Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Residencial del Sol
C 10A Norte, across from the bus terminal 993 0371.
A convenient,
cheap though uninspiring place to bed down, especially if you've misse
d th
e bus to Santa Fé
or Santa Catalina with functional, clean, dark en-suite rooms and wi-fi.
$33
EATING AND DRINKING
El Maná
Av 10B Norte, opposite the bus terminal.
Cosy cafeteria offering filling, inexpens-
ive dishes featuring the usual mounds of generic noodles interspersed with more appealing
fare. A place to hang out while waiting for a bus.
Daily 6am-8pm.
Puerto de Perú
Av Central at the Interamericana 2363 9886.
This is currently Santiago's
top restaurant, serving real Peruvian
ceviche
($7) and some excellent seafood dishes, includ-
ing the
cazuela de mariscos
(seafood stew; $16), albeit in a rather uninspiring a/c room.
It even sells Inca Cola - Peru's favourite soft drink.
Tues-Fri noon-3pm & 6-10pm, Sat
noon-10pm, Sun noon-5pm.
Restaurante Tropicalísimo
Av Central, at C 17 998 3661.
A range of mid-priced Cuban
and Panamanian dishes (most mains under $9) can be enjoyed, such as
lechón habanero
, the
house speciality, in pleasant terrace or indoor surroundings.
Mon-Sat 9am-11pm.
Restaurante y Asados Alex
La Placita, near the main square.
A busy daytime watering hole,
serving up Panamanian breakfast fry-ups and the
almuerzo del día
for under $3, plus local
specialities such as
gaucho de mariscos
(seafood stew and rice).
Daily 6am-3pm.
Santa Fé
A hilltop village about 60km north of Santiago,
SANTA FÉ
, is a jewel of a mountain retreat
that has been a well-kept secret for years. Surrounded by a stunning necklace of verdant
mountains sprinkled with sparkling cascades and serene stretches of river, with easy access to
a forested swathe of national park, it is a hiker's and birdwatcher's dream. Thanks to its 500m
altitude, Santa Fé (de Veraguas) enjoys a pleasant, fresh climate, and while the arrival of a
real estate office may herald further development, for the moment its absence of traffic and
low population density, with houses strung across the tree-dotted hillside, gives it a peaceful
village feel. Santa Fé is famous for its floral abundance, boasting over three hundred species
of
orchids
, which are celebrated in an annual three-day August festival, when most are in
bloom, attracting aficionados from around the country (contact the tourist office in Santiago
for dates).
The village
Daily activity centres on the small covered
market
area, where fresh local produce is on
display alongside a smattering of predominantly Ngäbe craft stalls. Across the road stands
a monument to
Santa Fé's
most famous resident,
Padre Héctor Gallego
, whose kidnap and
murder has left the village emotionally scarred. A non-profit foundation that bears his name
continues his community development work, offering support and skills training to local
farmers and artisans. More visibly, the priest's legacy resides in the continued success of the
