Page 209 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

Santiago and the central highlandS Chiriquí and Veraguas 207
said to date back to before 1730, is one of Panama’s most venerated icons, a magnet for 5
thousands of pilgrims every first Sunday in Lent.

Iglesia San Francisco de la Montaña
San Francisco de la Montaña, 16km north of Santiago on the Santa Fé road • Irregular hours • Take a Santa Fé-bound bus from Santiago
(see below); hop off at the fork by the police post and bear right a few hundred metres
The Iglesia San Francisco de la Montaña lies on the road to Santa Fé, north of Santiago,
in a village of the same name. The simplicity of the small stone church, believed to
have been built around 1727, belies the wonderfully elaborate wooden interior, with
nine intricately carved Baroque altarpieces betraying both Spanish and indigenous
influences. You are likely to have to ask around to get someone to open up.
arriVaL and deParTure sanTiagO
Panama City–David buses The more luxurious buses terminal on C 10A Norte, a short walk (or $1–2 taxi ride)
running between Panama City and David (see p.200) make from Los Tucanes or the Centro Piramidal. The terminal has
their pit stops at one of two service areas: Centro Los Tucanes a left-luggage office and public toilets.
or the more popular Centro Piramidal, at Santiago’s Destinations Aguadulce (Mon–Fri 5.30am–9pm, Sat & Sun
northeastern and eastern exits to the Interamericana 5.30am–7.30pm; every 15–20min); Chitré (5.30am–9pm;
respectively. If they have space, they will pick up extra every 30min; 1hr 30min); David (6am–7.30pm; every
passengers but at peak times – Fri afternoons and holidays – 50min; 3hr); Santa Fé (5am–7pm; every 30min; 1hr);
you are better off taking the services from the main terminal. Soná – change for Santa Catalina (6am–9.40pm; every
Bus terminal All other transport leaves from the bus 20min; 50min).
geTTing arOund and inFOrMaTiOn
By taxi Taxis are abundant and will ferry you to most T998 3929) is in the Plaza Palermo shopping centre.
places within town for a couple of dollars. MIA office On the Interamericana, north of the Av Central
Tourist information The tourist office (Mon–Fri 8am–4pm; exit (Mon–Fri 8.30am–3.30pm; T998 4387).
aCCOMMOdaTiOn
Hotel Gran David Interamericana, near Centro Los Residencial del Sol C 10A Norte, across from the bus
Tucanes T998 1866, Whotelgrandavid.com. Popular terminal T993 0371. A cheap (though uninspiring) place
with business folk and families on the move (and therefore to bed down, especially convenient if you’ve missed the bus
often full), offering comfortable, if slightly tired, rooms to Santa Fé or Santa Catalina, with functional, clean, dark
around flower-filled gardens. Breakfast included. $73 en-suite rooms. $39
eaTing
El Maná Av 10B Norte, opposite the bus terminal. Cosy Restaurante y Asados Alex La Placita, near the main
cafetería offering filling, inexpensive dishes with the usual plaza. A busy daytime watering hole, serving up
mounds of noodles interspersed with more appealing items. Panamanian breakfast fry-ups and the almuerzo del día for
A place to hang out while waiting for a bus. Daily 6am–8pm. less than $4, plus local specialities such as gaucho de
Gran Machu Picchu Interamericana, at Av Central mariscos (seafood stew and rice). Daily 6am–3pm.
T933 1024. Highly recommended restaurant serving Restaurante Tropicalísimo Av Central, opposite
genuine Peruvian ceviche ($8) and excellent seafood Plaza Palermo shopping centre T998 3661. Mid-priced
dishes, including cazuela de mariscos (seafood stew; $17), Cuban and Panamanian dishes (most mains under $11),
albeit in an uninspiring a/c room. It even sells Inca Kola – such as lechón habanero, the house speciality, served on a
Peru’s favourite soft drink. Daily noon–10pm. pleasant terrace or indoors. Mon–Sat 9am–9pm.

Santa Fé
A hilltop village about 60km north of Santiago, SANTA FÉ is a jewel of a mountain
retreat that has been a well-kept secret for years. Surrounded by a stunning necklace of
verdant mountains sprinkled with sparkling cascades and serene stretches of river, with
easy access to a forested swathe of national park, it is a hikers’ and birdwatchers’ dream.

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