It's a huge region of the world that sit's right below me, I speak the language of all the countries, I eat the food, I am friends with the people from them in my city, and I knew of the greatness that is so close to my home, yet for whatever reason it was not until Summer of 2018 that I finally hit the region of central America.
The plan was to tackle 3 countries in 2 weeks, Panama, Costa Rica, and a quick weekend in Nicaragua who was in the midst of civil unrest during the trip. I used my usual strategies to get a kick ass flight which included a free layover in Fort Lauderdale which oddly I have never been to despite countless times in Miami. I landed late in the country of Panama and immediately the humid hot jungle air hit me. It was the start of the two best weeks of that entire summer.
First here's my go to info from my experiences in Panama:
- Panama City is of course mandatory, I searched high and dry both online and in person walked a significant part of the city and came to the conclusion most people will advise, Casco Viejo is the place to stay. It's central, it's easy to get around, heavily guarded by PD/military for tourism and the president, great food, great drinks, great roof bars, and mind blowing views of Panama City Skyline.
- I tried the $9 Geisha coffee, extremely over rated in my opinon.
- Panama uses dollars, so that made it super easy for me and other American tourists. Credit card was also almost universally accepted, a change I'm seeing more and more in travel. Make sure you have a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees for when it's not the dollar or your home currency!
- You are not going all the way to Panama without seeing the canal, no need for a tour guide, it's easy to get to by Uber, or Taxi.. but make sure you know the Uber rate first as Taxi's tend to hike the price significantly sometimes!
- A day or overnight trip to Anton Valley is great, but don't waste money on a tour group, the bus ticket cost me $4 vs. $100 for a tour!
- Tours of Soberania National Park however are worth the money!
- Now even though I said stay in Casco, the only thing I did not like was the lack of local food! So for a good Panama Dish you will have to get out of the main tourist area, a good day would be coupled with walking the beautiful promenade.
- Next came the tough choice for me and all travelers short on time, Bocas Del Toro or San Blas Islands? I went with Bocas for 2 reasons, price and Cocovivo. Coco Vivo is a nature resort on a secluded island a half hour boat ride from Bocas. I stayed in an over the water cabin with a diving board into the ocean. It also included fresh cooked meals, a bar onsite (it was me and 3 other guests on the whole island!), free kayak, free paddle board, I paid $20 bucks or so for a jungle hike, free snorkeling with the reef just under your feet, I can't say enough good things about Cocovivo, I think it gave me the isloation and beauty of the San Blas Islands and at the end I even had about 3 hours to roam around the Bocas Town a little.
After that I headed back for 2 more awesome days chilling in Panama through a wicked rain storm which made the friends I made even funner to be with. The time was done and it was time to head to Nicaragua. At the time of this writing there was civil unrest, I was told a lot of warnings about safety, advice about where not to go, which roads not to use, where to stay etc. But I was not told about the good old Yellow Fever Card (which I admit I should have known!).
As I embarked out of the Panama Airport I said goodbye as I always did wondering when I would come back (not knowing it would be less than 3 hours). I landed in Nicaragua and arrived at customs, I speak fluent Spanish and it went something like this after the standard immigration questions...
Immigration Officer: ¿Tienes una tarjeta de fiebre amarilla?
Me: ¿Que?
Immigration Officer: ¿Tienes una tarjeta de fiebre amarilla? (louder)
Me: ¿Que?
Immigration Officer: Do you have a yellow fever card? (now in English)
Me: No, I understand what you are asking for, I just don't understand why you are asking me for this?
A brief argument ensues, I tell them I have been all over the world and have never been asked for this, I've worked in emergency medicine for 15+ years, I'm healthy etc. But at some point when you are in a foreign country, have only $100 or so cash, a phone that doesn't work, and you have no idea what they are doing with your passport, you give up. I was kicked out. I have been kicked out of a few bars in day, but I never was kicked out of a country before. I was politely and cordially escorted up to the terminal and placed back on a plane to Panama City regardless of the fact that they have not had a yellow fever outbreak since the 80s or so. Oh well lesson learned. I had heard many times in travel and read many times including this one on having the yellow fever card, but since I was stupid I didn't get one, lesson learned for a cost of about $500, which was the flight I lost, a last minute flight to Costa Rica, and 2 nights hotel I lost. Oh well! My first trip was still a blast for Central America!
Choose the continent!!!!
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