Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
With mines completely spent by 1590, many miners fled or took to farming throughout
Pacific Veraguas and the Península de Azuero.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Santiago
POP 44,500
About 250km from Panama City, the sprawling town of Santiago is a bustling hub of rur-
al commercial activity. Halfway between the capital and the Costa Rican border, and just
north of the Península de Azuero, Santiago is a crossroads town where you can easily get
a hot meal and a clean bed. For the casual tourist there's little reason to stop, though it's a
good place to break up a long drive and recharge for the night.
Most of the town's commerce and services, including stores, banks, gas stations, inter-
net cafes, restaurants and hotels, are along the Interamericana and Av Central, which
splits off from the highway.
For regional tourism information, stop by the
ATP tourist office
( 998-3929; Av Cent-
ral)
.
ANAM
( 998-4387, 998-0615; Interamericana)
has information on area parks, includ-
ing Parque Nacional Coiba, and supplies fishing permits.
Approximately 25km south of Santiago is the port of
Puerto Mutis
, which is the most
popular disembarkation point for boats heading to Isla de Coiba.
Note that Santiago is also a convenient base for visiting the
Iglesia San Francisco de
Veraguas
(San Francisco of Veraguas Church).
There are ATMs at the bus terminal and across the street from it. If you are headed to
Santa Catalina, Isla de Coiba or Santa Fé, these are the closest cash machines you'll find.
Backpackers will appreciate the cheap living at the homestay-like
Hostal Veraguas
(
958-9021, 6669-6126;
www.hostalveraguas.com
; Barriada San Martín; dm/d US$10/20, outside
dm US$6; )
, popular with Peace Corps volunteers. Host Lidia goes out of her way
for guests, who can even gather herbs for tea in the garden. It's located five blocks be-
hind the University of Panamá chapel.
Also along the Interamericana,
Hotel Plaza Gran David
( 998-3433; d US$33;
)
is well regarded locally, mainly because of its swimming pool. Rooms are
decked in stucco and tile; some of them are drive-up. They also feature TV and hot wa-
ter.
If you're looking to stock up, there's a supermarket in front of the bus terminal.
