Customer Reviews

Getting to know Panama

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a wonderful resource! I only wish this book was available to me before I made my trip. Three other guide books went with me the summer I spent in Panama, and when I found this book in a Panamanian department store, those other books stayed in my suitcase.

"Getting to Know Panama" has a easy to read map to help you get your bearings. It suggests places to eat in all price ranges, places where my group ate like the locals do with the freshest fish and incredible produce. It suggests shopping areas, and spotlights historic locations. And after the first two weeks of straining our brains trying to understand folks with our meager store of Spanish language knowledge, we really appreciated the directions to the English language bookstore!

The book is organized by "neighborhood". This is helpful when you're on your own and organizing your own time. The historical background is interesting and and well-written. And I can honestly say we were never unpleasantly surprized or disappointed with what we found as we explored Panama using "Getting to Know..." as our guide.

Pick this book and pack it FIRST if you're planning a trip to Panama!

What a wonderful resource! I only wish this book was available to me before I made my trip. Three other guide books went with me the summer I spent in Panama, and when I found this book in a Panamanian department store, those other books stayed in my suitcase.

"Getting to Know Panama" has a easy to read map to help you get your bearings. It suggests places to eat in all price ranges, places where my group ate like the locals do with the freshest fish and incredible produce. It suggests shopping areas, and spotlights historic locations. And after the first two weeks of straining our brains trying to understand folks with our meager store of Spanish language knowledge, we really appreciated the directions to the English language bookstore!

The book is organized by "neighborhood". This is helpful when you're on your own and organizing your own time. The historical background is interesting and and well-written. And I can honestly say we were never unpleasantly surprized or disappointed with what we found as we explored Panama using "Getting to Know..." as our guide.

Pick this book and pack it FIRST if you're planning a trip to Panama!

I have to disagree slightly with the first two (one) reviews. This book is good. It is well written and organized. It has excellent historical information on all of the regions of Panama and it will provide insight into the culture that only someone that has lived and traveled extensively in the area, like the author, could provide. This book is dated though and despite it being the second edition I was suprised that it was ten years old. Panama has changed considerably in the last ten years, especially the tourist infrastructure. Also this book is somewhat incomplete with little information on places other than the larger towns and major tourist attractions. Unlike a guide book like the Lonely Planet, which is frequently updated and detailed, you will not find very much information on towns such as El Valle or Sante Fe or some of the lesser visited National Parks like Cerro Hoya.

I would recommend this book if you would like to learn more about the history and culture of the regions of Panama, to learn about the food, the sports and entertainment. If you want to learn about lodging, resorts, and destinations and need more updated information I would check out the other guidebooks first.