Table of Contents

Introduction
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION

Chapter 1 Background Information
Location, Topography, Geography, Climate, History, Government and politics, Economy, People and culture, Language, Religion, Education, Natural history and conservation, Fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters, UNESCO in Panama

Chapter 2 Practical Information
When to visit (and why), Highlights, Tour operators, Tourist information, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Focus on specific groups, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and Entertainment, Sport, Media and communications, Doing business in Panama, Buying property, Cultural etiquette, Giving something back

PART TWO THE GUIDE

Chapter 3 Panama City
History, Getting there, Getting around, Orientation, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do

Chapter 4 Panama Province
Panama Canal, Summit Botanical Gardens and Zoo, Parque Nacional Soberania, Parque Nacional Camino de Cruces, Gamboa Rainforest Resort, Isla Barro Colorado, Parque Nacional Chagres, Isla Taboga, Las Perlas Archipielago, Eastern Panama Province, Western Panama Province, Pacific Coast

Chapter 5 Cocle Province
Penonome, La Pintada, Parque Nocional Omar Torrijos (El Cope), Nata, Aguadulce, Anton, Rio Hato and Farallon, El Valle, Santa Clara

Chapter 6 Herrera province
Chitre, La Arena, Playa el Agallito, Parque Nacional Sarigua, Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cenegon del Mangle, Parita, Pese, Ocu

Chapter 7 Los Santos Province
Los Santos town, Los Santos-Guarare-Las Tablas, Pedasi

Chapter 8 Veraguas Province
Santiago, Santa Fe, Las Palmas, Sona, Montijo district and wetlands, Puerto Mutis, Parque Nacional Coiba, Parque Nacional Cerro Hoya

Chapter 9 Chiriqui Province
The lowlands, The highlands

Chapter 10 Bocas del Toro Province
The archipelago, Isla Colon, Isla Carenero (Careening Cay), Isla Bastimentos, Other islands, Mainland Bocas del Toro

Chapter 11 Colon Province
Colon City, Gatun Locks and Dam, Fort Davis and Fort Gulick, San Lorenzo Fort, Around Colon, Portobelo, Isla Grande, Nombre de Dios

Chapter 12 Kuna Yala
The origins of Kuna Yala, The Kuna people, Arts, crafts and traditions, Language, Festivals and events, Flora and fauna, Getting there, Visting Kuna Yala, The islands, Other practicalities

Chapter 13 Darien Province
Driving the Darien, What to take, Specialist wildlife and adventure tours, Parque Nacional Darien, Coastal Darien, The Darien interior

Appendix 1 Further Information

Appendix 2 Finding a home in Panama

Index

About the Author

Sarah Woods is an award-winning travel writer. She first discovered Panama in the wake of the canal handover and has since explored the length and breadth of the isthmus. Sarah sponsors a children's home in the city of David.