Page 23 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

ITINERARIES 21
4 Isla Coiba A short boat trip away, Coiba 3 Santa Fé de Veraguas A long bus journey
is a diver’s paradise, with great snorkelling too. takes you to this delightful mountain village,
See p.213 where a tour of the coffee cooperative gives a
fascinating taste of the community’s history.
5 Playa Reina, Mariato This little-known See p.207
beach hotel on the western Azuero offers
plenty of water-based fun, plus stunning 4 An Azuero festival Head southeast to
sunsets. See p.176 laidback Las Tablas, and aim to time your trip
to coincide with one of the peninsula’s many
6 Archipiélago de las Perlas Accessible by
boat or plane from Panama City, Isla Contadora, riotous festivals: heady mixes of the religious
with its splendid beaches, makes a good base and profane, colonial and indigenous, traditional
for sailing out to the archipelago’s deserted cays and modern. See p.155 & p.165
and islands. See p.120 5 Azueran crafts On your way back to
Panama City, drop in to see the devil
7 Western Guna Yala Laze away your days in
idyllic cays, palm-topped islands and translucent mask-makers of Chitré and the women’s
warm waters – the quintessential Caribbean hat-making cooperative in nearby Ocú.
paradise. See p.254 See p.159 & p.161
6 Casco Viejo, Panama City Steeped in
CULTURES AND CRAFTS colonial history, the capital’s old city centre is
also awash with shops and stalls selling crafts
By swapping modern hotel comforts for basic
rural lodgings, you’ll gain great insights into – jewellery, clothing, baskets, masks, hats,
Panama’s cultural and colonial heritage. Count carvings – made in far-flung communities
on two or three nights per stop, adding a around the country. See p.56
five-day Emberá stay in the Darién if you’re 7 Guna Yala After a bumpy plane or jeep ride
feeling adventurous. to the comarca from the capital, experience
1 Naso communities The provincial town of first-hand how the women make their colourful
Changuinola, a flight or bus ride away from molas and winis. See p.254
Panama City, is the launch pad for trips up the 8 Emberá homestay A full day’s travel each
Río Teribe to visit Seiyik, seat of the Naso way (by bus and dugout) from Panama City
monarch, and to float downriver on a bamboo brings you to the welcoming Darién community
raft. See p.242 of La Chunga. Gain insights into the culture,
from basketry to medicinal plants, and sleep in
2 Silico Creek Stay in traditional cabañas in this
Ngäbe village, learning about organic perma- an open-sided bujia (wooden house on stilts).
culture and tasting artisanal chocolate.. See p.238 See p.287

THE GRAND TOUR
CARIBBEAN SEA SAND, SEA AND SURF
COSTA CULTURES AND CRAFTS
RICA

PACIFIC
OCEAN
COLOMBIA

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