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Planning a vacation in a country one does not know is always a bit of a mind breaker. Panama has the advantage of being a small country where transportation is rather easy at reasonable cost.

A stay at our guest house means that we can help you plan your vacation
or give you ideas how to travel in the rest of Panama. Throughout the year we gather information on other facilities and activities in the country. Guests tell us about their experiences and we carefully note it.

Let´s start in Panama City, where everybody marvels as soon as the sky scrapers come in sight. These buildings are the result of a very aggressive investment program of the Panamanian government. Lots of foreigners have bought apartments in the xxx stories buildings. They give the City a Miami kinda look. It is a never ending process
because a lot of new buildings are to come.
Mind you, these buildings are not the city center. Neither is "the city center" where the big Casinos of Avenida de Espana sprawl their lights. Panama city´s City center is
in fact the old part around Plaza 5 de Mayo. There stands the Parliament building and City Hall is neither far. The big department stores of Avenida Central are still there, but nowadays people prefer the fancy stores of Albrook or Multiplaza Malls.

From Dos Palmitos, Plaza 5 de Mayo can be reached walking. At night we would not advise to do this, as streets are badly lit and there maybe holes in the sidewalk.

Plaza 5 de Mayo is in fact where one will find the original Panama "latina". The colorful mix of cultures, like Kuna Indians, Ngabe Bugle or children in school uniform and big mamas selling shaved fried plantain chips. The Avenida Central with its "big shops" used to be in vogue by Panamanians, but also visiting boat crew. Shopping may have shifted to the big Malls. But the Avenida Central still is a very lively area with its street vendors and colorful population. The open shops offer good deals in sport shoes and the area is quite safe, even though there are pick pockets like everywhere else in this world.

Don´t forget to visit the covered artisans market, a little bit hidden behind the big museum building (which is closed). The narrow isles with the Kuna shops and squire offer a good selection of local art ware. Prices here are lower than those applied at the YMCA artisans market.

Walking next towards the Bay of Panama City (actually just following the new high way), you will find a blue and white building which is the Mercado de Mariscos. This is where fishermen bring their daily catch. In the upstairs restaurant one can have a wonderful seafood lunch at less than 10$.

Next to the Mercado the Mariscos is the entrance to the Casco Viejo.
This Unesco heritage listed area is old Panama city. In the Casco Viejo. Spanish, French and Italian architecture compete with Art Nouveau which is all being restored at this very moment. Here you will find the Presidential Palace as well as government buildings. It is a pleasant walk into discovery. Casco Viejo is on its way to be like the New Orleans´ French quarter, with nice restaurants and colorful souvenir shops and Kuna Indians selling their crafts on the Paseo de la Bovedas. This authentic
pirate wall on the seaside of the Casco Viejo gives strollers a beautiful view of the ever growing skyline of modern Panama city on the other side of the Bay.

It is easy to take a bus from Plaza 5 de Mayo to the "international bus terminal" which is at Albrook shopping mall. At the moment still for just 25 cents.
If you want to go back to Dos Palmitos, just tell the driver to stop at the Mercado de
Abasto (two stops). Get off the bus there and cross the street.
You are three streets away from the B&B.