Interoceanic Railroad
Interoceanic Railroad
Interoceanic Railroad (Panama City and Colón) — Traveling from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean in about 55 minutes, on the fastest train in Panama, is an unforgettable experience. Pass alongside the Panama Canal locks, see the historic Snake Cut and watch as huge ships maneuver to squeeze through the small locks. That is just the start of this beautiful journey, which also takes you through a beautifully lush tropical jungle, where you can see and feel the beauty of nature.
This wonderful trip can be combined with visits to interesting historical monuments, like San Lorenzo Fort, the Gatun Locks and the entrance to the Panama Canal on the Caribbean side. A bit of trivia: in 1913, the inter-oceanic railroad transported 2,916,657 passengers and 2,026,852 tons of cargo across the isthmus, clocking in with the heaviest traffic per mile of any railroad in the world of the time.
Getting there:
The Corozal Passenger Station on the Pacific Coast is located near Albrook.
The Atlantic Passenger Station is located at Mount Hope in the city of Colon, near the Port of Cristobal.
One-Way ticket: $25 (adult), $15 (children ages 2-12), $17.50 (seniors – Panama nations only).
Call the Panama Canal Railway Company (507-317-6070) or browse through its website for more details: http://www.panarail.com
1985 Restaurant
1985 Restaurant
Restaurant (Calle Eusebio Morales, by Hotel Suites Las Vegas and El Panama Hotel, Panama City) – named after the year it was opened, this is a well-rated French & Swiss restaurant, and considered one of the best restaurants in Panama City. The French specialties include lobster, fresh catch of the day, steaks, pastas and the most extensive and award-winning Wine Selection of Latin America. It’s no surprise that this restaurant has such a wine selection. The restaurant’s owner, Chef Willy Diggelmann, also happens to be a major wine importer for the Panamanian market.
Taxis
taxi
Panama City has plenty of taxis. They are not metered, but each taxi has a list of standard fares (with the city divided into zones, a minimum ride is $1.50, with an additional $.50 cents added for each time the taxi crosses into another zone).. Fares go up about 20% after 10:00 pm and on Sundays. For those who need to phone a taxi, here are some companies:
America: (507) 223 7694
America Libre: (507) 223 7342
Latino: (507) 224 0677
Metro: (507) 264 6788
Pannamataxi Turismo: (507) 263-8311
Taxi Unico Cooperativa: (507) 221 3191
Metro Bus
Metro bus
Metro Bus — Panama has a new bus system for transportation throughout the city (known as MetroBus). Before this service came along, locals got around through colourful, independently-operated buses known as “diablos rojos” – or “red devils”, that looked similar to the ones seen in neighbouring Colombia.
Metrobus fare is .25 cents throughout the city and $1.25 for routes that use the corredor (these routes will say Corredor Sur or Norte on the bus). So if you just need routes in the city, a $5 Metrobus card (which you can buy at any local grocery store or drug store) lasts you a long time.
MetroBus has routes along the north and south corridors that offer roads for faster traffic, to be able to reach your destination more quickly. This system of bus routes is efficiently organized, resulting in reduced wait times at bus stops and a guaranteed bus frequency, making your trip reliable. See the Metrobus website for more info, including routes: www.mibus.com.pa
Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo (Avenida A, Panama City) — The Casco Viejo, or Old Town, is the name given to the place where Panama City was transferred to and re-established in 1673. Currently, the Casco Viejo of Panama is included in the list of World Heritage sites by UNESCO. The Casco Viejo of Panama is a pretty tourist spot where visitors can appreciate historic structures, enjoy fine dining and purchase molas and other indigenous crafts.
Biomuseo
Biomuseo
Biomuseo (Edificio 136, Calzada de Amador, Panama City) – a.k.a. Museum of Biodiversity, this multicolor structure, designed by well-known architect Frank Gehry and located at the Amador Causeway, houses a museum that focuses on the history of the isthmus and the species it engendered. For example, the “Oceans Divided” hall highlights a pair of semi-cylindrical, two-story aquariums displaying the different life that developed in the Pacific and Caribbean. The two masses of water are separated at their narrowest point by just 30 miles of land. But, as the BioMuseo proves, they are worlds apart. Admission: $2 (adult), $1 (children and seniors). Hours: 12 Noon to 5:00 pm (Saturdays & Sundays only). Visit its website for more details: www.biomuseopanama.org
Bolívar Museum
Bolivar Museum
Bolívar Museum (Calle 3, Old Institute Bolivar, in front of the Plaza Bolivar, Panama City) – located in the Casco Viejo section of Panama City, this small museum was set up in honor of the Simón Bolivar, who liberated many Latin countries from Spanish royal rule in the early 1800s. There is also material on Panama’s political history. A replica of the Liberator Simón Bolívar’s gala sword is also shown. The original sword, currently situated in the Central Bank of Caracas, Venezuela, was totally made of 18k gold and contained 1,374 diamonds. This historic jewel was given to Simón Bolívar by the Municipality of Lima, Perú in 1825 as a true tribute on his victory at Ayacucho Battle. Admission: US$1. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Call for more details: +507-228-9594
Afro-Antillean Museum
Afro Antillean Museum
Afro-Antillean Museum (24th Street and Avenue Justo Arosemena) — this is a small museum located on an old wooden building that resembles a church (within one of the rougher parts of Panama City), that’s dedicated to the thousands of Caribbean (mostly Jamaican & Barbadian) workers who were brought to Panama to help build the Canal. The museum displays furniture from the early 20th century (when the Canal was being built) as well as photos showing the progress of its construction. Admission: $1. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
About Panama
Coastal Strip
Panama, located on an isthmus that connects North and South America, was originally settled by the Spanish during the 16th century. The country broke away from Spanish rule in 1821, and became part of the country known as Gran Colombia for a period of time before becoming part of the Republic of Colombia later in the 19th century.
With encouragement from the U.S., Panama seceded from Colombian rule and became independent in 1903. A year later, the U.S. (under a treaty it signed with the Panamanian government) started building the Panama Canal, which was completed by 1914. That same treaty also gave the U.S. the right to control the canal (and the land around it) in perpetuity. From that time until 2000, the U.S. exerted effective military control over the Panama Canal (establishing military bases there at the time), turning it over to the Panamanian government that year.
Because of the U.S. presence in Panama during much of the 20th century, the local economy became dollarized – which it still is, despite its independence from the U.S. Much of Panama’s economy consists of international trade, and banking. Real estate and tourism are starting to play a growing part of the local economy (by 2011, 2 million tourists visited Panama – generating an estimated US$2.5 billion in revenues). As evidenced by Panama City’s skyline, there has been a boom in construction of condo tower apartment buildings for a number of years.
The population density is evident along the coastal region of the Gulf of Panama, particularly on the Azuero Peninsula, and in the metropolitan areas of Panama City and Colón. A high degree of urban development in recent years has attracted a growing urban population, currently representing 59% of the total country population.
