OTHER AREAS

The Darien National Park

One of the wildest area in the Americas, though part of the province has been heavily logged and the area close to Colombia is best avoided due to drug trafficking, the Parque Nacional Darién is the crown jewel of Panama’s many Parks. This UNESCO World Biosphere Forest Reserve is home to an incredible diversity of wildfire from Giant Anteaters to Harpy Eagles, there are over 300 species of birds, many big cats and 3 Indian tribes.

Portobelo

Situated on the Caribbean coast, this is a sleepy town with colonial ruins and fortifications. Francis Drake received a sea burial here and the infamous Black Christ resides in the church.

El Valle

Situated in the crater of an extinct volcano, El Valle is famous for its Sunday Indian craft market. This area also has a canopy adventure (where you pass through rainforest canopy suspended on cables) and ancient pre Colombian petroglyphs carved into boulders.

Los Santos Province

This area retains much of its Spanish history, with many festivals (especially the Las Tablas carnival that precedes Ash Wednesday) and is also home to ‘polleras’, the intricate national dress.