Lonely Planet Panama (Country Guide) [Paperback]

Matthew Firestone (Author)

Book Description

Series: Country Guide | Publication Date: November 1, 2007

Discover Panama

Sit back under a Caribbean sunset in the laid-back Archipelago de Bocas del Toro
Set sail across the Pacific to Isla de Coiba, a 'Lost World' of virgin rainforests
Fill your belly on tapas before partying until sunrise in Panama City
Buy a hand-sewn mola from the fiercely independent Kuna in the Archipelago de San Blas

In This Guide:

One Panama expert, 84 days of in-country research, 73 detailed maps, 174 bottles of Balboa lager consumed
New coverage of trekking in the Darien for those who dare venture out on their own
Content updated daily: visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler suggestions

Editorial Reviews

Review

…Lonely Planet, the intrepid traveler's bible...' --Los Angeles Times, April 2005

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See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 4 edition (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741045525
• ISBN-13: 978-1741045529
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #864,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Travel > Latin America > Central America > Panama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars a throw away, March 25, 2008

By 

T. Legras "beachsider" (cayucos, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lonely Planet Panama (Country Guide) (Paperback)

I purchased the previous edition of the Panama Guide from the Lonely Planet a few years ago when I started to become a frequent visitor to Panama. That older edition offered alot of helpful information and I used it frequently.

Due to the rapid changes in Panama - i thought I needed to purchase an updated version to reflect the new hotels and rates and things to do . . . .

whoever allowed this latest edition to be published should just be ashamed. Panama has been growing and changing at an alarming rate over the last few years. This recent guide does little to reflect new places to stay, things to do and current rates. i got the impression that whoever revised it - did not even step foot in Panama, or if they did, did not spend much time there. did they just put a new cover on the old material?

Anyway - I was really disappointed and will not even give it away to friends who are visiting Panama because the information is lacking so much of what could add to a great experience in this wonderful country - especially for lodging options.

Lonely Planet - You really should spend a little more time in the country - i would say to trash this edition and start over.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful, but not perfect, May 5, 2005

By 

Vickie T. (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Panama (Lonely Planet Panama) (Paperback)

This guidebook is a baffling mixture of recommendations that are dead-on and those that make you wonder "What was he thinking?" I also could have done without the author's insertion of his own political and social opinions. A travel guidebook is hardly the place for value judgements.

Would I recommend buying this book for an upcoming trip to Panama? Yes. It has a lot of good information and, as I said, some excellent recommendations. That is why I decided in the end to rate the book 4 stars instead of the 3 that I initially planned. But, I would definitely advise the user to supplement the book with other information, especially recommendations from local residents or people who have visited the country previously.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Less info. than the last edition, April 1, 2008

By 

Carla Black - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lonely Planet Panama (Country Guide) (Paperback)

I live in Panama and have bought each of the Lonely Planet Panama books as they have come out. This edition seems to have less information than the last one. In my town, Volcán, there are about 10 places to sleep; six were listed in the previous edition, but just one in this book - and the one shown is an odd, out-of-the-way place offering large cabins for extended families.

I wonder if I can trust Lonely Planet to give me the information I've come to trust them for. I will look at other guides more carefully as options to LP for my other travels.