Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
clé's roadside attractions, then take the turnoff for
Santa Fé
, a tiny highland town amid
sparkling rivers and gorgeous waterfalls.
For surf time, backtrack to the Interamericana and detour to the surf village of
Santa
Catalina
. Soak up the laid-back vibe at thatched restaurants and join the local surfing
kids nailing the waves on the town beach. Another very good reason to stop here is to
connect to
Parque Nacional Coiba
, a far-flung yet pristine island in a vast marine park.
Snorkeling, diving and hiking are all top-notch; although there's minimal infrastructure,
it's worth staying a few days.
Head via David to the popular highland retreat of
Boquete
in Chiriquí. Enjoy the great
hiking, go rafting, take a canopy tour and fill up on mountain-grown coffee. Birders can
stalk the resplendent quetzal. Choose from among fine dining options and sleep sound in
clean mountain air.
If you have your own wheels, take the new
Orange Blossom Road
to
Volcán
, a very
scenic shortcut. Otherwise grab a bus via David to
Cerro Punta
. Retreat to a charming
rainforest cabin before hitting the trail to hike the
Sendero Los Quetzales
, a stunning
trail through wildlife-rich cloud forest. If traveling by bus, you can loop back to Boquete
on this hike. If adventure
still
calls, from Cerro Punta you can access the trails of
Parque
Internacional La Amistad
. Take a guide - the Panamanian side of this international
park is virtually undeveloped and largely unexplored.
If you need to save time, you can fly back to Panama City from David.
