Things to see and do Provinces Of Panamá And Colón

The former colonial Place d'Armes was redeveloped in 1922 as a tribute to the unsuccessful French attempt to break through the isthmus. At the far end of the square, facing the sea, stands an obelisk atop which a proud Gallic cockerel looks out towards the canal and France! Its base is surrounded by busts of figures who played a major role in "el esfuerzo francés " ("the French effort", as the Panamanians refer to the French canal project): Ferdinand de Lesseps and engineers Armand Reclus, Lucien Napoléon Bonaparte-Wyse, Léon Boyer and Panamanian Pedro Sosa (when Panama still belonged to Colombia). Behind them, in a semi-circular gallery with arcades, is the story of the canal told by Octavio Méndez Pereira. A plaque also pays tribute to Cuban physician Carlos Juan Finlay, who identified the mosquito responsible for transmitting yellow fever and advocated mosquito population control as an effective way of combating the disease. Just before the staircase is the place where Victoriano Lorenzo, the indigenous hero of the Thousand Days War, was shot in 1903, and the French Embassy, which has the privilege of being housed in a handsome early ^20th-century house. Next door, the ^18th-century Las Bóvedas ("the vaults") were once used as prison cells. Sculptures depict old trades, one of them María Ossa de Amador, who made the first Panamanian flag.

The visitor center offers a bird's-eye view of the Miraflores locks, through which ships of all kinds transit, from sailing boats to gigantic container ships. If you go in the middle of the afternoon, you'll be sure to catch a glimpse from the terrace of the large ships that left in the morning from the Atlantic entrance, with the first transits through the locks starting at around 1.40pm. To avoid disappointment, you should know that if you go in the morning, you'll have no chance of seeing a ship, as they only pass through until 6:30! The Miraflores set of locks is the only one to offer a fully-fledged museographic space, with four rooms providing a better understanding of the technological innovations that made the canal possible; the role of the watershed; the operation of the waterway (documentaries, topographical model; dramatizations) and the place of the inter-oceanic shortcut in international maritime trade. Finally, an IMAX film with 3D glasses tells the story of the canal and its recent expansion. Actor Morgan Freeman was on hand to recount the epic story! A visit that complements that of the Interoceanic Canal Museum in Panama City's Casco Viejo.

To get there by public transport, the easiest way is to take a bus from the Albrook terminal along route C810, leaving you opposite the entrance to the visitors' center.

This long jetty of 6 km, which joins the islands of Naos, Perico and Flamenco to the mainland at the entrance of the canal, was built with the earth and rocks excavated from the Gaillard channel (1.25 billion cubic meters). The pier is intended to protect the entrance of the channel from sediments displaced by the currents. Originally, it also had a defensive function in case of an attack on the canal (Isla Flamenco hosted an American military base).

Long before the construction of the pier, during the colonial period, Perico Island welcomed ships from South America in its deep water port. Men, goods, gold and silver were unloaded and taken to the city in small boats. Today, it is the cruise ships that stop here.

The Causeway has been a tourist and leisure destination for Panamanian families since its retrocession to Panama in the late 1990s. There are many restaurants and shopping malls, more popular on the Brisas de Amador side than on the Flamenco marina where the local jet set meets. Panamanians love to walk around and have a drink while admiring the Bridge of the Americas, the canal or the lights of the city. It's very crowded on weekends but quieter during the week. The Biodiversity Museum by architect Franck Gehry marks the entrance to the Causeway, but also the long bicycle path that welcomes runners, rollerbladers and bicycles, which can be rented on site.

This church still retains its original Baroque façade, built in 1680 from stones salvaged from the former Panamá La Vieja church of the same name. Two massive towers crowned by a dome surround it. Declared a historic monument in 1956, the church has undergone various phases of renovation and now houses a museum with a wealth of religious objects and historical artefacts. The well at the entrance dates back 200 years and bears witness to the ancient underground water reserves that once supplied the town.

Built between 1671 and 1677, the church of San José is famous for its altarpiece covered with gold leaf (Altar de Oro). Legend has it that it was saved from the sacking of Panamá La Vieja by the famous pirate Henry Morgan, thanks to the ingenuity of the monks who hid it by covering it with a mixture of lead carbonate or ceruse... In reality, specialists say that it dates from the 18th century and that the gilding work was completed in 1915. Its baroque details make it one of the most beautiful religious works of the colonial period.

The square was created after the fire of 1756. In its center, several statues pay homage to Simón Bolívar, hero of the independence of the American colonies. They were erected on the occasion of the centennial of the Pan-American Congress of 1826, organized by El Libertador in an attempt to form a confederation of peoples freed from Spain and thus consolidate independence. The square is quiet and offers beautiful views of the facade of the old brick-colored Colombia Hotel built in 1937, the neoclassical church and some houses dating from 1880.

Panama is one of the few capitals of the continent to have a real tropical forest in its heart. One goes there as much for the fauna as for the impressive sight on the city. This protected park of 232 ha is the green lung of Panama. It is the first part of a biological corridor between the south and the north of the isthmus, which guarantees the animals the possibility to pass from the forests of the Pacific to those of the Atlantic. The forest of the Metropolitan Natural Park continues through the national parks Camino de Cruces, Soberanía and the protected area of Fort San Lorenzo.

The park has two entrances 700 m apart. At the visitor center, the main entrance, you will find a description of the walks to be done, a small bookstore specialized on the fauna and flora of the country and some amenities. From here the trails Los Momótides (900 m, 45 minutes), Los Caobos (900 m, 1 hour) and El Roble (700 m, 30 minutes) start. The other entrance is at the guard's hut, from where La Cienaguita (1.1 km, 1 hour) and Mono Tití (1.1 km, 1 hour) start. All the trails are marked and connected to each other. The main loop takes less than 2 hours to complete. There are 227 species of birds, 46 of which are migratory and are present here during the North American winter. From the viewpoint at 135 meters above sea level, the view extends over the canal, the forests as far as the eye can see, the Cerro Ancón and the plantations of skyscrapers. Sloths and mono-titles are watching you from the canopy! To see them too, visit the park early in the morning!

To cope with the saturation of Balboa Avenue, which ran along the Bay of Panama, it was decided to build a new road complex by gaining land on the sea. The Cinta Costera was inaugurated in 2009 and has transformed the coastal landscape, with an advance on the sea of more than 26 hectares. If you want to see the sea, look for the twin towers of the Miramar Hotel: they used to be right on the beach. The Cinta Costera is a set of traffic lanes (4 lanes in one direction and 6 in the other, including the old Balboa Avenue), fortunately bordered by a wide coastal promenade. The Cinta Cotera has made traffic flow more smoothly, but above all, pedestrians and sportsmen have finally been taken into account in a city that had totally ignored them until then! Large green spaces, sports fields and pedestrian and bicycle paths have allowed the inhabitants to make the seafront their own. You will see the monument dedicated to Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, the discoverer of the "Southern Sea" (the Pacific Ocean) in 1513. The Cinta Costera is invaded early in the morning by joggers and cyclists, and in the late afternoon and evening by families and groups of friends who come to play soccer or basketball, and to rollerblade. During the day, there is little life and it is easy to understand why: it is really too hot! The view on the Casco Viejo on one side and on the skyscrapers of Paitilla on the other is superb. There are no bars, but there are a few vendors selling sodas and raspa'o.

In 2014, the Cinta Costera was expanded with the much maligned construction of a viaduct around Casco Viejo, the Cinta Costera III.Most Casco Viejo residents, as well as UNESCO, were against the project, but President Martinelli ignored the protests. He did the irreparable with this road bypassing the old city, to connect the modern center and the Chorrillo. The colonial district has lost its beautiful skyline. On the other hand, coming from the fish market, you can walk there, for a nice view on the Casco Viejo. On the other side of the Casco, the promenade goes along the not very frequented neighborhood of Chorrillo until the entrance of the Causeway (the promenade is well secured). You can eat right on the beach, at the small restaurant complex "Sabores del Chorrillo", located next to the Maracaná stadium; very pleasant for a ceviche or grilled fish break! From there, it is possible to go to the Biodiversity Museum and to continue the walk until the end of Calzada de Amador.

You will certainly hear about this destination when you mention Lake Gatún, especially if you travel with your family! The tour begins with a boat ride, not far from the huge ships that ply the channel. The tropical and coastal vegetation reminds you that you are sailing in a true biodiversity sanctuary. Try to organize yourself to leave in the morning, you will have more chances to cross the howler signs and the capuchins in the fresh air! In any case, you should know that you will also meet many tourists...

There is only one beach in the village, at the tip of the island, la punta. Pleasant, with white sand and a view of the green hills of the mainland, but increasingly tiny (it is shrinking). Deserted during the week, crowded on summer weekends. A small hut offers fish dishes and cold beers. Sometimes in the evening there are indeterminate soccer matches between locals. Good level of play, barefoot and friendly jostling! There is a famous surf spot in front of the Sister Moon hotel, and you can go snorkeling in front of the Villa Ensueño hotel.

To reach the beaches on the other side of the bay, motor boats leave from a pontoon next to the customs office, or from another one near Fort Santiago, at the entrance of the village. It is possible to pitch a tent on the beaches. It is a pity that they are not always very clean. Playa Huerta or "playa primera" is the closest. Its calm waters make it a good spot for swimming and snorkeling. A little further away, the same delights at Playa Francés. Playa Blanca, a beautiful white sand beach, is much further away than the previous ones.

This trail is named after the old fuel pipeline that was part of the canal's self-sufficiency plan. Known worldwide as one of the best birdwatching sites, it is an easily accessible and very popular trail. Some agencies offer mountain bike rides, but it is obviously not the best idea to be quiet and watch the birds... The observation tower on the way (for a fee) is managed by the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center.

An interpretive circular trail behind the government shack.

Properly marked, this 800-meter trail goes through the thick rainforest. You won't encounter many wild animals, they hide deeper in the forest. But the route follows the Sardinilla River and leads to a small waterfall and a clear water basin where you can swim and have a good picnic. The walk can be completed by the interpretive trail located behind the government hut, the Sendero Espiritu del bosque, 1.7 km long.

This road, once paved, was built during the construction of the canal to reach the North American farm Las Cascadas, which produced rubber, cocoa and bananas in the 1910s. It was the most important farm in the Canal Zone with some 1,200 hectares. It was bought by the state in 1915, and there was talk of building a cocoa processing unit, but the project was abandoned. Today, the "Camino de plantación" trail is almost 13 km long and leads to the Camino de Cruces (described in the park of the same name).

Declared a protected area in 1980, this park extends over 22,000 hectares in the extension of the Camino de Cruces park. It is one of the most accessible in the country but also one of the richest: 105 species of mammals, 79 reptiles and especially 525 species of birds that attract enthusiasts from around the world! The entrance to the Sendero Natural El Charco and Camino de Plantación trails is located on the edge of the Carretera Gaillard. The entrance to the Camino de Oleoducto is located a little further on, after Gamboa.

Not far from the village quay, La Restinga is considered the island's main swimming spot. Here you can rent sun loungers and parasols for total relaxation. At the tip, the small green island of El Morro will seem more or less remote! Because at high tide, needless to say, the beach becomes much smaller, and the peninsula no longer seems connected to the mainland. At low tide, the spit of sand makes it easily accessible. The only drawback is that not everyone is used to taking their garbage with them.

It is not necessarily easy to find the access to the path because of the vegetation and the little maintenance, but you will be easily informed! It is an accessible walk because it is fast, about 30 minutes walk from the village, but the slope can be considered a bit steep, especially if you start under a bright sun. At 169 m, Cerro la Cruz (169 m) offers a beautiful view of the bay of Panamá. We repeat our recommendation to wear good shoes and to bring your sunscreen.

This walk is accessible, as it is not very steep (around 260 m). The path leads to a World War II bunker that has been converted into a viewpoint. The walk takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. Wear good shoes and don't forget to bring your own water supply. Make sure you watch your step so as not to step on the barely visible blue frogs. On the other hand, close your eyes when you come to a hillside that has been converted into a landfill site. At the summit, at 307 m, the view is unobstructed and the fresh air is invigorating!