Page 202 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

200 Chiriquí and Veraguas DaviD anD the Chiriquí LowLanDs
5 Balneario Barranca
20km west of David • Daily 11am–6pm • Take any bus heading west to the border, Volcán or Concepción, getting off on the Interamericana
just before the Boquerón turn-off (about 20min) and walking 100m up a track to the right
A more appealing place to cool off from the sweltering heat than David’s local beach
is Balneario Barranca, a natural swimming pool with a rancho bar-restaurant and
hammocks on a meander of Río Chirigagua. While a festive family atmosphere
prevails at weekends you can have the Tarzan swing all to yourself midweek.
Refugio de Vida Silvestre de Playa Barqueta Agricola
25km southwest of David • Daily 6am–3pm • $5 • Park warden T6602 5770 • Buses leave David at 6am, 8am & 11.20am (40min),
returning at 2.30pm & 5pm, or take a bus to Guarumal, then a taxi to the beach ($6)
Unremarkable, grainy Playa Barqueta is the nearest spot to dip in the sea, and has a
couple of informal places to eat and enjoy a beer. A large portion of the beach lies
within the boundaries of the low-key Refugio de Vida Silvestre de Playa Barqueta
Agricola whose 14km stretch of sand, scrub and mangrove protects nesting sites for
hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and green sea turtles. Visits to check out
the night-time nesting (late May–Nov is best) can be arranged with the park warden or
at the MiAmbiente office outside David (see opposite). The reserve entrance lies east of
Las Olas Resort, where the bus stops; alternatively the warden will come and pick you
up. Visitors in their own vehicle will need a 4WD.
arriVaL and deParTure daVid
BY PLANE restaurant, toilets, ATMs, a left-luggage office (daily
Airport Flights from Panama City arrive at Aeropuerto 6am–8pm) and internet café.
Enrique Malek, about 4km south of town, a $4 taxi ride away. Buses to Panama City Terminales David-Panama (T775
Flights Air Panama (T316 9000, Wairpanama.com) 7074), with its own a/c waiting room at the far end of the
offers three daily flights to and from Panama City’s Albrook terminal, has 17 departures daily (6am–1pm hourly, then
Airport (40min; $128 one way). Copa Airlines (T217 2672, every 1hr 30min–2hr until 8.30pm; 4 overnight express
Wcopaair.com) also has code-share connecting flights to/ buses). Panachif (T777 4217) has twelve daily departures
from North American and European destinations via (7.30am–10pm) from its own terminal on Av 1 Este between
Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. calles “E” and “F” Norte, a 5min walk from the main bus station.
Airline offices Air Panama has an office at the airport and Other destinations Boquete (6.30am–9.45pm; every
in town, on Av 2 in the Plaza Oteima shopping mall 30min; 50min); Caldera (10 daily 6am–7pm; 1hr); Cerro
(Mon–Fri 8am–5pm; T775 0812). Copa Airlines also has Punta (5am–8pm; every 15min; 1hr 50min); Las Lajas
an office at the airport and in town on Av Central at C “B” (5 daily 11.45am–5pm; 1hr 30min); Puerto Armuelles (via
Norte (Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8am–noon; T775 7073). the Costa Rican border at Paso Canoas; 5.30am–10pm;
every 15min; 1hr 30min); Río Sereno (5am–4.15pm; every
BY BUS 45min–1hr; 2hr 30min); Santiago – from a terminal across
Bus terminal The main bus terminal, for local services the road from the main bus terminal (5am–7.30pm; approx
and long-distance routes, including to Costa Rica (see box every 45min; 3hr) or take one of the faster buses to Panama
below), is on Paseo Estudiante, a 15min walk north of the City; Soloy (7am–7pm; approx every 30min when full; 1hr
town centre. It has good facilities, including a self-service 30min); Volcán (5am–8pm; every 15min; 1hr 20min).

BUSES TO COSTA RICA
Tracopa (T775 0585, Wtracopacr.com) operates two daily services to san José, Costa rica,
at 8.30am and noon (8–9hr; $21 one way). Buses leave from the main bus terminal on Paseo
estudiante, where the company has an office (daily 7am–5pm). tickets should be prebooked
for peak holiday periods.
it is often quicker, though, to take one of the frequent minibuses from the bus terminal
to the border at Paso Canoas (see box, p.202) and walk across, getting exit and entry stamps
at Panama and Costa rica immigration respectively, before hopping on one of the regular
shuttles to Ciudad neily, the first sizeable population centre over the border 18km away,
where there are connections with san José.

178-215_Panama_3_Ch5.indd 200 30/06/17 11:51 am