Staying an extra day in Panama at end of cruise?

[fionan]

Some advice please. None of the flight options back to the UK from Panama are ideal. Compromise is required on routing, number of plane changes, timing, dates, comfort and/or price. Our Windstar cruise from Costa Rica to Colon, with a full transit,ends on Saturday morning but the flight that seems most attractive, on balance, leaves Panama City airport on Sunday at 9.20pm.

 

We would have the option of taking the cruise transfer to the airport on Saturday morning or waving goodbye at Colon dock and using the next 36 hours to see more of Panama.

 

 

Things we will have done already:

Rainforest, cloudforest and volcanoes in CR. Hiking, rafting, hotsprings. Gold Museum and Jade Museum in San Jose.

 

Cruise stops at: Bahia Drake (whales and beaches)

Golfito - beaches and nature (?)

Isla Coiba - probably SCUBA diving or snorkel.

Full Transit of Canal

San Blas Islands Panama - beaches and Kuna village.

 

What would you suggest for a one-night two day stopover? We would almost certainly approach My Friend Mario to make the arrangements for us. Tentatively, I thought something like:

 

Saturday am - visit Embera village (what else could we do at Colon or should we go straight to Panama City?)

Saturday pm - train to Panama City (we loooove trains!)

Saturday overnight in Panama hotel, with canal views (we still remeber the scene in The Tailor of Panama where Pierce Brosnan is sitting on his balcony watching the cruise ships pass by. We thought that was the neatest thing ever)

Sunday morning on our balcony watching the cruise ships pass (see above)

Sunday mid morning onwards- City tour - what should we ask to see?

Lunch - interesting Panamanian local food - recommendations?

Sunday 7pm - arrive at airport to check in for flight at 9.20pm.

 

Thoughts? Too much/too little? Any must-sees I have missed? It is unlikely we would ever be back to Panama, so this is our once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

Thanks in advance for any comments

 

Fiona

[Richard in Panama]

It is unlikely we would ever be back to Panama, so this is our once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

 

Say it's not so pilgrim! There is much more to see, especially once you get away from Panama City!

 

Saturday am - visit Embera village (what else could we do at Colon or should we go straight to Panama City?)

 

The villages that are most interesting, and really worth seeing take an entire day. This would be a never-to-be-forgotten adventure. But, be aware, Mario goes to the close in village, which is also the touristy one and least authentic of the six villages in Chagres. I'd opt for Anne Gordon (www.emberavillagetours.com) who is married to an Embera guy from Embera Puru. It is one of the furthest out, and the most authentic. Going with Anne, a gringa married to an Embera guy, gives you an "insider's look" at life in the village, meeting her in-laws and her husband's sizable family.

 

Saturday pm - train to Panama City (we loooove trains!)

 

It is an hour and a half train ride through the jungle with ocassional glimpses of the canal . . . on rolling stock from the US, old trains from the 60's. It runs mostly when ships are in town, and since it is a joint project with the railroad the the largest tour operator, you pretty much have to book through the ship. If you miss it, even if you "loooove" trains, you haven't missed a whole lot.

 

Saturday overnight in Panama hotel, with canal views (we still remeber the scene in The Tailor of Panama where Pierce Brosnan is sitting on his balcony watching the cruise ships pass by. We thought that was the neatest thing ever)

Sunday morning on our balcony watching the cruise ships pass (see above)

 

Forget TAILOR OF PANAMA . . . little resemblance to the real thing. COUNTRY INN SUITES by Carlson on Amador is the best place. Pay a little extra for a Canal view room and you can sit and watch the ships go by. Understand that 40 ships go through a day in a 24 hour period so there are not always ships going thorugh. As to cruise ships, about 230-240 go through a year . . . so you may be lucky, but unless you've checked the schedules . . . a Northbound cruise ship will probably be going by about 5:30am to 6am, so if one is scheduled, don't sleep in!

 

Sunday mid morning onwards- City tour - what should we ask to see?

Lunch - interesting Panamanian local food - recommendations?

Sunday 7pm - arrive at airport to check in for flight at 9.20pm.

 

 

Here's where I'd use Mario, or just hire a cab driver (the front desk at Country Inn can help) who will take you through Casco Viejo (the "Colonial" city, let you peak in St Joseph's at the solid gold altar, the Interoceanic Canal Museum in Casco Viejo, Ancon Hill and the Canal Headquarters if it is open on Sunday. Inside are some wonderful murals of the building of the Canal. And there is a great Indian craft market in Balboa behind the YMCA. I'd get him to take you halfway out the Amador Causeway for lunch. There's a nice open air restaurant, Ranchero or something like that, half way out with a good view of the city, excellent sea food, then I'd head to the airport, driving on the way through Panama City and stopping at the remains of the original 1500's city, "Old Panama". There is a very nice Indian craft market there.

 

I'd suggest getting to the airport not later than 6 pm. There is a restaurant upstairs before you go through customs with really authentic Panamanian food . . . the airport workers all eat there.

 

Enjoy and let us all know how it works out!

 

Regards, Richard