VACATION DETAILS

The sights of Panama City are many, but much of it can be seen on foot. The Plaza de Francia is dedicated to the 22,000 workers who perished while building the Panama Canal. The ruins of the Church of Santo Domingo features an arch that has stood unsupported for hundreds of years. The golden altar of the Church of San Jose is the only original piece of architecture completely in tact after the Pirate Henry Morgan destroyed the city. There are many museums to explore in Panama City including: the newly restored Museum of Religious Art; the Museum of the History of Panama; the Atnthropology Museum; and the Museum of Natural Science. At Panama Viejo, view all the remains of the city’s original site.

El Valle, Panama, makes a delightfully cool escape from the lowland heat, with its springlike climate and exquisite setting. Situated in a steep valley among rugged peaks—in the heart of the country, just a two-hour drive from Panama City—it is known for its Sunday market, where Amerindian women take produce and handicrafts to sell. El Valle is also known as El Valle de Anton.

The valley itself is actually the crater of an extinct volcano and home to rare orchids. Your best chance of seeing the orchids—and the endangered yellow-and-black poison-dart frogs for which the area is also famous—is at El Nispero, a wildlife sanctuary located just north of El Valle (the zoo is badly run, however, with little apparent concern for animal welfare).

At the northwest edge of the valley you can view Amerindian petroglyphs.

Although the valley can be visited on a day-trip from Panama City, it is far better to plan on one or two nights there to fully enjoy the subalpine climate, natural beauty and charming bed-and-breakfasts for which it is known. Hiking, birding, mountain biking and horseback riding are all popular activities.

Medellin the Colombia's second largest city, and is located in the department of Antioquia in the Aburra Valley of the Andes Mountains. This historic city has been revitalized since the 80's and 90's, and now is filled with museums, art galleries, parks, churches, shops, markets, and delicious cuisine to try.

Santa Marta is the cultural and historic center of Columbia's Sierra Nevada region. Be sure to visit the unspoiled beaches of the Parque Nacional Tayrona.

Tayrona National Park is located on the northern Caribbean coast of Colombia, and boasts some of Colombia's most beautiful white sand beaches. Swim and enjoy the pristine beach, take a hike in the lush jungle on the beachside trails, keeping an eye out for local wildlife, or visit the nearby ruins or the ancient pre-Hispanic town of Pueblito.

Cartagena is full of history and charm. At La Popa Monastery, you will have a panoramic view of the city and harbor. Enjoy the artisan center of Las Bovedas (The Dungeons), Plaza Bolivar, the Palace of Inquisition and the Church of San Pedro Claver, and shop for Colombian emeralds - the finest in the world.

Excursions

The friendly Cuna Indians live quietly on these primitive islands off Panama's Caribbean coast. The arrival of visitors to their home is still a special occasion for these isolated island dwellers. They are happy to be photographed in their colorful attire, for perhaps a small tip. Bargain for one of their fancifully designed handmade embroideries called molas.

Boquete is a friendly town located in the beautiful mountains of Panama. Its cool climate, elevation and rich soil make it the perfect setting for coffee, vegetables, citrus fruits and flowers to flourish. Boquete is a top destination for outdoor lovers and the adventurous. Popular activities include hiking, climbing, rafting, canopy tours, and visiting coffee farms and hot springs.

In the islands of Bocas you know you are on vacation the moment you arrive. You have an inmediate sense of unspoiled and unpolluted nature. The islands offer a great diversity of attractions and natural environments, uncommon to other regions of the continent: luxurious rain forests with an abundance of fauna and flora, sunny islands, beaches that compete with the Caribbean best, coral reefs in crystal clear water, mangrove islets in a lake-like scenery, guaymi indian villages and a national marine park that protects examples of the ecosystems and natural resources coexisting within the Archipelago boundaries, as a tribute to our future generations.

This small Caribbean coastal town is a unique melting pot of Afro-Caribbean descendants, European expats and indigenous Costa Rican tribes. The town is bounded by rainforest, jungle, banana plantation, and scenic rivers that leads to the sea. While its two National Parks (Cahuita and Manzanillo) attracts the most avid of backpackers, its scaled waves lures out the large surfer community. So if you're craving global fusion gastronomy, scenic nature, array of adventures, a little party and a lot of chill - Puerto Viejo is where you want to explore.

The sophisticated capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, has been endowed with a vibrant street life as well as a refined cultural life. You'll see contemporary structures of glass and steel, as well as colonial, Victorian, and classical architecture, exotic birds, giant butterflies, and picturesque scenery. Costa Rica offers some of the world's most thrilling sights to those who seek a new adventure.