BASICS - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 63

Basic hiking and camping gear can often be purchased at any of the Do It Best hardware
shops in the main cities though the best selection (albeit still fairly limited) can be found at
Outdoor Adventure in Albrook Mall ( 303 6120) and Multicentro ( 302 0157) in Panama
City. Do It Best in Albrook Mall usually stocks water filters and water purification tablets.
Rafting and kayaking
The fast-flowing rivers that tumble down from the highlands of western and central Panama,
carving their way through dramatic scenery, have put Panama on the map for whitewater
rafting and kayaking . The top destination is the Río Chiriquí Viejo, which runs parallel with
the Costa Rican border. Though the descent is shorter and slightly less wild since its dam-
ming for a hydroelectric project, it's still an impressive run, with Category II to IV rapids.
The rivers are at their wildest during the heavy rains (May-Nov), but you'll manage to find
enough water flowing somewhere to raft and kayak year-round. Boquete operators are best
placed to organize Chiriquí destinations, while companies in the capital head for rivers in the
Chagres basin or in neighbouring Coclé Province.
Sea kayaking is gradually growing in popularity, offering a great way to explore rocky
coastlines and mangroves, and access remote beaches among the islands of Guna Yala , or
round Coiba and Boca Chica in Chiriquí.
Diving
Diving in the Pacific can be truly spectacular, particularly in the Golfo de Chiriquí and the
Archi-piélago de las Perlas. Pick the right time of year (see Marine life ) and you're likely to
spot manta rays, moray eels, sharks, schools of dolphins and migrating humpback and sperm
whales - some scuba operators offer whale-watching tours. Large pelagic fish such as marlin,
sailfish, amberjack, dorado and tuna also abound, which reel in sport fishing enthusiasts too.
The jewel in this marine crown is Isla Coiba; located on the edge of the second-largest reef
on the Pacific side of the Americas, it offers world-class diving.
Among the coral reefs of Bocas and Portobelo on the Caribbean side, diving can also be
enjoyable, if not as spectacular as at some other Caribbean destinations. Visibility can vary
enormously, especially after heavy rain. However, the rainbow-coloured soft corals of Cayo
Crawl off Isla Bastimentos make for breathtaking snorkelling and there are plenty of other
fun spots to explore.
Reputable local dive shops operate out of Bocas, Portobelo, Santa Catalina, Isla Contadora
and Pedasí, on the Azuero Peninsula, while Scuba Panama ( 261 3841, scubap-

anama.com ) , the country's oldest outfit, organizes expeditions from Panama City.