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...Where rivers are roads and the forests
are often unpenetrable in this most isolated and least developed province
in Panama. The Darien offers some of the greatest ecological riches
in the world, throughout its dense tropical jungles and network of streams
and rivers, and contains Panama's most spectacular reserve. Such is
its wealth of plants and wildlife, that UNESCO placed The Darien National
Park on the World Heritage Sites list in 1981. Over a million acres
of sandy beaches, rocky coasts, mangroves, freshwater marshes, palm
forest swamps, mountain ranges.
Join Explore Panama to see why Panama's Darien is an adventurer' dream.
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Pirre
Station
Pirre is ANAM's ranger station inside the Darien National Park. This
area is of special interest to birders. To visit, first get a permit
from ANAM's office in Panama City, and then from the local ANAM office
in El Real. The Pirre station is the most accessible area in the Darien
National Park, and is a three hour hike from El Real, or you can take
a 1-hour canoe ride from El Real to the town of Piji Baisal, and then
hike for one hour to the Pirre Station.
Cana Valley
Some of the best bird-watching can be done in this valley, and is home
to at least 60 bird species found nowhere else. Several trails from
the ANAM/ANCON Field Station offer wonderful hiking opportunities
La Palma
This is the provincial capital and the most populated town in the Darien.
This town has the only bank in the province, and other services such
as hospital, lodging and food. La Palma offers the most travel flexibility
in terms of boats and flights. Punta Patiño An hour's boat ride from
La Palma,
Punta Patiño
Situated in the spectacular Gulf of San Miguel, Punta Patiño is known
primarily for its wildlife preserve.
Río Sambú
The mouth of this river is a 1 ½ hour boat ride from Punta Patiño. On
the way to this area, you will travel by spectacular jungle. During
the wet season, Río Sambú is navigable all the way to Pavarando, the
most inland Embera indian communities on this river. Visiting this area
will bring you an adventure that surpasses visiting the deep of the
Amazonizn forest.
Bahia Piña
Home of the beautiful Tropic Star Lodge, a truly unique resort experience.
Developed to take advantage of the excellent sport-fishing opportunity
of the area which boasts of 170 Game fishing world records (the lodge
holds 54 of them so far). Nestled on a 7,000 property, the lodge offers
everything a eco-traveler could dream of: waterfalls, secluded beach,
intact reefs for snorkeling, hiking trails and much much more. 264-1165)
THINGS
TO DO
Eco-tours Agency
7 Calle 50 Este (near Via Espana) 263-3077 organizes excursions into
the jungle from la Palma. Centro de Aventuras Agency El Dorado 22706476
Offers two excursions to the Darien. These trips, from 5 to 15 days,
are aimed at the more experienced adventurers.
ANCON
Calle 53 Oeste, Panama City 264-8100 offers 10 comfortable cabanas and
outings with guide in Punta Patiño.
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