Panama is a unique place where tropical forests meet the ocean, and ancient Indian traditions intertwine with modern culture. This small Central American country has an incredible variety of natural landscapes and historical monuments. Let’s go on a fascinating journey through the amazing places of Panama.
Waterfalls of Panama
In fact, there are many beautiful waterfalls in Panama, and in this article we will touch only a few. Some are very famous and annually attract many tourists, while others remain incognito, hiding in the deep jungle.
El Chorro Macho Waterfall
El Chorro is the highest waterfall in Panama and one of the highest in Central America. It is a waterfall at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level, with a large natural pool underneath. There are very picturesque places around, and the road to the waterfall goes along equipped wooden paths and a bridge, where it is very convenient to take photos, videos and watch the life of wild birds and animals. To get to the waterfall, you need to walk through the tropical forest and overcome several cascades. The view from the top of the waterfall is really breathtaking.
You can buy a short walking tour for about 5$ and learn more about this place. Near the pool you can find little rooms where you can leave your clothes and other things, if you decide to swim.
Jaguar Waterfall
Jaguar Waterfall is a great example of a stunning location hidden in the jungle of Panama. Not many tourists know about this secluded place. A trail leads here that departs from the Santa Fe Kalovebora road. The only thing that reminds you about the stunning waterfall at the end of the trail, is a small wooden board with an inscription. There are no official guides here, and the area around the waterfall is not equipped for rest. This should be taken into account, especially when visiting with children.
Kalovebora
If you went along the highway and have already visited the Jaguar Falls, you can go further to the coast, where the small, cozy village of Kalovebora is located. This village is still unknown among tourists and travelers, because the road here appeared only a few years ago. Previously, it was possible to get to the Kalovebora village only by river, and local residents had a regular headache. Tourists did not get here at all.
Pros and cons
Today the situation has changed and you can get to the village without problems. Here you will find a beautiful sandy beach, a green coastline without buildings and several small cafes. A separate advantage is the low prices. Prices for housing and food here are truly some of the lowest in the region. If you are looking for a place for a quiet holiday, privacy, fishing and diving, or just want to spend time on a secluded beach with children, Kalovebora is the right choice.
Excellent ecology, lack of civilization, life without expensive hotels and noisy parties are definitely a plus. But you have to understand that people here live almost without electricity and Internet. Most of the electricity that locals get comes from solar panels on the roofs of their houses, and you shouldn’t count on the presence of a Starlink terminal.
Also, in the forests that surround a village, there are many tropical birds and animals, especially monkeys. If you like diving and snorkeling, or underwater photography, you will find many exciting discoveries.
Isla Parida – A Secluded Paradise in the Middle of the Ocean
Speaking about ecotourism and visiting unexplored, sparsely populated places in Panama, we cannot fail to mention the islands. There are many beautiful tropical islands off the coast of Panama, some of them are uninhabited, with no human settlements there. One of these islands is Isla Parida.
You can get here from Boca Chica, by booking a boat. You should know that there are no regular routes to most of the nearby islands, but there are many private boats. For little money, you can go on an exciting journey through one of the most beautiful and untouched places of our planet.
Ecotourism away from civilization
Isla Parida is uninhabited – there are no human settlements here. However, there is a cafe on the island that serves fresh fish and seafood. Fishing is very well developed here and on some other nearby islands. Moreover, here you can meet not only local fishermen, but also visiting tourists. A group of islands, including Isla Parida, Isla Landrones, Isla Secas, are considered some of the best for diving and snorkeling in all of Central America.
Speaking of these islands, we need to mention the extremely diverse underwater and animal world. Isla Parida is covered by jungle, where many tropical animals live, but on the beach you can also meet large sea turtles. Every year these amazing creatures return here to create new offspring. This is facilitated by the excellent ecology – the cleanest coastline without buildings and traces of people, the transparent water, the absence of civilization – each of these reasons allow rare species to feel safe.
An important detail – Isla Parida is a part of the National Park. So, if you are looking for a place to make a yoga seminar, take a spiritual retreat, go diving or filming a video about wildlife, here you will find ideal conditions. Isla Parida is becoming increasingly popular among ecotourists. By the way, history plays a significant role – after all, a long time ago, pirates lived here, periodically repairing ships and preparing for the next raid.
El Valle de Anton
El Valle de Anton is a unique natural formation located in the heart of Panama. This valley, which arose in the crater of an extinct volcano, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It harmoniously combines lush tropical nature, mild climate and rich history.
History and Culture
The history of El Valle de Anton counts many centuries. The valley was inhabited by Indians, who left many archaeological sites. With the arrival of the Spaniards, the first European settlements appeared here. Today, you can see both – traditional Panamanian villages and modern hotels and restaurants in the valley.
The locals carefully preserve their traditions and culture. Various festivals and holidays are held here, where you can get acquainted with folk dances, music and food.
The main wealth of El Valle de Anton is its nature. The valley is surrounded by mountains covered with dense tropical forests. Many rare species of animals and birds live here. One of the most famous inhabitants of the valley is the golden frog, which is the national symbol of Panama. Several rivers flow through the valley, forming picturesque waterfalls. One of the most popular places for tourists is the Chorro del Macho waterfall, which we already talked about.
Tourism and recreation
El Valle de Anton is a real paradise for lovers of active recreation. Here you can go trekking, rock climbing, rafting, horse riding and many other sports. There are also several thermal springs in the valley where you can relax after an active day. In recent years, ecotourism has been actively developing in El Valle de Anton. All the conditions for a comfortable outdoor recreation have been created here: cozy hotels, restaurants with national receipts, excursion agencies and much more. At the same time, special attention is paid to preserving the environment.
Panama Canal: An Engineering Wonder of the World
Speaking of Panama, it is impossible to mention the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is perhaps the most famous and impressive creation of human hands in Panama. This giant artificial waterway connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, shortening the route for sea vessels and playing an important role in world trade. A visit to the canal is a unique opportunity to see with your own eyes how huge ships overcome multi-level locks and move from one ocean to another.
History
The Panama Canal was put into operation more than 100 years ago – in 1920. During this time, the canal has been repeatedly improved, and new locks have been opened. The last locks were put into operation in 2016 and now the Panama Canal can pass even very large tankers. But not all of them. There is a known case when the supertanker Knock Nevis, almost 500 m long, could not enter the lock. However, this tanker was too big even for the English Channel.
The idea of connecting the two oceans existed back in the 16th century, but the King of Spain Philip II personally forbade even thinking about it. You may ask – why? After all, this is a very reasonable idea that could bring millions to the treasury. It’s very simple – at that time Spain was too religious a country, and King Philip considered himself not only a king, but also a kind of spiritual mentor for his people. “What God has joined, man cannot separate,” said King Philip, signing the banning decree.
After the 1780-90s, Alessandro Malaspina’s project appeared, but real interest arose only during the Gold Rush in the United States, especially when gold deposits were discovered in California in 1848. An attempt at construction was made in 1879. In 10 years, having spent 300 million dollars and having completed only a third of the work, everything ended in scandal and the freezing of the project in 1889.
The next attempt was made in 1904, when the US War Department bought “a strip of land and land under water” for perpetual use, for the construction and maintenance of the canal. The Panama Canal first began operating in 1914, but a major landslide suspended its operation until 1920.
One of the most famous engineering projects in the world
On September 7, 1977, the Panama Canal was transferred to Panama. Today it is one of the largest engineering structures on the globe, 81.6 km long. In addition to its important shipping function, many tourists come here to see this wonder of the world with their own eyes. On the Atlantic side, at the entrance to the canal, there is a museum that presents the history of the construction.
The Pearl nearby..
From the Pacific Ocean side, you can visit the Pearl Islands archipelago. The archipelago includes several large and inhabited islands, as well as many small ones. The largest island of the archipelago is Rey. Getting here is easy – boats regularly go to the large islands, but to get to a small, uninhabited island of the archipelago, you need to book a boat.
In Conclusion..
Panama is an amazing country. On the one hand, if you want, you can easily find an expensive five-star hotel with a helipad here. On the other hand, there are many places where no man has ever set foot, and where you can spend time away from civilization, diving and observing the life of rare animals and birds.
Each place in this country is unique and has its own inimitable atmosphere. Traveling around Panama is an unforgettable adventure that will give you a lot of vivid impressions.