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Panama Travel Blogs

Background: With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.

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By garthyw
November 19th 2009

8. Sailing to the paradise of San Blas - Panama Central America Caribbean » Panama

Kuna fisherman

For some reason, a new depth of thought came to Gus when he passed a cigarette to each of the three men who stood in the wooden boat which floated softly against the side of the sailboat he was in. Even though he had witnessed the struggle of native people, particularly those in Bolivia and Peru, these fishermen somehow struck a deeper chord. Gus didn´t know what problems they faced, as individuals, or as a group. Surely, he thought, they aren´t concerned with their next holiday destination, or next big promotion at work, or how fast their internet connection is, or [View Full Entry]

By Sandcastle27
November 18th 2009

Chagres RiverTrip Central America Caribbean » Panama » Colón

Trip up the river

When we left Shelter Bay Marina of Colon, Panama it was a warm, sunny day. We were full of emotions, sad and excited at leaving friends behind but with hope of seeing new sites ahead. The trip, all 2 ½ miles of it, was uneventful. The coastline is beautiful with its mixture of palm trees, very large hardwood trees and rocky, low coastline. The water was flat calm. At the entrance of the river is Fort San Lorenzo. It is mostly gone now, crumbled away with time and covered by vines. The river runs out at the mouth causing some wave [View Full Entry]

By N O U K
November 15th 2009

Hell of an escape, weirdo, sharkattack in the rain.. Central America Caribbean » Panama

another way to boat over.. (boatride Drake-Sierpe)

Dearest I gave you a bit of an hint in my last blog about leaving the project which you think would be really easy, but wasn't. We wanted to leave Saturday morning, the 4 o'clock bus·(painful). But the night before we understood, that besides a truck blocking the road, a bridge collapsed and we were in Code Yellow because of a hurricane close to Nicaragua and they didn't know yet the course of the hurricane. All this besides the knowledge that if they is rain the bus can't leave because rivers go over the road. There was no plane and the [View Full Entry]

By King GDI
November 7th 2009

Bocas del Toro Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro » Isla Colon

Panama Mask

We left Puerto Viejo a little behind schedule and made our way into Panama. First stop was in Bocas del Toro; a chain of islands on the Western Caribbean coast of Panama. The vibe here was really cool. To get to the hostel we were staying at, you had to take water taxis there and back. Everything has a relaxed feeling to it. We came with the dancers and an Ozy named Mike. We ended up finding a house that a guy rented out to us for a good price, and got hooked up with a local guy who wanted to [View Full Entry]

By Armageddon Hammock
November 6th 2009

Correcting Problems Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro

house 002

Still living with no basics. Haven't had a shower in 11(?) days. Haven't had a hot shower in almost 2 months. Days we aren't correcting shoddy workmanship, I come over to Bocas and internet. I will go with a different carpenter for the rest of the job. Mine has not been truthful with me, and that is worse than making mistakes on the house. The house won't be perfect, but it has charisma and one hellava view, baby! I need more money, but my card won't work in the ATM, and the local bank won't do any transactions for me. It [View Full Entry]

By cleo
November 5th 2009

weather in panama Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panamá » Panama City

hallo all, would you please let me know how is the weather in panama between Jan and Feb? I'm planning a 3 weeks trip to Panama in that period but I have been told that in Panama it rains till beginning of March is it true? Thanks/ciao...Chiara [View Full Entry]

By Valerie and Steve
November 5th 2009

Panama Central America Caribbean » Panama

Panama City

October 9, 2009 to ..... January 2010 We are spending 3 months in Panama; neither one of us has been to Central America before. The people speak Spanish and I'm trying to get us by but seem to be using more sign language than anything else! We're here in the rainy season and it's very humid, but we're getting used to it. We rented a lovely apartment in the Punta Paitilla district. We're on the 17th floor with a lovely view of Panama Bay and the Pacific Ocean. We can see the big cargo ships gliding slowly past on the way [View Full Entry]

By carriemcq
October 26th 2009

Panama Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panamá » Panama City » Casco Viejo

Photo 2

We wanted to spend some more time in Panama but we had already spent way more time in Central America and we were eager to reach Colombia. In Panama City we explored the old city which was destroyed by Captain Henry Morgan in the 1600s. Some of it had been rebuilt but there were a lot of buildings with collapsed floors either filled with garbage or quite contrastingly, plants and trees. Everywhere you looked there were stark contrasts. You would see a fine dining restaurant next to an ancient abandoned building, and next to that an equally decrepit crumbling building but [View Full Entry]

By carriemcq
October 26th 2009

Sailing to Colombia Central America Caribbean » Panama » Kuna Yala » Archipielago de San Blas

Watching the sunset as we depart

We have been looking forward to this trip for a long time! The plan was to sail through the San Blas Islands for 3 days then on to Colombia through the open sea for 2 more days. The islands are inhabited by the Kuna, an independent, indigenous population living only on these islands. Every Island was owned by a family and some of the smaller ones had just one house on them. Our captain was a crazy-looking old guy from Spain. Our ship was a 50ft older boat and we had 6 other travelling companions, from France, London and the US. [View Full Entry]

By Armageddon Hammock
October 25th 2009

Catching up the last week Central America Caribbean » Panama » Bocas Del Toro

floors

10/18 Wanchow and I went back to Almirante where I can use my credit card as money is flowing like water into my house. I bought a water tank, toilet, sink, inflatable mattress, mosquito net, plumbing, and some varnish. I bought Wanchow a fridge and washer/dryer in lieu of some cash. We had quite a load in our little boat. 10/20 Patty and Tim left. They're hopping a sailboat out of Pa City to San Blas, then Cartagena, Colombia. Believe it or not, Columbia is the nicest spot in Latin America these days. Tim and I got along great. They will [View Full Entry]

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