Page 51 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

Travel essenTials BASICS 49
The Visitor/El Visitante (Wthevisitorpanama.com), Habla Ya language Centre (Whablayapanama
a free, weekly tourist promotion magazine in .com) in Boquete offers family and children’s
english and spanish, available in hotels and Spanish courses, while various tour operators in
touristy restaurants throughout the country – as the UK and north america (check out Wwildland
well as online – lists attractions and upcoming .com in the Us, Wfamiliesworldwide.co.uk in the
events; there are a number of other sources, too UK, and Waudleytravel.com for both the Us and
(see p.84). Panama’s national parks and other UK) include family-oriented itineraries. Travelling
protected areas, which encompass many of the to Guna Yala and to the Darién, which can be
country’s natural wonders, are administered by challenging enough for adults, is very hard work
the Ministry for the environment, or Miambiente with kids in tow. sticking to Panama City and the
(see box, p.42). Canal area, the Pacific beach resorts, el valle, Bocas
and Boquete is much easier and more enjoyable all
Travellers with disabilities round, especially if you’re on a modest budget.

Organized tourism is in its infancy in Panama and Volunteering
awareness of the needs and rights of people with
disabilities is a fairly recent phenomenon – they it’s possible to arrange voluntary work, which can
were only granted equal rights by law in 1999. as a be carried out on a tourist visa, in advance. Try one
result, Panama isn’t really geared up to accommo- of the various reputable international agencies, such
date travellers with disabilities. That said, Tocumen as volunteer abroad (Wgoabroad.com/volunteer
international airport and many mid-range and –abroad), or directly through the websites of
luxury hotels in Panama City have “wheelchair Panamanian organizations; alternatively you may be
access”, though none addresses the spectrum of able to show up on the spot. Key areas include
special needs. The three resorts mentioned in our conservation or social development projects, usually
“Travelling with children” section (see below) also in poor, marginalized communities. Before you
advertise “disabled access” (as in “wheelchair access”) plunge into volunteering, do your homework to
and most cruise ships that take in Panama tend to ensure that the programme is bona fide and
be suitably equipped. eco-adventure international sustainable and that you are sufficiently skilled and
(Weaiadventure.com), and DisabledHolidays.com experienced for the job. if training is provided,
(Wdisabledholidays.com) both organize customized ensure that there is adequate time devoted to it –
tours to Panama for travellers with disabilities. often a problem if organizations are hard-stretched.
volunteering in projects, particularly with margin-
Travelling with children alized or vulnerable groups, is fraught with ethical
dilemmas, which usually have no easy or “right”
latin cultures are very family-oriented and Panama solution and can have unexpected negative side
is no exception. While there is no pre-packaged effects. While a couple of weeks on a turtle
entertainment for children such as theme parks, monitoring project may be fine, social develop-
there’s plenty to enjoy, including boat trips, ment projects need long-term commitment since a
snorkelling, horseriding, exploring the Canal and constant rotation of volunteers can be unsettling
walking in the rainforest. Many hotels have extra for individuals and communities, especially for
beds or pull-outs in rooms for children and vulnerable groups such as young children.
under-12s are often free, with older kids admitted Moreover, as unemployment escalates in Panama,
at discount rates. The large resort hotels – the you should ask yourself whether you are taking
Decameron at Farallón on the Pacific coast away a job that a Panamanian could be paid to do.
(Wdecameron.com), the Hotel Meliá on lago Gatún That said, there are several well-established
(Wmelia.com) and the Gamboa Rainforest Resort programmes in Panama. in Bocas del Toro, turtle
(see p.101) – have special activities laid on and conservation projects abound (see box, p.236),
child-minding services. small B&Bs and ecolodges and the smithsonian Tropical research institute
sometimes do not permit children or have a takes on volunteers too (Wstri.si.edu/english
minimum age of 12 or 14. /visit_us/volunteers/index.php).

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