A Land of Unusual Adventures

THE FORMIDABLE NATURAL RICHNESS AND ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY THIS CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER DESTINATIONS AMONG THOSE WHO LOVE THE OUTDOOR TO-DOS

Nestled in Central America , the Republic of Panama is a place as impressive as it is unusual. Due to its location and curved shape, it is the only country in the world where the wonder of admiring the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and the sunset over the Atlantic occurs.

Exclusive of this land is also its having the tropical forest just 10 minutes from the modern capital, which allows quick access to parks that have been declared a Biosphere

Reserve and World Heritage Site. Panama is distinguished by its status as a hinge country, a bridge between two seas, and a privileged meeting point for cultures from all over the world. The world-known

Canal, a fundamental piece for international trade, and the Colon Free Zone - the largest free zone on the continent and the second largest in the world - have contributed in a significant way to the transformation of the territory as a platform for maritime, commercial, real estate, financial and, of course, tourism services.

This being so, it is no coincidence that at times the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) presents the nation as the setting for Adventure Week, an event that seeks to showcase the main destinations in terms of adventure tourism, an initiative also born from the collaboration with the Panama Chamber of Tourism and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).

According to the ATTA, a trip can be qualified as adventure tourism if it involves three basic pillars: nature, culture and physical action, which includes activities such as hiking, cycling, rock climbing and rafting . In that sense, Panama has it all.

It is already known that adventure tourism leaves positive balances and satisfactory experiences in those who have bet on its potential, the same in its variants of ecotourism (exploration of natural areas), accessible tourism (cultural incursions or extreme activities

such as bungee jumping), tourism of emotion (paragliding, mountaineering, base jumping, rock climbing and caving), or ethno tourism (approach to diverse cultures with wide walks through very undeveloped areas).

Diverse experts recommend as favored places to carry out these actions the Valley of Antón, the waters of the river Chiriquí Viejo, La Reserva de la Yeguada, and the Isla Coiba

(World Heritage), Volcano Barú and Chagres national parks.

FOR ALL LIKINGS

Diving, especially if it is practiced in one of the best preserved reefs of the American Pacific, in the Coiba National Park, or in Portobelo, in whose coast the visitor will be able to see a sunken plane, stands out as one of the most stunning activities. Zipline (sliding from one point to another by a cable) is found in such places as Boquete or Chorro del Macho, ideal scenarios due to their combination of climate and vegetation.

For rafting (descending rivers), however, specialists give the highest score to the Mamoni and Chiriqui Viejo rivers -considered among the 10 best on the planet for water adventures. Likewise, waterlife lovers will be able to enjoy a sublime experience by practicing snorkeling in Bocas del Toro, or kayaking in the Gatun Lake.

The ideal routes for cycling are located in the area of Gamboa and Cerro Azul, as

Adventure tourism leaves positive balances and satisfactory experiences in those who have better on its potential

well as in the paths near the capital city, such as the Camino Plantación, near the Summit Municipal Park. As far as mountaineering is concerned, the Baru volcano has no equivalent, since it has many accessible summits with different degrees of climbing difficulty.

Extreme activities are also windsurfing, that feels like glory when done in Punta Chame; wakeboarding (to slide on the water using a board dragged by a rope tethered to a boat or a jetski); wet rappel (to descend by cascades through ropes); and surfing, since both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts boast magnificent beaches, spectacular for these practices, mostly in the style of Santa Catalina with its enormous waves.

To top it all off, Panama has several locations that allow for humpback whale watching. In the archipelago of Las Perlas, the Gulf of Chiriqui or the Gulf of Montijo, San Miguel, Panama Bay and the islands of Iguana, Coiba and Taboga, these majestic creatures can be observed during the mating season or when they give birth to their offspring.

Whether it's on land, sliding through the air on ropes or letting the adrenaline flow in raging waters, Panama always offers a perfect, or quasi-perfect package of activities. The isthmus, two oceans, abundant flora and wildlife, heights and risks... Just enough to lure the most adventurous spirits.