Thread: How would you spend your first 10 days on the Azuero?

Greetings!
We have booked our flight for our first trip to Panama. My husband and I are from Texas, and we are really excited about the trip.
He is retired, I will join him soon! We are both active and we love the beach. He started learning to surf last summer, so we envision more time (for him) to practice. We are anxious to get our first glimpse of the Azuero, to see what possibilities it holds for our future.
We have about 10 days in June. We were thinking of staying in Pedasi, but we could also break it up (Uverito, Las Tablas, other places?) I was looking at La Rosa de Los Vientos and Hostal Dona Maria and Dim's Hostal in Pedasi. I also saw that there was a Hostal near Venao. (Only La Rosa has answered my e-mail inquiry so far.)

I was wondering if some of you folks who now live in Panama would be interested in giving your 2 cents. If you were us, and you were doing it over again, how would you spend you first 10 days on the Azuero? (I didn't mention any other area. We're not interested in the City or a Miami-like hi-rise life style.)

Thanks for your help. Hope to get to meet some of you this summer.
Pam & Tim (from Texas)

well you need a rent a car , without it , it just sucks , yes there are buses and taxis but rent a car , if you want to sleep right in town , the last two on your list will work , but if you want some peace and quite go with la rosa , they are only a 5 minute drive to town and a five minute walk to a nice beach . the hostel near venao would be ok , but you are about 1/2 or more hour drive to pedasi to eat , i would say stay closer to pedasi and just drive out there to surf , you might want to check out the other side of the azuero also , i have heard it is also beautiful , part of the road sucks . i have not been there yet .

Pam and Tim --

I've followed the discussion on this board on occasion, but just registered tonight and started a thread seeking contact with other future Bala Beach owners and related information on living on the Caribbean side of Panama. From what I've read, there are lots of folks listening in from Las Tablas area who will have good information to share with you if that's your area of interest. By the way, we're from Texas too!

How is the whole Bala Beach thing doing? Just curious, have you spent a lot of time in Colon?

I agree...if you have 10 days you have to rent a car (suv)....drive to the Azuero, or rent one in Chitre....Chitre serves its purpose for buying stuff that would otherwise be overpriced in the rest of the peninsula...also good for watching sports at Fiesta casino (as well as playing blackjack and roulette)...catching a movie (wear pants and bring jacket, make sure its subtitled and not dubbed)...and occasionally eating fast food, or eating something different (azuero hotel, anzuelo restaurant, memories, even the casino).....theres not a whole lot to see in between Chitre and Las Tablas...the town of Los Santos has some history, Guarare borders Las Tablas and is a typical interior town....stay a few nights in Las Tablas, preferibly towards the end of the week, try to find a baile (party, ask the gringos where to find one)..go spend the day at Uverito, or Comadres....make sure you stay a couple of nights in Pedasi (go fishing, go snorkel Isla Iguana, maybe Isla Canas, have a beer in Los Asientos)...stay a night or two in Venao...stay two nights in Cambutal...while your there visit Bucaro and Guanico...always ask around to find activities...have fun

I can vouch for La rosa. I stayed there two weeks, very simple but clean and like nakedguy said close to the beach. The owners are warm and welcoming and will spend time to tell you about the area. It is quiet and you sleep well. There is no tv, AC or internet.
Playa Venau is a great surf spot. The Azuero is the cleanest area of Panama I saw during my two months of travels. Downside is you can run out of things to do and see.

Check out Playa Rita (Bird Man) close to Venao.

I agree with the car rental. You can stay in Pedasi or Venado but drive up to Chitre and stay in a nicer place if you need a bit more conveniences. I like the Versailles in Chitre. In Pedasi I have stayed at Dims. I guess I should say Vena'o since that is how the Santenos pronounce it. Vena'o is a good sufing beach. Waves are not big but consistant . He may want to try the beach at boca de Rio Oria just for a change. Right where the river runs into the ocean the waves can get interesting. On the other side of the peninsula there is Santa Catalina. I have not been there yet but it is well known to surfers. Close to the city is Rio Mar if you want something closer to Panama City.