Thread: Frist time in Panama

Hi everyone, Here is the story of my trip.
Well, it was interesting vacation for me. I have arrived to Tokumen one hour later then scheduled at 15:30, and instead of taking a taxi to Albrook i managed ($25) to get into the bus that was going to Royal Decameron(a lot's of people in the my plane where going to Royal Decameron Hotel)
so i arrived to Hotel and then took a taxi to nearest town ( Rio Hato) for $5.
Then i took a bus to Las Tablas $6. Probably i did not save much $ but i saved about 1.5 hours of time. I was in las Tablas bus station at about 10:45PM, took a taxi $6 to El Uverito beach,Hotel Posada del Mar, which i have booked prior to departure.
But to my big astonishment !!! there where no body in hotel. So here i am at night no one around, only two little very friendly dogs. Hotel is closed and dark inside with no sign of human anywere. There was phone number on the sign of hotel. Fortunately my cell phone provider has coverage in Panama, so i call the number and there was recording machine, no one to talk too. But before my trip (thanks to you people) i took the phone numbers of taxi in las Tablas just in case, which probably save's me (other wise i would spend a night on the beach) so i call the taxi came and drove me to town Hotel Piamonte $ 22. where i spend my first night in Panama. Couple of days later i switch to Hotel Don Hesus $ 32. Don Hesus is very comfortable hotel with WI-FI,AC,TV Cable and helpful staff. After that first day nightmare my trip was very pleasant. I met lot's of expats at Oceanos, The owner Mike and others were very helpful providing me a ton's of information about Panama, and Las Tablas area in particular. I had chance to go to Isla Iguana with the Robert, owner of B&B La Rosa del los Vientos. I have to tell you that La Rosa del los Vientos it is really great place to stay in Pedasi area,check it out at http://www.bedandbreakfastpedasi.com/index.html.
Isla Iguana to me was like Paradise island, just like in movies (see attached photos)
Restaurant at Uverito beach.jpgEl Playa Uverito up.jpgIsla Iguana 1.jpgIsla Iguana 3.jpgIsla Iguana 4 .jpgIsla Iguana, The other side of the island.jpg
Some tips about area.
Cell Phone cards. I bought a $5 sim card Movi + with phone number i put in my quad band cell, witch included $5 calling time, i made few calls and still have halve of money left on the card.
Restaurants.
Hotel Piamonte, very good fish stew, big plate really tasty $4.
In downtown Pedasi very good fried whole Snapper $6 plus bottle of good white wine $6
In Playa el Uverito first building green(see photo) excellent menu plate around 6-8 $ the owner's name is Pedro, he is good cook.
Transportation.
The bus from Las Tablas to Albrook $9.60 one way. Driving time 4 hours 40 minutes
in Albrook in front of Dunkin Donuts ( the one that is not in food court) but where the tickets to Las Tablas, there are buses going to Tokumen,(Not red devils) but it is like a city bus, It stops right in front of the airport, and from there it's 5 minute walk up to the airport, coast $ 1.25.drive time 40 min.
around noon.
Well that's about it, if you have any questions i will be happy to share with you my experience in Las Tablas area.