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Patty's Casitas offers an alternative to typical hotel accommodations... we offer bed and breakfast and apartment for short term rental in the heart of Panama city where you will find Panama's major attractions such as the Panama Canal, the Bridge of Life Museum of Biodiversity (build by the renown architect Frank Gehry), history, bird watching, jungle trekking, marine and biodiversity exhibition centers and much more.

Our guest house bed and breakfast, known as Arcos de Bella Vista, is a beautiful colonial house that offers bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms located in a residential and exclusive green area called Bella Vista.

Our self-catered apartment (Amador Rentals) is located in the hottest new tourist destination called Amador!

You will find excellent restaurants, bars, night clubs and waterfront promenade all within few minutes walk from our lodgings.

While Panama has a large number of hotels to choose from, we feel that our non smoking accommodations offer the best deal available... providing you with inside tips, airport transfer service and tours.

Due to its central location within the country, Panama City gives you the advantage of having the major attractions at short driving distance, giving you the opportunity to take half day or daily tours with us and still enjoy Panama's non-stop night life with its wide variety of restaurants, bars, folkloric shows and night clubs.

Staying with us means hassle free holidays as we could come and meet you at the airport, drive you home (at our B&B or at the apartment) provide all the info and tips needed to start your exploration of this wonderful city.

Arcos de Bella Vista:

Arcos de Bella Vista offers a spacious 2 bedroom suite in a residential and exclusive green area in the heart of Panama city, called Bella Vista, where you will find restaurants, bars, supermarkets, night clubs, a park and the famous “malecon” (waterfront promenade) all at few minutes away.

The house has a private terrace with a hammock and a seating area for the exclusive use of our guests, where you'll be able to relax!

In the suite you will find a computer with courtesy high-speed internet connection, also WIFI is available and a mini-bar.

Capacity of our guesthouse: 5 persons

Our house is a smoke free environment.

A suite composed of 2 bedrooms with 1 en-suite bathroom accommodating up to 5 persons.

Master bedroom with King size bed.

• A/C
• Cable TV
• Hair dryer
• Alarm clock
• Ceiling Fans
• Free internet access
• Mini-bar (in the terrace)
• Baby-sitting (additional cost)
• Rooms are cleaned every day
• Fresh towels every three days
• Airport Transfer (additional cost)
• Change of sheets once in the week
• Dry cleaning & laundry service (additional cost)
• Restaurants, shops & supermarkets at walking distance
• Delicious Continental breakfast served in the dining room

Location:

Bella Vista is a quaint, bohemian-esque barrio of the city, a gracious area of Art Deco mansions, built by European architects who fled between the World War, for the elites that grew up in the 1920s along the bay. Arcos de Bella Vista revives the discreet elegance and intimate ambiance of a historic mansion, accented by neo-classical ironwork.

In Bella Vista, you'll find shops such as the “Hélène Breebaart Studio”, which inspired John Le Carré's thriller, “The Tailor of Panama” which was later adapted for the screen with Jamie lee, Geoffrey Rush and Pierce Brosnan.

Breebart's boutique combines contemporary fashion with traditional Kuna Indian embroidery and molas, their own style of appliqué work. Hélène's entire staff of tiny Kuna Indian women, come to work every day dressed in full Kuna regalia. All the rich, socially and politically prominent women of Panama frequent her atelier (even Hillary Clinton made a stop whiles on a diplomatic visit in the country).

As an international crossroad, Panama City has a great variety of restaurants with a great variety of cuisines at affordable prices. Nearby (5 minute walking distance) you can find all types of excellent restaurants, where you can sample Panamanian and Central America cuisine, experiment exotic Far Eastern dishes, dine in the finest European restaurants, or try our country’s delicious home made dishes and seafood. For example at the Tinajas restaurant you can find ceviche - fish marinated in lemon juice, a giant local shrimp, arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) - and mouth-watering flan dessert all for a very reasonable price. After dinner, there’s a program of the tamborito and other traditional dances, featuring women and men in their traditional dresses. Thereafter you can choose from Panama’s unlimited diversified non-stop night life with concerts, night clubs, casinos, live music, cultural events, movie theaters, cabarets and other attractions.

For those of you who like “all in one place”, close by is the Multicentro, Central America's largest shopping center, with 260 rooms, including shops, restaurants, night clubs, game rooms, a movie theater complex, and the Majestic Casino.

Amador Rentals:

"Patty's Casitas" apartment rentals is located in Panama city’s hottest new destination called Amador on the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, where the Pacific breezes of the ocean meets the tropical rain forest.

The apartment is located on a small hill which allows you to have a wonderful view on the see and Casco Viejo enjoying the evening breeze. The total area of the apartment is 65 m2 (700 square feet) has got a large bedroom, a large bathroom, a kitchen, a laundry area, a dining room and a living room. The apartment is suitable for up to 5 persons.

Minutes away from the apartment is the causeway, a palm-lined road with benches and a path for cycling and jogging. It is home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as well as the Marine Exhibition Center, Frank Ghery's new museum for Tropical Biodiversity. It counts with a marina, casino, restaurants, bars, spa, high fashion & duty free shopping, commercial area, theme park, cruise port, beach club, connection to Taboga Island , known for its big variety of flowers (20 minutes with the ferry for beach lovers!) and... lots more.

Features:

• The apartment is a non smoking environment and as a courtesy to the persons living in the building: smoking is strictly forbidden in all common areas, surroundings and entrance of the condominium…apologies to the smokers and thank you for your understanding.
• Master bedroom with king size bed and one single bed (sheets and towels are provided).
• Bathroom
• Hair dryer
• Kitchen totally furnished with fridge, ice-making machine, stove, microwave, coffee machine, all the utensils and basics (oil, seasonings…)
• Laundry area with washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board
• Living room with cable TV (additional one in the bedroom), DVD player, stereo, futon (to accommodate 2 people)
• Dining room with seating for 6
• Computer corner with courtesy high-speed internet
• A/C split
• Ceiling fans
• An additional set of sheets and towels are available in the apartment for stays of a minimum of 5 nights
• Airport Transfer (additional cost)

Location:

This area was leased for over 100 years by the US Government to administrate and protect the Panama Canal and was housing for top U.S. Generals, Colonels, and high ranking officers. The almost 24 hectares are located on ocean front property.

Since 1999, when the Canal has been handed back to the Panamanian government, the Amador has been transformed with multimillion dollar projects like the Tropical Biodiversity museum made by the well known architect Frank Gehry, the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research, the world's primary tropical scientific investigation center, which for 80 years has been cataloging and monitoring this vast ecological heritage, being the only Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution based outside of the United States. In the museum, there are educational films and exhibits of coral, seashells, starfish and sea urchins where, unlike other museums, touching is encouraged! Six aquariums arranged at child's height feature marine life from the Caribbean and Pacific and one tank is filled with gigantic lobsters. A telescope has been set up for viewing ships anchored offshore, with charts that are useful in identifying types of boats.

You can enjoy the new Panama Canal Village... a project that includes the largest outdoor event & concert venue plaza, plus a Convention Center which hosted Miss Universe 2003, scenic bicycle and walking paths with sea breezes and a great view of the stunning Bridge of the Americas.

Tours:

Panama City:

On this tour you will learn the history of Panama City as you sketch the steps of the Spanish Conquistadors. Discover the three cities in one; Old Panama, Colonial Panama, and Modern Panama and how Panama City turn up as the most important trade center of the New World. You will as well see a living museum, called “Mi Pueblito”, built by the city to celebrate small town traditions, the culture and history of different costumes of the town bringing you close to our roots and cultural heritage.

We will start with the ruins of the original Panama, “Panama La Vieja”, founded in 1519, the first official city founded by Europeans on the Pacific coast of the Americas and the headquarters of the treasure trails that crossed the isthmus to the Caribbean, the gateway city for the Spanish conquest of Latin America, with ruins of a once elegant city built in 1519 and destroyed by Henry Morgan in 1671. We'll stroll among the stone walls and remnants of what was once considered the richest city in the Americas. After the wreckage of Panama La Vieja the city moved east to what is now Panama City, called “Casco Viejo”, which will be our next visit. Visitors may shop for native crafts in a market alongside, or enjoy a cold drink in a cafeteria that overlooks the bay.

Casco Antiguo became the new Panama City of the times and was never successfully damaged, being protected by a wall that surrounded the new town. This beautiful colonial area with the ruins of 17th century convents and residences has several attractions that tourists shouldn't miss. We'll walk along the French Plaza with its monument to the French entrepreneurs who began the Panama Canal and to the 22,000 who died in this operation, we'll take a look at the Golden Altar in the San Jose Church, one of the few testimonies to all the wealth that made its way through this city. Following we will visit the InterOceanic Canal Museum located in a restored building that once housed the headquarters of the French company that attempted to build the canal. The museum presents a broad perspective of the historical development of Panama from its Spanish colonial days to the completion of the canal in 1913.

From Casco Antiguo we will go along the bay of Panama to the modern area of Panama City , with its Manhattan-like skyline, modern buildings, one of the worlds’ largest banking districts and multi million shopping molls. Here you will experience the city’s vibrant business rhythm and will be surprised of how fast this city transforms within 10 minutes drive.

By now it should be time for a nice Panamanian lunch enjoyed at a typical restaurant. Following, we will approach “Mi Pueblito” (little village), which combines three distinct villages: a typical Panamanian, an Antillean, and an Indian one. You can appreciate not only replicas of the constructions, but also the original furniture of the epoch, see and feel the traditions of our ancestors, with the "Afro-Antillean Village" honouring the Negro population that came from Africa and the Caribbean and the "Indigenous Village", where you will have a representation of the country’s natives way of living.

The final leg of the tour takes us at the folk art market at the old YMCA building ending at the Amador Causeway, perfectly situated at the mouth of the Panama Canal and bordering beautiful Panama City bay with spectacular 360 degree views and pleasant sea breezes.

City and Canal:

On this tour you will learn the history of Panama City as you sketch the steps of the Spanish Conquistadors. Discover the three cities in one; Old Panama, Colonial Panama, and Modern Panama and how Panama City turn up as the most important trade center of the New World. Following, we will meet Panama’s mega-attraction which took 250,000 people from all corners of the globe and more than 10 years to build, the Panama Canal.

We will start with the ruins of the original Panama, “Panama La Vieja”, founded in 1519, the first official city founded by Europeans on the Pacific coast of the Americas and the headquarters of the treasure trails that crossed the isthmus to the Caribbean, the gateway city for the Spanish conquest of Latin America, with ruins of a once elegant city built in 1519 and destroyed by Henry Morgan in 1671. We'll stroll among the stone walls and remnants of what was once considered the richest city in the Americas. After the wreckage of Panama La Vieja the city moved east to what is now Panama City, called “Casco Viejo”, which will be our next visit. Visitors may shop for native crafts in a market alongside, or enjoy a cold drink in a cafeteria that overlooks the bay.

Casco Antiguo became the new Panama City of the times and was never successfully damaged, being protected by a wall that surrounded the new town. This beautiful colonial area with the ruins of 17th century convents and residences has several attractions that tourists shouldn't miss. We'll walk along the French Plaza with its monument to the French entrepreneurs who began the Panama Canal and to the 22,000 who died in this operation, we'll take a look at the Golden Altar in the San Jose Church, one of the few testimonies to all the wealth that made its way through this city. Not far away is the famous "flat arch" which convinced the American engineers that Panama was a geologically stable area , proving that the country is free from earthquakes and hurricanes, for building the Canal… incredible but true! Following we will visit the InterOceanic Canal Museum located in a restored building that once housed the headquarters of the French company that attempted to build the canal. The museum presents a broad perspective of the historical development of Panama from its Spanish colonial days to the completion of the canal in 1913.

From Casco Antiguo we will go along the bay of Panama to the modern area of Panama City, with its Manhattan-like skyline , modern buildings, one of the worlds’ largest banking districts and multi million shopping molls. Here you will experience the city’s vibrant business rhythm and will be surprised of how fast this city transforms within 10 minutes drive.

By now it should be time for a nice Panamanian lunch enjoyed at a typical restaurant. After lunch we will approach the Panama Canal at the Miraflores Locks and observe 90,000 ton vessels rise and drop more than 50 feet as they make their way over Panama from one ocean to another and enjoy an audiovisual presentation that describes how ships pass through this engineering wonder.

The visitor centre has 4 exhibition halls: Canal History, Water - the Source of Life, The Canal in Action and the Canal of the World. Then on our way back we’ll drop by at the arts and crafts market, where you will have a chance to shop for souvenirs.

We will conclude our tour at the Amador Causeway, situated at the mouth of the Panama Canal and bordering beautiful Panama City’s bay with spectacular 360 degree views and pleasant sea breezes.

The Other Panama:

This tour is to show you the other part of Panama which everybody tends to hide, ignore and forget, where the less fortunate but most authentic people live. Now if you read certain guides, you will be told that these are dangerous areas where you should never go. Panama was given one of the highest ranking for tourist safety from the Pinkerton Intelligence Agency. Like in any other country some neighbourhoods are not safe and should be avoided if you are a tourist. Yes, if you make it your regular habit to walk at this places flashing your Rolex and expensive jewelry, carrying a camera around your neck and looking lost, sooner or later you are likely to be robbed. Anyways if you are with a local guide like me, that knows where to go, there is no reason to worry.

I will drive around certain areas showing and explaining the everyday life, history and situation of these places. We will as well visit the best established, largest, most inclusive strongholds of Panamanian capitalism as well as the most popular one for those who aren't rich, called Avenida Central. Avenida Central is like an open air mall where a deal can be found on every corner from local artisans to major brands of merchandise. Its absence of traffic, ample space make the peatonal (pedestrian mall) a popular hangout for different sorts of people, including men who play dominoes. Central's sidewalks are home to an amazing variety of vending stalls whose goods and services often compete with and even more often complement the stores in the buildings along the street. The micro-enterprise face of a huge multinational conglomerate is one of the ordinary attractions on the peatonal.

We will finish the tour by having lunch together in one of the many traditional restaurants... we can decide together in which part of the city to go.

Embera Indian Village:

This tour will show you one of the three Indian cultures of panama that are still living the same way as when Columbus found them in the 1500’s. An article about the Embera Indians was published in the National Geographic magazine. You will learn about their culture, see their ceremonial dances and handmade crafts, taste their native food with platano (a kind of banana) leaves on which delicious fresh fish with fried platanos are served, explore the area’s abundant variety of birds and wildlife during a trek that takes you through the untouched jungle and past sparkling waterfalls and if you want, you can get your body painted as they do, with a natural fruit dye called Jagua... all of this in just one day! Your visit to the Embera community will help them economically to preserve their culture and environment.

After an hour and a half drive we will reach the location where we will take a canoe – called a “piragua” (a native boat) to the extraordinary Embera village about a half-hour up the Chagres River, observing the amazingly quiet and beautiful scenery surrounded by beautiful tropical vegetation and water. At arrival we will be greeted by the village, all traditionally dressed, and taken to the main communal hut where the history of the tribe, their origins and their life style will be narrated. We will assist to their dances, in how women make beautiful straw bowls and plates from their own trees, dye branches of trees with vegetable ink to turn the straw into different colours and see their jewellery made out of coins and different metals. By lunch time we will try their healthy and tasty homemade cuisine. Subsequently we’ll follow the "medicine man" who will illustrate their amazing knowledge in natural medicine contained in their incredible forest full of natural medicinal plants which alternative medicine therapists would die for. On our way back we will freshen up, taking a dip in the cold water of a hidden waterfall above Chagres River. Many visitors find it difficult to leave this tropical paradise that the rest of the world has yet to discover.

El Valle:

On this tour we will visit a paradisiacal place at 600 meters above sea level full of ecoturistic attractions called “El valle de Anton”, from the Spaniard explorer Anton Martin. It’s a 1 and ½ hour drive from Panama City with the Pan-American highway. El Valle is located on top of the extinguished second largest volcano crater in the world which erupted three million years ago. Here is the only place in the world where you will see the Golden Frog and square trees which are at the tropical zoo, together with plants and exotic flowers, monkeys, tapirs, exotic birds and foreign species of birds and mammals. Then we will see the Petroglyphs - large pre-Columbian drawings of figures at the Piedra Pintada, La India Dormida (The Sleeping Indian girl) -, which inspired poets and writers to immortalize a legend from the colonial time, el Chorro del Macho- An 85 meter tall rainforest waterfall with an inviting pool at the bottom where you can take a refreshing dip after hiking. On Sundays, there is the Indian market where local artisans and Indians living around it, bring their handicrafts, plants, vegetables, the famous carved soap stones, ceramics, trays, wood furniture, bamboo cages and the national flower: the Holy Spirit. We will enjoy lunch in between all this activities in a local restaurant.

Optional: At El Valle you can have the Canopy Tour, that consists on a steel cable system with a cabin that runs through the canopy of the forest, above Chorro del Macho (waterfall). There, using special harnesses you go on the forest. This activity will have an additional cost to be paid directly at the ticket window over there.

This is an outdoor activity: light clothes, swimming suit, sun glasses, insect repellent, hat, sunscreen and very comfortable shoes are a must. Cash in small bills is preferred, in case you want to purchase souvenirs.

El Valle and Beach Tour:

On this tour we will visit a paradisiacal place at 600 meters above sea level full of ecoturistic attractions called “El valle de Anton”, from the Spaniard explorer Anton Martin. It’s a 1 and ½ hour drive from Panama City with the Pan-American highway.

El Valle is located on top of the extinguished second largest volcano crater in the world which erupted three million years ago. A fertile volcanic valley filled with bright flowers, square trees and golden frogs which we will see at the tropical zoo, together with plants and exotic flowers, monkeys, tapirs, and foreign species of birds and mammals. On Sundays, there is the Indian market where local artisans and Indians living around it bring their handicrafts, plants, vegetables products, the famous carved soap stones, ceramic, trays, wood furniture, bamboo cages and the national flower: the Holy Spirit.

Following, we will depart to the beach of Santa Clara on the Pacific Coast which is only at 30 minutes drive and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Santa Clara has it all: pleasant white-sand beach, decent places to eat and not too many people. The mood of the place is one of quiet contemplation, ideal for families and couples of any age. You can lay back and drink dark Panamanian rum and relax in the shade of a thatched rancho on a hammock, walk on the beach, go for a swim and children can also have fun horseback riding on the beach. In the late afternoon we will return to Panama city.

Birdwatching:

Pipeline Road is considered by experts one of the top places in the world for nature observation and bird watching. Also site of the 1985 world record of Bird Count (385 species of birds were identified in 24 hours). It is most accessible- just an hour from Panama City.

Pipeline was built to transport fuel from one ocean to the other in the event the Panama Canal was obstructed. Fortunately, it was never used and today it provides excellent access to primary forest within Soberania National Park. Numerous side trails plus 11 creeks and rivers can be followed into the forest. Escorted by one of our bilingual, birding/naturalist guides, we'll have an opportunity to see an array of birds.

This tour requires an early departure for having the best. After lunch, we will reach the highlight of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, the Aereal Tram Canopy Tour surrounded by a truly unique tropical ecosystem, where you will guide up and into the forest. You will encounter species of flora and founa rarely seen. After leaving the tram, you'll visit the resort's extensive exhibit area where you'll find a freshwater fish aquarium, reptile exhibit, a butterfly aviary, a model representing an Embera Indian village and an orchid farm.

Train Ride and Shopping:

From Panama City you will take a train ride across the Isthmus on the historic newly restored Panama Canal Railway in refurbished air-conditioned passenger cars. The need for the railway was inspired by the California Gold Rush. The passenger line goes alongside locks, across tropical jungle and through Panama's most historic areas. All aboard? I will pick you up at Colon where the train ride ends and we will head to Colon Free Zone, Latin America’s most important Duty Free Zone and the most important distribution centers in the world for imports and re-imports for Latin America.

Did you know:

• That at US$295 a share, the Panama Railroad was at one time the highest priced stock on the New York Stock Exchange?
• That the PRR was the most expensive (per mile) railroad ever built? It cost 8 million dollars and took 5 years to build.
• That at US$25 in gold, for 47 and a half miles, the PRR was the most expensive railroad (per mile) to travel?
• That more than 12000 people died in the construction of the Panama Railroad?
• That disposing of the dead was becoming such a problem, that the Railroad started "pickling" the bodies in barrels and selling them to medical schools?
• The proceeds were then used to build a hospital for the Railroad.
• That during the first 12 years of its operations, the Panama Railroad carried over US$750,000,000 in gold dust, nuggets, and gold and silver coin - and collected a quarter of one percent on each shipment.
• That the Panama Canal would have been impossible to build without the Panama Railroad?

After Lunch we will drive to Fort San Lorenzo, passing by Ft. Sherman, which used to be one of the world’s best military jungle survival schools that trained U.S. and Latin American personnel in jungle warfare and survival techniques. Fort San Lorenzo, one of the two main forts build in the late 16th century, meant to protect the final part of the trail known as “Camino de Cruces”, the trails that the Spaniards had developed across the Panamanian isthmus to carry all the gold looted by the Conquistadors from South America which left for Europe. Subsequently we will drive back to Panama City.

Your purchases at the Colon Free Zone, will be subjected to aduana formalities if you want to take out the merchandises with you. Take in consideration that the main purpose of this area is for wholesale sales, therefore many shops will require a minimum amount of sales to be able to honor your purchases. Alternatively the acquired products could be retired at the International Airport just before your departure not being subject then to duties or taxes.

Portobello & Isla Grande (beach):

After about an hour and 20 minute drive we will reach Portobello (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), probably Spain’s most important port in the new world. The widest remain of ruins from the fortifications that were used to defend the town from pirates, like Sir Henry Morgan, who roamed the Caribbean attracted by this immense wealth and perhaps the most heavily fortified of the Spanish control points along the coasts of the Americas, from where all the gold from South America looted by the Conquistadors, left for Europe. We will visit this historical town and the Church of the Black Christ, a statue that sank in the bay when being shipped from Spain to the Viceroy of Peru. Portobeloans rescued the statue, which is said to have miraculous powers.

We will then reach a typical Antillean island community called Isla Grande within a ten-minute ride on a cayuco (water taxi) where we will have lunch at one of the open-air restaurants to taste some good Caribbean-style seafood preparation, crab, octopus or fried fish, served with coconut rice or patacones (deep-fried green plantains). We will spend the rest of the day seeing the site, snorkelling and relaxing in its spectacular setting... so don’t forget your swimming gear! The island has about 300 inhabitants that make a living from fishing, growing coconuts and visitors that come to enjoy its natural beauty. There are no roads and the town spreads along its palm fingered beachfront full of tropical flowers which can be covered within 25 min., making it an extremely peaceful place.

About Panama:

Panama is often called “Bridge of the Worlds, Heart of the Universe”. In fact Panama, ever since the beginning of Spanish colonization, has been a transit center for commerce. The Spanish used Panama for the gold transportation from the Inca mines in Peru and Ecuador across the Isthmus and onward to Spain.

Today Panama continues to be the crossroad of the world with its canal, the “Eighth Wonder of the World, transporting goods and passengers all over the world.

Security:

According to an article, published by Newsweek, Panama was rated amongst the top countries, by the prestigious Pinkerton Intelligence Agency, for tourist safety. Panama has no army and uses the U.S. dollar as currency, therefore political stability and a peaceful place to relax and enjoy your vacations. More incidents of violent crime occur in cities like Rome, Paris or Washington D.C. in 24 hours than they occur in the whole of Panama in an entire year!

Health/Water:

No vaccines or pills are necessary prior to visiting our country. Panama is the only country in Latin America where you can drink water straight from the tap.

It's Practical Aspect:

In no other country could you be in the Pacific and after an hour drive reach the Atlantic. Major attractions are at short distance from Panama city giving the opportunity to be based in the capital, enjoy daily tours and take advantage of it’s night life… dancing away to the rhythm of salsa & meringue!

The Diversification of Panama City:

Its prime location with an excellent infrastructure, together with its world-class services, makes it the meeting and incentive capital of the Americas. Panama binds three cities in one: the modern with its tall skyline of modern office buildings and hotels also known as the “Small Miami ”, the old historic part known as the “Panama La Vieja” with its ruins and the “Casco Viejo”, the colonial side (Old City) build by the Spaniards in 1670. This combination gives the city a special and interesting atmosphere.

Geographical Position:

Geography gives Panama one of the world’s most amazing collections of flora and fauna. North and South American animals and vegetation come together in a clash of color and life: a bird watcher’s paradise, a fisherman’s dream and a nature lovers delight. It's an ecological paradise where over 25% of the total surface of the country is protected by 14 national parks that shelters and protects 900 species of birds and nearly 1,200 species of orchid. Pipeline Road, the scene of a world record (350 bird species counted in one day) is scarcely a half an hour from Panama City. In Panama, you can get very close to the best of tropical nature without traveling long distances, giving up your creature comforts or putting yourself in any kind of danger. Panama is also privileged to be home to the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research, the world's primary tropical scientific investigation center, which for 80 years has been cataloging and monitoring this vast ecological heritage.

Fun:

Few peoples can rival with the fun loving nature of Panamanians! Their love to party is reflected by the wide selection of many top-drawer restaurants, fast food outlets, nightclubs, discos and casinos...something for every taste and pocket. The “action” all takes place in three sectors: the modern district (Marbella-Bella Vista), Casco Viejo and the Amador Causeway.

Shopping:

Options range from local markets to multi million dollar super malls and luxury goods. Panama is a tax free heaven country with one of the world's largest banking centers with no less than 130 first rate international banks and is home to some of the top companies in the world ( Federal Express, DHL, Sears, Price Costo, Bell South), retaining the Colon free Zone, the second largest free trade zone in the world after Hong Kong!

When To Visit:

Panama largely avoids the Pacific rim’s earthquakes and its “ring of fire,” and escapes the Caribbean’s devastating tropical storms and hurricanes. Tourism in Panama is a year-round activity. The temperature never varies, 25°C to 30°C (77°F - 86°F) and the sun shines everyday, all year long. However, there are two "seasons" in Panama: the "dry season" from December through May and the "green season" from June until November where you will get a few hours of tropical showers to freshen up the atmosphere… but most activities and tours can be planned around it.

Time Zone:

Panama's time is the same as the United States Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5).

Language:

The native tongue is Spanish although most Panamanians speak some English and many speak it fluently as Americans were present in the former Canal Zone for 100 years.

Religion:

Most Panamanians are Roman Catholic. However, due to the great diversity in the country, there are numerous churches, temples and synagogues all over the country. There is freedom of religion in Panama.

Electricity and Telephone System:

The current is 110V - 60HZ. Telephone and international cable services in Panama are excellent. We have a direct-dial system to locations inland and all over the world. Our country code is 507.

Pricing:

The tourism industry in Panama is just developing and therefore prices are reasonable. Panama is the "affordable exotic destination", meaning it offers exotic, unique and off-the-beaten-path kind of experiences with no tourist hordes and plenty of pristine nature.

Airlines Serving Panama:

There are more and more airlines company serving Panama as the International airport is being enlarged.

VISA Requirements:

Depending on your nationality, you may be required a visa or a tourist card. Tourist cards may be bought on arrival. A tourist card gives you an automatic 30 day stay, and is extendable for another 60 days. Travellers should consult with the Panamanian consulate or embassy in that country to obtain the latest information on entry requirements.

FAQ:

What clothes do I need to bring?

Shorts, short sleeve shirts, sundresses and sandals are commonly worn. An extra swimming suit is always useful, as is sunscreen. Insect repellent is recommended for horseback riding, jungle and plantation tours. We suggest bringing sun hats and sunglasses although straw hats and various caps from our local markets make nice souvenirs. In general, for the tropical climate, light colored, loose fitting cotton clothes are the most comfortable. Do bring neat clothes. Panamanians themselves, especially the women of Panama City are beautifully groomed. Panama City is a dress-up city, but as a tourist you’ll be excused from the dress code provided you are dressed neatly (especially in some restaurants). The highlands can be cold in the night so a warm sweater or light jacket is necessary.

When is the best time to visit?

Any time of the year is a good time to visit. The climate is pleasantly warm, with cooling sea breezes, which means that it is rarely uncomfortably hot. Panama largely avoids the Pacific rim’s earthquakes and its “ring of fire,” and escapes the Caribbean’s devastating tropical storms and hurricanes…this is why it was decided to build the canal in Panama. Tourism in Panama is a year-around activity. The temperature never varies, 25°C to 30°C (77°F - 86°F) and the sun shines everyday, all year long. However, there are two "seasons": the "dry season" from December through May and the "green season" from June until November where you will get sudden short downpours that freshen the air and are followed by sunshine…but most activities and tours can be planned around it.

In case of an emergency, what are the medical facilities like?

As a by-product of its long association with the United States, many Panamanian doctors are U.S. trained and the standards of the top hospitals compare favorably to US standards. For medical treatment we recommend the Hospital Nacional in Panama City (Tel: 204-8100) which has a special department for tourists with a multilingual staff. They accept most insurance policies. Their medical staff is mostly US trained and English speaking and the facilities and service are excellent.

Your Hosts:

Patty and Rudy...

Patricia is half German and half Belgian, born in Peru but raised in Africa, did her International Baccalaureate in Lesotho and has a degree in Applied Languages (speaks fluently 5) that she did in Aix-en-Provence and then went on to Lyon where she achieved her Master’s degree in hotel management.

Rudy is half Italian and half Panamanian, born in Panama but raised in Rome, went to Notre Dame International School and accomplished a degree in Art History at the John Cabot International University. After having managed his own business in Germany for 9 years he went back to Panama where he met Patty who just had been transferred… and got married within 8 weeks!!!

After a year, we decided to move to Rome allowing Patricia to learn Italian and the secret of the Mediterranean cooking. So we packed up for Italy and started our Roman B&B. We have been running it with success for the past five years and have closed it in order to welcome our guests in Panama.

We both enjoy meeting people from all over the world… hence our choice of making hosting and touring our business. Let us show you our Panama by given you tips on our favorite restaurants or the places not to be missed… our priority is to make you feel at home whilst away from home.

Deutsch:

Kommen und entdecken Sie die Tropen.... Patty & Rudy möchten Sie willkommen heißen in diesem schönen, noch unentdeckten Land, genannt... Panama!!!

Patty’s Casitas bietet Ihnen Touren und 2 Übernachtungsmöglichkeiten an :

B&B und Appartement zur Vermietung.

Unser Gästehaus (Arcos de Bella Vista) verfügt über große Schlafzimmer mit eigenen Badezimmer in Bella Vista, einer exklusiven grünen Wohngegend, im Herzen von Panama City, wo Sie Restaurants, Bars, Nacht Clubs und die Meeresfront haben, alles in nur einigen Minuten Fußmarsch zu erreichen.

Das zu vermietende Appartement (Amador Vermitungen) befindet sich in Amador, dem neuen Touristenziel en vogue, wo es alle möglichen Anziehungspunkte gibt, u.a. der größte outdoor event & concert Platz, Restaurants, Bars, SPA, High fashion & Duty-free Einkauf, Handelzentrum, Themenpark, Kreuzfahrthafen, Strandclub, ein großes Areal zum Radfahren, Joggen oder spazieren gehen während Sie die Meeresbrise und die große erstaunliche Aussicht auf die „Bridge of the Americas“ (Brücke der Amerikas) genießen.

Durch seine zentrale Lage innerhalb des Landes, haben Sie den Vorteil in Panama City, dass Sie die meisten Sehenswürdigkeiten nach kurzer Fahrtdauer erreichen und die Möglichkeit haben Halb - oder Ganztagestouren zu machen und trotzdem Panamas nonstop Nachtleben zu genießen, mit einer großen Auswahl von Restaurants, Bars, Folklorevorstellungen oder Nachtclubs.

Bei uns zu übernachten, heißt sorgenfreier Urlaub, wir könnten Sie am Flughafen treffen, Sie dann nach Hause fahren (zu unserem B&B oder in das Appartement) und Ihnen alle benötigten Informationen und Tipps geben, damit Sie mit der Erkundung dieser wundervollen Stadt beginnen können... also sehen Sie sich unsere Webseite an, dort finden Sie mehr Informationen über Panama, unsere Unterkünfte, unsere Touren und natürlich auch über uns ... wir hoffen Ihnen bald unser Panama zeigen zu können.

Français:

Venez découvrir les tropiques...Patty & Rudy voudraient vous souhaiter la bienvenue dans ce pays magnifique et encore inconnu appelé…Panama!!!

Patty’s Casitas offre des tours et 2 types de logements:

chambres d’hôtes et location d’un appartement.

Notre maison d'hôtes (Arcos de Bella Vista) offre des chambres spacieuses avec salle de bain (en-suite) situées dans un quartier résidentiel exclusif et verdoyant, au cœur de Panama City, appelé Bella Vista, où vous trouverez restaurants, bars, boites de nuit et sa promenade au bord de mer...le tout à quelques minutes de marche.

Nous habitons dans la maison mais nos hôtes ont une entrée indépendante.

L’appartement que nous louons (Location Amador) est situé dans la nouvelle destination touristique en vogue appelée Amador, qui comprend beaucoup d’attractions comme la plus grande place extérieure d’évènements et de concerts, restaurants, bars, SPA, haute couture & shopping duty free, zone commerciale, parcs à thèmes, marina, club de plage, un super endroit pour faire du vélo, jogging ou se promener en respirant la brise marine tout en admirant l’imprenable vue sur le Pont des Amériques.

De part sa localisation centrale dans le pays, Panama City vous donne l’avantage d’avoir la plus grande partie des attractions à peu de distance en voiture, vous donnant ainsi l’opportunité de faire des tours de demi-journée ou de toute la journée, tout en appréciant la vie nocturne non-stop avec son grand choix de restaurants, bars, shows folkloriques et boites de nuits.

Venir chez nous, signifie des vacances sans stress puisque nous pouvons venir vous chercher à l'aéroport, vous emmener chez vous (dans notre maison d'hôtes ou à l'appartement) et vous donner toutes les informations afin que vous puissiez commencer votre exploration de cette merveilleuse ville alors...visitez notre site Internet, vous y trouverez de plus amples informations sur le Panama, les logements que nous offrons, nos tours, transferts aéroport et bien sure un peu plus sur nous...et nous espérons avoir bientôt la joie de vous montrer notre Panama.

Italiano:

Venite a scoprire i tropici…Patty & Rudy saranno lieti di darvi il benvenuto in questo meraviglioso paese, ancora poco conosciuto chiamato… Panama!!!

Patty’s Casitas offre due tipi di alloggio:

Il B&B e un appartamento per affitti di brevi periodi ed una interessante scelta di gite turistiche.

La casa “Arcos de Bella Vista” situata in una zona residenziale molto esclusiva nel cuore di Panama City, chiamata Bella Vista, dispone di stanze spaziose con bagno interno. Nella zona troverete ristoranti, bar, casino, club notturni e la passeggiata del lungomare a soli cinque minuti a piedi.

Noi abbitiamo nella stessa casa ma i nostri ospiti hanno il loro ingresso privato.

L’appartamento “Amador Rentals” si trova nella nuova zona turistica di Panama City chiamata Amador, nella quale ci sono molte attrazioni, tra le quali la grande piazza per riunioni e concerti, ristoranti, bar, SPA, alta moda & tax free shopping, un’area commerciale, un parco tematico, un porto per privati e porto per navi da crociera, spiaggia. Vi sono inoltre dei sentieri per fare jogging e passeggiate alla brezza marina di fronte al grandioso ponte delle Americhe.

Per la sua ubicazione molto centrale nel paese, Panama City, ha il vantaggio di consentire la visita a molti luoghi turistici che noi offriamo con i nostri tour di mezza giornata o di intera giornata. Allo stesso tempo potrete scoprire la vita notturna panamense con i suoi molti ritrovi.

Alloggiare con noi vuol dire godere delle vacanze senza stress e contrattempi. Noi vi preleviamo all’aeroporto, vi portiamo a casa (al B&B o all’appartamento) vi forniamo tutte le informazioni e consigli necessari per cominciare ad esplorare questa meravigliosa città. Date un’occhiata al nostro sito, troverete informazioni su Panama, sui nostri alloggi, sui nostri tour, sul servizio di trasferta da e per l’aeroporto e ovviamente su di noi.

Español:

Venga y descubra el trópico… Patty & Rudy quisieran darles las bienvenidas a este hermoso aun poco conocido país llamado… Panama!!!

Patty’s Casitas ofrece giras y dos tipos de alojamiento:

Bed & Breakfast y alquiler de apartamento.

El Bed & Breakfast (Arcos de Bella Vista) ofrece cuartos espaciosos con baños privados internos situados en un área verde residencial y exclusiva en el corazón de la ciudad de Panamá, llamado Bella Vista, donde usted encontrará restaurantes, bares, discotecas, clubes nocturnos y la bahía frente al mar, a pocos minutos a pie.

Nosotros vivimos en la casa pero nuestros huespedes tienen su propria entrada privada.

El apartamento para alquilar (Alquileres Amador) esta situado en la nueva área de mayor atracción turística llamado Amador, que comprende muchas atracciones como la mas grande plaza de eventos y conciertos, restaurantes, bares, SPA, alta moda & duty free shopping, área comercial, parque temático, puerto de cruceros, club balneario, un lugar para ir en bicicleta, correr o caminar gozando de la brisa marina y de la gran vista del imponente Puente de las América.

Debido a su ubicación central dentro del país, Ciudad de Panamá tiene la ventaja de tener las principales atracciones turísticas a corta distancia dándoles la oportunidad de tomar giras diarias con nosotros y a la misma vez disfrutar de la vida nocturna Panameña con su gran variedad de restaurantes, bares, espectáculos folclóricos y clubes nocturnos.

Permaneciendo con nosotros significa vacaciones libres de estres, sin perder tiempo, sin retrasos...los recogemos al aeropuerto y los traemos a casa (al B&B o al apartamento), darles todos los consejos para poder empezar a explorar esta maravillosa ciudad...asi que eche una ojeada a nuestro sitio web, encontrara mas información sobre Panamá, nuestros alojamientos, nuestras giras, servicio de traslado del aeropuerto y por supuesto sobre nosotros mismos...esperamos de poderles pronto enseñar nuestra Panama.