Page 171 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

The souThern coasT The Azuero PeninsulA 169
ArriVAl AnD DePArTure PeDAsÍ
By bus Minibuses run from Las Tablas to Pedasí outside The Bakery on Av Central, theoretically at 7am and
(6am–6.45pm; every 45min; 45min). Heading back to Las noon, though timings are vague.
Tablas, buses leave from outside the supermarket at similar By plane There are three Air Panama flights a week to and
intervals, with the last service at 5pm. The elusive buses from Panama City (Wed, Fri & Sun; 45min; $99 one way).
bound for Cañas via Playa Venao (see p.167 & p.172) stop The airport is 2km west of town.
inForMATion
Tourist information The tourist office (Mon–Fri offical opening hours, it is often closed.
8am–4pm; T995 2339) lies 50m off Av Central on the road Money Pedasí’s two banks lie on Av Central; both have
to Playa Arenal. ATMs, though they sometimes run out of money. Note that
MIA office On a backstreet southeast of the main square Pedasí is the last place to get cash (and petrol) until Tonosí.
(Mon–Fri 8am–4pm; no phone); note that, despite the Las Tablas (40km) & Chitré (81km)
Tours AnD ACTiViTies PeDAsÍ
Pedasí
TOUR OPERATORS AND GUIDES ACCoMMoDATion sports Club
Naturalist guides Recommended (Spanish-speaking) Casa de Campo 2 6 Police
Casita Margarita
local independent guides Edison Cedeño (T6660 9709) Dim’s Hostal 3 5 (300m), (300m) & Playa Arenal (2.6km)
Pelícanos Hostel
and Mario Espino (T6789 7272) offer tours to Isla Iguana La Rosa de los Vientos 4 Bank & ATM
or can take you birdwatching elsewhere. Tortuga’s Lodge 1
Pedasí Sports Club Av Central on the way into town eATinG
T995 2894, Wpedasisportsclub.com. Pedasí’s longest Bohemia Pizzería 4
& Restaurante
established tour operator is PADI-certified, offering Dulcería Yely 3 4
snorkelling ($60) and two-tank dives to Isla Iguana Restaurante Ejecutivo 2 1
Tortuga’s
($100), and dives at Islas Frailes ($125). It also organizes laundry
horseriding in the hills ($84), and, in season, whale
watching ($73) and nocturnal turtle tours to Isla de Cañas Airport (2km)
($73). Day-trips include a packed lunch; two people A V E N I D A C E N T R A L
minimum for all tours.
Pedasí Tours Av Central T995 2466, Wpedasitours
.com. Similar tours to, though cheaper than, Pedasí supermarket
Sports Club; the bare-bones boat trip to Isla Iguana costs C A LL E EST U D IA NT E
just $37, while the whole package with picnic lunch and Playa Venao Buses to
Buses to
Las Tablas
snorkel rental is $75. Other excursions include SUP, zip & Cañas Pedasí & Taxis
Tours
lining, turtle watching and horseriding. (1km), Playa El Toro (3km) & Playa La Garita (3km)
Bank & ATM
ACTIVITIES
Bike rental Baba House (one block east of Av Central, CALLE AGUSTÍN MOSCOSO
behind the supermarket) rents out bicycles ($10/day). library Parque
Pedasí
Horseriding Contact Javier for horseriding on the beach CALLE LAS TABLAS
(T6502 3902; $20/hr).
ACCoMMoDATion C A L LE O FE LI A R E LU Z
★ Casa de Campo Av Central T995 2733,
Wcasacampopedasi.com. Exquisitely designed, locally CALLE LA POLICÍA
owned B&B offering spacious, elegant rooms with tiled
floors, plenty of wood and chic bathrooms, as well as
comfortable outdoor areas (including one with TV) to A V E N I D A C E N T R A L MIA office (50m)
retreat to, spread out among the landscaped, tree-filled
compound. The large swimming pool is another plus. N
Dinner ($25) can be preordered. $99
Casita Margarita Av Central T995 2898,
Wpedasihotel.com. This American-owned boutique 0 metres 100
B&B offers five spotless, well-appointed rooms furnished
Playa Venao (30km) & Cambutal (85km)

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