Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE TRANSPANAMA TRAIL
Rica toward Panama City, but you can take on hiking any three-day stretch for a
good taste of Panama's rugged backcountry. More information is available on the
website, where you can also download GPS tracks for free.
Diving & Snorkeling
Panama's underwater world spans two great oceans, and abounds with colorful coral gar-
dens, towering rock shelves, sunken wrecks and a rich diversity of marine life. Fans of
multicolored reef fish and bathtub-warm water should head for the Caribbean, while
more advanced divers in search of enormous pelagic animals and remote dive sites
should head to the Pacific. Three major spots in Panama that have a deserved reputation
for fine scuba diving are the Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro, the Caribbean town of Por-
tobelo and the Pacific coast Isla de Coiba.
The Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro have a thriving dive community. During the
rainy season (mid-April to mid- December) underwater visibility is extremely poor -
nearly 40 rivers deposit silt into the seas around the islands, which turns the water a
murky green.
Near historic Portobelo, 16 major dive sites feature underwater attractions including a
110ft cargo ship, a C-45 twin- engine plane, soft-coral-laden walls, offshore reefs and
rock gardens.
The best diving in Panama is around Isla de Coiba, the centerpiece of a national mar-
ine park accessed via Santa Catalina. Divers here scout for enormous sharks, including
schools of hammerheads, black-tips and white-tips as well as the occasional tiger or
whale shark.
The Kuna prohibit dive operators from working in the Comarca de Kuna Yala, but the
snorkeling is some of the best in Panama.
Surfing
Although the joy of Panama is riding some of the lesser known surf breaks - or even dis-
covering your own - the country has two world-class spots in Santa Catalina and the Ar-
