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Santiago and David

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Santiago and David, Panama

Both cities were stopping off points for this Turtle. I only spent a night or two in each on the way to someplace else in Panama. Both cities are located on the Panamerican Highway.

I have to say that the Hotel in Santiago, or just outside of town was the nicest and most modern of all the Hotels / Motels that I stayed in while visiting Panama, outside of Hotels within Panama City. The Hotel just before arriving in Santiago from Panama City is called the Hotel Mykonos. As you can see from the pictures, it is very new and modern. This was such an island of relief from the long driving within Panama, that I ended up staying here both headed west into Panama and also on my return back to Panama City for my flight to Bocas del Toro (see future blog).

Santiago (4 of 6) Santiago (3 of 6) Mykonos (2 of 6) Mykonos (1 of 6)

Santiago itself is an old city, dating back to around 1621. There are many fine old churches, buildings, and parks located throughout the city.  The city also has many restaurants, mostly outdoor seating with good food and beverages. There is also a very new and large shopping center called “Santiago Mall”, located just west of the Hotel Mykonos, along the Panamerican Highway. You will find many American Brand stores alongside some larger Panamanian store chains. The mall just opened in 2014, so it is not yet full of shops.

Santiago (5 of 6) Santiago (6 of 6)

As I have blogged before (Panamerican Highway), the road from Panama City to just past Santiago is completed, paved, and well maintained. Once past Santiago, this highway is under construction with lots of detours and delays, all the way to just before David at Chiriqui, in Western Panama.

The city of David (pronounced (“Da-Vid”) is named after King David from the Bible, and has a population of about 145,000. David was founded in about 1602 and has many old historical churches, buildings, and parks. It also has a regional airport that most people use to fly to / from Panama City.

Conveniently located along the Panamerican Highway, David is the largest major city in Western Panama and the third major urban area in Panama, with major roads leading to Boquete, Volcan, and the Pacific coastal town of Puerto Pedregal. Volcán Barú, a dormant volcano and also the tallest mountain in Panama, is visible from northern parts of the city. The Costa Rican border is located about a 45-minute drive (50 km or 31 miles) west on the Panamerican Highway.

An excellent hotel to stay at within the downtown area of the city is the “Gran Nacional Hotel”. It offers dining a casino, and comfortable rooms.

Gran Nacional Hotel (4 of 8) Gran Nacional Hotel (5 of 8) Gran Nacional Hotel (7 of 8) Gran Nacional Hotel (1 of 8)

Boquete will be the next blog in this series.

 

 

Pan-American Highway

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The Pan-American Highway – Panama

The Pan-American Highway was and is a network of highways that stretches from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushuaia in Argentia South America. It is called the longest road in the world. The road is complete except for a 100 km (60 miles) stretch that joins Central America (Panama) to South America, called the “Darien Gap”. In Panama, this is the main road that connects Costa Rica to Panama and travels all the way to the South America and stops at the Darien Gap.

Traveling west from Panama City, this is a well maintained and divided highway that crosses the western entrance to the Panama Canal via the “Bridge of the Americas”. In February 2016, when I traveled this highway, it was paved from Panama City to just outside of Santiago where major road construction then continued all the way to just before David (pronounced Da-vid) at Chiriqui. The name associated with this highway in Panama is “Carretera Panamericana Highway” and is designated Route 1.

Pan-American Highway (1 of 5) Pan-American Highway (5 of 5) Pan-American Highway (2 of 5)

The highway has many fruit and vegetable stands located all along the highway, stocked mostly with watermelon (February), and I am sure with whatever the fresh fruit of the season is when traveling this highway. There were so many stands filled with watermelon, that I had to wonder why there were selling them, when with this much fruit available, they might as well be giving it away.

The road north of the “Bridge of Americas” runs close to the coast and along what is called the Panama Beach Coast, which includes Coronado, a favorite Ex-Pat, and locals Getaway beach town.

Before reaching Santiago, you will pass by a large wind farm for generation of electricity. Panama is very progressive and modern for a third world country.

Pan-American Highway (4 of 5) Pan-American Highway (3 of 5)

Continue traveling the highway the first major city you encounter is Santiago, founded in the 17th. century, and has a population of about 89,000. There are good hotels, hostels, restaurants, stores, and shops available. One of the nicest hotels all along the Pan-American Highway within Panama is the “Hotel Mykonos”. The hotel is located about a mile or so before you get to Santiago.

Pan-American Highway (6 of 6) Mykonos (1 of 1)

Once past Santiago, the highway was under major repairs, and construction all the way to just before David at Chiriqui. Lots of detours and slow going.

David is a modern city, with plenty of Hotels, Shops, Restaurants, and places to see. It has a population of about 145,000. The main part of town is located south of the Panamerican Highway, but worth a day or two of sightseeing. If you get the chance, you should visit and stay at the “Gran Hotel Nacional”. This hotel includes a 6 screen movie theater, casino and is one of the nicest hotels in David. This is an old hotel with lots of rich history, although the rooms are very clean, comfortable and with A/C, safe, Included breakfast, and good beds.

Gran Nacional Hotel (1 of 8) Gran Nacional Hotel (4 of 8) Gran Nacional Hotel (5 of 8)

Next up, a visit Anton Valley.