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