Why us Rooms Location Services Rates & reservation More about Panama Things to do Image gallery Guest comments FAQ Links		The Balboa Inn Your home in Panama Read guest comments on Things to do Below a few suggestions of things you can do that you don't normally see at travel agencies and that won't cost you an arm and a leg. Most of these tours can (and should) be arranged in advance. Check room rates and availability below. An absolute must for any visitor to Panama is to visit an Embera Indian village up the Chagres river. It's a great experience, especially if have kids. The contrast between 2 cultures living only 2 hours away from each other could not be bigger. We arrange these tours with Anne Gordon of Embera Village Tours to make sure you have a first-class educational experience and that the money you pay actually arrives at the village and does not stay with the middle man. And, you're actually helping the village that was the home of two of our Embera employees! Visit Taboga island, about a 40-minute boat trip away. A nice, relatively quiet beach (this picture was taken on a Sunday). This is an easy day-trip and we have an arrangement with a another great B&B Cerrito Tropical to make this a really fun day. If you include an overnight it's also a great option to add before or after you stay the Balboa Inn. Rent a bicycle at Amador Causeway Take the Panama Railroad train accross the Isthmus in the morning (weekdays only) and check out the must-sees on the Caribbean coast. The train ticket costs $ 20. Share a taxi and check out the local scene and return in a taxi. When you arrive at Colón, make sure you visit the San Lorenzo National Park and its Spanish fortress, Ft. San Lorenzo. A true trip back in time. And you'll also pass by the Gatun locks and might as well make a stop there too because you can't get any closer to the passing ships than here. 10 Minutes away from the Balboa Inn is the Panama Canal Miraflores visitor center. A must see, period. The visitor's center has a great exhibit. Go in the afternoon to see the big vessels come through the locks in the south-bound transit. Very easy to combine with a morning visit to the Casco Viejo and a lunch - if you started the day early enough - at the Amador Causeway. Want to visit beaches? A nice one-day trip to Santa Clara beach (just over 1 hr driving of a nice 4-lane highway) is one option. The picture below is on a "busy" Sunday. Happy hour at Veracruz beach (15-20 minute taxi drive) is another possibility - make sure you stay at the Veramar. If you have small kids AND a rental car, this is a good option. If you can stay the night over, one of our favorites - and of our kids - is Isla Mamei near Puerto Lindo, home of the Bambu Guest house. Or explore the Casco Viejo, Panama's Colonial Quarters and Panama La Vieja, Panama's first settlement before the pirates burned down. Just 5 minutes away from the Balboa Inn. And no trip to Panama is quite complete without a visit to Kuna Yala (San Blas in Spanish). We recommend Tony Walter, half Kuna, half Panamanian if you have 4 days to spare for a great package including transport, accommodation and tours. More info is available at www.kunayala.info. Want to see humpback whales? Check out PanamaWhaleWatching.com for whale watching safaries starting in 2009.
		__________________ Phones: (507) 314-1520 / 6618-4414 ____________________ last update: January 20, 2010