Seniors Awed By Natural Wonders

We all know about the Panama Canal, but little about the rest of Panama. I discovered that there is a plethora of natural wonders throughout Panama.  Now it’s time to include Panama on our senior travel bucket list.

The country has a super natural park called Darien, the Chiriqui Highlands, a Caribbean archipelago of calm waters called Bocas Del Toro and a major highlight,  the Arenal Volcano. Volcanologists have previously declared Arenal the third most perfect volcanic cone in the entire world. Have you ever seen a “perfect volcanic cone” up close?

Panama is the perfect vacation destination for senior travelers with an enthusiasm for the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Nearly 500 rivers lace Panama’s rugged landscape. Mostly un-navigable, many originate as swift highland streams, meander in valleys, and form coastal deltas.

 Abundant Bird And Wildlife Await Senior Visitors

Amphibians, mammals and reptiles are abundant like turtles, hawksbill, monkeys, raccoons, paca and leatherback. Bird species are also in abundance like the yellow warbler, tiger-heron in Paridita and Parida Island. Among the sandy beaches and lush island vegetation reside four types of turtles and hundreds of varieties of orchids.

If one was to write a travel slogan for this uniquely “S”-shaped country that connects North and South America, it would go like this: “We’re not Colombia. We’re not Costa Rica. We are Panama.” I read somewhere that ships do not cross the Panama Canal going from east to west, but rather from north to south.

Within the last 100 years, the building of the Panama Canal and the Pan-American Highway have both spurred the country’s growth and development. And in this century, the love of all things green is turning tourism into a thriving industry.

Popular Extreme Tourism Destination

Gone are the days when all visitors saw of Panama was the view from the deck of their cruise ship as it navigated the canal. Now it is on site and up close for senior visitors who seek adventure and sites that can be found nowhere else on the planet.

People from practically every culture on earth make up Panama’s population of 3 million. Nearly half live in Panama City and like San Francisco, you’ll even find a Chinatown there. By the way, the Panama hat actually is made in Ecuador, but buy one anyway, they are way cool.

Panama is a popular destination for what is called extreme tourism. There are excellent conditions for trekking, rafting, rappelling, kayaking, surfing, canopy tours and various safaris throughout the country.  Panama is still one of the best-kept travel secrets in the world with outstanding natural beauty and an astounding biodiversity. jeb