PANAMA PROVINCE

Welcome to the country of countless possibilities. Panama is a major province of the country and is located on the Pacific side of Panama, bordering on the provinces of Darien, San Blas, Colon and Cocle. The capital of this province and the capital of the country is Panama City. The province has a long coastline, with beautiful beaches. The islands off the coast of Panama province include Taboga Islands and Pearl Islands.
Even though most information on the Panama Province focuses on Panama City itself, there are many other precious attractions in the area. There are several national parks, and the two main bridges, the Bridge of the Americas and Centennial Bridge, that span the Panama Canal and con-nect North and South America.
Panama City
Panama City is the perfect base to explore the whole country. The city itself offers a huge variety of places of interest such as Spanish colonial ruins, green parks, museums, a breathtaking skyline and a good infrastructure of hotels, restaurants, convention centers and banking facilities. Close to downtown Panama guests can visit the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks and spend hours watching vessels maneuvering through the Panama Canal.
The historical center of Panama City is called “Casco Viejo”. It is a calm, charming district of narrow streets overlooked by flower decorated balconies of two and three-story houses. In the “Casco Viejo” lies French Park, a monument to the French builders who started the Panama Canal. Some superb museums are found in the “Casco Viejo”, including the Canal Museum, which traces Panama's history. On the other side you can find the Museum of National History and the old cathedral, with shiny spires inlaid with mother-of-pearl. In the San Jose Cathedral nearby is the gorgeous Gold Altar, intricately carved of wood and gilded with gold. Another attractive building you should not miss is the Presidential House.
At the southern entrance of the Panama Canal you will find the Amador Causeway. It is a beautiful and picturesque causeway, lined with palm trees and with magnificent views of both the Canal and the Panama City skyline - which remembers a lot to Miami. It was built from excavated material during Canal construction. Nowadays this flourishing tourist attraction offers great restaurants, hotels, shopping arcades, marinas and a convention center. The causeway is also home of the Marine Exhibition Center of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). The excellent paved pathway is an irresistible temptation to anyone desiring a nice walk, jogging, biking or roller-blading meanwhile enjoying a beautiful view.
Furthermore daily international flights from the Americas and from Europe land at the Tocumen International Airport and leave to San Blas, Bocas del Toro and the Pearl Islands from Marcus Gelabert Domestic Airport.
Pearl Islands
The Pearl Islands are an archipelago located just 90 kilometers southeast of Panama City in the middle of the Gulf of Panama. It can be reached either by plane or by boat and offers beautiful and calm hotels to stay. An abundant quantity of white, black and golden beaches and coves surround the lush and green islands embedded between the temperate and calm turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean. Many fresh water rivers and streams flow into the ocean creating a food source for many species of fish. This provides excellent opportunities for exciting inshore fishing what makes the archipelago a paradise for fishermen and divers. Also the land species are really abundant: big populations of wild pigs, deer, iguanas, agoutis, parrots and giant pigeons as well as about 100 other species of birds are located on the islands. In pre-Columbian times, the Pearl Islands were ruled by an Indian King whose main occupation was pearl-diving. Pearls were then used as ornaments and to trade.