(Seattle Times) Panama City on Thursday marked the 500th anniversary of its founding by the Spanish on Aug. 15, 1519. Big blue butterflies and smaller orange and black ones were released by the hundreds to mark the day when Pedro Arias de Avila founded the city. The city’s old center, known as the Casco Viejo, was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003. The city’s … [Read more...]
Fashion Designer’s guide to PTY
(Los Angeles Magazine) Where to stay: American Trade Hotel. Located in the historic Old Quarter, the hotel is within spitting distance of the area’s cobblestone streets, painted doorways, beautiful ruins, and outdoor marketplaces where Kuna Indians sell their crafts. How to acclimate: Esperanza Social … [Read more...]
Esperanza Social Venture Club offers tours of Panama City from ex-gang members.
(Style.com) The coolest city tour in Panama is run by gang members. Welcome to the Esperanza Social Venture Club. KC Harding is a cool guy, an American who came to Panama for the waves, and then ended up moving here—and marrying a pretty Panamanian. Together, they started buying run-down properties in the old area of Panama, our beloved Casco Viejo. KC eventually saw his … [Read more...]
Ocho Razones for a Panama Vacation
(Las Vegas Review-Journal) The Caribbean has often been a popular summer destination for Las Vegas tourists looking to escape the heat and get a little rest and relaxation. And whether you’re looking to laze on a beach, spend your days hiking in rainforests, or party with other young solo travelers, Panama is guaranteed to have what you’re looking for in a week off from the … [Read more...]
Panama is more than sunny beaches and a canal
(Ottawa Citizen) "A volcanic crater?" I queried, my eyebrow raised with obvious interest. "With a town inside it!?" I considered this for a moment, still not quite sure if I had heard correctly. Though I was lying prone on a beach chair, piña colada in hand, the earnest young man holding the brochure for his tour company now had my full attention. My wife Fionna who had … [Read more...]