The Pan-American Highway – Panama
The Pan-American Highway was and is a network of highways that stretches from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushuaia in Argentia South America. It is called the longest road in the world. The road is complete except for a 100 km (60 miles) stretch that joins Central America (Panama) to South America, called the “Darien Gap”. In Panama, this is the main road that connects Costa Rica to Panama and travels all the way to the South America and stops at the Darien Gap.
Traveling west from Panama City, this is a well maintained and divided highway that crosses the western entrance to the Panama Canal via the “Bridge of the Americas”. In February 2016, when I traveled this highway, it was paved from Panama City to just outside of Santiago where major road construction then continued all the way to just before David (pronounced Da-vid) at Chiriqui. The name associated with this highway in Panama is “Carretera Panamericana Highway” and is designated Route 1.
The highway has many fruit and vegetable stands located all along the highway, stocked mostly with watermelon (February), and I am sure with whatever the fresh fruit of the season is when traveling this highway. There were so many stands filled with watermelon, that I had to wonder why there were selling them, when with this much fruit available, they might as well be giving it away.
The road north of the “Bridge of Americas” runs close to the coast and along what is called the Panama Beach Coast, which includes Coronado, a favorite Ex-Pat, and locals Getaway beach town.
Before reaching Santiago, you will pass by a large wind farm for generation of electricity. Panama is very progressive and modern for a third world country.
Continue traveling the highway the first major city you encounter is Santiago, founded in the 17th. century, and has a population of about 89,000. There are good hotels, hostels, restaurants, stores, and shops available. One of the nicest hotels all along the Pan-American Highway within Panama is the “Hotel Mykonos”. The hotel is located about a mile or so before you get to Santiago.
Once past Santiago, the highway was under major repairs, and construction all the way to just before David at Chiriqui. Lots of detours and slow going.
David is a modern city, with plenty of Hotels, Shops, Restaurants, and places to see. It has a population of about 145,000. The main part of town is located south of the Panamerican Highway, but worth a day or two of sightseeing. If you get the chance, you should visit and stay at the “Gran Hotel Nacional”. This hotel includes a 6 screen movie theater, casino and is one of the nicest hotels in David. This is an old hotel with lots of rich history, although the rooms are very clean, comfortable and with A/C, safe, Included breakfast, and good beds.
Next up, a visit Anton Valley.