David (Panama)
The city of David is the capital of the province of Chiriqui. It is located on the coastal plain. David was founded in 1602. From the north it is surrounded by the most breathtaking landscapes of the country, and from the south by the Pacific Ocean. The city has an airport, which makes it the starting point for traveling around the province of Chiriqui.
40 km north of the city of David on the eastern slopes of the Baru volcano is the village of Buke . This is a real paradise for those who are tired of the heat and want to breathe in the pure mountain air.
Located in the outskirts of David The Pacific coast is world famous for its huge waves that attract thousands of surfers every year. Surfing is possible here all year round. In the bay of the same name in the Pacific Ocean, near the border with Costa Rica, there are two private islands called Morro Negrito. The world-famous surfing resort of Moro Negrito is located on them. The resort was established in 1998. It has some of the best surfing conditions on the planet. The resort has hotels, equipment rentals, experienced instructors and opportunities for practicing various water sports.
From David you can go to the Coiba Island National Marine Park in the eastern part of Chiriqui Bay. Coiba Island is the second largest island in the Eastern Pacific (after Vancouver Island).). Its area is 49 thousand hectares. In addition to the island of Coiba, the national park includes several other small islands. The total area of the park is 270.1 thousand hectares. In 1910, a prison was built on the island of Coiba, which is still there today. Because of this, the forests covering the island have remained virtually untouched by human activity. In order to visit the Coiba National Park, you must obtain permission from the directorate of the colony. Its underwater world is considered one of the richest in the world, in addition, on some islands of the park, from April to September, you can see turtles that have come here to lay eggs, and this is the only place in the country where flocks of red macaws live. Damas Bay of Coiba Island is surrounded by 135 hectares of coral reef,
Colon (Panama)
According to Philosophynearby.com, Colón is the second largest city in Panama. This is the main port on the Caribbean coast of the country. Colón was founded in 1852 as the terminus of a railroad track built by the Americans. But the city was almost completely destroyed in 1885 during an uprising of local residents led by Pedro Prestan. The columns were restored by the French when the construction of the Panama Canal began. Colon ‘s heyday came in the middle of the 20th century, after the placement here in 1948 of the Free Trade Zone.
These days, Colon is just a typical port city, with not so many attractions apart from shops with impressively low prices. Colona Free Trade Zone- the second largest (after Hong Kong) duty-free zone on the planet, with an annual turnover of over 10 billion dollars. Tourists come here to shop. The most popular products are perfumes, jewelry and home appliances. In addition to shopping in Colon, the old railway station (1909), the neo-Gothic Cathedral (1929-1934), the statue of Christ on Central Avenue and the statue of Columbus (1866) are interesting. From Colon you can go to Grande Island, which is famous for its resort area with beautiful beaches.
Just south of Kolon, on the banks of the longest river in the country – the Chagres – lies the Chagres National Park.. It was created to protect riverbank ecosystems, which are the main sources of water for the Panama Canal, sources of drinking water for many large cities in this part of the country, and sources of electricity for the cities of Panama City and Colon.. The area of the park is 129 thousand hectares. Its main attractions are the Chagres River and Lake Alajuela, on the banks of which numerous colonies of birds settle. The park also offers excursions to the villages of the Embera and Wounan Indian tribes living in these protected areas. During the excursions, you can get acquainted with the culture of the tribes, preserved from ancient times, with the process of making and coloring the cake by local craftsmen. Parts of two ancient roads pass through the park, along which Europeans exported Inca gold in the 16-18 centuries – these are Camino de Cruces and Camino Real. Cerro Jefe observation platform (1007 m) offers a breathtaking view of the Panama Canal. Portobelo is located 48 km east of Colon along the Caribbean coast.. It was founded by Christopher Columbus in 1502, making it one of the oldest settlements in Panama. Portobelo is located on the ancient Camino Real trade route, discovered by the Spaniards, along which they reached the Pacific Ocean. Under the conquistadors, Portobelo became one of the main ports on the Caribbean coast of the Isthmus of Panama. To protect their transatlantic trade routes from pirates, the Spaniards built many forts here, the remains of which have survived to this day. They can be seen along the stretch of coast from Portobelo to San Lorenzo. In 1980, all the colonial buildings of Portobelo, including the 17th and 18th century forts surrounding it, were listed by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of mankind.
Near Portobelo on the coast is Portobelo National Park. Of the 34.9 thousand hectares of the park, about 20% is in the sea, the rest is occupied by tropical rainforests. Mostly tourists come here to go diving, as one of the most beautiful coral reefs in Panama is located in the coastal waters. In addition, the park is known for the fact that at the bottom of its coastal waters there are various items left over from numerous battles with pirates.
