THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 296

EATING
Stella's Pedregal marina 721 1951. A delightful waterside restaurant serving up mouth-
watering mains such as curried jumbo shrimps in coconut cream or a rack of ribs. Mon-Sat
11am-8pm.
Peninsula Burica
Aside from a handful of die-hard surfers and fishing enthusiasts, few tourists venture down
to the distant tip of the Peninsula Burica , resembling an upside-down skittle straddling the
Costa Rican border. Here, 50km southwest of David, the remoteness is tangible and the sun-
sets spectacular. The gateway to the peninsula is Puerto Armuelles , for over seventy years
Panama's thriving Pacific hub of the infamous United Fruit Company (now Chiquita Brands)
until it pulled the plug in 2003. The rotting pier and abandoned wooden houses serve as
poignant reminders of the town's former importance.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: PENINSULA BURICA
By bus Frequent minibuses run from David's main bus terminal to Puerto Armuelles
(4am-10pm; 1hr 30min). A daily chiva (90min-2hr journey) makes the 30km trip down the
peninsula from the town's waterside transport depot to the community of Bella Vista; timing
depends on the tides since much of the “road” is on the beach, only accessible at low tide -
make sure you arrive before noon and bring your passport.
Paso Canoas and the Costa Rican border
It's a short hop from David along the Interamericana to Panama's main border crossing with
Costa Rica at Paso Canoas (7am-11pm). Others are at Río Sereno , west of Volcán and Gu-
abito , over the cordillera in Bocas province. The busy frontier town exudes an edgy tackiness,
with stalls, money changers and taxi drivers all competing for business.