Adventures in Nature: Panama

by Friar, William

• ISBN13: 9781566912402
• ISBN10: 1566912407
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing

Summary

For travelers who want to experience their destination through outdoor recreation and see landscape up close. Adventures in Nature guides feature a cultural and historical perspective that takes travelers through the terrain and spirit of a region.
-- Covers every ecosystem in the country, from the cool highlands to the lowland tropical forest, along with tips on getting around and where to stay
-- Provides current reformation on conservation and environmental efforts

Table of Contents

Panama: An Overview	1	(21)
Lay of the Land	3	(2)
Flora and Fauna	5	(1)
History	6	(3)
Culture	9	(3)
Cuisine	12	(1)
Outdoor Activities	13	(1)
How Much Will It Cost?	14	(2)
When to Visit	16	(2)
Orientation and Transportation	18	(3)
Conservation and Responsible Tourism	21	(14)
What is Ecotourism?	22	(1)
Environmental Problems in Panama	22	(3)
Ecotourism in Panama	25	(3)
Parks and Protected Areas	28	(2)
Conservation Groups	30	(1)
Tips for Responsible Travel	31	(4)
Panama City	35	(28)
Lay of the Land	35	(2)
Nature and Adventure Activities	37	(1)
Flora and Fauna	38	(1)
Visitor Information	38	(1)
Getting There	39	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights	40	(1)
Other Sights	41	(8)
Guides and Outfitters	49	(1)
Lodging	50	(7)
Food	57	(6)
Panama Canal and Environs	63	(26)
Lay of the Land	63	(2)
Nature and Adventure Activities	65	(1)
Flora and Fauna	65	(1)
Visitor Information	66	(1)
Getting There	67	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights	68	(14)
Other Sights	82	(3)
Guides and Outfitters	85	(1)
Camping and Lodging	86	(1)
Food	86	(3)
The Central Highlands	89	(24)
E1 Valle de Anton	89	(1)
Lay of the Land	90	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	90	(1)
Flora and Fauna	91	(1)
Visitor Information	91	(1)
Getting There	91	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights in El Valle de Anton	92	(4)
Other Sights in El Valle de Anton	96	(1)
Guides and Outfitters	97	(1)
Camping	98	(1)
Lodging	98	(3)
Food	101	(2)
Highlands West of El Valle	102	(1)
Lay of The Land	103	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	103	(1)
Flora and Fauna	103	(1)
Visitor Information	104	(1)
Getting There	104	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights West of El Valle	104	(5)
Guides and Outfitters	109	(1)
Camping and Lodging	110	(1)
Food	110	(3)
Pacific Islands and Beaches	113	(46)
Lay of the Land	113	(2)
Nature and Adventure Activities	115	(1)
Flora and Fauna	115	(1)
Visitor Information	116	(1)
Getting There	117	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights	117	(1)
Isla Taboga	117	(4)
``The Beach'': Beaches within Two Hours of Panama City	121	(9)
Perlas Archipelago	130	(6)
Pedasi and the Azuero Peninsula	136	(10)
Playa Santa Catalina	146	(2)
Parque Nacional Isla de Coiba	148	(4)
Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriqui and Environs	152	(7)
Western Highlands: West of Volcan Baru	159	(26)
Lay of the Land	160	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	161	(1)
Flora and Fauna	161	(1)
Visitor Information	162	(1)
Getting There	163	(1)
A Note on the Roads	164	(1)
Overnighting In David	165	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights on the West Side of Volcan Baru	166	(9)
Toward Rio Sereno	175	(1)
Guides and Outfitters	176	(3)
Camping	179	(1)
Lodging	180	(3)
Food	183	(2)
Western Highlands: East of Volcan Baru	185	(24)
Boquete	185	(1)
Lay of the Land	186	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	186	(1)
Flora and Fauna	187	(1)
Visitor Information	187	(2)
Getting There	189	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights around Boquete	189	(7)
Guides and Outfitters	196	(2)
Camping	198	(1)
Lodging	198	(2)
Food	200	(2)
Along the Fortuna Road	202	(1)
Lay of the Land	202	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	203	(1)
Flora and Fauna	203	(1)
Visitor Information	203	(1)
Getting There	204	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights and Lodging in the Fortuna Area	204	(5)
Central Caribbean: Panama's Gold Coast	209	(26)
Lay of the Land	210	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	210	(1)
Flora and Fauna	211	(1)
Visitor Information	212	(1)
Getting There	212	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights	213	(6)
Other Sights along the Central Caribbean Coast	219	(4)
Guides and Outfitters	223	(3)
Camping	226	(1)
Lodging	227	(3)
Food	230	(5)
Bocas del Toro Archipelago	235	(28)
Lay of the Land	236	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	236	(1)
Flora and Fauna	237	(1)
Visitor Information	237	(1)
Water Quality	238	(1)
Getting There	239	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights	240	(9)
Guides and Outfitters	249	(3)
Camping	252	(1)
Lodging	253	(6)
Food	259	(4)
San Blas Islands (Comarca de Kuna Yala)	263	(24)
Lay of the Land	265	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	266	(2)
The Kuna People	268	(1)
Flora and Fauna	269	(1)
Visitor Information	270	(1)
Getting There	271	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights	272	(7)
Guides and Outfitters	279	(1)
Camping	279	(1)
Lodging	280	(5)
Food	285	(2)
Darien Province	287	(22)
Lay of the Land	288	(1)
Nature and Adventure Activities	289	(1)
Flora and Fauna	289	(3)
Visitor Information	292	(1)
Getting There	293	(1)
Nature and Adventure Sights	293	(13)
Guides and Outfitters	306	(1)
Lodging and Food	307	(2)
Appendix A: Travel Basics	309	(18)
What to Bring	309	(1)
Entry and Exit Requirements	310	(2)
Health and Safety	312	(5)
Transporation	317	(3)
Communications	320	(2)
Electricity	322	(1)
Money Matters	322	(1)
Time Zone	323	(1)
Major Holidays	323	(1)
Border Crossings	324	(3)
Appendix B: Additional Resources	327	(9)
Tourist Information	327	(1)
Some Tour Operators and Guides	327	(4)
Conservation Groups	331	(1)
Small Ships	331	(2)
Embassies	333	(1)
Recommended Reading	334	(1)
Some Spanish Terms for Nature Travelers	335	(1)
Index	336