Discover Green Bay area


Panama's Pacific Coast Beach Guide - Part 1

The history of beach towns along the Pacificnow  rates  as  a  high-crime  area.
Coast in Panama is coupled to the history of
the Panama Canal. Most of the population thatVeracruz, is nestled between the beautiful
settled these Pacific beaches came from smallPacific Ocean and the base of lush green
villages that now are under the waters of themountains. The drive is about thirty minutes
Panama Canal. They were relocated from theirto downtown Panama, and only fifteen to
hometowns and settled along the coast so thattwenty minutes to get to Balboa, Panama which
their villages could be flooded over andhas just about everything one could need or
turned  into  the  floor  of  Lake  Gatun.want  for  everyday  living.
The major problem with the beaches in theThe former US Howard Airforce Base which is
area of the canal and just past the canallocated just in front of the area of
area is the debris that washes up on theVeracruz, and former Rodman Naval Station
beaches. Part of the debris is from the cityrecently received approved legislation to
itself and another contributing factor arebecome a free trade zone for the Pacific
the ships waiting to transit the canal.making this another area to watch for growth
Recently Panama City began a clean up projectexplosion.
for Panama Bay which will include a new water
treatment plant and sewage system for thePlaya  Chumical
city. Of course, the problem wasn't recreated
overnight and it won't be fixed overnight,Veracruz, flows into Veracruz de Chumical.
but at least we begin. This should cut downChumical, has a sand and volcanic rock beach
on some of the debris that washes ashore.that is cleaner than Veracruz, the homes are
However, unless stricter ordinances are putlarger and better maintained. In this town
in place and imposed with consistency on theare fishermen and residents that work in the
residents and the vessel in the bay thecity. Chumical is the cleanest of the public
beaches  will  continue  to  be  trashy.access  beaches  since  leaving  Panama City.
Panama's  FarFan  BeachEntrance to the beach can be gained by the
various paths the allow access between the
Across the bridge of the Americas in firsthouses. There is nothing but open water and
position is Panama's Farfan Beach. The roadsislands to be viewed from the coast in
are a little rough, similar to a forgottenChumical. There are no concessions or
county road in the US, rough road patches andcommerce  on  this  stretch  of  beach.
peppered with a some potholes. Even with the
road conditions, once you've crossed theThe day I visited I found a delightful sight.
bridge it is only a two minute drive to theThree children playing in a tide pool whiling
entrance of Farfan Beach. The first thing youaway the hours in the Panama sun. They
will notice is the barricade that blocks thestopped long enough to allow me to take their
paved road's approach to the abandoned beachpictures. Their presence definitely added to
area. The second thing of notice is Panama'sthe  beauty  of  the  scenery.
Balboa Gun Club positioned directly next to
the barricade. The third thing you shouldPlayita Vacamonte and Vacamonte Port (Vaco
notice is the alternate off road paths thatMonte)
have  been  created  to  access  the  beach.
Playita Vacamonte, Panama sits just outside
Panama's now forgotten Farfan Beach was oncethe official entrance to the Vacamonte Port.
a hot spot as is evidenced by the abandonIt is the smallest of the public access
concrete concession stand that was oncebeaches since leaving Panama City. Like
complete with toilets facilities. Farfan is aPanama's Playa Bonita, this area is a little
canal beach, from the concession area you canrustic since it set road side and you have to
look out to the left and see Panama's Amadordescend a steep hill to reach the beach area.
Causeway with a clear view of Naos Island andParking is minimal but the view is breath
the Smithsonian Institute's Culebra Island.taking. The waters here are clean and the
Looking straight ahead you can view large andVacamonte Port area is well maintained free
small vessels anchored just outside thefrom  the  normal  roadside  debris.
Panama Canal waiting for permission to begin
their transit and since the canal isThe Vacamonte Port of Panama is an
operational twenty four hours day, seven daysinternational port. You will need to show
a week, you are sure to see a vessels at theyour passport to the guard and enter the
beginning  of  its  transit.area.
Since Farfan is no longer managed, tall grassVacamonte Port consists of a few small
now covers some areas of the once popularbuilding and a port of industrial fishing.
beach, from the well worn grooves made byThe port has two wharves and a pier. In the
vehicles that drive out to the beach area itport are all manner of fishing boats whose
is evident that Panama's Farfan Beach stillmain commodities are shrimp, shark, tuna, and
receives it's share of visitors. Even if youvarious local fish. The fish are sold to the
choose not to drive off road, it only a shortgeneral public from 8:00 until 2:00. There's
blocks walk past the barricade on the paveda bank and a restaurant in the port. Shop
road  to  the  beach  area.early if you want small fish for your home,
the  small  fish  sell  out  early.
It's important to note, being a Florida
transplant; the beach here is not sandy butFrom Vacamonte International Port seafood is
mostly volcanic rock. However, it is wellshipped  all  over  the  world.
worth the time to drive out and see the canal
area from this prospective; spend a littlePeurto  Caimito
time imagining this area in its glory day. I
hope there are better days to come for thisPeurto Caimito, Panama is home to Mariano
forgotten  recreational  area.Rivera, relief pitcher for the New York
Yankees. Mariano has a large home just
Panama's  Playa  Bonita/Playa  Kobbeoutside of Peurto Camito, and with residents
like this it is hard to list Peurto Caimito
Panama's Playa Bonita is also a beach on theamong the forgotten beaches of Panama, but we
canal, it is a little rustic in location. Itcan definitely call it off the beaten path.
sits beside the road with just a little pullPuerto Caimito is situated at the mouth of
off spot along an old bridge. The area neverthe Caimito River, and is a commercial
had a concession or toilet facilities and thefishing town with a fish meal processing
beach area is a steep drop from the road.plant  and  is  an  old  pirate  village
From under the old bridge a river empties
into  the  canal.Of all the places previously listed Peurto
Caimito caught my attention and begged me to
Many of the beach areas in Panama are fedstay a while. It's hard to say if it was the
sand and water from Panama's rivers. This issigns that hang from the homes along the
note worthy to swimmers who might encounterbeach front road that entice you with
the whirlpools they create as the riverspromises of fresh fish for sale. Or maybe
empty their content into the larger body ofit's the thought of the fishing boat moored
water.behind the house that go out on the rising
tide, when the water has sufficiently covered
From Playa Bonita you can see the bridge ofthe vast expanse of beach and brings the
the America's and the hill the old Howard Airday's catch to vendors living in the houses.
Force Base is on. The beach was a mix of sandI was also struck by it was the fishermen
and volcanic rock and was from a Floridatending to net repairs and daily maintenance
transplant  perspective,  a  bit  trashy.of their outboard fishing boat on the beach.
And rusty vessels in the port and as well as
A four star resort area has been built on thethe few rusted past use on the far end of
road to Playa Bonita, InterContinental Playatown where the road ended at the ship yard.
Bonita Resort & Spa. About ten minutes fromThe child in me came out saw I watched a
the actual area of Majagual, fourty Minutestown's child climbing in and out of the
from Panama City's International Airportrushed out boat hull on the beach. I could
Tocumen.have spent the day climbing, exploring,
poking,  and  turning  things  over.
Panama's  Playa  Veracruz  -  the local beach
Peurto Caimito, residents are mostly
Panama's Play Veracruz is still a busy localdescendants of the island peoples and a lower
beach. There are roughly twelve rancho stylesocioeconomic class level that live off the
concessions along the beach where you cansea. They catch sardines or anchovies, they
enjoy entire fried sea bass for three to fivehave no refrigeration, so the boats all smell
dollars and beers for sixty cents. Playaand  are  sealed  with  a  slime of fish oil.
Veracruz flows all the way into the beach
town  of  Veracruz.There is a couple of large ranchitos on the
beach with patios facing the beach, music
Veracruz, Panama is located approximatelyblaring loudly. The beach was easily
twenty five minutes from Panama City andaccessible and was mostly sand. We didn't see
known for its various fish markets, it is aanyone swimming or lounging, but was week day
small fishing village that is made up mostlyand from the positions of the ranchitos I
of  lower  socioeconomic  class  level.would wager to say to some extent the
weekends bring pleasure seekers to the area.
.The smell of wood cook stoves and signs
selling carbon add to experience that was
Veracruz, once was an attractive area inhard  to  leave  behind  as  my  day  ended.
front of US Howard Airforce base. It's city
park once had a concrete concession standIf leaving with locals and cheap land with
complete with toilets facilities, swimmingocean front property appeals to you, it will
pools, and sheltered picnic tables. Theprobably also appeal to you to know that El
abandoned structures are still standing inChorrera is only fifteen minutes back up the
the park area. A small fee was paid to gainroad and has practically everything necessary
entrance to the park. But based upon recentfor living a comfortable life in Puerto
reported incidents by local police VeracruzCaimita.



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