Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pipa's Beach Bar
Farallón (Playa Blanca) 6252 8430,
pipasbeach.com
.
At the end
of the sandy road, past the landmark
Decameron
hotel, this informal bar-restaurant is smack
on the sand. The excellent lobster and trimmings will set you back a hefty $30 but you can
tuck into other fresh seafood dishes for just over $10. Also rents out
ranchos
, sun loungers
and umbrellas.
High season: daily 10am-6pm, and dinner by reservation; low season closed
Tues.
Restaurante y Balneario
Playa Santa Clara 993 2123.
Beach
rancho
with wooden picnic
tables selling moderately priced fish and seafood (from around $7) and cheap chilled beer.
Great for soaking up the sunsets.
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9am-7pm, in the dry season.
Santa Clara Beach Bar and Grill
By Las Veraneras, Santa Clara 6602 1048,
santacla-
rabeachbar.com
.
Simple open-sided restaurant, with the sea views the main draw. Linger
over a late breakfast at the weekend, or tuck into lunch at other times: breaded shrimps,
fish, burgers or fried chicken served with yuca, chips,
patacones
or rice - most for around
$10. Hammock-strung
bohíos
on the sand are for rent too.
Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat & Sun
9am-6pm.
Xoko
Interamericana, entrance to Santa Clara 908 8090.
It won't win any architectural
awards and the highway location is hardly conducive to intimate dining, but the cuisine of
this highly acclaimed Spanish restaurant more than compensates. Specializing in tapas, paella
and other seafood dishes, they also do a mean portion of
papas bravas
. You shouldn't be in a
hurry to be served though.
Mon-Thurs & Sun noon-9pm, Fri & Sat noon-10.30pm.
El Valle
About a 100km southwest of Panama City, just beyond San Carlos, a windy road ascends
600m into the cordillera - Panama's mountainous spine - to
EL VALLE
, a small town of
around seven thousand inhabitants nestled in the crater of a now-extinct volcano. Undulating
hills rise to the south and west, ascending to more dramatic, forested peaks to the north, often
shrouded in mist. The picturesque location, cool climate and relative proximity to the capital
(90min by car) have made El Valle the holiday-home location of choice for Panama City's
elite - a fact which becomes immediately obvious after a quick peek at the immaculately kept
gardens and luxury residences down the aptly named Calle de los Millonarios (Millionaires'
Road). Quiet during the week, the place comes alive at weekends and on public holidays as a
stream of 4WDs arrives from the city and the otherwise still roads resound with the sound of
clopping hooves or revving quad bikes.
The huge explosion that blew the top off the volcano three million years ago left a vast cal-
dera that over time filled with rainwater. When the crater-lake drained, it left behind a flat
layer of rich volcanic soil. Perfect for agricultural production, the fertile earth also nourishes
the vast expanses of trimmed lawn, abundant fruit and flower-laden trees, and attendant hum-
mingbirds tucked away down El Valle's side streets, which are central to the place's charm.
