Bocas del toro marina

For getting around the country you can go back-packer-frugal and get from one end of the country to the other for under $20 but the best way to get around is by air.

Panama has two regional airlines - Aeroperlas and AirPanama. They flit around the country to dozens of locations each day and for a pleasantly low amount. A week ago I took a taxi from the Atlanta Airport to a hotel in Suwannee, about a 30 minute ride. The one way fare was over $100. In Panama I can fly all the way from Panama City to David or Bocas del Toro, about a 1 hour flight, for just $75!

On our first visit we were focused solely on Bocas del Toro. While perusing the EscapeArtist website I discovered some really exciting articles about getting rich growing Teak & Noni while living the good life in the Caribbean. If you read my letter about Bocas at LearnAboutPanama.com you now know it was a scam. However, the scam artist himself did give us one good piece of advice. He suggested that if we were coming to see Bocas we might as well check out the rest of the country. He recommended a town called Boquete in the mountains, said is was lovely and quite different. If that suggestion had not been made we would never have discovered our piece of Panama Paradise. That led us to create our Panama Travel Triangle. We would fly from Panama City to Bocas then across to David and return to Panama City from David. It really is a very convenient way to explore most of the country in a short period of time. PC to Bocas costs $75, and Bocas to David $39 inclusive of taxes.

Another adventure is taking the train from Panama City to the Port of Colon - the Freezone. The train leaves Panama from the Corozal terminal around 7AM. It takes about 45-60 minutes to get to Colon. The return leaves Colon at 5:30. The last time I checked it was about $35 round trip and $20 one way. It’s a good idea to buy your tickets in advance as the train is often booked full by Cruise Ship passengers. This railroad was originally built to connect the city of Colon on the Atlantic (Caribbean) to Panama city on the Pacific. This was the very first transcontinental railroad in the Americas. A cautionary note - an entire day is a long time to spend in Colon. Although you can get some great deals in the Freezone this is one of the worst parts of Panama for crime. I suggest you plan ahead to get out of Colon City as quickly as you can. You might want to explore the beautiful Caribbean communities and islands on the coast. Look to Portobello or even a day on the beach at Isla Grande.

The Pan-American Highway (Carretera Panamericana), commonly known as the Inter-Americana, stretches from the Costa Rican border in the west across the country into the heart of the Darien province. There it stops about 50 miles from the Columbian border. The Darien Gap is this area along the border between Colombia and Panama. It is a lush rain forest with one of the highest degrees of bio-diversity in the entire world. The Pan-Am Highway is a real treat by Central American standards, and in some cases even North American standards! It is well maintained and there are plenty of food and gas stops all the way across the Isthmus. The trickiest part of driving in Panama is in the cities and getting out of Panama City itself. Be sure to read my directions at LearnAboutPanama.com Taxis are so cheap I recommend getting about by cab within the city and then picking up your rental car when you are just ready to leave.

Buen Viaje! Happy Tavels!

Mark has been there and done it! He moved to the warm, stable Republic of Panama. With his wife and two sons he travelled throughout the country and learned how to Safely Invest in Panama Real Estate. Panama City, Bocas del Toro & Boquete - Now you can follow this family journey discovering the best places to eat, stay, live and invest. Learn more about Mark’s adventures at http://www.LearnAboutPanama.com

. . . . . .

Panama City, Panama - Jul 10, 2003 (PRN): Can you imagine 180 miles of untouched Caribbean, white sandy-beach coastline within hours of 20 major North American cities? Are you looking for a beachfront retirement property at a 10th of the cost of most beachfront property that is available today? All this and more is waiting for smart investors in the Republic of Panama.

“The helicopter tour of this coastline is unbelievable,” states the president of one of the largest resort development groups in the U.S. “I have never seen so much undeveloped, beautiful, Caribbean beachfront in my life! It is almost impossible to know where to even start and it is inevitable that the major resort players will begin staking out their territory in this developing region.”

All indications are that this professional is right about Panama’s Caribbean secret. Panama has primarily developed along its Pacific coast, due in part to the InterAmerican Highway that links North and Central America. The Pacific side is attractive to investors and travelers, but it also has temperamental weather patterns, a 15- to 20-foot tide change and the beaches simply can’t compare to those on the Caribbean side. Despite the negatives, Panama has seen its Pacific beachfront property values escalate to over US$400,000 an acre in developments such as Coronado and El Valle.

It is only a matter of time before the tide turns to the Caribbean side of Panama. Panama mounted an extremely successful multimillion dollar marketing campaign through the BBDO and Ketchum Agencies in 2002, and, of course, Panama’s Caribbean gold mine was featured prominently (http://www.visitpanama.com).

Panama has everything required to support its billion-dollar, Caribbean development. In terms of tourism, the country has four hundred years of Spanish history, one hundred years of international influence and 14 years of Democracy, a diversity that appeals to world travelers. It also has more varied destinations to travel to than most of the top tourist destinations in the world. In fact, Panama has “found its place” on the Caribbean tourist map in the past seven years in locations such as the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and the San Blas Islands. Panama has also been constantly recognized as one of the safest places to travel in the world.

But that’s not all. Panama has modern air transportation and new, modern highways and tollways that are going to provide complete access to this Caribbean paradise over the next few years. Panama has the most modern and extensive banking center in Latin America, has earned the title of the fiber-optic hub of the Americas, has exquisite dining and five-star hotels, and the U.S. dollar as its main currency. With all this, full Internet traction and the prolific infrastructure that Panama has it should gain the recognition in five years that it took Costa Rica twelve years to achieve.

The combination of Panama’s strong points spells opportunity for San Cristobal International (a private Investment Promotion Agency that helps individuals and institutional investors participate in the expansion of Panama’s touristic zones), which has sold over 45 Caribbean, waterfront lots in the last eleven months. “We have seen a hyper-increase in our website traffic statistics and a steady flow of investors coming to Panama with their eyes wide open,” states Tom McMurrain of SCI (www.sancristobalsa.net). “We have worked 18 hours a day for the last year trying to keep up with the momentum that this country has, it is incredible!”

To sum up, Panama has the potential to become a world-class tourist destination and a dominant business center for companies looking to cash in on its Caribbean “Gold Coast” boom. Now is the time to make the move to Panama if you are interested in exceptional land prices and want to enjoy the unspoiled and undeveloped regions of this beautiful country.

For media information or to schedule interviews, contact media@sancristobalsa.net, 1-866-811-5324 (U.S.) or at +507-322-0913 (Panama).

About San Cristobal Land Development, Inc.
http://www.sancristobalsa.net

San Cristobal Land Development (SCLD) is a leading developer of Emerging Growth Real Estate in the Caribbean. Through SCLD, investors have access to a portfolio of international properties that have been hand-selected by a real estate and marketing team that has a proven track record of identifying emerging-growth destinations, properties and opportunities. These may have unique timing value, have suffered media damage or simply possess infrastructure improvement opportunities.

SCLD offers carefully executed programs that bring value to its investors. Investors benefit from a solid return on their money while it works, and SCLD offers tremendous upside potential that our customers benefit from before we do. This “customer-first” mentality has provided SCLD with a global network of real-estate purchasers seeking our opportunities.

For more information, contact:

San Cristobal International
Panama City, Panama
Toll Free: 1-866-811-5324
Tel: +507-322-0913
Email: media@sancristobalsa.net
Website: http://www.sancristobalsa.net

. . . . . .

So you’re planning your next vacation getaway to the Caribbean and you’re thinking about what kind of things you want to do in this beautiful part of the world. Laying out and soaking up some sun all day? Watching a gorgeous island sunset? How about snoozing the day away in a hammock? If this sounds like a waste of vacation time to you, and you want to spend your Caribbean experience enjoying more active pursuits, then have no fear; many of the Caribbean Islands offer more than just a day at the beach and picturesque sunsets.

Those travelers who are more into adventurous and active endeavors while visiting the Caribbean can spend your days with plenty of exciting activities. Try the popular sports of tennis and golf if you enjoy a little friendly competition. There are watersports and underwater exploration for those who want to get their feet wet. And nature-friendly eco-oriented endeavors allow you to become one with the great outdoors. All you have to do is decide which activity interests you the most, and you’re ready for all kinds of adventures during your visit to the beautiful and exciting Caribbean.

Caribbean Sports

A lot of hotels and resorts in the Caribbean have packages especially for tennis and golf players to accommodate sports-minded travelers. A lot of the major resorts in the region have tennis courts on location that are available to their guests and by reservations for those who aren’t staying at the hotel. A lot of the time hotels with tennis courts will offer tennis instruction for various fees, so even if you’re a beginner player, you can still enjoy some great tennis action on your vacation in the Caribbean.

If you happen to be in the Caribbean at just the right time, or if you plan a little bit in advance, you may be able to catch a professional tennis tournament during your stay. If you want to spend the daytime hours relaxing and soaking up some sun, a lot of hotels have lighted courts, so you can hit the courts at night, which may also be more comfortable than playing in the hot Caribbean sun. Keep in mind that you may have to pay a little extra for the luxury of lighting.

In order to guarantee that you get some much-coveted court time in the Caribbean, contact your hotel or other resorts near where you’ll be staying to see if they have courts available, if the courts are illuminated, and how much it costs to play. There are several islands in the Caribbean where vacationers can go to find great tennis courts and facilities, including the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, which feature resorts that provide special tennis packages and top-notch facilities.

Golf is also a popular sport for many people visiting to the Caribbean. Golf can be a laid-back and relaxing outing, as well as provide some exciting competition. The beautiful tropical weather in the Caribbean is just right for enjoying a game of golf almost any time of year, and many of the region’s courses are located in beautiful breathtaking settings among majestic mountains and tropical greenery. Vacationers can find great golf courses throughout the Caribbean, but especially on the larger islands. The majority of courses are available to visitors and offer equipment for rental as well as golf lessons for various fees. The expenses of golfing on particular greens will vary from course to course, and can range from extremely pricey to budget play, so check ahead with the course or golf resort.

Golf players can find courses in the Caribbean that were designed by world renowned golfers and expert course designers. You can find exciting golf courses and golf resorts on many Caribbean islands with some of the best being in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

Making Waves

During your visit to the Caribbean, you’ll be surrounded by the amazing sapphire waters of the Caribbean Sea and sparkling Atlantic Ocean, so you’ll have access to a wide variety of watersports and other aquatic endeavors, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing, just to name a few.

People from around the world come to the Caribbean to enjoy its offshore activities in the region’s warm, clear, blue waters. Beneath the calm surface of the Caribbean waters is a wondrous world of colorful and exotic ocean wildlife including brilliant fish and coral. Because of its fascinating underwater habitats, the Caribbean features some of the most popular dive destinations in the world, and is home to various resorts and hotels that focus especially on the diving aspect of visiting the Caribbean by offering special dive package.

Dive resorts and many hotels offer their guests equipment rental for scuba diving and snorkeling, and even provide scuba diving lessons and certification, because you must have a license and some instruction in order to get the most out of your diving experience.

Volcanic vents, Coral reefs, old shipwrecks, as well as other underwater formations make great places for scuba divers to explore, and can be an unforgettable experience for vacationers of all ages. The cost of your dive or snorkeling excursion will vary according to the kind of dive you take, when you go, and what kind of certification you want to get. Travelers can find great dive spots all over the Caribbean, but especially on the Cayman and Virgin Islands.

Other water-based pursuits that vacationers can enjoy while vacationing in the Caribbean include fantastic watersports like fishing which is a popular activity for many who visit the Caribbean, which has a countless number of fish species dwelling beneath the surface of the crystal blue waters. In recent years, windsurfing has become an extremely popular watersport in the region. Also, there is kayaking, parasailing, water rafting, and many other ways to enjoy the waves of the salty Caribbean.

Ecological Activities

For a lot of travelers, a trip to the Caribbean is the perfect chance to get back to nature. Several islands in the region boast lush landscapes and are home to a variety of exotic animal species. Travelers who are more ecologically aware can experience nature in the Caribbean in a number of ways, such as through hiking, camping, and mountain biking. To find out more information about outdoor excursions and nature-related activities, the best place to start is your hotel information desk, which may be able to provide you with maps of the island, the names and numbers of rental companies where you can get camping equipment and mountain bikes, and information on local guides that you can hire to show you around island trails.

Hiking is good exercise and can be a great way to see parts of islands that can’t be reached by car. Hikers can pick from a few different levels of hiking difficulty, from leisurely strolls to brisk uphill hikes and more strenuous treks. Mountain biking is also another way to get off the beaten path and see areas of the island you couldn’t see by staying in the city limits. Take a trip up the side of a volcano, visit a cascading waterfall, or do some exotic birdwatching. In the Caribbean the ecological possibilities are endless.

If you want your vacation to be an active and exciting one while in Caribbean, you won’t be at a loss for things to do in this amazing region of the world, which is rich in various sports and activities. You’re sure to have a memorable experience while enjoying active pursuits in the Caribbean.

About The Author

Danielle Mitchell writes for http://Caribbean-Guide.info , http://Jamaica-Guide.info , and other Segisys travel Web sites. © 2005, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc. Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.

. . . . . .