Exploring the Writing Scene of Panama City: An Insider’s Guide

If you’re looking to learn more about the world of writing in Panama City, then you’ve certainly come to the right place. Despite being located in the Central American region, Panama City has long been a hot spot for budding writers and authors looking to explore the depths of their creativity. From the exciting events and workshops at the Panamá International Book Fair to the vibrant museums, bookstores and cafes throughout the city, there is no shortage of inspiring activities and experiences to be had. With this insider’s guide, you’ll have all the tools you need to discover the writing scene of Panama City and find the resources and inspiration to craft your own masterpieces.

Exploring the Creative Writing of Panama City: Highlighting the World of Writing in a Unique Cultural Context

Panama City, a vibrant and bustling city that houses a myriad of cultures and customs, is a place of immense creative potential. It is home to a fascinating array of writers, poets, musicians, and other artists all striving to express themselves and their stories, dreams, and imaginations in meaningful and impactful ways. Though a world away from other, more traditional writing hubs, Panama City’s ever-evolving creative landscape is a perfect getaway to explore the world of writing in a unique cultural context.

The diversity of writers, genres, and styles that are represented in Panama City offer an impressive variety of perspectives on the craft. For those looking to explore their own writing, the city is an ideal place to begin. From historical fiction to adventure writing, and from contemporary poetry to fantasy literature, writers of all levels can find their voice in Panama City. The city’s array of vibrant and culturally diverse writing venues and organizations provides an excellent opportunity for aspiring writers to gain exposure and experience.

Inspiration from Panama City: Exploring the World of Writing

This title gives a comprehensive introduction to the topics of Panama City and Writing. Panama City has long been seen as a hub for creativity and exploration, given its unique combination of people, cultures, and history. As such, it is a particularly inspiring place to explore and write about. While the city offers a wealth of interesting topics to write about, it is also a great place to explore the world of writing. Through exploring the city and its unique stories, one can experience the joy of writing and gain insight into the craft and techniques needed to become a successful writer. This title emphasizes the unique experiences that Panama City has to offer to those wishing to explore and write about the world around them.

Exploring the Rewarding World Of Writing in Panama City: Aspiring writers looking to get their foot in the door of the writing profession will find Panama City to be an ideal destination. From world-famous novelists to independent bloggers, Panama City is a hub for many talented writers looking to share their creative ideas and stories. With its thriving literary scene and a number of local publishers and literary festivals, Panama City is the perfect place to take that first step into the world of writing. With access to experienced mentors, resources and a vibrant community of writers, new writers will find everything they need to craft unique and compelling stories.

The city of Panama, with its vibrant writing culture, provides a unique backdrop for the world of writing. With its mix of cultures and languages, it provides a unique and stimulating environment for writers to draw inspiration from, giving them the opportunity to create stories that are truly unique.

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The main attraction of Panama is its unique nature. The picturesque white sand beaches of Bocas del Toro, San Carlos, Nueva Gorgon and Bastimento are great for a relaxing family swim as well as for surfing or underwater fishing.

Hiking enthusiasts should definitely visit Boquete, Cerro Punta, Soberania National Park and climb the Baru volcano. Another popular tourist destination in Panama is visiting the local Indian tribes who have managed to preserve their authentic culture and way of life.

As a memory of visiting this amazing country tourists take back home Molas – hand-woven products of bright colors, which are made by women of the Kuna tribe, local coffee of excellent quality and headgear.

Panama Canal

One of Panama’s most popular places is its canal. The amazing creation of human hands was officially opened in 1920, although the first ideas of such construction appeared as early as the 16th century. The Panama Canal hosts many tourist excursions and the best place to watch the ships is at the walls of the Miraflores locks.

Volcano Baru

The highest point in Panama is the Baru Volcano located in the west of the country. Its altitude is 3,474 meters above sea level. In good weather from the top of Baru you can see the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Baru Volcano is a popular tourist attraction and its summit can be accessed via the Quetzales trail.

Panama City

The capital of the state, founded in 1519, is the famous Panama City. It seamlessly combines the ancient ruins of Panama Viejo and modern neighborhoods. Swimming in Panama City’s coastal waters is prohibited, but the sandy beaches of Coronado, Gorgon, San Carlos, and Rio Mar await tourists less than an hour from the capital. It is worth spending a few days visiting Panama City because of its historic center which has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. There is also a natural park, a highway and a lot of other interesting sights. And if you want something exotic, you can visit land-based casinos, which are also quite a few in Panama City.

City of Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro, the capital city of the province of the same name, has a lot of hotels, restaurants and entertainment centers. But it is popular because of the easy access to the famous Panamanian archipelago. On the islands of the archipelago tourists engage in diving and surfing, as well as making deep-sea dives.

Panama Viejo

An ancient city built in 1517, today it is part of Panama City. Panama Viejo constantly had to defend itself against Indians and pirates until one such attack in 1671 ended with the almost total destruction of the city. Today the ancient quarters of Panama Viejo are open to the public.

Coiba National Park

One of Panama’s largest islands has given its name to this country’s unique national park. About 760 species of fish live in the park and from April to September a lot of turtles come to Coiba to lay their eggs. For its excellent conditions for diving, Coiba is called the “new Galapagos”.

The Bridge of the Two Americas

Built in 1962, the Bridge of the Americas was the first undivided bridge between the southern and northern United States. After a major expansion in 2004, the capacity of the structure reached 35,000 vehicles per day. The bridge looks especially spectacular in the nighttime illumination.

San Blas Archipelago Islands

The exceptionally beautiful San Blas Archipelago is only about half an hour by boat from Panama City. It is inhabited by Kuna Indians who have managed to maintain an economy and culture independent of Panama City. People come to San Blas to do some diving, fish, see the daily Indian life or just relax on the pristine local beaches.

City of Boquete

Located in the Caldera Valley is the small town of Boquete. Tourists from all over the world come here for a variety of recreation. In Boquete, you can go fishing, ride horses through the jungle, visit coffee plantations, as well as rafting on the river in kayaks or inflatable rafts.

Comarca Kuna Yala Beach

One of the most popular beaches in Panama is Comarca Cuna Yala, located on an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. It is home to the Kuna Indians, who rent out cabins and cook food for tourists who want to dive into a real “wild” vacation. The cleanest sand and clear waters of the coast make Comarca Kuna Yala ideal for family vacations.

The Sendero de los Quetzales Trail

One of the most beautiful hiking trails in Panama is the Sendero de los Quetzales Trail. The trail owes its name to the extremely beautiful and rare quetzal bird that can be found in the local forests. The Sendero de los Quetzales begins near Baja Boquete and leads through Cerro Punta to the observation point, 2,500 meters above sea level.

Isla de Taboga

In the Gulf of Panama near Cape Bruja is the famous Island of Taboga. Here you can relax on the beach, visit a miniature seventeenth-century church, and admire an impressive array of rain forest or watch a colony of brown pelicans. For outdoor enthusiasts, Taboga offers underwater or ocean fishing, overnight stays in tents on neighboring islands or kayaking.

Bastimentos National Marine Park

The island of Bastimentos, which is part of the Bocas del Toro archipelago, is home to the national park of the same name. More than 85% of the park’s area consists of the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The Bastimentos National Marine Park is home to crocodiles, several species of turtles, monkeys, sloths, and over 60 species of birds.

Santa Catalina

Until the 1970s, Santa Catalina was a simple fishing village, whose life changed abruptly when surfers discovered this attractive place. Today, the village offers surfers comfortable hotels, cafes and equipment rentals. In addition to surfing you can go scuba diving or underwater fishing.

Amador Causeway

The road from the mainland of Panama City, connecting the archipelago to the four islands, is called Amador Causeway. This road was built in 1913 and was originally used for the stationing of a U.S. military base. Today, Amador Causeway is a popular destination for tourists and locals.

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In addition to the magnificent nature, Panama has a lot of attractions. Like most old cities, Panama is conventionally divided into Old Town and New Town. The Old City was completely destroyed in 1671 and today you can see only the ruins and foundations of ancient buildings. The most interesting for tourists is the new part of town, many buildings which, despite its name, was built several centuries ago.

Here you can see buildings of various architectural styles, in the area of Casco Antiguo presented more than eight hundred beautiful structures, each of which is unique and beautiful in its own way. In the Casco Viejo area, one of the most important architectural landmarks is Las Bovedas Castle. It is located on the coast, the area around the castle is considered the most romantic and secluded place for walks. Nearby is the French Embassy building, around which there are several restaurants and stores. On Cathedral Square, you can see the city’s main religious landmark, the Metropolitan Cathedral. Art lovers should not miss the National Theater, located in one of the oldest buildings. It was recently restored and is now ready to welcome enthusiastic guests again.

Excursions to the island of Taboga, often called “the island of flowers”, are extremely popular among nature lovers. It is located not far from the Panamanian coast and can be reached in less than an hour by ferry. The main feature of the island is considered a variety of flowering plants, and vacationers can also enjoy the incredibly beautiful beaches with golden sand. On this island, it is not difficult to find a place for a secluded vacation.

Ancona Hill is an important historical symbol of the city. This hill is 300 meters high and for many years it was in the possession of the United States. Only in the 80s of last century Panama managed to regain its rights to their land, now on top of the hill there is a flag of State. On the hill there is a beautiful park, it is considered the best observation deck in the capital, from which you can see many iconic sights.

Visitors to Panama should not miss a tour to Coiba National Park, it is protected by UNESCO and is considered one of the most beautiful places in the country. This park covers the territory of a large archipelago of 38 islands, the largest island has the same name as the park. Travelers here will find a lot of interesting activities. You can relax on the beautiful beaches, admire exotic nature, and also go scuba diving and appreciate the beauty of the underwater world.

One of the most popular places for walks in the capital is Avenue Balboa, it will surprise you with its contrasts and lively atmosphere. Walking along this avenue, you can admire the beautiful modern skyscrapers, and very close to watch shabby boats moored to the shore of the local fishermen. There are several beautiful monuments and a large fountain on the promenade, as well as some of the city’s most popular entertainment venues.

The historic Casco Viejo district remains a favorite stroll destination for most tourists, and in addition to the historic buildings, it has another interesting feature. The facades of many historic buildings are adorned with colorful graffiti drawings, finding the most incredible works of art will make a walk through the historic district even more fascinating.

Cultural attractions in Panama City

The main attraction in Panama City’s capital city is the Casco Viejo Historic District, which has been designated a Unesco site. Within the historic district there are beautiful palaces, ancient churches and homes of ordinary locals, the oldest buildings are about 500 years old. It is in this area are concentrated the most significant architectural and historical sites of the city, interesting to study the objects can be found here at every step. The San Jose Church, one of the oldest churches in the city, is located within the historic district. Since it was built it has managed to keep almost in pristine condition, the main decoration of the interior of the church is the golden altar, which was installed immediately after its opening.

A beautiful ensemble of architectural buildings is concentrated around Plaza de Francia. The buildings in this area are very close to each other, so they create the effect of a single architectural complex. Each of the historic buildings on the square is now home to an important government or cultural institution. The Anita Villalaz Theater and one of Panama City’s most interesting art galleries are located here and one of the old palaces now houses the French Embassy. Around the square there are also attractive restaurants, many of them specializing in French cuisine.

Along the shore of the Pacific Ocean is the picturesque Avenida Balboa, which remains one of the favorite places for tourists to walk. It takes at least two hours to walk it from beginning to end, and there is a bicycle path along the entire avenue. Along the promenade there are beautiful modern buildings, here you can also find interesting restaurants and stores to visit. The main decoration of the avenue are the original landscape compositions, and here are equipped with comfortable recreation areas with benches everywhere.

Visitors who would like to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city should head to the top of Ancon Hill. The trail to get to the top begins in the historic district and usually takes about an hour and a half. At the top of the hill is the best observation deck in the city, with a clear view of both the modern business district and the historic district. At the top of the hill is a small park with several symbolic sculptures and beautiful landscaping.

Entertainment in Panama City

Avenida Balboa is a great place to relax outdoors and enjoy a full day stroll along the coast and sampling local specialties in local restaurants and cafes. This avenue is notable for its many playgrounds and attractions for children, and is also a favorite place for cycling enthusiasts to spend time. The main drawback of the embankment can be considered the lack of beaches, this section of the coast has no sand. Walking along the promenade will be interesting and after dark, when the local cafes and restaurants wonderfully transformed into bars and nightclubs, and the bright signs of the casino and beckon to pass the time.

One of the main entertainment complexes in Panama’s capital is Biomuseo, housed in an incredibly beautiful and colorful futuristic building. This cultural and entertaining center occupies an area of about 4,000 square meters and its expositions are devoted to the culture of local residents and the peculiarities of Panamanian nature. It also has a botanical garden featuring some of the rarest native plants and galleries showcasing masterpieces from local artists and artisans. The center has its own movie theater that shows nature films about Panama every day. This science and entertainment complex offers tours for children of various ages as well, and would be a great place for families to visit.

Within the city limits are several amazing nature reserves, the most interesting is Metropolitan National Park. It was founded in 1985, and now the reserve covers an area of about 230 hectares. A large part of this area is occupied by tropical forests, where you can see about 300 species of trees and more than 35 species of orchids. The natural reserve is distinguished by the diversity of fauna: there are 45 species of mammals, more than 250 species of birds and rare species of reptiles and amphibians on its territory. To get acquainted with the features of the nature park developed several fascinating thematic routes, each of which has its own attractive features. One route covers the most beautiful natural sites, while others allow you to visit natural vistas or find yourself in the midst of a halo of wild monkeys.

For nature lovers Panama City organizes many interesting excursions. They can take part in rare bird watching tours, admire colonies of tropical butterflies, and even fish in one of the most famous canals in the world. Beach lovers also have many pleasant surprises waiting for them, they can visit the beautiful wild beaches and located near the coast of the capital of the island. Vacationers are also offered a wide range of marine excursions, they will be able to watch dolphins, and visit the most attractive places for diving and snorkeling.

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The goal of the museum’s creators was to demonstrate the wonders of local nature and its role as a “geological bridge” between the two continents. The description on the museum’s website says that the exhibit is “a combination of art and science that allows the visitor to experience an amazing phenomenon.

This work by Frank Gehry is in part reminiscent of his previous works, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. However, the intricate color scheme of the Biomuseum is out of the architect’s general style, according to experts. This is the first work of Frank Gehry in Latin America, despite the fact that he is married to a native of Panama.

The idea of creating the museum dates back to 1999, but because of bureaucratic delays there was a serious delay in its implementation, which eventually took 15 years.

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Metropolitan National Park is, after all, a man-made natural monument. Before that, there were patches and pieces of forest, erected ranches and agricultural croplands on the site. It wasn’t until 1985 that the National Wildlife Refuge officially appeared. Before that, there were only plans, beginning in 1974. But from a fraction of the trees, a noble tropical eco-park has grown and now appears. Panamanian orchids and rare species of insects and mammals, a variety of birds and reptiles – that’s what amazes you here.

When you visit the Metropolitan Park, a small amount, called a donation, is taken. Tours are also booked and maps are taken here. Not many parks also have their own museum, library, presentation and meeting rooms, and gift shop. Several sites for observing birds and animals are provided in the reserve. They offer a beautiful panorama of the surrounding area. Everything is thought out for convenience: comfortable tables and chairs and detailed descriptions of the sights seen.
A unique combination of natural and man-made

One of the viewing platforms is called Cedar Hill, its height is 140 meters above sea level. You can see the area of El Dorado and the two national neighboring parks.

Another sighting platform is called “Bird’s trills”: you can get here from the Mono Titi trail and watch two hundred species of birds.

The third special viewing area is called Cedar Hill. It is situated a hundred and fifty meters above sea level. From here you can see many islands: Naos, Flamenco, Taboguilla and Taboga. And a great view of the entrance to the Panama Canal and the Bridge of the Americas.

Five trails have been developed for visitors to walk comfortably. They vary in length and purpose, but everywhere in Metropolitan Park there are signs posted for everyone to understand.

Senegita is the first trail to be built and is more than one kilometer long. It is named after the rain mushroom that grows here. It begins at the guardhouse. You can explore the lush forest for two hours on it.

You will reach another dirt trail, Mono Titi. It starts at “The Fortress.” That’s what they call the old American airplane repair hangar here. This road is the widest: cars used to drive on it. Running, jumping and even biking are allowed here.

Momotides – named after a bird of the passerine family – is the next trail, which begins across the road from the information center. It is short, only 700 meters and is built in the form of a loop, which you can walk in an hour, and there are no viewing platforms.

Just over a kilometer long and starting behind the administrative office is the popular Los Caobos Trail. It is named after the redwood tree that grows here. It is more difficult than the previous ones: there are more descents and ascents. But you can admire the picturesque part of Panama City with its beaches.

The fifth trail connects the information center with the beginning of the Cieneguita Trail. Roebuck or white oak from English: a huge white oak tree growing behind a garden of dwarf trees. The trail is the shortest: it takes no more than half an hour to walk along it.

When visiting Metropolitan Park, experts ask to be quiet. This is both for the comfort of the animals and for the possibility for tourists to see them (otherwise they will hide).

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Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10 – 20, Sat 11 – 19, restaurants and bars on the terrace of Las Terrazas open from 11 am to 2 am.

Multiplaza is considered the best shopping center in Panama and can be a great starting point for your shopping trip. Here you will find all kinds of American, European and Latin American brands of clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as a food court, movie theater, cafes, restaurants and a nightclub on the outdoor terrace of the top floor.

Hint: get your green Panama Shopping Card at a special counter, show it in the stores of Multiplaza mall and get a discount. To get the discount card you must have your passport.

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Its length is relatively short: only 81 kilometers and 600 meters. Sixty-five kilometers also run over land, and 16.5 kilometers along the bottom of the Limón and Panama Bays. All these figures are of interest to sociologists, geologists, ichthyologists and, to some extent, historians. But the Panama Canal is a real coup for the economy and shipping throughout our vast planet. One can only imagine how much shorter the route for ships traveling from the world’s largest metropolis, New York, to San Francisco has become. Before the commissioning of the vital canal ships had to overcome the distance of almost 23,000 kilometers between the two cities. Thanks to the canal built by mankind this distance has been reduced to only 9,500 kilometers.

The canal is located in Panama City, which is Indian for “a place with lots of fish”. Panama is a beautiful country, and the Panama Canal is one of its main attractions, a kind of monument to the tenacity and heroism of the people who took part in its construction. In 2012 the most popular not only in the U.S., but also in the world newspaper The New York Times, published a list of places that are recommended on a must-visit basis to people who are fond of traveling and tourism. It is interesting that this small, by the way, list was headed by Panama.

Documents which have survived to this day allow historians to draw a definite conclusion: the first construction of the Panama Canal began in 1879 and … turned into a terrible disaster. A catastrophe for humanity and a disaster for the economy. The nightmare, called at the end of the 19th century “construction of the Panama Canal”, was directed by Ferdinand Lesseps, who had already become famous for building the Suez Canal.

Nine long years had elapsed since construction began, more than $300,000,000 had been expended, a staggering amount for the time, and not even a third of the work was finished. The budget was exceeded; Ferdinand Lesseps’ design was fundamentally flawed. His inaccurate calculations led not only to the bankruptcy of the company, but also killed more than 20,000 people. “People were dying one after another, yellow fever and malaria were striking them, doctors could not cope with the epidemic, workers were fleeing the construction site as from a place cursed by God,” one of the chief engineers wrote in his reports. Ferdinand Lesseps was accused of a major scam and arrested. Naturally, this brilliant architect, who allowed a lot of flaws, did not want to get rich this way, so, unable to withstand such a blow of fate, he lost his mind.

Still, the Panama Canal, as written above, was necessary. And this was perfectly understood by the United States authorities. They analyzed all the errors in the calculations of the author of the previous project, and thought about how to save workers from epidemics. By the way, thanks to the new construction of the Panama Canal, two scientists made the discovery: a person gets yellow fever when bitten by a mosquito, which is a carrier of the pathogen of this terrible disease. The mosquitoes had to be exterminated at any cost: entire forests were burned near the construction site, even small bushes were uprooted, grass was cut and swamps in which the mosquitoes were breeding were drained. The result was achieved: 1,500 people had virtually “wiped out” the mosquito population and the workers were no longer threatened by malaria and yellow fever.

A new project was quickly developed by John Frank Stevens, who proposed the use of artificial lakes for the canal and special locks that would regulate the water level. As early as 1904, a new construction of the Panama Canal began and lasted nearly 10 years. It cost the U.S. $ 400 million. True, this construction cost the lives of nearly 6,000 workers. However, the grandiose project was realized, and on October 13, 1913, the president pressed a special button in the White House, after which a colossal explosion took place: 4,000 kilometers away from the residence of Thomas Woodrow Wilson, 20 tons of dynamite blew up the last obstacle, located near the city of Gamboa. The waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were finally connected by the Panama Canal.

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Panama City is a shopping destination for tourists of all income levels. There are stores of different price points, large shopping centers, excellent markets with local delicacies and a great selection of souvenirs. The capital of Panama has one of the largest malls in the region, Albrook Mall. It will take you several days to explore all its pavilions and stores featuring clothes and shoes of world famous brands. Especially popular with tourists are boutiques of local designers, where you can buy beautiful clothes and accessories in the national style at an attractive price. Locally produced clothes are notable for the fact that they are made only from natural materials. In the shopping center there are large stores of electronics, women will be interested to visit the pavilions with cosmetics and perfumes.

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