Hotel Panama City and/or the Play Blanca Resort:

Your first option is a five night stay at the Intercontinental Playa Bonita with a couple of nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. The second option offered by Sunwing is five nights at the Playa Blanca Resort and two nights at the Playa Bonita Resort. This would be a great way to “sample” two resorts at the same time, on the same holiday and decide what resort you like best. The third option available for you is five nights at the Playa Bonita Resort and two nights at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Panama City. This option would allow you to relax at the resort, sun, sand, beach etc., and then experience the excitement of the city of Panama which offers great restaurants, night clubs, casinos, great shopping, and culture in the 16th century old part of the city, Casco Viejo. Decisions, decisions… This will be a difficult one.

The Intercontinental Playa Bonita resort is a 5 star resort on the Pacific side of Panama, located on a peaceful private oceanfront. It is just 20 minutes west of Panama, 15 minutes to the Panama Canal’s Visitors Centre in Miraflores locks and a half hour to the Summit Golf Course. It’s a great location for those wanting to sample more than just a beach resort vacation. In addition, this beach resort in Panama offers excellent spa services. At this resort in Panama, you will get a beach resort atmosphere, close to downtown Panama, close to the historical district of Panama and close to that engineering marvel, the Panama Canal.

Surrounded by the Punta Bruja Nature Reserve, with a spectacular view of the Pacific, the Playa Bonita Resort offers vacationers a secluded private beach from which to watch the sunrise over the Pacific, explore nature, experience great service, enjoy a relaxing resort atmosphere and the chance to get to know the country.

From the resort, you can watch the ships entering the Panama Canal. If you are going to explore the surrounding forests, don’t forget insect repellent. The Playa Bonita Resort is large and there are five free form swimming pools.

The Crown Plaza Hotel Panama City is located on the Av. Manuel Espinosa Batista in El Cangrejo district. It has 150 air conditioned rooms and suites, coffee makers, Internet, Fax, dining room, kitchenette in the suites, computers, internet access, and cable TV. It has a restaurant called La Galeria which serves excellent cuisine. The bar "Memories" – is a sports bar which serves beer, wine, cocktails and liquors. You’ll find a nightclub, a fitness center, meeting rooms, laundry and a concierge at this luxury hotel in Panama City.

Sunwing is offering any one of these all inclusive package combinations in prices ranging from $1,485 to $2,355 for a one week stay. These amounts are in Canadian dollars.

Playa Blanca Resort | Gamboa Rainforest Resort:

If you are not interested in visiting Panama city but would rather experience a rainforest setting, you could opt for this package which combines the Playa Blanca Resort for five nights and then a two night stay at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. If you want to stay longer than a week in Panama, Sunwing has all inclusive two week vacations which combine ten nights at the Playa Blanca resort and four nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort.

The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a luxury 5 star resort in Panama situated in the center of Soberania National Park, a Panamanian rain forest alone the Panama Canal. It is
a half hour away from Panama City on the Pacific Coast side of Panama on the shores of Gatun Lake and the Chagres River, water source for the Panama Canal.

Here you will find adventurous and educational experiences. Exploring a rainforest is often a difficult task. The Gamboa Rainforest Resort has made it easier for guests to explore because the Gamboa Rainforest Resort is in the center of the rainforest, right at your doorstep. There are tours by expert guides and you can explore on your own. This 5 star luxury resort in Panama has large modern hotel rooms with all the modern conveniences of a five star hotel resort in Panama City.

There are spa services available, from massages, to skin care, facials, manicures and pedicures. What else can you experience? There is fresh water fishing with expert guides at Chagres River and Gatun Lake. For the avid golfer, there is the Summit Golf Course. There is wonderful freeform natural water pool, a fitness center, tennis courts which are lighted at night for those who want to play tennis at night, kayaks which are free for guests to use, jogging and cycling trails. And of course, there is the rainforest you can explore at your leisure.

Playa Blanca Beach is on the exterior of Panama City about an hour and 15 minutes away. The beach is beautiful for long walks, white sand, azure blue waters and coral reefs to explore. It is a very tranquil location for those wanting to escape for their vacation in Panama. Rated as a 5 star hotel and resort in Panama, the Playa Blanca Hotel and Resort where travellers will discover exactly what they want from this type of luxury hotel. You can just relax here and soak up the sun or you can keep yourself very busy with all the activities at the hotel and there are many. This is an ideal vacation spot for all those seeking a romantic getaway or a family vacation. You can get an all-inclusive price at this resort and the prices are very reasonable for this 5 star luxury resort in Panama.

Playa Blanca Resort | Crowne Plaza Hotel Panama City:

Again, Sunwing is offering a combination of resort and city vacation accommodation for either one or two week packages, depending on the amount of time you want to spend in Panama on your vacation. The prices for these all inclusive vacations range from $905 to $1,465 Canadian dollars.

Playa Blanca Resort | Holiday Inn Panama Canal:

Another option to consider for all inclusive packages to Panama, you could try Sunwing’s Playa Blanca Resort and Holiday Inn Panama Canal. This is a resort and Panama Canal combination, also available in one or two week stays. You could opt for the seven day package which gives you five nights at the Playa Blanca Resort and two nights at the Holiday Inn Panama Canal. The Holiday Inn Panama Canal is located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks. It is 35 minutes from the international airport in Panama and only 15 minutes distance from Panama City.

The second option for a seven day all inclusive vacation would be to stay three nights at the Holiday Inn Panama Canal and four nights at the Playa Blanca Resort. What you decide all depends on what you want for your vacation in Panama.

The two week option gives you seven nights at the Playa Blanca Resort and seven nights at the Holiday Inn Panama Canal.

This package is really great for those who want to visit the Panama Canal, visit Panama City and also enjoy the sun and sand at the Playa Blanca Resort.

The cost for this all inclusive vacation costs is $1,005 to $1,575 Canadian dollars for the Playa Blanca Resort and Holiday Inn Panama Canal, depending on how long you stay and when you want to book your vacation . Check out sunwing.ca – the company’s website for exact prices and more details.

With these all inclusive deals to Panama, you will get a little bit of this and a little bit of that, sample the resorts, Panama City and see the wonderful Panama Canal. You shouldn’t visit Panama without seeing the Panama Canal. These package deals for all inclusive resorts and hotels in Panama are most interesting and beneficial for tourists looking to experience a little more of the country on their first holiday in Panama.

Surfing and Hotels in Panama

If you are a lover of surfing or what to learn how to surf, you will probably know by now that surfing in Panama is one of the best places in the world to visit with your board. You may have done some reading on the subject of surfing in Panama and what to explore further surfing and hotels in Panama.

No doubt you have heard of Bocas Del Toro and Catalina which are known as some of beaches for surfing in Panama. Great night life is also to be found at these beaches. However, if you want to pursue surfing by yourself, there are many other areas you can consider such as Pedasi, MontijoBay, Tonosi, Venao, Cambutal and the islands of Cebaco and Isla Coiba. Popular beaches on the Caribbean side of Panama for surfing in Panama include, Maria Chiquita and Isla Grande in Colon Province, Playa Palenque, and in Bocas del Toro, Bluff, Punch and Dumpey beaches. For surfing on the Pacific coast of Panama try the Beaches of Lajas, Cebaco and Coiba Islands, the Beaches of Punta Brava, Raya, Cambutal, Guanico, Desfiladero, Rio Mar, Madroño, El Palmar, Serena, Malibú Teta, and Jaqué, to name a few. Many teenagers in Panama surf and you are bound to make some friends.

For seeking out the best waves for surfing in Panama, you can arrange to go on a surf tour and obtain a surf map. For those wanting to learn to surf in Panama, there are Panama surf camps available. And there are plenty of surf package tours to Panama which will give you a hotel in Panama, and plenty of surf options included in the total price. Warm, big waves and ultimate world class surfing in Panama is available year round and is one of the “undiscovered” best places to surf in Central America. Panama’s land mass, in the shape of an “s” and between two oceans – the Pacific and the Atlantic gives it the benefits of have some of the best areas to surf in worldwide. You can travel to the other ocean on the other side of Panama in about an hour.

On the Caribbean coastline – the Atlantic side, you’ll find the best times to surf in Panama are November to April and June and July where the wind and cold fronts in the north create constant strong swells. From August to October, you’ll find it mostly flat.

Surfing in Bocas Del Toro

One of the most well know tourist destinations in the Republic of Panama is Bocas Del Toro, a great location for hotels, restaurants, bars, bicycle and motorcycle rentals. Located in the northwest corner of Panama, a one hour flight from Panama City, it’s a tropical paradise, offering beautiful beaches, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and, of course world class surfing. Bocas Del Toro is full of hotels and hostels at all price ranges to choose from. Bluff Beach has waves that break left and right, but most of the beaches have waves with left sided surf breaks.You’ll find waves ranging from hollow short rides, long peelers, big wave surfing with 20 foot plus faces, heavey beach breaks.

On the Caribbean coast of Panama, you can surf all day and not have to wait for the tides because the waves only fluctuate about three feet. In Bocas Del Toro, because of its location, the offshore islands create a barrier for the wind which makes it less exposed and creates some of the best waves for surfing in the entire country. During the dry seasons, the winds blowing from the north create on shore conditions in more exposed provinces such as Colon. However, Bocas Del Toro is one of the best places for surfing in Panama.

One of the most beautiful beaches 15 minutes from Bocas Del Toro is white sand, mile long beach called Red Frog Beach. The only hotel accommodation here are the Red Frog Bungalows. This is an excellent location for surfing and hotels in Panama because all the best breaks in the area are nearby. The cost of a bungalow at the Red Frog during the low season, for a week’s stay is $770, based on 4 people staying in the Balinese styled bungalows with paintings on the walls and solar panels. This is a totally green, carbon neutral eco resort in Panama. All the usual amenities are included, and the showers are private outdoor showers. Meals are gourmet style. Staff are excellent. The beach is practically deserted and you can enjoy long walks on the beach or through the forest. You can make reservations and check out their website at redfrogbungalows.com.

For other surf Panama locations, there is Santa Catalina in Veraguas province, Panama. For surfers and divers accommodation, check out the Blue Surf and Dive Hostel. The Blue Surf and Dive Hostel is right on the beach, surrounded by coconut, mango and exotic hardwood trees with a view of the island of Santa Catalina. The hostel has five rooms available for guests, three shared bathrooms, a shared kitchen and dining room and laundry facilities. Also available are phone and internet available too.

Santa Catalina offers marvellous surfing, consistent breaks throughout the year. However, the best time for surfing is really to February to August with waves from six to nine metres high. At other times, the waves reach two to three meters. There are other locations to surf just a walk away for mostly advanced surfers and some places are for intermediate level surfers as well.

For those who want to learn to learn to surf, there are a number of surf camps in Panama led by qualified and certified surf instructor. People interested in watching, there are also many international surfing competitions held in Panama, due to the fantastic waves of this amazing country. Accommodations in Panama range from budget to luxury prices – whatever will suit your budget. If you want to find out about some cheap hotels in Panama, we have two articles on our site available for you to read. The second article about cheap hotels in Panama is available here. I can’t think of a better way to spend some time in Panama, than surfing the great waves of their two oceans, it’s got to be one of the most challenging and most fun ways to spend a vacation in Panama by surfing in Panama.

Cruises Through the Panama Canal

I knew this man who wanted only to visit Panama to take one of the cruises through the Panama Canal. He wasn’t interested in anything else except seeing the Panama Canal. Mind you, after his Panama Canal cruise, he came back again to Panama because he had fallen in love with the country. There are many cruises to Panama available nowadays at reasonable prices offering you an amazing experience of cruises through Panama Canal.

First, a little history about one of the greatest engineering wonders of this world: the Panama Canal. The Panama Railroad was built and completed in 1855. Before this time, the explorers of Panama had to trek through the jungles and over the mountains by canoe, by foot and/or pack animal. To make it somewhat easier, a herd of camels were imported into Panama to help the explorers travel through Panama. The Panama Canal was dreamed up as a short cut for ships to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a journey which necessitated sailing around Cape Horn to get to the ocean on the other side, a 3,000 mile journey.

The Panama Canal had been a dream of men and explorers for over 400 years. The French were the first to attempt to build a Canal, spending about $300 million on this venture and building only 10 miles of the Canal. In May of 1904, they gave the keys of the Panama Canal to the Americans. On August 14, 1914, only ten years later, the first ship, the S.S. Ancon passed through the Panama Canal. There was an extremely high human cost to the building of the Canal. Many workers died from diseases caught in the swampland as the Canal was dug and constructed. The Panama Canal has officially existed and remained operational since that time. Today, the Panama Canal is undergoing an expansion project which began in 2007 and is hoped to be completed around 2014.

On a daily basis, approximately 40 ships a day have sailed through the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal consists of massive locks which take about eight to nine hours to pass through to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. As far as measurements go, for those interested, the Panama Canal’s locks are 110 feet wide, 1,000 feet long, and 83 feet deep. The weight of each lock gates weights between 390 and 730 tons. No pumps are used for the locks. Instead, the water is drawn by gravity from Gatun Lake.

Since the opening of the Panama Canal, a million ships have passed through the Canal. The Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific is 50 miles long. The entire journey takes eight to nine hours. The ship is lifted 85 feet by the Gatun locks into Gatun Lake and then sails through the narrow Gaillard Cut to the Pedro Miguel lock and then the and Miraflores locks. At the Miraflores locks, the cruise ship is lowered down to the level of the Pacific Ocean.

When you take one of the available cruises through the Panama Canal, you will cross through the Canal in a cruise ship built for it. A cruise to the Panama Canal is one of the most sought after destinations. There are many cruise lines to choose from to traverse the Panama Canal, including the Carnival Cruise line, the Princess Cruise line and the Royal Caribbean Cruise line.

Offering many different deals for a cruise to Panama, the Carnival Cruise Line has a 14 day Panama Canal Cruise from $1,179. It departs from Los Angeles and cruises to the following places Manzanillo, Mexico, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, makes the Panama Canal transit, then on to Cartagena, Colombia, Ocho Rios, Jamaica ; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and finishes in Miami, Florida.

The Princess Cruise line’s cruises through the Panama Canal include round trip sailing from Los Angeles or between Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles.

The Royal Caribbean is another cruise line which offers cruises to Panama.

A Panama Canal cruise can be taken in either direction from west to east or east to west. From east to west is the favourite because you will experience crossing under the magnificent Bridge of the Americas to the Pacific Ocean.

There are cruise ports to stop at on your Panama Canal cruise, including Colon, Balboa and Cristobal. While at these ports, have some of the wonderful coffee which is grown in the shade of trees in the mountains of Panama. At Colon, you can actually go for a walk through a rainforest. Do a little shopping too, where you can buy duty-free jewellery and native handicrafts, a look around and try watching a ship from the land as it passes through the locks. You will be able to find some travel tours which offer excursions of the locks of the Panama Canal. If you have the time and opportunity, a side trip to Panama City would be well worth it to visit the old quarter of Casco Viejo and Casco Antiguo.

Panama Canal cruises can be somewhat expensive, but if you are on a budget, you can take a partial Panama Canal cruise which will take you from the Caribbean side to Lake Gatun.

Check out the websites of the individual cruise lines already mentioned in this article to obtain exact information on Princess Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean or the Carnival Cruise line for cruises through the Panama Canal. Experiencing one of the many cruises to Panama will be a once in a life time experience when you traverse this Canal between two oceans.

Hostels in Panama City | Villa Michelle

Villa Michelle

If you are looking for something a little less expensive than the Panama City beach hotels that I usually write about, and even less expensive than the cheap hotels in Panama I have also written about, you could investigate a hostel in Panama. In a previous article, I had written about La Casa de Carmen and now I’d like to share with you another great hostel in Panama called Villa Michelle Hostel in Panama.

Staying in a home or a hostel in Panama is one of the best ways to experience the real Panamanian lifestyle - to really experience living in Panama, you must meet the people and get closer to the people. It’s an experience you won’t have if you stay at one of the resorts or hotels in Panama. You are somewhat isolated from the people when you stay at a hotel or resort in Panama. To get the real authentic experience of a country and a people, you must immerse yourself in the people and the place you are visiting, meet them, dine with them, celebrate with them and talk with them.

Villa Michelle is owned by a woman named Ivonne Arias and her family who have lived in this large ranch style home for the last 25 years. Ivonne doesn’t want you to call it a hostel; she would like you to call it a home, your home in Panama away from home. Ivonne offers her guests a relaxed ’family atmosphere’ in a clean environment.

Located in a safe neighbourhood called Altos Del Golf, in the financial district of Panama City, bedrooms are available for short or long term stays. Bedrooms can accommodate from two to four people. There are no TVs in the bedrooms but there are cable TVs in the living rooms. There are no private bathrooms, but your room will share a bathroom with three other rooms. There are three living rooms, five dining rooms, and two fully equipped kitchens where you can cook your own food. There are telephones available for local calls, private and secure parking and free wireless connections are also available. You will also find a lovely garden and terrace, with a barbeque, a swimming pool, where you can cool off, relax, enjoy a glass of wine after a long day of travelling around Panama City. This is a very charming hostel in Panama and Ivonne is most helpful to her guests.

Ivonne is also able to arrange guided tours of Panama City. If you are one who wants to surf Panama, and there is some of the best surfing in the world available in Panama, she’s your expert guide to surfing in Panama. Ivonne has been a professional surfer for the last seven years. She is bilingual and speaks both English and Spanish.

Villa Michelle Hostel, Panama City is located at Altos del Golf, Av 2 1/2 Sur. You can contact Ivonne by email at alemi24 (at) gmail (dot) com or telephone her to inquire or book a reservation at her hostel at either her residential telephone: (507) 221-2310 or cell phone: (507) 6612-3737.

You can contact Ivonne to find out more about her hostel in Panama or visit her website at atlemi2424.blogspot.com. There you will find lots of photographs of Panama, the Villa Michelle Hostel and surfing. So next time you are searching for a Panama City beach hotel and want to have an authentic experience of Panama, meet the people, dive into life of Panama and save some money at the same time, consider a hostel in Panama instead of one of the resorts or hotels in Panama. Villa Michelle is charming!

Hotels in Boquete

Boquete, Panama

Perhaps you’d like something different for your vacation in Panama. There is more to Panama than just the city of Panama, its beaches and the hotels in Panama City. Perhaps you have heard of a place called Boquete and have decided to search out the possibility of staying at one of the hotels in Boquete, Chiriqui Province. Going to Boquete is something you won’t regret. In fact, it is so beautiful, you will dread leaving this little paradise at the end of your vacation.

Boquete, is a small lovely village in the mountainous region of central Panama in Chiriqui Province, located in an area where some of the sweetest oranges and the best coffee is grown on mountain plantations on the slopes, shaded by lush foliage. The coffee is harvested by the Guaymi Indians in the time between October and February. The gardens of Boquete rival the most beautiful gardens in England or on the Meditarranean. You can experience the annual festivals in Boquete such as the the Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival) or the Feria de las Orquideas. You can ride horseback in the mountains. Blessed with fresh mountain air and scenery, Boquete is becoming both a vacation and retirement destination for many travellers and retirees alike. Boquete is a peaceful, tranquil place for those looking to get away from it all, to surround yourself with abundant nature and beauty.

Let’s take a look at some of the hotels in Boquete available to travelers to Panama.


Valle Escondido

Valle Escondido, Boquete, situated in a hidden valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides, at the foot of an ancient volcano, with rivers and creeks a plenty, this is a highly recommended resort in Boquete offering a 9 hole golf course and a full service spa. It is one of the best hotels in Boquete. Hotel rates at the Valle Escondido are very reasonable for any one of the 39 suites, riverside bungalow accommodations. Each of the suites are tastefully decorated in Panamanian style and come with all the amenities a traveller expects such as TV, DVD, internet access, small kitchenette, fireplace, telephone, large bathtub, patio/balcony, lounge chairs.

This resort in Boquete features a fully equipped fitness center, spa, holistic center, large heated pool, an enclosed racquetball area where you can play any indoor ball sports such as squash or volleyball, a Jacuzzi/steam room and lockers are provided. The spa provides massages, acupuncture, reiki and health consultations among other beauty treatments. For the golfer, there is the The Quebrada Grande Golf and Country Club for a game of golf in very scenic surroundings and the cooler air of the mountain.

The Valle Escondido is situated a 10 to15 minute walk to town or five minutes by taxi. It is 45 minutes to a one hour ride which will cost you $25 - $35 from the David airport.

There are two restaurants and a bar which offer guests delicious food and wonderful service. You will be delighted with the organic food cooked up at the restaurants. There are local artisan shops to buy souvenirs of Panama. A Chapel, a pro shop, an event center, and meeting rooms are available for the business traveller.

Other activities to enjoy while staying at the Valle Escondido Resort include: whitewater rafting, a wildlife safari, nature walks, bird watching and coffee tours. The staff are friendly and provide excellent service. The rooms and hotel is exceptionally clean. The scenery of the Valle Escondido Resort is breathtaking and quite a paradise for nature lovers, eco-tourists, bird watchers, golfers alike. It’s the best place to stay in Boquete.

El Oasis, Boquete

The El Oasis in Boquete, Panama, is a luxurious hotel in lovely Boquete available for a reasonable price. Great food is available in the dining room, served by a helpful, professional staff. It is located close to the town of Boquete with its shopping and restaurants. Another highly rated and reasonably priced hotel in Boquete.

Panamonte Inn And Spa, Boquete

Like a country inn in the mountains, charming and hospitable, a perfect place to stay if you would like to explore the mountains of Boquete Panama in Chiriqui Province. It is located only a five minute walk to the town. The Panamonte Inn and Spa is located at the foot of Baru Volcano. Owned by a family and offering a place for travelers to rest since 1914, the Panamonte offers friendliness, beautiful gardens, and recently renovated hotel rooms with full amenities for their guests. One word to describe the Panamonte Inn is “charming”.

Guests can find 17 recently renovated rooms, with all the usual full amenities, such as private bathrooms, air conditioning, TV and telephone in a cozy country style inn atmosphere. There is room service available and you will find the service is warm and friendly. There is a lounge with full bar and roaring fireplaces. Charges for the hotel rooms range from $95 - $310 US. Credit cards accepted include Mastercard, American Express and travelers cheques. A full service spa is available, a travel agency, and business/conference facilities available for the business travelers.

These are just a few of the hotels in Boquete for you to consider on your vacation in Panama. By all means, if it is your first visit to Panama, you must see the city of Panama, the coasts of Panama and of coursel, the Panama Canal. But on your return trip to Panama, I highly recommend you try something different to explore more of Panama and experience all that this marvellous country has to offer. Boquete is beautiful and must not be missed. Like I said, you probably won’t want to leave Boquete once you get here. There are many more hotels in Boquete to consider for your vacation, such as the Fundadores Hotel, the Kalima Suites, Hotel Ladera, Boquete Garden Inn, etc., or even for those on a budget, there are hostels in Boquete for you if that is what you are looking for. Stay tuned for my next article on additional hotels in Boquete in an upcoming article here on Panama City Beach Hotels.