Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ing waves. Amenities include hot water, cable TV and a swimming pool. The small
thatched restaurant-bar (mains US$5 to US$14) fronts the beach. It's the perfect setting
for fresh
ceviche
(seafood marinated in lemon or lime juice, garlic and seasonings)
topped off with a sundowner, but service is achingly slow.
XS Memories
MOTEL $$$
( 993-3096;
www.xsmemories.com
; campsite per person US$4, motor-home hookup from
US$20, d from US$40; )
You won't find many RV resort/sports bars in Panama
but this friendly North American-owned outfit definitely has the market cornered. Three
spacious guest rooms feature air-con, platform beds, hot water and tile floors. There are
also over 20 hookups for motor homes providing water, sewers and electricity.
Campers can pitch their tents and all can partake of an inviting swimming pool smack
in front of the sports bar. The cluttered bar is a kind of homegrown TGI Fridays, serving
good juicy cheeseburgers, grilled steaks and pork chops to the drone of football. Follow
the billboard to get here - it's just north of the turnoff for Playa Santa Clara, 100m from
the Interamericana.
Xoko
SPANISH $$$
(Interamericana s/n; US$3.50-14; 11am-9pm)
Ignore the unfortunate architecture, which is
more pool hall than elegant eatery. Xoko is a worthy roadside stop with a pleasing selec-
tion of tapas such as clams in white wine sauce, delicious
papas bravas
(fried potatos
with a spicy sauce) and tuna tatami. Bigger appetites might prefer a steak, served for a
change with nicely grilled vegetables.
Getting There & Away
To get to Santa Clara, just take any bus that passes through on the Interamericana and tell
the bus driver to drop you in town. When it's time to leave town, just stand at any of the
bus stops and hail a bus going in the direction you want to go.
From Santa Clara, onward buses leave every 30 minutes west to Antón (US$0.75, 30
minutes) or Penonomé (US$1.25, one hour). Northbound buses heading as far as David
(US$12, 5½ hours) and points along the way run hourly. Heading east, buses to San Car-
los (US$1.50, 30 minutes), Chame (US$1.75, 45 minutes) and Panama City (US$3.50,
1¾ hours) run every 20 minutes.
Getting Around
