Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
talked-about construction project of recent years, the
Museo de la Biodiversidad
, which is
due to open some time in 2014 (
830 6700,
Isla Naos
Moving down the causeway, along the palm-lined cycleway and jogging path, the first island
you encounter is
Isla Naos
, location of a marine research centre for the Smithsonian Trop-
ical Research Institute (STRI), which maintains a small reserve on the adjoining peninsula,
Punta Culebra. The
Punta Culebra Nature Centre
(Jan-March daily 10am-6pm; April-Dec
Tues-Fri 1-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm; $2;
stri.si.edu
)
is probably only worth popping
into if you are travelling with young children. Set in a rare patch of tropical dry forest, the re-
serve offers a small visitor's centre, a couple of pools containing marine life and a short trail
through the forest, where you should keep an eye out for green iguanas and two-toed sloths.
Next to the reserve entrance is the departure point for the
ferry
to Taboga.
Isla Perico and Isla Flamenco
The road then moves on to
Isla Perico
and then
Isla Flamenco
, which features a cruise ter-
minal and a flash marina sheltering sleek yachts and motorboats, surrounded by pricey bars
and restaurants - a real tourist trap for unwary cruise ship visitors, though its wonderful views
make the island a choice spot for a sundowner (see
Kayuco
).
Cerro Ancón
You can get a taxi to the summit for $10-12 from any central area, including waiting time
Visible from most of the surrounding area, the huge Panamanian flag fluttering in the breeze
on the summit of
CERRO ANCÓN
(199m) is one of the city's most distinctive landmarks,
affording sweeping
vistas
of both the city and the canal. What's more, the hill is topped with
a protected area of secondary
forest
harbouring white-tailed deer, agoutis, sloths, Geoffroy's
tamarin and white-faced capuchin monkeys.
By the mirador overlooking the city, just below the flagpole, the seated serene bronze figure
is of poet
Amelia Denis de Icaza
, who is remembered for “
Al Cerro Ancón
”; written in 1900,
it served as a nationalist rallying cry.
Steps down the eastern side of hill, by the main gate, lead down to the theme-park-style
Mi
Pueblito
(Tues-Sun 9am-9pm; free), a set of four rather tacky replica villages, recreating
various traditional architectural styles while flogging overpriced crafts. The main incentive is
the café-restaurant on the pseudo-Spanish colonial square, whose fresh fruit juices aid recov-
ery from any physical exertion on the hill.
