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