No comments about Open Road'S Best Of Panama: Your Passport to the Perfect Trip!" and "Includes One-Day, Weekend, One-Week & Two-Week Trips (Open Road Travel Guides).

5 comments about Lonely Planet Panama.

1. I travel quite a bit (for business and vacations) so I have purchased and read over 30 Lonely Planets. Of all of them, this one has more errors and is more out of date than any I can recall - much more out of date than the publishing date suggests, which makes me think the latest addition was not a thorough update. Over half of the restaurants they recommended, which I tried to visit, were either out of business or not in the location they listed in the book. Prices in general for everything from taxis to hotels were inaccurate. Some of the maps were inaccurate as well. Whole streets in Bella Vista were omitted. Sometimes this was a minor inconvenience, and other times it was a disaster (trying to get the ferry to Isla Toboga for instance - one of the ferry companies listed is out of business, and the docks from which the ferries leave moved nearly two years ago, but the old address and times are stilled listed in the LP - thus we missed our ferry). This guide is one of the only LPs (the LP Trekking in Nepal being the other) that I felt it was actually a hindrance to rely on because it was often so inaccurate. Unfortunately, this negates any positive aspects of the book.



2. I found this guidebook to be very useful during my time in Panama and I can't see what the problem is with the other reviewers here. LP guides are all different, I was just in Mexico using another LP guide and found it just as useful as the one for Panama.
   
   The book contains plenty of maps and information to help you plan a thorough trip around the country. I found the information to be quite detailed and to the point. Very good tips on restaurants, where to stay, etc... prices do vary a bit and I would not expect an empanada or a tortilla to cost exactly what is stated on the book. Prices do go up all the time.
   
   Conclusion: Lonely Planet PANAMA is a keeper!
   I also recommend the MOON GUIDE to PANAMA, and if you are into birdwatching, you should get yourself the bible: The Birds of Panama.



3. I've been a "lonely planet" traveller for quite some time, and have a whole bookshelf of their guides. However, Lonely Planet Panama was fairly inadequate. Luckily, we also purchased the Moon Handbook and were much more impressed with it. The LP guidebook was outdated, uninspired, inaccurate, and lacking significant detail. If you're heading to Panama, buy the Moon Guide instead.



4. I agreed with other reviews in the sense that it left out alot. Maybe it was to out of date like others had suggested. We backpacked through the stretch of the pacific side of panama in a few weeks. The book left out parts of places we found, cabanas on the beach and so forth and roads that were supposedly non existant. Panamanians were extremly nice and helpful. Other books could probably tell more.



5. I previously had great experiences with LP books, but heard they are letting many of them go un-updated. Not sure if this is the case, but it definitely is with LP Panama. The info listed on Amazon shows it was last updated in '04 (which think means the info is more like '02/'03).
   
   We ended up leaving this book at home and took Moon (great details, especially helpful if doing any cross-country driving; believe a new edition is coming out later this year but found most of the info to still be relevant, especially if assume many of the prices for hotels had gone up) and buying Frommers (as of May '08 most updated)

2 comments about Panama, Mapa Guia - Guide Map.

1. I purchased 2 other maps (National Geographic and and International Travel Map) before going to Panama but I didn't find this one until I actually arrived. This one is far superior to the other two, especially when it comes to the city itself. The others don't give very much detail, but this map will keep you on track in the city. I'd consider this a "must have" for a trip to Panama City.



2. Panama, Mapa Guia - Guide Map
   I looked at two other maps: "Panama" by ITMB Publishing, and the "Panama Adventure Map" by the National Geographic Society. The trouble with these two is that whilst the big map of the country is quite well laid out, there aren't much in the way of city maps. But the "Panama, Mapa Guia - Guide Map" has a number of city maps that are laid out well and look very useful; consequently I'm looking forward to using it when I visit later this year. Although there is a lot of Spanish in this map, the visual content outweighs the disadvantage for the "un poquito" Spanish-speaker!

3 comments about The Darien Gap: Travels in the Rainforest of Panama.

1. Martin Mitchinson's "The Darien Gap" is a wonderful book, a great collection of histories, mythologies, and personal adventures and reflections. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in traveling in Central America, as well as for anyone who loves good, and thoughtful travel writing.
   
   In a place that is infamous for kidnappings, Colombian Guerrillas, and thick jungles, Mitchinson performs the unthinkable act of remaining in the region for a year and a half to gather together Darien's many stories into a book that is a pleasure to read. In a series of wonderfully-crafted vignettes, Mitchinson writes with a very personal voice to bring Darien's jungle to the reader - from the 65 million years of ancient geological formation, to native histories, pirates, eccentrics, and ridiculous canal schemes that are part of Darien's past and present.
   
   This book has just been released, but I've found a handful of early reviews:
   
   "What Mitchinson has produced, with bugs, mud, graces, dangers, superstitions and all... is a wonderfully entertaining book full of close observation and flourishes of poetry."
   
   - Garry Geddes, poet and author of "Kingdom of Ten Thousand Things"
   _____________________
   
   "... impressive and compelling..."
   
   "... threading the history of the area, with accounts of its indigenous peoples and early explorations, into a dramatic and involving tapestry. There is much humor here,... passages of genuine suspense, including a harrowing account of a near-drowning in a jungle river..."
   
   - The Vancouver Sun
   _____________________
   
   "... the summer's best read."
   
   - The North Island Midweek
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   "...hairy enough to scare even the most intrepid armchair traveler. But the stories that he tells of this wild barrier make his book come doubly alive.
   
   Combining one part history with one part travelogue... escape reading at its best."
   
   -The Sun Times
   _____________________
   
   "... personal anecdotes are lush with honesty and sparse with reservation... it sucks you from your reading chair only to plant you in the mangrove swamps of the Darien Gap."
   
   "...intriguing tale connects the reader to Mitchinson, the people of Darien and the Darien province itself."
   
   - Comox Valley Record



2. 
   
   The Darien Gap beautifully weaves together the local politics, geological and colonial history with native folklore in a personal voice. Finally, a travel book not focused on some hero conquering a new land. Mitchinson brings honesty and humor at his own discomfort. He offers a well researched story of a patch of jungle that "is the only missing link in what would otherwise be 16000 miles of uninterupted highway from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego". The book is brilliant!



3. This is a marvellous read and a marvellous exploration. Author Martin Mitchinson takes us through a remote corner of the Panamanian rainforest on a journey that is paradoxically both leisurely and exhausting. At his side we undergo a full range of jungle miseries, both grim and entertaining, dipping pleasantly all the while into byways of history, geography and legend.
   Whether he was enduring perilous hours in a dugout canoe or trekking painfully across the continental divide, Mitchinson held me captivated. By turns I laughed out loud at encounters with endearing characters or was moved by rippling passages of poetry and philosophy.
   At its best, and in common with the best of books and journeys, The Darien Gap transforms one's vision of life and of the world. Highly recommended.

No comments about Panama Canal Map by Cruise Map Publishing Company.

4 comments about The Panama Hat Trail.

1. This book draws a wonderful and accurate picture of South America, in particular Ecuador, as seen through the eyes of a Westerner. Especially for anyone who has back-packed in these areas in the seventies and eighties, the country comes alive and one finds oneself transported back there through the author's straightforward style, gentle humour and empathy with the people and landscape. The story of the making of Panama hats, from growing the straw through to retailing the product in quality outlets throughout the States is fascinating. The life styles, understanding and expectations of the various people in the chain are portrayed in a way that captures the imagination and surrounds the reader with their reality. At the same time, one's awareness is drawn in a gentle manner and without accusation, to the situation of the "plebs" of third world countries, exploited by and dependent on the West. A satisfying book to read, very interesting and an enjoyable way to learn some of the history of the area.



2. Tom Miller is an excellent traveling companion, informative, friendly, sympathetic to his hosts.



3. Being an Ecuadorian I really enjoyed the way the author captured the personality and idiosyncrasies of the people he meets along his journey. His descriptions of the countryside and life in Ecuador are very accurate.



4. My lifelong interest in travel literature began when, as a child, I read Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas's account of his travels among the Kurdish People of the Middle East. Miller's book is a good read on traveling in Ecuador (where the best panama hats are made), written by a professional writer in this genre (ON THE BORDER, TRADING WITH THE ENEMY: TRAVELS THROUGH CASTRO'S CUBA). This "hat classic" (my opinion), is Miller's first-hand account as he follows the making of Panama hats from the growing and harvesting of the plant material (cardoluvica palmata), through the process of its curing and preparation for weaving, the weaving itself, the various markets along the way, the chain of distribution of the hat bodies, their exportation around the world, the making of finished hats in a North American hat factory, and the sale to a San Diego retail hat store. The story ends when the final customer buys a panama hat in the retail store. Reading this book cannot help but seal one's appreciation for this materiel de resistance of the straw hat business.

4 comments about Panama - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!).

1. We are so glad we bought this book. Great supplement to the Bradt Travel Guide. These are the ONLY 2 books that have been published recently (our trip is November 2007) and so far don't seem so out of date. Got a lot of ideas & suggestions out of this book & well worth what little it costs.



2. I read this book on the flight down to Panama for our honeymoon. It covered all of the basics of the customs, culture, history, food, etc. for what turned out to be a very charming country. This book is a must read for anyone that is traveling to Panama and wants to go beyond the boundaries of a guided tour or 4 star hotel stay. If you prefer to get to know the people and culture of Panama choose this quick read to get you started.



3. From history to culture; from facts to customs; this "little book" is so well put together. Whether you're a casual tourist or someone planning to retire there, it provides valuable information to help you understand the Panamanian society. Also since it's the only one available of it's kind to date, it makes it even more valuable. Definitely a companion to books like "Moon's Panama Handbook" & "Living In Panama". Easy read & pocket size. Highly recommended!!!



4. The book is small enough to carry around, quick to read, covers almost all the necessary info. It should however also include some 'less positive' facts about living in Panama for foreigners, who are unfortunately often and also quite easily taken advantage of in many ways they would not naturally think of.

No comments about Fishing the Local Waters: Gulf Shores to Panama City (Fishing the Local Waters series).

5 comments about Portrait of the Panama Canal: From Construction to the Twenty-First Century Centennial Edition.

1. Not only does Friar present a wonderful historical synopsis of the Canal, he also paints a verbal picture of life as a child growing up in the Canal Zone. The photographs of the Canal are some of the best I have seen. The captions are not "one-liners," they actually describe the what the reader is seeing in the photograph. The reader should come away with a very good knowledge of Panama Canal history and an understanding of how the Canal operates all within the 2 to 3 hours it takes to read the book.



2. I read this book prior to transiting the Canal. It covers history and operations in precise detail and the numerous dramatic photos make it a wonderful souvenir of the Canal. There are other books that are very long and heavy to take with you.This book has all the information in easily readable style for those who don't have time for a thick book on this subject. Reads like an adventure story.



3. I purchased this book while transiting the Canal on the maiden voyage of the Norwegian Star . This was a historic trip, as the ship was the largest tonnage vessel to transit the canal. It also paid the largest fee of $214,000. The ship was designed to exacting specifications and barely cleared by width and length. To read the book regarding the canals history while transiting at the same time was exciting! The book's read is light and most informative. It added a great deal for me to what was already a "Trip of a Lifetime". I would highly recommend this book to anyone of any age. Truly Awesome!!!



4. I found the book to be very informative with terrific illustrations and pictures.



5. Friar does an excellent job of giving the reader an overview of all of the major events that lead to the canal's existence. If you are interested in learning the details of the canal's construction story, then I would recommend David McCullough's epic work, "The Path Between the Seas." But, for an overview, this book is a good resource.
   
   The pictures included in the book are very good and add a good visual complement to the text.

5 comments about Living and Investing in Panama.

1. Good information which we had not seen elsewhere. Poorly edited by some non-English speaker and has lots of typos, sing-plural mistakes and is amateurishly done, spoiling it for the English reader. The print is excessively large, and the paper needlessly heavy making unhandy to carry. Evidently, the author made a poor choice for editor and for publisher. Quality does not warrent the price--it should not be more than $12.95 in the current market!



2. I've never seen a book with more typographical errors. It looks like no one proof read it, they just published the rough draft... Usually a few typos doesn't bother me but there are so many here, it is annoying and makes you feel like the author didn't put much effort into the work.
   
   Okay, aside from that, it does have some good info, and since it is basically the ONLY book on living in Panama, you will have to buy it. (There is another one but it has no reviews here, and I took a trip to 2 book stores and did not find it in either store.)
   
   He only gives you the lowdown on a couple of the most well-known areas to live in Panama, doesn't give any info on any "off the beaten path" places where one might (?) find cheaper real estate.
   
   Actually, he does not go very much into buying real estate at all. How about some names of attorneys to use, that people have used and recommended? How about some realtors (other than himself and a couple others)? How about more info on buying real estate which one would assume one would need to know if one is planning to "live and invest in Panama". How about the procedures for surveying and checking the land you are going to buy? How about other tips for checking and buying real estate? There are a lot of things that could have made this book better but it seems the author was just into making a fast buck, rushing out a book on Panama before someone else beat him to it.
   
   I found this book very disappointing. I think anyone could have written as good a book with just a few months of research. [...] Everyone says that Howard's book on neighboring Costa Rica is great. I haven't read it. But this one is far from "great".
   
   It should have been much better. Buy it only if another one isn't available by the time you read this. And really, if anyone is interested in writing one, this one won't be hard to beat, at all.



3. This book was very much like his other books about living in Nicaragua & Costa Rica. In fact I found many passages that appeared to be the same. However, it was very informative and has useful information about living & relocating to Panama.



4. Unfortunately, this is only one of two (the other / better being "Choose Panama by William Hutchings") books about retiring to Panama. Equally unfortunately, if you are serious about moving to Panama Mr. Howard's book has a lot of useful information and you are left with no choice but to buy it.
   
   That said, the book loses one star (and I'm being kind) for being so poorly edited. The author is a native english speaker, there is no excuse and it is simply disrespectful to your audience to have such a mountain of typographical errors. [...]
   
   That said, all [...] absurd editing aside, this book is a must buy if you are serious about moving to Panama. [...]



5. i got the feeling the author knew more about costa rica (where he lives?) than panama. not recommended...the info just wasn't very comprehensive.