Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38308 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 500 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781598800852
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
Friar provides great trips for travelers exploring his native Panama. This second edition includes tips such as the 14-day Outdoor Adventure and Six Days for History Buffs. --Planeta.com, December 2008

There are several well thought out itineraries available in the beginning of the book which are catalogued by length of stay and various interests....This is a must have book for those planning a trip to Panama. --Dave's Travel Corner, November, 2008

Customer Reviews

Simply....The best guidebook on Panama.
This guidebook provides a very balanced & well put together information on the country. The author, being a "zonian" himself (one who grew up in the former Panama Canal Zone) & continues to spend time in the country, has a vast knowledge of the area. From the usual tourist areas to the people, history and culture; from the not so well known areas to do's & dont's, he covers it very well. What I like the most is that - unlike some other guides - he covers whatever is negative in a constructive manner without being overly critical. This latest edition includes a few more color pages at the beginning. A perfect companion to relocation guides like "Living in Panama" & "Choose Panama..." Bottom line...If there's room for only one Panama guidebook...look no further.

Simply the best
This is, hands down, the best guide book on Panama. Terrific detail, excellent maps, accurate and insightful information. Best of all, the author's obvious love for Panama -- quirks included -- comes through on every page.

Not everything I was hoping for
First, let me say that I travel with a backpack by bus or train and that Rough Guides are my standard guidebook-of-choice. However, there is no Rough Guide to Panama, so my choices were a 4-year-old Rough Guide to all of Central America, a current Lonely Planet that everyone says was just re-released without updates, and the Moon Panama guide. This is the first time I've used a Moon guide and while it wasn't everything I was hoping for, I'm sure it's the best of the three options. I will, however, still opt for Rough Guides when they're available.

I agree with previous reviews - the author does love Panama. My big complaint with the book is that it's not super helpful for a traveler on a budget who's depending on the bus system to get around the country. The author did cover all forms of transportation (buses, taxis, driving and flying), but I only used buses, so I can't attest to how useful the information was. Regardless, I always found myself wanting to know a little more on how to get around by bus.

I really wanted a list of all the bus terminals, approximately how long it took to get from one to another, and how frequently buses ran between them, etc. - all in one place. For example, I went to Pedasi from Panama City, but in the Pedasi section, there was nothing to tell me how to get there from Panama City, only from the next-closest major town, so I had to piece it together working from section to section. The information was in the book, I just had to work for it.

Another specific complaint with the book: it says that the Eco Venao hostel in Playa Venao gives surfing lessons and rents boards. So I traveled way out of my way to go there and try surfing. But actually, Eco Venao does no such thing and the best way to take surfing lessons is to set it up in the town I'd come from (Pedasi). Now I should have verified the information before going there, but I'd still like to be able to trust my guidebook, especially since this edition was released only a month before my trip.

Overall, prices were pretty accurate and the one restaurant recommendation I went by (Siete Mares in Panama City) was fabulous. Maps were plentiful and good (although there should be one of Pedasi in there). I didn't always agree with the author's impressions of places, but I do like that he's not afraid to be critical and will tell you to skip areas of non-interest. Despite my particular criticisms, if you're staying entirely in/near Panama City, renting a car or flying within the country, you probably won't have any major complaints about this book.