Posts tagged Pan American Highway
Before You Travel to Beautiful Costa Rica
Nov 11th
Looking for a tropical beach side cottage to spend your vacation or honeymoon? Online companies offer romantic honeymoon getaways with beaches that stretch for miles, jungle rivers for rafting and kayaking, and spectacular cloud and rain forests with opportunities for bird watching and hiking. Having just returned from Costa Rica myself, I would like to offer some practical advice that you probably won’t find in the guide books.
When we planned our trip, we assumed that most people in Costa Rica would understand English fairly well. At several hotels, the front desk clerks spoke practically no English. The same goes for bus drivers. The staff at the car rental agency spoke the best English. They were able to give us directions to Sarchi, known throughout Costa Rica for its intricate arts and crafts. Prepare yourself by learning key phrases such as “Donde está el banco” (Where is the bank), “Estoy buscando un restaurante” (I am looking for a restaurant), and “Donde está el cuarto de baño” (Where is the bathroom).
The Pan American Highway runs through Costa Rica and is a reliable, well-paved road. However, many side roads in Costa Rica are very bad and full of deep potholes. I guarantee that you have never seen a pothole in your life like the ones in Costa Rica. I recommend that when you rent a car, take out the full coverage (usually an additional $20 per day on top of the regular fee). When you take the side roads, you need to allow more time to reach your destination. In some cases you may be only going 20-25 miles per hour.
Colones are the national currency and are very easy to translate into American dollars. If an item says 5,000 colones, just drop the 3 zeros and multiply the other number by 2. In other words, 5,000 colones is equal to 10 American dollars. If you need to convert other currency into colones, you can do that with an online currency converter.
The rainy season in Costa Rica runs from May through December, but don’t let that stop you. Hotels are cheaper and there is less traffic and fewer people in the restaurants. Many times you will find that you are the ONLY people in the restaurant. My husband and I traveled in September, and experienced rain on only a few days of our trip. It would rain heavily for about one hour and then stop completely. We would spend the time indoors having a lovely Costa Rican lunch, and by the time we finished our gallon pinto, the rain was gone.
Bring a good camera and lots of film. Because of the rain, you will see some of the most beautiful exotic plants and over thirteen hundred species of orchids. The size and rumbling of the Poas Volcano will take your breath away. Waterfalls, like those near La Fortuna, are located off of the side roads, so drive slowly and allow more time. Even in the cities, you will want to photograph the brightly colored houses and ornate wrought iron that covers all the windows and patios in beautiful Costa Rica.
Choosing an Expatriate Living Destination in Panama – Check Out Regional Lifestyles and Climates
Nov 1st
Geographically Panama stretches from Columbia in the East to Costa Rica in the West and borders both the Caribbean Sea on the Atlantic northern side and the Pacific Ocean on the southern side. By car it would take about 2 days to get from western border to the eastern border. The country has beaches, large cities, small towns, mountainous areas, and almost anything you can imagine in between each of these extremes. So making a decision depends more on your climate and lifestyle preferences. You are not limited to any significant degree by the country’s geography. You are certain to find some place in Panama in which you could be happy.
So let’s consider some possibilities. I will suggest a few towns and a little about each. Pick out 3 or 4, spend at least a week in each and it will help you to narrow your destination choices quicker. If you have the time to spend a week in all of them, your decision basis will be even firmer. We start with Panama City and move westward. All of these are within 4 hours plus or minus from Panama City. We will discuss others further west in another article.
Panama City: The city is bustling with activity, is the business and banking center of Latin America, and has living environments ranging from the high rises to the quaint old sections like Casco Viejo. If you like city living, you will love Panama City.
La Chorrera: About 30 km southwest of Panama City, just off the Pan American Highway. It is the second largest city in the country, and is a popular spot for expatriates. Another alternative for city dwellers.
Gorgona: Approximately 1 hour from Panama City. A hot spot for foreigners and locals for beach front and resort real estate. It has significant infrastructure in place, including supermarkets, medical clinics, pharmacies, hardware stores, etc. It is also about 45-50 minutes away from El Valle, another popular destination.
Penonome: Approximately 2 hours west of Panama City. Capital of Cocle Province, it has beautiful mountain views, clear streams and rivers, and is home to many orchards, farms, and ranches. The area has a small town atmosphere with friendly people, and sufficient infrastructure to live there full time.
El Valle de Anton: Located approximately 2.5 hours from Panama City, El Valle is located in a picturesque non-active volcanic valley and has the feel of a tropical paradise. It is a favorite expatriate spot and has great weather year round.
Las Tablas: Approximately 3.5 hours from Panama City. It is a recognized center for Panamanian folk culture. Its yearly Carnival is a competition between two parts of the city.
Pedasi: Approximately 4 hours from Panama City, the coastal city on Azuero peninsula, is in the forefront of tourism development. It is a low key area, noted for its excellent year round fishing.
Do some preliminary research before you make your trip to Panama to get a feel for the towns you might like best. This will not take the place of your personal visit, but might eliminate some area that definitely does not appeal to you. You might even try going to each town, spend a day there, and after seeing all of them, return to your favorites and stay for a week.
