Panama Beyond Canal like Bocas del Toro, William Friar aka Panama Guide Talks to Us

Panama Beyond Canal like Bocas del Toro, William Friar aka Panama Guide Talks to Us

by Serge the Concierge

December weather in an around New York could be anything from balmy to snow covered, we shall see.

I had not thought of Panama as an escape from the cold until someone mentioned it to me.

Since my knowledge of the place is minimal, I tracked down William Friar aka Panama Guide author of Panama (Moon Handbooks) for an insider look at Panama beyond the canal.

I focused primarily on Panama City and the islands of Boca del Toro

Here's what I learned.

Q: William, can you tell us first about Bocas del Toro?

Bocas del Toro, an archipelago in the Caribbean off the northwest coast of Panama. 

The only town in the archipelago is called Bocas town, on the island of Isla Colon. Isla Colon is sometimes referred to as Isla Bocas, which can make things confusing.
Bocas town is where most of the places to stay, restaurants, bars, etc., are (but also most of the tourists). There are other places to stay scattered around Isla Colon and the other the islands. There is less on the island you've asked me about (Isla Cristobal) than on many of the others. It's got an indigenous village, one place to say, no beach and not much around it unless it's suddenly taken off.
It's worth taking a look at a map to get a sense of where these places are.
Q: What is best time to travel to Panama?
It depends on what part of Panama you're visiting, and what you want to do. The high season generally is January-April, which is the 'dry season'. For more details read my When to Go advice.

Q: Name Airlines with right service and prices both from Europe and the US and good place to get right fares?

The prices tend to be pretty standardized, as with all destinations. Kayak.com or kayak.co.uk are good places to start. Journey Latin America is a good resource, especially for people living in the UK.
KLM and Iberia fly to Panama from Europe.
From the US, Copa, Panama's national airline, is widely agreed to have the best service, far better than US carriers.

Q: Can you recommend Eco conscious hotels in Panama city?

Sadly, I haven't found any particularly eco-conscious hotels in Panama City itself. The eco-conscious may want to consider Panama City's hostels, which have a small carbon footprint if only because they squeeze so many people into that footprint. They also offer volunteer opportunities and often work closely with local people, which benefits the local economy. 
Some Panama City hostels to consider include La Jungla in El Cangrejo area with private rooms with shared bath starting at $39. Another option is Luna's Castle Hostel in Casco Viejo (pictured below) even though the area is not safe to walk through at night. Take a cab.
Lunascastel

A 20-30 minute drive from Panama City is the Canopy Tower, which is more upscale (and much, much more expensive, around $200 per person per night) but definitely eco-conscious, especially interesting for bird watchers.

Q: Can you find decent accommodation in $50 to $75 range per night both in Panama City and Bocas del Toro?

Absolutely. I list dozens of them in my book.

Q: Should green travelers consider Eco Lodges or Hostels on the island?

Yes, definitely. My favorite eco-friendly places on Isla Colon are those near Playa Bluff, north of the town. Especially eco-conscious are Tesoro Esondido (pictured below) and Playa Bluff Lodge.
Tesoro

On Isla Bastimentos, Eclypse de Mar is eco-friendly and has a private nature preserve while La Loma Jungle Lodge and Chocolate Farm is most eco-friendly place to stay on the islands.

You can also stay in rustic nature lodges run by the Naso (an indigenous people) on the mainland

Q: Must see attractions in Panama City?

Casco Viejo, Old Panama and (nearby) the Panama Canal

Q: Favorite local foods and best places to get them? Drink of choice? Nightspots?

This is too broad a question. Please thumb through my book (or take a look at he online version.

Q: Name 3 places, cities in Panama that you have a sweet spot for?

Three regions that are still relatively undiscovered that I always enjoy visiting: Playa Santa Catalina, Boca Brava and Santa Fe (the one in western Panama, not the one in the Darien).

Q: Any tourist traps people should stay away from?

Panama doesn't have real tourist traps yet. Some people now think that Bocas town is too busy with tourists, but that's just compared with the other islands in the archipelago.

Q: On etiquette front, gestures or words that might offend locals?

Nothing special, really. Panamanians tend to be easygoing and are used to seeing people from all over the world. Just be respectful and polite, as you would with any other people.

Q: When visiting smaller towns, is it better to carry cash in local currency for meals, etc?

It's good to know that the 'local currency' won't be a problem for most travelers, particularly Americans: the currency is the US dollar.

Q: Are there flights from Panama City to Isla Colon?

Q: Can you go to San Cristobal from Isla Colon for a day trip?

Yes, easily (assuming you mean Isla Cristobal)

Q: What is the name of 4 Bedroom house on San Cristobal?

Not sure what people have been telling you about that's made such a big impression on you, unless you're confusing it with some place altogether. Maybe the San Blas Islands? That's a completely different archipelago, on the opposite side of the country Honestly, there's very little on Isla Cristobal unless something has changed drastically in the last year or so.

Bocas_105

The place to stay on Isla Cristobal — which is quite pleasant — is called Dolphin Bay Hideaway (pictured above).

Thanks William for taking us on this tour of Panama.

(* Photos in this piece from various destinations websites)

You must be logged in to post a comment.