by Andre Sanchez

If you try a Panama vacation you very rapidly find that there is more to Panama than just the canal. In fact many people return time and time again after first tasting what it has to offer. It’s not just Panama City.

If you want a bit of activity there are loads of mountains to climb, and for the less active, beautiful beaches to lie on with crystal clear water and snow white sand. Except Panama City itself, where the beaches are too polluted for swimming, but there are plenty more available on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of the country. There are rainforests full of life, islands galore and cities with wonderful restaurants and bustling night life. That’s Panama – not at all as most people visualize it.

Let’s have a look at Panama City itself. You would not believe what it has to offer. It’s a gem, full of wonderful sights to see and places go. It’s a modern bustling city and contains the second largest duty free shopping area in the world. You can but just about anything there at fantastic prices. There are some musts for the new visitor and if this is your first time in Panama City you have to visit some of these, if not them all.

The Casco Viejo, which is the old Spanish colonial sector of Panama City. It presents a marvelous history of old Central America, with its churches, old plazas and paths. The palaces are amazing, and give just a slight view of what the old city used to be like. The Cathedral on Plaza de la Catedral and the Presidential palace are well worth a visit. If you prefer something closer to nature, there is the Metropolitan National Park, just outside Panama City, with lots of walks, wildlife and species of plants that will be new to you.

The nightlife in Panama City really makes a Panama vacation, and is world famous. The best parts are the old Casca Viejo, the Amador Causeway and the business area of the city. There are loads of bars and casinos, and the discos are great. Like any big city, Panama can be a bit dangerous away from the main drag, so travel by taxi and stay where the bright lights and people are and you can’t go wrong.

If you stay at the Marriot, there is a British pub just round the corner called the El Pavo Real, that is very popular with Americans and Brits, but the most popular is the Hard Rock Café on Balboa Avenue. Due to its position in Central America, Panama has been composed of many races since the sixteenth century, and they have generally lived in peace and harmony. Most of them seem to congregate at the Hard Rock Café on a weekend evening. If you make the right decision and opt for a Panama vacation, don’t miss a visit. All age groups are welcome.

However, if you’ve opted for a Panama vacation, it’s probably the canal itself that you want to see. It was opened in 1914, is fifty-five miles long and raises or drops ships over eighty-five feet by a series of locks. The Miraflores Locks Visitor’s Center offers fantastic views of the ships making their way through the locks with a running commentary on the system provided by multilingual narrators. You can see the other set of locks at the Gatun end of the Gaillard Cut across the continental divide between them. Fantastic! You mustn’t visit Panama without having at look at either of these sets of locks started in 1903.

San Blas de Kuna is an archipelago that has as many islands as days in the year, and is worth a Panama vacation for them alone. It is the traditional home of the Kuna, who are a Native American society. Although part of Panama, the islands are administered by the Kuna, and the area is very beautiful with wonderful fauna and flora. If you are into scuba diving, the coral reefs here are a must. Crystal clear water with a myriad of underwater life.

Finally, I have left the best for the ladies till last. The shopping! Fantastic! You can get anything from inexpensive electronic goods to traditional crafts at the Balboa Artisans market, where the artisans themselves sell their own goods. This not far from downtown Panama and the artisans expect to be haggled so don’t accept the going price. It will be well inflated over the ultimate price expected. There’s also all the world class hopping you expect from a modern worlds class city.

So if you are thinking of going somewhere this year you’ve never been before, try a Panama vacation. There is something for everybody and you even have the option of a cruise vacation, taking in the Panama Canal. The best of both worlds!

Try a Panama Vacation and Find a Dream was originally published at http://www.globallifenow.com