If you brought along the family, you can rent a family bike which requires almost everybody to pedal. Sounds like fun, but some of these bikes really need to get oiled. The pedals are very loose and hills can turn into a nightmare. So if you’re planning on renting one of those family bikes, wear something comfortable, you’re going to sweat a lot. Panama has so many places you can bike, but the causeway is a place you need to try out before leaving.

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First, you might want to take into consideration transportation. You don’t want to get there in a bus or cab, it’s too much trouble. You’ll want to bring at least a cooler, drinks, towels or anything that makes you feel comfortable, so rent a car if you can. Keep in mind that not every place at the Causeway is good for longboarding. Locals and tourist ride lots of bikes up and down the strip, turning into dangerous obstacles if you’re speeding down the walk. Stay away from the restaurants, where you might run into people. Try the sidewalks close the Figali Convention Center.

If you’re worried about security, the Causeway has always been a safe place for being alone or with the family. Police cars and officers are always doing rounds up and down the strip, making sure everything is in order. Even if you’re planning on arriving during sunset and planning on leaving during the night, the Causeway is fairly safe .during these times. You won’t find many cops during the night, but the place has always been secure enough.

If you’re into any sport that requires wheels, not just longboarding, give the Causeway a try. You won’t regret it.

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The new Museum will host exhibits called “The Bridge of Life”, showcasing the diversity of the eco-system in this nation that spans two mighty oceans.Other exhibits slated for display include one highlighting interdependent ecological systems and another features full scale models of extinct animals that once roamed the isthmus. Oceanographers will enjoy a large exhibit displaying the unique characteristics of the aquatic ecosystems of the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.

Developers of the Museum know that in real estate, location is everything. With this in mind, they are locating the new attraction on the Amador Causeway, just a short walk from the cruise ship port. This entire area is being developed with tourism in mind.

For more information about the Causeway, click here.

You might want to take pictures during your walk in the Causeway. That’s a hard thing to do if you’re in a car. That’s why walking is a great idea if you’re into documenting your travels on Facebook or just making a traveling album. Don’t forget to take pictures of historical monuments, such as incredibly designed statues of Panamanian historians and heroes.

Something you will notice while walking up the Causeway is how the surroundings change the deeper you walk up the strip. Eco-Museums, Wildlife Information Centers and restaurants are all found at arms reach when walking the causeway. You will definitely want to stop by one of the restaurants. You’re going to feel tired and thirsty so you might as well give some new food a try. You won’t find much under $4 but, the Causeway won’t seem too expensive if you look hard.

If you’re walking back, you should try walking towards the west-end of the Causeway. It is away from the main Amador road and a lot more peaceful. Walking up this road is quite refreshing and if you go during the morning, your walking experience will lead to unimaginable levels of relaxation.

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A new Museum horning Panama’s remarkable biodiversity is slated for completion in 2009. Designed by Frank Gehry, best know for his work on the landmark Guggenheim Museum in Spain, the new museum is expected to provide a boost to Panama’s green development initiatives.  It is also Gehry’s first work ever in all of Latin America.

The new Museum will host exhibits called “The Bridge of Life”.  When the Isthmus of Panama rose out of the sea, it divided the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, forever changing the tides, winds and evolution of life on earth.  This land bridge, now known as Panama, provided the route for flora and fauna to migrate between the American continents, creating here the greatest biodiversity anywhere in the world.

Exhibits slated for display include one about interdependent ecological systems, another featuring full scale models of extinct animals that once roamed the isthmus.

Oceanographers will enjoy a large exhibit displaying the unique characteristics of the aquatic ecosystems of the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.

Developers of the museum know that in real estate, location is everything. With this in mind, they are locating the new attraction on the Amador Causeway just a short walk from the cruise ship port. This entire area is being developed with tourism in mind.

Panama real estate buyers will be pleased to know that an ample supply of residential and commercial property is still available in the Causeway area.

You can combine the promising value of Panama real estate with the fun of a rapidly growing tourism area when you make your next home in the Amador Causeway area, a district in rapid development in Panama.

One of the things to remember about being on Amador Causeway is that heading south along the Causeway, the paved road narrows considerably, between the mainland and the islands. It becomes a long, narrow two lane road; with no place to park or stop along the Causeway itself.

However, if you park on the mainland or at the shopping areas, the walkways are lovely and well lit.  On both sides of the Causeway you’ll find well maintained lawns, benches and ample walking space, which is used by couples, families with children, joggers, skate boarders, roller bladers, and even a functioning horse carriage, which transports people along a portion of the Amador Causeway in Panama City, Panama.

On pay day weekends, when most locals visit; both vehicle and pedestrian traffic along the Causeway can be overwhelming. So plan your visit, when everyone else is somewhere else…and it’s not the weekend just after the first or fifteen of the month.  You can enjoy Amador Causeway most quietly during the Monday through Friday work week, when the Causeway businesses are much less busy.

To recap the projects completed to date on Amador Causeway, they include the Figali Convention Center, a Country Inn Hotel, several marinas, a new ferry dock, two Amador Causeway shopping areas and restaurant plazas, as well as a number of individual restaurants, most with a choice of indoor or outdoor dining..and wide varieties of cuisines. Port Amador is the Panama Canal’s Pacific Coast cruise port terminal; and at this point Fuerte Amador Marina is the “home port” for the Universe Explorer cruise ship, with many more to follow.

The Causeway is the long time home to the Smithsonian’s Marine Exhibition Center, a wonderful family learning destination. Amador Causeway is the future home to the amazing:   Museum of Biodiversity, a building of remarkable innovation by renowned world architect: Frank Gehry; a Causeway construction project Panamanians are celebrating.

For now, the Amador Causeway has plenty of restaurants and bars, two yacht clubs, and shops that are duty free. Amador Causeway offers the chance for renting and riding bicycles, or sailboats, jogging along the paths, or simply walking seaside, feeling the Pacific breezes.

Continuing South along Amador Causeway is Perico Island, on the left side, facing the Bay Of Panama. Between Perico and Flamenco Islands there are a large assortment of private motor and sailboats at anchor at the Flamenco Yacht Club and Fuerte Amador Resort and Marina.

Businesses include a two-story Fuerte Shopping Center, with a range of shops and boutiques; the marina office, and a wide selection of restaurants and bars. On Flamenco Island, the Southern tip of Amador Causeway is the home of Flamenco Shopping Plaza, another set of restaurants and the cruise ship docks called Port Amador (Puerto Amador).

On Flamenco Island there is a new cruise terminal and small shopping center.  The modern terminal building is designed to comfortably receive passengers and offers them: Immigration & Customs services, internet cafe, call center, and an assortment of duty free shops.

“The atmosphere at the Marina and surrounding shops is relaxed and there is a nice mix of Panamanians, Americans and Europeans. At night, people walk among the shops and window shop. There are a number of small bars where you can get a drink and something to eat: I saw two Italian restaurants, a Japanese restaurant, sandwich shops and a Brazilian bar and more. And of course there are lots of beautiful people strolling around enjoying the atmosphere.”  http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/57/Vista_Mar_Marina.html

Look at new views of the Pacific Ocean horizon from the decks of the Calypso ferries to and from Taboga Island (Isla Taboga). Along Amador Causeway, near Mi Ranchito Restaurant, is the Calypso Ferry Dock where ferry trips are offered.

Normally, the boat leaves in the morning and returns to Port Amador’s ferry dock in the afternoon. But do call ahead for the most up-to-date schedule at telephone number: 507-314-1730 and plan to be at the dock at least an hour early. The Island of Flowers, as Isla Taboga is also called, is located in the Gulf of Panama, 12 miles (20 km) south of Panama City, the ferry can take you there in less than an hour.

The current schedules for Calypso Queen and the Calypso Princess reflect departures from their dock next to Amador Causeway on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays at 8 am, 10:30 am and 4 pm. And the ferries leave the Isla Taboga on those days 9 am, 3 pm and 5 pm.

During the week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the El Calypso ferries will leave the Amador dock 8:30 am, 3 pm and the return trips will be at 9:30 am and 4:30 pm. Tuesday and Thursday only offer one Calypso ferry trip per day to Taboga Island; that ferry will be leaving Panama City’s Amador Causeway dock at 8:30 am and returning from Isla Taboga at 4:30 pm.

Taboga Island is a laid back fishing and weekend home community. On the island are several restaurants, diving equipment rental, boats, jet skis, and handicraft shops. The island is about 2.3 square miles (or 5.9 km2), and offers beautiful beaches with transparent water. Snorkeling and diving is interesting, even thought there isn’t much coral. If you would like to see wrecks and want to spot some nice tropical fish as well, you may want to plan to take along your equipment. You can also fish, if you bring your favorite pole; walk around the small town of the island and learn about its history, hike up the ‘Las Tres Cruses’ or ‘El Vigía’ hills, or visit the ‘Taboga Island Wild Life Refuge’.

Cerrito Tropical Bedroom &Breakfast

There are only a few places to stay on Taboga, the newest is Cerrito Tropical Bed & Breakfast, with information available at www.cerritotropicalpanama.com or by calling 507-215-2436. Hotel Vereda Tropical is a nice looking hotel with a restaurant overlooking Taboga Bay, see them at www.veredatropicalhotel.com; and Cool Hostel is available at 690-2545; or luisveron@hotmail.com. Too there are a few private apartments and houses to rent, that you can look up www.tresterrazas.com. Always remember to check the on-line traveler reviews, before planning which hotel to make reservations at though, so that there are fewer surprises on your holiday.

Both the Calypso Queen and the Calypso Princess have two open but shaded decks, with plenty of room for watching the sea, looking at the sky and walking around the decks. And when you leave from the Isla Taboga dock, you will have warm tropical memories to take along.

After landing at the ferry dock next to Amador Causeway there are many things that you can choose to do – and if you chose to have a meal, there are restaurants with a variety of cuisines and either indoor or outdoor settings. Whatever you chose to do, be sure to set aside some time for a casual stroll along the water, it will brighten your eyes and warm your heart.

Panama City, Panama embraces an international population of about one million persons. Panama is a country the size of South Carolina, with a populace of over three million. The city now includes over 250 high-rise office buildings, as well as condominium and hotel towers, with another 280 -or so- high rises under construction.  Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador) is a wonderful part of Panama City, that’s getting a lot of attention right now.

The Panama Canal Authority has documented that there were over a million cubic yards of rock  excavated from the Culebra or Gaillard Cut of the Panama Canal which were used to build Amador Causeway.   When you’re looking at a map, it is as though the eastern side of the Canal, or the Canal’s left arm is extended to make Amador Causeway. The Causeway was designed as a huge breakwater to protect the entrance to the Canal and prevent sedimentation.

The Amador Causeway connects four small islands, Noas, Culebra, Perico and Flamenco; with the mainland near the foot of the Bridge of the Americas in the Panama Canal. All four of the islands were part of Fort Grant, which was established in 1913 as a fortification for the Panamanians and Americans to protect Panama Canal access during the two world wars.  Many of the fortifications and massive underground bomb proof structures still exist.  The most distant of the islands – Isla Flamenco, was a US Military Command Post in 1942 and on Isla Perico – part of the Fuerte Amador Shopping Center is built over an old underground military sanctuary.

There has been an elegant makeover of the Causeway, with lovely walkways and benches. Some development projects having already been completed.  Several are underway and still more are planned for the future. The location of the Causeway at the southeastern most tip of the Panama Canal, lends it spectacular views of Panama City and the Bridge of the Americas.

While visitors are there, they can walk, run, bicycle and drive on the causeway, lined with tropical palm trees, and enjoy magnificent views of the Canal and the Panama City skyline.  Most visitors enjoy observing the numerous vessels that enter or depart the Panama Canal throughout the day, passing directly beneath the Bridge of the Americas.

Within walking distance is their Marine Exhibition Center (El Centro del Exhibiciones Marinas), which offers a number of interesting exhibits, explained in both Spanish and English.

Current Bilingual Exhibitions:

• Panama: abundance of fish
• Sea turtles: mysterious navigators
• Sea life exhibition (aquarium)
• Marine invertebrates touching pool
• Marine Physical Process
• Rise of the Isthmus
• Panama’s People and Oceans
• Ocean pollution
• From the reef

The most demanding entertainment available at CEM might be the use of their free telescope to view the ships passing on their way North and South in the Panama Canal. And then to compare STRI’s posted illustrations and examples of ships to the anchored vessels; and the ships underway through the Panama Canal. It’s great entertainment for those who love ships and enjoy identifying them.

The Center for Marine Exhibits is open to the public from March to December, Tuesday – Friday, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. During the dry season and when the school children are on vacation between December to March, and during the mid-year vacation in July the hours are: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

If you still have questions you can phone STRI’s Marine Exhibition Center at (507) 212-8793 or check their website for the latest information at: www. Center for Marine Exhibits
With thanks to Don Winner http://www.panamaguide.com/article.php/20060430203435245