Author Topic: Panama Master Thread (Read 306135 times)

ninjaleh · « **Reply #960 on:** July 17, 2022, 07:10:47 PM »

We were told at our hotel that we did need advance reservations to Miraflores, so we made them. We arrived a little late, but it wasn't a problem. Maybe because it's low season now, not sure...It was a wonderful view and they narrate details around the boats and the history of the canal there, so it was interesting and we learned a lot. Not sure if its is the BEST view but definitely an up close look at the locks and the boats going by, where you might not see those details as well from other places.

shmulys15 · « **Reply #961 on:** July 17, 2022, 11:23:29 PM »

If you are only able to do one full day tour which would it be?
1) San Blas tour
2) Pearl Island tour (going in August when there should be whale watching)
3) Embera experience
If you can include which tour guide you used that would be super helpful.
or a different one...
As well - did anyone do the ATV experience? Any recommendations for that?
Thank you!

skyguy918 · « **Reply #962 on:** July 18, 2022, 12:06:15 AM »

Quote from: Aps on July 17, 2022, 05:31:59 PM

I am doing one of those tours- you're saying they are gonna drive me right there so technically after they finished the tour there at 2pm I can go to gomboa and take a uber back?

So we drove ourselves, which is a bit of a different situation. I've read that getting an Uber back from Gamboa is iffy. The resort probably offers a similar boat tour, so maybe ask them for a quote on a package with transportation from/to the city, boat tour, and the zipline? Or maybe just ask them if they can arrange for transportation back to the city after zipline.

stsschw · « **Reply #963 on:** July 18, 2022, 07:16:12 AM »

Quote from: shmulys15 on July 17, 2022, 11:23:29 PM

If you are only able to do one full day tour which would it be?
1) San Blas tour
2) Pearl Island tour (going in August when there should be whale watching)
3) Embera experience
If you can include which tour guide you used that would be super helpful.
or a different one...
As well - did anyone do the ATV experience? Any recommendations for that?
Thank you!

This time is best time of year for Whale Watching - check https://www.gokosherpanama.com/pearl-islands-day-tours for private tours with Ilene.
Plenty of other discounts on the gokosherpanama.com website.

Kobe Bryant · « **Reply #964 on:** July 18, 2022, 09:09:14 AM »

Quote from: shmulys15 on July 17, 2022, 11:23:29 PM

If you are only able to do one full day tour which would it be?
1) San Blas tour
2) Pearl Island tour (going in August when there should be whale watching)
3) Embera experience
If you can include which tour guide you used that would be super helpful.
or a different one...
As well - did anyone do the ATV experience? Any recommendations for that?
Thank you!

IMO San Blas.

myb821 · « **Reply #965 on:** July 20, 2022, 09:06:39 AM »

Quote from: ninjaleh on July 17, 2022, 05:42:33 PM

We were there a week ago. Loved Bocas del Toro - and there is a Chabad there with a kosher restaurant, which was great.

In Panama City, we enjoyed Casco Viejo at night (even more than in the day) - it was very lively and charming to walk around, and we sat and had drinks and appetizers at Lula Casco. The food was great too.

Mind going into more detail on where you stayed and what you did in Bocas?

myb821 · « **Reply #966 on:** July 20, 2022, 09:07:00 AM »

Anyone with a planned trip in the next 2 months worried about the protests?

ninjaleh · « **Reply #967 on:** July 20, 2022, 01:31:35 PM »

Quote from: myb821 on July 20, 2022, 09:06:39 AM

Mind going into more detail on where you stayed and what you did in Bocas?

We only had a day and two nights. Stayed at the Tropical Suites (July 2022) in Bocas town since it was very close to Chabad and had good ratings, but they were doing construction and it was a bad experience due to that. Might be better when that's done but they should have been up front about it before we booked. That said, I think they may be at the end of their construction and the rooms are large with kitchenettes (and very clean). If interested you should call to verify that construction is over.

My husband isn't a fan of guided tours and we were feeling adventurous so we rented ATVs and drove around the island and stopped at various beaches. It is low season now so one of the beaches we went to was pretty isolated - water was warm and we dunked in...There are two non paved roads that meet at Bocas town which wrap around the sides of the island, and we went up and down those. There is some traffic but otherwise you feel fairly isolated and they are surrounded on both sides by rainforest, which is lovely. It is dotted by houses so you get to see how folks live around the island. Definitely a bumpy ride and you absolutely need to wear helmets. One thing to note is that the rain will just suddenly pour buckets - it can go from sunny to rainy very quickly, and I mean a tropical downpour. We were caught in the rain more than once and had to pull over and sit it out, but it was still very pretty and kind of forced us to slow down and enjoy the vacation :-) Having umbrellas and a rain jacket is a MUST. Again, this is in July, but I think it could be year round...check into it.

If we had one more day, I think we would have gone on the snorkeling trip that other folks we ran into recommended, Apparently they saw dolphins and more. There are tons of guided snorkeling tours where they take bunches of tourists out on boats to different spots...most leave from Bocas town and you'll have no trouble finding them when you get there (they are waiting for the tourists!) about $25/30 a person...

The Chabad is very warm and welcoming and the food was pretty good! You can sit by the water on their porch in the back - The food is meat and falafel, they were also experimenting with pizza in their milk kitchen when we arrived. Still, it's pretty isolated as it is an island, so not everything is always on the menu, but we did not go hungry and you meet lots of other Jews traveling through.

ninjaleh · « **Reply #968 on:** July 20, 2022, 01:44:26 PM »

Quote from: Aps on July 17, 2022, 05:31:59 PM

I am doing one of those tours- you're saying they are gonna drive me right there so technically after they finished the tour there at 2pm I can go to gomboa and take a uber back?

Don't try to get an uber back from Gamboa. We did this when we went up to the Panama Discovery Forest Viewing Platform it and it was a huge mistake. Took an Uber up there from Panama City - but on the return we discovered that there are no taxis or Ubers from Gamboa (aside from rare ones) and we were stranded there for a couple hours trying to get back. We waited for a bus that never showed up and kept repeatedly ordering Ubers until one finally came up the hill 20 minutes to get us...you have to pre arrange a trip back or go with a guide...
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PlatinumGuy · « **Reply #969 on:** July 20, 2022, 01:51:41 PM »

Quote from: ninjaleh on July 20, 2022, 01:44:26 PM

Don't try to get an uber back from Gamboa. We did this when we went up to the Panama Discovery Forest Viewing Platform it and it was a huge mistake. Took an Uber up there from Panama City - but on the return we discovered that there are no taxis or Ubers from Gamboa (aside from rare ones) and we were stranded there for a couple hours trying to get back. We waited for a bus that never showed up and kept repeatedly ordering Ubers until one finally came up the hill 20 minutes to get us...you have to pre arrange a trip back or go with a guide...
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The solution in situations like these is to book an Uber where they're available and have them come to you

ninjaleh · « **Reply #970 on:** July 20, 2022, 02:06:36 PM »

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on July 20, 2022, 01:51:41 PM

The solution in situations like these is to book an Uber where they're available and have them come to you

Thanks for the tip, that may have worked, I don't know... The Uber driver said that to us that Ubers don't like to come up there, he just happened to be near and was willing to come up further...I did notice that most folks pre-arrange/pay a taxi to wait for them at the edge of the forest. Probably the most reliable option.

skyguy918 · « **Reply #971 on:** July 20, 2022, 02:39:35 PM »

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on July 20, 2022, 01:51:41 PM

The solution in situations like these is to book an Uber where they're available and have them come to you

-1. They basically just don't come out that far period. The solution is to pre-arrange transportation. Often if you take an Uber there, you can get the driver to agree to come back later for some set price. Or, in the case of a boat tour or Gamboa resort, the tour operator can arrange transportation. We rented a car the whole time, so that's also a solution, but the boat tour we booked had the option of RT transportation from Panama City for $20/pp, which for 2 is basically the cost of RT Uber.

Aps · « **Reply #972 on:** July 20, 2022, 02:56:28 PM »

Quote from: myb821 on July 20, 2022, 09:07:00 AM

Anyone with a planned trip in the next 2 months worried about the protests?

I have one planned soon- how bad is it?

Aps · « **Reply #973 on:** July 20, 2022, 02:59:19 PM »

Quote from: skyguy918 on July 20, 2022, 02:39:35 PM

-1. They basically just don't come out that far period. The solution is to pre-arrange transportation. Often if you take an Uber there, you can get the driver to agree to come back later for some set price. Or, in the case of a boat tour or Gamboa resort, the tour operator can arrange transportation. We rented a car the whole time, so that's also a solution, but the boat tour we booked had the option of RT transportation from Panama City for $20/pp, which for 2 is basically the cost of RT Uber.

Thanks Ill see if I can prearrange.

Quote from: PlatinumGuy on July 20, 2022, 01:51:41 PM

The solution in situations like these is to book an Uber where they're available and have them come to you

Thats a good idea!- Guess I can try that if I do get stuck

Aps · « **Reply #974 on:** July 20, 2022, 02:59:40 PM »

Quote from: ninjaleh on July 20, 2022, 01:44:26 PM

Don't try to get an uber back from Gamboa. We did this when we went up to the Panama Discovery Forest Viewing Platform it and it was a huge mistake. Took an Uber up there from Panama City - but on the return we discovered that there are no taxis or Ubers from Gamboa (aside from rare ones) and we were stranded there for a couple hours trying to get back. We waited for a bus that never showed up and kept repeatedly ordering Ubers until one finally came up the hill 20 minutes to get us...you have to pre arrange a trip back or go with a guide...
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Thanks for that info!