Panama Trip

David is the third largest city of Panama and the capital of the Chiriqui province.

The Chiriqui province, in Panamá, is a newest tourism destination with abundance of natural resources like mountains, sea, islands, rainforest, coral reefs, trails, volcanoes, beaches, most of them enclosed in national parks and natural reserves, with rich Indian cultural roots, like the Ngobe Indians, in an environment natural designed to make a lot of activities like travel, scuba diving, trekking, snorkeling, rafting, canoeing, fishing, bird watching and many more.

In their main cities and towns (David, Boquete, Volcan, Cerro Punta, Alanje, San Félix) it is possible to find tourism services (hotels, inns, cabins, lodges, restaurants, bars, discotheques, tour operators) and, if you want to stay for a long time, beautiful properties.

Panama Taxi service

Taxis in Panama are abundant. You can recognize them easily due to their bright, distinctive paint jobs. They also have a number painted on them, which you may use to register any complaints (or compliments). Taxis may be hailed in the street, engaged at a taxi stand, or reserved by telephone. Many people share cabs, called a colectivo ; there is a small surcharge for each additional passenger.

Fares are determined by zones in Panama City, rather than meters. Drivers must have a zone chart with them at all times. In the event that a passenger does not feel the charges are correct, he/she may request that the zone chart is consulted. Because most cabs are not metered, you should settle the fare before embarking, which is a good time to ask the driver to show you the zone charges. The fares for traveling within city boundaries are quite reasonable, generally ranging between US$1 and US$2, which makes this good transportation for the business traveler.

Radio Taxi companies:
America [507] 223-7694
El Parador [507] 238-9111
Latino [507] 226-7313
Unico [507] 221-4074

Private "hotel taxis" can also be arranged by your hotel, prior to your arrival. For US$30 to $100 they offer a luxurious, though overpriced, ride in a large, air-conditioned American car directly to your hotel. Transportation in a hotel taxi, like the regular taxi, takes about 15 minutes door to door. Look for your hotel representative either holding a sign in the passenger arrivals area, or proceed outside and look for the parked cars behind the regular taxis.

Travel Panama by Bus

A bus system services all accessible areas of the country. Embarkation from Panama City to any of the major cities in the interior, such as El Valle, Col ón, David, or Aton, requires going to the new Gran Terminal de Albrook, located near the downtown area. Buses leave throughout the day at hourly intervals or less, depending on destination. It is not a rapid form of transportation, but it is fairly comfortable and dependable.

The traveler can take an overnight bus from Panama City to Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí Grande, and Changuinola. This service is offered by Union de Buses Panamericanos (tel: [507] 229-6333), whose office is situated on Via Fernandez de Cordoba, next to a restaurant called Felicidad. The buses are air-conditioned and full service.

Urban buses are easily recognized, painted in bright, colorful schemes. Most are the "school bus" variety, with seating that is sometimes lacking in comfort and air-conditioning, but they service almost every part of the city. Passengers pay a flat fare at the turnstile when boarding.