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Bocas del Toro province

In Almirante, a jumping-off point for the Bocas del Toro archipelago, if the light is right, you may catch a glimpse of a picturesque canal settlement. So it may seem for a moment, but quickly the undeniable ambiance of board-and-tin hovels, a mixture of squalor and romace, though more of poverty-stricken Chiquita banana port town creeps in. Indeed most of what one can see around this township are banana trees and most residents are indeed in the banana business, for the most part poor folk who toil the endless stretches of banana plantations in the vicinity and in spots from here on to Changuinola.

Almirante, Bocas del Toro

Before one nears the one lane decrepit iron bridge across Rio Teribe and enters the uninspiring, one long-street town of Changuinola, one passes by a few of Nobe-Bugle settlements. Their simple houses on stilts and roofed with thatch lay scattered on the doorstep of a gorgeous virgin rain forest that stretches into the distant Parque Internacional La Amistad on the high slopes of the Talamanca and Central Mountain Ranges on one side and the simmering islands amidst turquoise blue waters of the Bocas del Toro on the other. While most tourists never make it up this way, the route is a pleasant one and offers three things to do - to continue on through the back door to enter Costa Rica, take a ferry to the Bocas, or, and this is perhaps the best reason for coming to this remote part of panama, and that is to visit the the Naso Indians, better known in Panama as the Teribe or Naso-Teribe.

Public transport, Changuinola

Pondering retirement in Panama? Only hour and half from Panama City, along the Pacific Coast, Vista Mar development posses a remarkable site up on a bluff overlooking a beach with grand vistas of the coastline in both directions. The elevated perspective adds to Vista Mar’s grandeur, but it’s not all that makes it stand out among Panama’s Pacific Coast resorts. While Vista Mar’s Par 72 Championship Golf Course, tastefully set within the 700 acre resort community is its major draw and of appeal to those that relish the sport, every house and condo here will have a view of either the golf course, ocean, Cordillera Central or all three. The resort is pleasantly  landscaped with palm trees and studded with manmade lakes although stunning natural enclave of tropical vegetation was left near beach to create ambiance of a peaceful retreat.

Of course it is the architecture of the homes and condominiums that are of particular fine design, maximizing on Vista Mar’s natural riches, whether the natural environment, views and vistas of the ocean or the balmy sumptuousness of the tropics. For those that prefer a house, Vista Mar offers single story homes on the Terraces overlooking the ocean. The homes on Terraces 3, 4, and 5 start at $700,000, lot of 900 square meters included. The homes on Terrace 2 start at $900,000, with same size lot as above. The lots closest to the waterfront are sold at $600 per square meter and home design is per own image and guidance of a Vista Mar architect.

Set back along the perimeter of the golf course are the condominiums. The condo towers offer truly great views in all directions and the design incorporates them from within all rooms, kitchen included. The Las Olas Towers will have four condominiums per floor and their size is from 178m2 (1,916 sq.ft.) to 301 m2 (3,238 sq.ft.) and their prices start at $312,900. Las Brisas units will be slightly smaller, about 165 square meters (1,775 sq. ft.) each, while the Penthouses will be from 280m2 to 480m2. If you have thought to retire in Panama, check out Vista Mar.
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Concierge.com, the online home of Conde Nast Traveler had published its 2008 list of the world’s best adventure trips. Here are their selected destinations, more details on each can be had in their article:

Best of Peru
Lost Alaska by Kayak
Bicycle trip in northwest Argentina, a trip that begins and ends in Salta
Sand and Savannas in Mali, perhaps best known for the fabled trading city of Timbuktu
Panama: Jungles and Caribbean Beaches
Gabon
Trekking Through Transylvania
Swiss Alps
Trekking in Tibet
River Wild in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
Philippines
British Columbia
Biking Big Bend

The best way to learn about the Panama Canal and its history is through a partial or full canal transit. Partial transit tours depart from Gamboa sailing southbound going through the Gaillard Cut and then transiting Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks. The tour takes from 4 to 5 hours approx. Full Panama Canal transit tours sail northbound transiting Miraflores, Pedro Miguel - Gaillard Cut and then the Gatún locks. The tour takes from 8 to 9 hours. For sailing schedule and prices, go to Panama Canal Tours - Full and Partial Canal Transit.

Sail the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean towards Contadora and the Pearl Islands, where the Discovery will stay the first night before continuing to the Darien. From here navigate towards the Panama Canal and begin sailing in direction of the Caribbean and the cruise destination, the town of Portobelo. Founded by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage to the new continent in 1597, Portobelo is rich in history as it was the site of many sea and land battles between the Spanish. Explore the fortifications built by the Spaniards to protect their treasures and visit the Church of San Felipe, the sanctuary of the Black Christ. Spend the night in the bay of Portobelo, a grand finale to your Luxury Panama Canal Cruise, Pacific to Atlantic Voyage of Discovery.