Learn About Panama the Best Offshore Tax Haven

Finding Cheap Air Travel

2010-07-29T20:13:00Z

I was surfing around this morning looking for Cheap Air Travel and I came across this Squidoo Lens. I'm always on the look out for cheap tickets and getting a better deal whether I'm flying to and from Panama or visiting Toronto or Calgary - like I am next month.

Anyhow, this Squidoo Lens, www.squidoo.com/CheapAirTravel happened to pop on my search results and providing a few simple tips that make a lot of sense. There's nothing earth shattering in the article but I always find reading and refreshing. if nothing else, help me remember something I had known in the past but had forgotten.

One thing I picked up from reading this was a new idea. I've checked in-advance fares but then I typically wait and book last minute. The 'ah ha!' I had was to start to collect a little data to see which really is the better deal. So, I've created my 'Cheap Air Travel Cheap Air Travel' spreadsheet and I first checked a few flights 3, 4, 5 and 6 months form now. What I'm going to do next check once a month for the same trips on the same dates I originally checked to see what changes. By then end of this little study I'll have a graph which wil hopefully give me an idea of when and how to book the cheapest airfare. I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh, and while I'm on the 'going cheap' band wagon I have to tell you about another useful piece of information. This one is about finding Travel Insurance Deals Travel Insurance Deals. I was actually looking around for some ideas for my next visit to Toronto and stumbled across the visit-toronto-now.com/blog which gave me some good ideas and even had a few travel insurance tips too.

So, next time you're looking for info I encourage you to look at the bar on Google just above the search box and try playing around. The first time you click enter you get web results but go up top and click where it says 'more' and then scroll down and click 'blogs'. You 'll get a bunch more cool information. The second thing I suggest you do is checked out Squidoo.com and HubPages.com both of these sites have some very good pages with tons of travel tips. Buen Viaje!

New Real Estate in Panama Blog

2010-06-23T20:22:00Z

New Panama Real Estate Blog!

I've been working on some new Blogs to help readers get a better idea of specifics in Panama. One of these blogs will be dealing with Real Estate in Panama. It's pretty easy to find just click on that underlined phrase or type this into your browser -http://learnaboutpanama.com/Panama-Real-Estate/

What I'm doing on this blog is highlighting Panama Real Estate deals that people sometimes send me or ones I come across that I think are particularly good. With the economic woes we have all been experiencing over the past year or so things have been quite positive in Panama. That said much of the Panama Property which was purchased over the past five years was by Americans and others looking to retire to Panama. With the downturn many of those people have to postpone retirement and some have to cash in investments like the land or home they may have bought in Panama. This means opportunity for those who are ready to buy now. Prices have stabilized and in a number of areas we are see price corrections to much more reasonable levels. Boquete for one is an area which is looking much better after a big run up in the early to middle part of the past decade.

So, whether you are searching for Beach Front Property, a Panama City Real Estate or perhaps even a Retirement Business keep checking the our new Learn About Panama Real Estate Blog.

The other new blog I've started pertains more to Panama Travel. We're trying to provide some more specific information about hotels, where to stay and even pin pointing locations with Google Maps so you know exactly where these places are. I'll give you more details about that in my next post so watch for that coming up next. Caio!

Get your Panama Owner's Manual Today

2010-05-19T22:42:00Z

If you're looking for an indispensable resource for learning all about Panama and truly understand what it takes to own property in Panama this is it! You will learn all about Panama - where to look - what to know about real estate and immigration law even the best Panama Hotels. Heard about Boquete Panama? The Panama Owner's Manual takes you there and all over Panama. Click the cover photo below to check it out now!

The Best Health Care Option for North Americans

2010-04-07T21:56:00Z

Here's some health news you won't get from Washington: U.S. expats in Panama City are quietly getting on with their excellent and inexpensive health care.

The top-notch hospitals include the brand new state-of-the-art Punta Pacifica Hospital, affiliated with the U.S.'s well-respected Johns Hopkins Hospital.

The latest technology is available (even more than in many hospitals in the U.S.), and most of the doctors speak fluent English. In fact, some procedures (especially anti-aging and preventative treatments) are available in Panama that you won’t find in the States or Canada.

Of course, you already know how bullish we are on Panama. That's why I asked health tourism expert Josef Woodman (author of Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody's Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Travel) for his thoughts.

Josef has researched hospitals all over the world. Find out what he thinks of Panama below.

Health Care in Panama: U.S. Standards for a Fraction of the Cost
By Josef Woodman

Does it really make sense to have medical treatments in Panama? My answer: Absolutely.

I’ll give you the reasons why in a moment. First, let me share with you a story about a woman named Sandra, who traveled from Arizona to Panama for surgery and would happily do it again. This is what she told me:

“I had wanted to get my breasts redone for some time. I already had breast implants. But after I had a child in 2000, they had become saggy and misshapen. I saw a plastic surgeon here in Arizona. He told me that I needed a breast lift and new implants, and that it would cost me $10,000.

“I saw an article in the October 2007 issue of Good Housekeeping about medical tourism and about the agents who arrange medical travel. I chose one of them. And the agency booked me with a Harvard-trained surgeon in Panama. I had no problems with the trip. It was no different from flying to New York, except I had to go through customs.

“In Panama, I got a high-quality surgeon whom I could never have afforded in the U.S. He and his team took wonderful care of me before, during and after the surgery. I saved $4,000 by having my surgery in Panama.

“My husband needs about $12,000 worth of dental work (U.S. prices). Once I pay off my surgery on my credit card, I will accompany him to Panama to get the work done. The dentists there are U.S.-trained and certified, and it will cost us less than half [what the work would cost in the U.S.], including flight and hotel!”

Panama’s hospitals now compete in the global health-care market with highly credentialed doctors, modern facilities and the latest equipment.

Many Panamanian doctors and surgeons are U.S.-trained and board-certified. Treatment specialties here include dental implants, plastic surgery, assisted reproduction, cardiology, cosmetic dentistry and orthopedics.

Panama has two major advantages for health travelers: The U.S. dollar is an official currency, and most Panamanian doctors speak fluent English. Best of all are the prices––medical procedures here can be half what you’d pay in the U.S. or Europe.

Thinking Panama? Learn Spanish Now and save!

2010-04-01T19:16:00Z

You've heard me say it time and again - English is widely spoken in Panama but a good knowledge of Spanish will help you get a lot more out of your Panama Vacation or Panama Retirement. IN fact if you plan on moving to Panama, Retiring in Panama or even just investing in Panama having a basic understanding of Spanish is essential.

Good news! Until the end of April you can save money on one of the best Spanish Programs available -

Just click on the image and Save 15% on any order. Use LANGUAGE15 at checkout. But remember this offerr Expires 04/30/2010 so act now.

Breezes Panama Sale

2010-03-31T16:56:00Z

Even though Panama Hotels are known for their bargains this is still one a heck of a Hot Deal!

If you're planning a trip to Panama any time soon here's a really 'Hot Deal' I just came across but you need to act quick!

It's one of those "One Day" Sales so you need to act fast but if you're ready to go to Panama this is one 'Hot Deal' you've been waiting for!

Breezes Resorts recently opened one of their 'SuperClubs' at Santa Clara - that's in the Playa Blanca area of Panama. If you book today for stays at the resort between April 10 and June 11 you get a 50% discount. That means you can stay in a Deluxe Ocean View Room at the new Breezes Panama Resort and Spa for just $78 per person per night!

- remember Breezes is a 'Super all-inclusive' resort so you get everything for that price - meals, beverages - including premium alcohol; taxes; tips; water sports - everything is included!

The new Breezes Panama opened last October so it's not even a year old. It has four restaurants and bars, three pools for swimming and two shallow pools for tanning; a swim up bar, two hot tubs and a spa.

Breezes Panama is near the village of Santa Clara and Playa Blancs. The Playa Blanca area is also called 'Arco Seco' or "The Dry Arc" in Spanish. Panamanian recognized long ago that this unique micro-climate was much drier than the rest of Panama for much of the year. So, it attracted wealthy Panamanians to build vacation homes here. Next came the Decameron Resort which has enjoyed a long and prosperous time here.

Remember this sale ends at midnight on March 31 - yes that's tonight! So surf over to the Breezes website and check it out!

A Different Side of Panama

2010-03-23T22:29:00Z

All the nature you could want…a quaint horseback town…and "local" prices for everyone.

This is a side of Panama you may not have seen before. Below, Jessica shows you around.

PanamaMark

An All-Natural Home in the Real "Heart of Panama" for $46,000
By Jessica Ramesch

Driving up into the hills, I am suddenly surrounded by orange trees. They are currently laden with hard green fruits. In September, though, there will be an abundance of ripe, fragrant oranges as plump as you please. Then the Orange Fair will draw locals from all the surrounding villages.

It's a sight to see: the men sharp as daggers in their crisp white shirts and pintado hats…the petite women doll-like in pollera dresses, gold ornaments in their hair. They dance, play games, hold singing competitions (the idea is to improvise rhymes with which to tease each other), and of course, enjoy plenty of sweet, cold oranges.

All this takes place in Penonome, founded by the Spanish in 1581. Back then, the city’s importance was its location—not only was it founded at Panama’s geographical center, but it also lay on the historical route known as el Camino de Cruces. America’s first interoceanic trail, this stone marvel defied the ravages of time and the even more savage tropical jungle. The crossing saw immeasurable treasure and tragedy centuries ago, when silver and gold still crossed the isthmus in caravans.

About 94 miles from Panama City, Penonome is today known as a symbol of agricultural wealth. The town serves as a business center for many farmers and ranchers. The reason is, once again, due to its central location, as Penonome is more or less equidistant from major cities Panama City, David, and Santiago. It's also less than an hour from some of Panama's most legendary beaches.

The bustling business town looks small and perhaps even unimpressive. But don’t let the men on horseback fool you—there is some serious money rolling through here. And thanks to that money, Penonome offers sturdy infrastructure and many comforts. In addition to grocery stores, drug stores, and restaurants, Penonome boasts banks, hotels and resorts…and one of Panama’s best-known Carnival celebrations.

The ranches and farms are not Penonome’s main attractions, though. Today’s travelers are discovering the area and its many eco-tourism opportunities. Balneario Las Mendozas is a popular spot to take a fresh-water dip. If the river isn’t your thing, head to Juan Hombron beach, just 15 minutes from the main plaza. The sands and waters here are smooth and pristine, and the birds and tiny fishing boats make for picturesque vacation shots.

********************* Recommended reading *********************

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f you’re itching to drive an all-terrain vehicle and see a Panama less-traveled, head to Omar Torrijos National Park. More commonly referred to as El Copé (pronounced “El Kop-eh”), it’s named after former dictator General Omar Torrijos, who died here in a mysterious plane crash.

The massive park is backed by mist-topped mountains and dense with primary forest growth. Most visitors head here to see the plentiful birdlife. Sight snowcap and green thorntail hummingbirds, as well as the rare bare-necked umbrella bird, whose call sounds strangely more like a roar than a chirp.

Penonome’s signature eco-attraction is Guacamaya Hill, named after the region's loud, flamboyantly colored Macaws. It offers the best views in the district from several lookout points along its hiking trail. Along the way, you’ll see small villages, natural caves and views of the sparkling Grande River. If you’re lucky, you'll see a piggy little peccary or a sleek, sloe-eyed ocelot.

If you don’t have time to go hiking or visit the national park, there’s enough in the village to keep you busy. Head to the Cocle Crafts Market, known as one of Panama’s best. You’ll find traditional souvenirs, including soapstone figurines, hammocks, diablito (or “little devil”) masks and even exotic flowers and plants. Be sure to take a look at the sombreros pintados, a hat worn during traditional dances and originating in the La Pintada area of Penonome.

If you’re looking to learn more about local handicrafts and traditions, you can visit the nearby saddle shop, where saddles are worked entirely by hand. Or spend some time at the soapstone mine. You can watch and take pictures…or get right in there and work alongside the locals.

Despite the excellent infrastructure and location, you'll find very few expats living in Penonome. As a result, property prices are still very low. Buy a lot of over 10,000 square feet for as little as $18,000 or a three-bedroom Panamanian cottage…on a lot of nearly 4,000 square feet…for $46,000. Now that's what I call the real Panama.

Panama by Ship or Air!

2010-03-19T20:19:00Z

Have you ever thought of visiting Panama by boat? Yes, I'm talking about those infamous Panama Canal Cruises. It's a pretty cool way to see some of the most beautiful parts of Panama. Well, it's just gotten a little better! I came across these online deals today which can save you a ton of money either on a Panama Cruise or the second deal takes you there by air.

Save on a Panama Canal Cruise!

Check this out you can save Up to 75% on a Last Minute Panama Canal Cruises <= Just click to learn all about it.

Save on a Panama Vacation Package!

If you are more of a 'land lubber' here's another 'Hot Deal' you can save up to $325 on a Panama Vacation Package and they start at under $500 - that's including airfare and hotel for seven nights! Now, this link will take you to a general listing of Caribbean specials but if you click the 'Other' tab at the top you will see an option for Panama. Just enter your travel dates and it will pop up the Panama Vacation Specials available.

Isla Contadora Panama

2010-03-15T20:16:00Z

Guess Where This Island Is?
By Jessica Ramesch

These clear turquoise waters with patches of sapphire seem to belong in the Caribbean.

I’m standing on a steep hill overlooking a white-sand beach. I’ve just walked past the “airport”—little more than a landing strip—to the mini-mart on the “main road.” I’ve passed no cars, just a few golf carts whose drivers smiled or nodded or said hola. Aside from that and the rolling sound of the waves, it’s quiet.

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I don a hat and sunscreen, and set out to walk the entire island; a feat that takes two hours…at a leisurely pace. I come across workers at construction sites; they do not cat-call or bother me in any way. The island population is notoriously polite.

Sweet, flower-framed cottages sit next to mansions—the weekend homes of Panama’s most influential families. Here on the island they are accessible…not cloistered behind the inky windows of an air-conditioned Mercedes. The local elite aren’t the only high-profile people to be drawn here. Famous visitors range from the exiled Shah of Iran to John Wayne.

One of many islands in the luminescent string that is the Pearl Archipelago, Contadora is just off Panama’s Pacific Coast, a mere 40 miles from Panama City. The tidy island town boasts three “mini-supers,” a minuscule social security clinic, an equally teeny police station, and one gas pump. There are a few hotels and B&Bs, and a handful of restaurants boast fresh seafood and even European cuisine.

Residents travel to Panama City regularly to visit large grocery stores, theaters, malls, hospitals, and more. There are no banks or ATMs on the island, so bring cash (though many of the hotels do accept credit card). Despite the lack of city trappings (or perhaps because of it) there is a small but thriving expat population here. These few have discovered that Contadora’s waters rival those of the Caribbean.

Expat Ken Grabenhofer bought property in Contadora five years ago. He built a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home that he rents out to visitors. Next door, he built a smaller apartment, where he lives for much of the year, returning to Illinois when he can. The home is close to the water and features a small but pleasant pool.

“I came here and was pretty much hooked,” he says. Though building a home on a small island can be challenging—especially when it comes to sourcing and transporting materials—Ken says it was all worth it. “The hard work can really pay off,” he says. “I have rented the house for $500 a night during the high season. For New Years I had an upper crust group of Panamanian youths who liked the house so much, they were happy to pay $600 a night.”

Ken recently purchased a lot in front of his home, where he has begun building three small cottages. Though the year has been a bit slow in terms of tourism and rentals, he is confident it will pick up. And with so many foreigners discovering and visiting Contadora, there are plenty of niches to fill for anyone thinking of starting a business here. The island could use an Internet café, an ice-cream shop, a small wine bar…and the list goes on. But don’t get me wrong; there is plenty to do here. You can rent a golf cart or walk to one of Contadora’s 11 beaches (including Panama’s only nude beach). Take in the birds and the Technicolor flowers, play golf on the rustic nine-hole course, or hire a local panga or fishing boat for a tour. The surrounding islands offer plenty of opportunities for adventure. Spend the day fishing, go snorkeling or diving, rent jet skies, charter a catamaran, go whale or dolphin watching, or pretend-play Robinson Crusoe on a truly private island.

Escape to Panama Feedback

2010-03-10T23:58:00Z

This is the spot to leave your feedback about our free Letters from Panama and our e-book, Escape to Panama!

Tell us what you liked and want to read more about, and what you didn't like and would like to see less of.

Many thanks for helping us with this project and enjoy the book and letters!

Just scroll down and leave your comments, suggestions and question below.

...

Learn about Panama Hotels

2010-03-08T20:54:00Z

Here's a new way to plan your Panama Trip and find Panama Hotels which fit your budget and your travel plans.

I make it a habit of exploring a new part of Panama each time I plan a trip. One of my challenges is the time it takes to find appropriate Panama Hotels along my planned itinerary. You may have noticed this - when I want to explore a new part of Panama City the search engines often return 'Panama City Fl' suggestions. What a pain! Or the travel brokers like Expedia and Travelocity, although great resources for saving money, always come up on top. I use trip advisor quite a bit. If you want you can visit my Tropical Pathways page to read some of my reviews and see some photos. But sometimes I just want to see everything that's available in a certain part of the country. You know, just get an overview of location, prices, star rating maybe even a few reviews.

A New way to Learn About Panama Hotels

So, all of these resources have been helpful but not exactly what I'm looking for. So, for just the reason I started Learn About Panama, I've added some new pages. This new part of the Learn About Panama site is going to be dedicated to Panama Hotels. <= you can just click there if you want to have a look. It's a work in progress and hopefully it will never be complete. Let me explain that. I'm putting up content in just the way I've described above. So, you can get a nice quick overview of Panama Hotels that are available in certain regions of teh country. Over time I'm going to set up links to as many of those properties as I can so if you want more detail you can just click on a link in the overview page. I'm also hoping to set that up in a way where you will be able to even book right there and save some money. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. It's not there yet!

Traveller Reviews of Hotels in Panama

Another part of this is, where your participation comes in, is the comments section. Please leave questions so we can refine the results and also leave your comments and your review if you have stayed at any of these places. Now, please click on the link above and surf over to the new 'Learn About Panama Hotels' section of the site and let me know what you think and what you want! Oh, and a little favour to ask - of you are on delicious; twitter; digg; stumleupon; facebook or any other social network site I would really appreciate it a link or bookmark so more people can participate. Thanks!

Panama Carnival!

2010-02-26T22:02:00Z

Carnival Panama
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010

Dear Learn About Panama Reader,

With the exception of Brazil, nowhere takes its Carnival season—the week before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent—more seriously than Panama.

If you like the quiet life, it's everything you want to avoid. But if you enjoy a good raucous, wild party…Carnival in Panama is the place to be.

Jessica joined in the fun last week, and sent us some photos, below.

How Panama Beats Out All the Rest…

The entire nation is recovering. The day after Carnival there is no traffic. The capital city is sunny and quiet and almost surreal. Last weekend Panama hosted the party to beat all parties…a mega-marathon of blowing off steam.

Every year in Penonome, one of the nation's most popular Carnival towns, thousands sweep into the tiny streets. As elsewhere in Panama, the main attractions are the culecos or mass dousings. On every block giant cistern trucks with fire hoses spray water into the crowds. The pulsing throng shouts "agua, agua, oo-eh!"

Jumping up and down and dancing to the riotous Carnival music, little scamps with water guns blast passing girls with ice-cold jets. In the summer heat, the waterworks are the perfect cooling system.

Sunburn is an unavoidable part of the fun. Everyone sports the same gear: cheap hats, cheap sunglasses. On every corner you can buy more (I always lose mine). Vendors also sell waterproof carry-alls that can be slung around the neck...get one and throw in some cash for the burger, beer, and meat-on-a-stick stands. The rule is to dress scantily or outlandishly. The more exuberant wear wild wigs in parrot hues of green, red, and yellow…or hair bands with bobbley antennae…or anything that might make others smile.

If you are a woman, the men will vie for your attention. They will want to let you know that they like what they see. Expressions of appreciation may include teasing, dunking, whipped creaming, or grabbing. If you are uncomfortable with the wantonness of it all, surround yourself with a buffer of friends.

Panama spends millions on Carnival. For many Panamanians this festival is more important than any other holiday of the year. People save, take out loans, beg, borrow, and steal to be able to attend. They will sleep on the streets if they have to…camp in their cars…quit their jobs.

The five-day celebration honors el Rey Momo or Bacchus. It always starts on a Friday, when the Carnival queens (and their courts) salute their subjects from atop scintillating floats. The pageantry is beyond anything I've ever seen. The dresses put Cher to shame. The floats feature anything from giant genies to fire-breathing dragons.

Monday is traditionally a day of fantasy, while Tuesday is all about folklore and tradition. At five a.m. it all culminates with a strange ceremony. The burial of the sardine symbolizes a burial of the past. Many in this Catholic nation then go on to observe Ash Wednesday. What happens in Carnival stays in Carnival…or with the sardine. After all the hard partying, everyone is spent; it's easy to behave for the following forty days of Lent.

Learn more About Panama - much more! In with your very own Panama Owners Manual. Click on the image below for more information -

HOT DEAL - Flights from $44!

2010-02-26T00:54:00Z

this is a very hot deal which i just discovered today thanks to my 'insider secrets' techniques. i could have searched for hours to find this deal but instead i had it in minutes. anyhow, this one is great but it has a pretty quick expiry date - you need to book within the next week - sale ends march 4. the good part is travel can occur right up to june 9, 2010 so you can take advantage of this for any spring trips you might want to take.

Here's the deal AirTran Airways has U.S. flights starting at just $44 one-way! You can fly to over 60 cities with great these low fares from AirTran Airways. Flights are now available to/from destinations all over the country, including the Bahamas, Aruba and Mexico. And, as always, there's no booking fee. Travel anytime between February 23rd - June 9th. Hurry, these sale fares won't last long, so book your ticket by midnight March 4th and let AirTran Airways take you on an affordable getaway.

CLICK HERE to learn more about these incredible savings and the places you can go!

Insider Secrets to Cheap Flights

2010-02-23T01:10:00Z

Another Quick Travel Tip for you!

Flying back and forth to Panama I couldn't believe the range of prices I was paying for airfare.

Here's an example - I once managed to get return airfare from Toronto non-stop for as little as $150! A few months later I found myself having to pay over $800 for the same flight. Trips from various other locations in the U.S. and Canada produced the same results.

I tried everything! From building my trip piece-meal with days in the air and connections all over the country to flying through Costa Rica and skipping into the back door of Panama through David or Bocas del Toro. What a pain in the you know what!

Anyhow, a good friend gave me a tip and turned me on to some very cool Insider Secrets for always getting the best price on my airfare. And not just to Panama but to everywhere else in the world I chose to fly.

So, if I've got your attention and you're interested in learning how the Airlines Rip You Off and what you can do about it now then go ahead and Click Here! to learn more.

Hot Deals on Overstock

2010-02-17T17:22:00Z

OK - I know this has little r nothing to do with Panama but then again it may. If you currently live in Panama or are in the process of moving there you know it is sometimes better to buy things at home and ship them down. There are just some things you can't find in Panama or you can get a better deal on at home.

Recently I came across a site that has been saving me a lot of money. It's called Overstock.com Today I discovered some discount coupons I wanted to pass along. Now $12 or $5 may not seem like much but when you add that into the huge savings you already get at Overstock well it's just icing on the cake.

Just click on either of these links to save yourself even more!

If you have never been to Overstock then click on this link:

$12 Off $300 for New Customers!

If you already shop at Overstock try this link to save even more:

Get $5 Off $125! Now at Overstock.com!

Boquete Jazz Festival

2010-02-12T21:49:42Z

For the fourth time, artists of International stature will be coming to the Boquete Jazz Festival. The Festival, February 25th to the 28th, will feature four days of jazz, as well as music clinics and workshops for music students from the University of Chiriqui and local High Schools.

The Festival seeks to create a scholarship fund that will help young Chiriqui musicians attend workshops at the annual Panama Jazz Festival and provide them with musical instruments. The Festival also hopes to fund other projects like the Summer Music Camp and programs for children at risk.

Antonio Singh, director and founder of the Boquete Jazz Festival, says that the working committee, residents of Boquete and David, is working on the final details of the Festival.

The 2010 Festival will feature international artists such as: Atila, a young Englishman with a voice that is captivating the stages of Europe. He recently released his debut album, “Hello Young Lovers”, and despite his youth has been impressing audiences with a sound made famous by artists like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others. Atila begins his tour of the Americas with his quintet by participating in the Boquete Jazz Festival.

The Jon Day Jazz Quartet, based out of South Carolina, performs everything from jazz standards to modern jazz to original compositions.

Led by the smooth sounds of the internationally renown Canadian trumpeter, pianist, composer and arranger, Jon Day, this quartet will entertain and capture the imagination of all music lovers, leaving them eager for more.
Bannaba Project de Panama fuses the rhythms of the flutes of the Kuna with the saxophone, producing a vibrant mix of sounds and cultural dance. This group has been recognized internationally for its performances in the United States.

Local bands participating in the 2010 Festival include: Outside Chiriqui Jazz Band, directed by Quelvín Delgado, one of the winners of the Danilo Perez Foundation Scholarship; Sin Ensamble Jazz Quartet, featuring saxophone and guitar playing Jazz and 8 to 14 years old playing Latin Jazz; and the Fantasy Jazz Band, comprised of members of the Festival committee and outstanding young musicians from David playing Jazz standards.

Tickets are available in Valle Escondido, Boquete Bistro, Ana’s Sweet, Oasis Hotel & Restaurant and Cocina Rica (David) and Radio Chiriqui.

For more information, visit the Festival website at boquetejazzfestival.comTechnorati Tags: Jazz Fesitval, Boquete Panama

Flying To BOCAS del Toro Panama from Costa Rica

2010-02-11T17:40:00Z

Costa Rica to BOCAS DEL TORO PANAMA

Flying NatureAir is the best way to get directly to Bocas delToro, Panama from Costa Rica.

The onehour flight over is scenic and beautiful as you fly over miles of lush tropical jungle and pristine beaches. As an added you bonus customs and immigration is a breeze with these small planes carrying just a few passengers.

Compared that to:

Six+ hours on a bus with NO bathroom orair-conditioning. Albeit the scenery is still spectacular and at eye level. And then there is customs and immigration - you have to walkacross a rickety wooden bridge to three different areas for immigration all the while crop dusters are flying overhead spraying their cocktail oftoxic chemicals on the bananas. Then take a bus or taxi to the water taxi. Then take the water taxi toBocas on Isla Colon, another 1 hour ride. You will probably be stiff for stiff for days after this 8+ hour journey. All to save a few bucks. Not my idea of fun or adventure travel.

Your time and body are worth the extra cash.

Flying to Bocas del Toro, Panama from Costa Rica offers a fun experience in a19 passenger plane - one of those 'puddle-jumpers'.

There's just one airline currently servicing Bocas - NatureAir. http://www.NatureAir.com. Phone from the U.S. - 1-800-235-9272 or from inside Costa Rica just dial - 299-6000

Tip:Check online as sometimes there are greatspecials – they still offer last minute that you can’t find elsewhere!

Stay at the Marriott in Panama City!

2010-01-13T02:23:00Z

Hey! Just a quick note to pass on a special discount I discovered for Marriott Hotels worldwide. You know I love Marriott and I really love the Marriott in Panama City - both of them! The hotel is absolutely stunning. I would say the finest hotel in Panama City but I also love the Marriott Courtyard over at MultiCebntro Mall. The location is excellent.

Anyhow, here's a link to save you some cash at Marriott Hotels - just click the link below!

Marriott Sale - Save up to 20% off Weekend Rates at Marriott hotels worldwide!

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Ten Years since Panama Canal was Returned

2010-01-07T22:44:15Z

Just last month (Dec 31) marked the 10th Anniversary since the United States fully returned ownership and operations of the Panama Canal to its people.

Many thought the Panamanians would fail and run back to the U.S. for help but it simply was not to be. Panama has made an expemplory effort of not only keeping the canal profitable but safe and secure.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed the deal with then Panama president Omar Torrijos 22 years ago. Today the current president, Richardo Martinelli had this to say, "We have succeeded. Today the canal is run in an efficient and profitable way. That's a source of pride not just for Panamians but for the international community."

Of interest is the fact the Panamanians have brought in $4.7 Billion over the past ten years. Compare that to the paltry 1.8 Billion the canal earned bewteen 1914 and 1999 while it was under U.S. administration.

Now the Panama Economic future looks even brighter and more profitable as Panama embarks on a major expanision of the canal due to be completed by 2014.
Technorati Tags: panama canal, panama economy, panama in the news

Lonely Planet: Panama for Christmas

2009-12-16T16:55:00Z

Lonely Planet for Christmas! With winter coming on strong in many parts of America it's a great time to cozy up with a good book and start making your Panama Travel Plan. There's no better place to start than Lonely Planet Guides. Their Panama version is excellent and I just found about about this sale so I wanted to pass it along.

Click on the banner below and you will get a 30% discount on items you order over the next 6 weeks plus if your purchase is $40 or more you get free shipping. Check out!