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Panama travel guide

Biking in Bocas del Toro

On rainy day in Bocas del Toro, my travel companion Lindsey and I played cards in our hostel (Mondu Taitu) and brainstormed activities that could be equally fun in sun as in the rain. After talking to David, one of the friendly American owners of Mondu Taitu, we decided a bike ride through the island to Playa del Drago on the opposite side was just the thing to do. David told us the bike ride was just as fun, if not more, in the rain and the drizzle would keep us from getting too hot. The journey was 15 km each way and hilly, but we were up for the challenge.

We found bikes to rent in town for US$5 each, though I can’t say these bikes were in top condition. Because of the humidity, ocean air and general lack of upkeep, most bike rental places have rather rusty and ill-working bikes. The brakes worked (mostly at least) and the tires were inflated though, so Linds and I set out on our journey.

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Featured Articles Panama

Hiking Volcan Baru

Volcan BaruWhen my oldest childhood friend and I decided to go to Panama, we knew that we had to hike its tallest mountain. Being from Colorado, where 14,000 foot peaks seem to be everywhere, we felt pretty confident that we could conquer Panama’s highest mountain, which stands at just over 11,000 feet. However, as we set out in the dark on our trek up the volcano that early morning, we did not fully anticipate the difficulty of actually reaching the top and coming back down in one day.

Baru Facts

  • The hike is 30 km round trip from the trailhead outside of Boquete.
  • It should take 5-7 hours to reach the top and approximately the same amount of time to descend
  • Volcán Barú is the tallest mountain in Panama at 3,474 meters (11,398 ft) high.
  • It is a dormant, but potentially still active, volcano that is located in the Chiriqui highlands just south of the Continental Divide.
  • Volcan and Cerro Punta are on its western side and on its eastern side is Boquete.
  • Rising from a fertile area of cooler highlands, Volcan Baru stands out above the other peaks nearby, though the top is often shrouded in clouds, especially during the rainy season.
  • The volcano can be hiked from either side (leaving from Cerro Punta or Boquete), but a guide is needed to do the technical and ill-marked trail from its western side.
  • The most common, and easier way, to get to the top is hiking up a 4×4 jeep trail from the mountain’s eastern side near Boquete (though I am not sure if its possible for any vehicle to navigate this rough road/trail).
  • Volcan Baru either be hiked in one or two days. Some prefer to hike up with packs and camp somewhere near the summit to break up the 30km round trip venture. During the rainy season (May-December) clouds often move in on Baru in the afternoon, so camping can also help you avoid doing much hiking in the rain.
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Panama travel guide

Bus Travel in Panama

If you are a traveler on a budget in Panama, buses are definitely the best way to get around. Not only will you be able to travel cheaply throughout the country, it is also a great way to see and enjoy the countryside in between. With only one in four households owning an automobile in the mostly rural country, Panamanian buses are an important and integral form of transportation for the small nation. While busing it may not be the fastest or most comfortable way to get around, it definitely provides an experience in itself. As locals usually travel by bus in between cities, (and it is usually best to do as the locals do) with a little patience and some preparation for the confusion and/or unexpected, buses are a great way to get from Point A to Point B.

Albrook Bus Terminal
From Panama City, you can get to almost any destination both within Panama and a few in Costa Rica from the Albrook Bus Terminal. Although overwhelming and sometimes confusing to figure out which bus leaves when and goes where, this is a one-stop terminal for bus travel anywhere in the country. However, if you ask enough people or simply say the name of your destination to enough people, you will eventually be pointed in the right direction and put on a bus. Most buses collect fares just before you arrive at your destination, so you can keep your money belts and wallets safely tucked away as your navigate through the people and buses.

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Argentina Featured Articles

Argentine Tango

The Argentine Tango is a social dance which originated in Argentina and was later adopted in Uruguay and the rest of the world. Many people confuse the Argentine Tango with Ballroom Tango.

Origin and history

The beginnings of Argentine Tango can be traced to the working class port neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. For this reason, tango is also referred to as the music of the immigrants to Argentina. One of the most popular “origin stories” has it that tango came from the Niger Congo languages of Africa.

The dance itself derives from the Spanish habanera, the Uruguayan milonga and candombe and also contains elements from the African dances practiced by the community in Buenos Aires. The music is a fusion of styles from Europe.

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Featured Articles Honduras

Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve

Over the last decade or so, Honduras has been focusing its efforts one eco tourism. Maybe they are just jumping on the bandwagon that made Costa Rica so popular, or maybe they just trying to make a buck. Either way, a number of extremely beautiful preserves and parks have been popping up all over the country. One such park is the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve.

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Featured Articles Honduras

Finca El Cisne

There are plenty of cheap places to stay in Honduras and just as many tours and activities to do. But, for less than the cost of mid-priced hotel, you can get a truly amazing experience and the accommodations for it! A small farm by the name of Finca El Cisne offers a glimpse into life of a not so distant Honduras.

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Featured Articles

Taxis on the Bay Islands

Taxis very all over the country very in shape, style, and sheer number depending on where you are. In the Bay Islands for example, you wont find taxis on every island, only the big ones. Rotan, of course being the only big one. Places like Guanaja on the other hand, don’t have many cars, let alone a taxi system. Below are some tips for catching a taxi on the island of Rotan.

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Honduras travel guide

Staying Safe in Honduras

In the grand scheme of things, Honduras it still very young when it comes to tourisim. As such, the country has done little to enforce safety in most of the major tourist areas. This point is not meant to scare you away from visiting Honduras, but more to make sure you are aware of the dangers so that you can protect your self from them.

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Honduras travel guide

Eating in Honduras

While each country in Central America has its own take on food, there are a few staple items that you can find everywhere. If you have ever been anywhere in Central America, you knew right away what I was talking about, rice and beans. Rice and beans in Honduras? Go figure. Aside from this Central America staple items, there are a number of other popular dishes in the country.

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Peru travel guide

Manu National Park

Manu Ntl ParkManu National Park (Parque Nacional Manu) is the largest national park in Peru, covering an area of 15,328 sq km/ 5,918 sq miles. It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and even today it’s fairly inaccessible by road.

Location

Manu National Park is located in Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, Cusco. The park includes the entire basin of the Manu River, from the Andes up to the Amazon plains.

There are two mains routes to the park:

  • a gravel road from Cusco to Salvacion followed by a travel along the river;
  • by air from Cusco and then travel along the river.

Flora and fauna

The biosphere reserve protects several ecological zones.