PANAMA

Chiriqui Highlands (population 60,000) is Panama's western most province along the Costa Rican border, some 210 air miles / 350 km east of Panama City.Chiriqui is Panama's cattle country and prime Thoroughbred horse raising area.You can hike cool mountain trails, fish for trout in mountain streams or canter about on horseback.A trip to the Highlands will put you close to Panama's best known peaks - Cerro Punta, her highest mountain, and long extinct Baru Volcano.

CLIMATE: Pleasant tropical temperatures between 73?F to 83? F (23'c to 28?c) during the day an 52? F to 65? F (11?c to 18?c) at night.The rainy season lasts from April to December.There are steady trade wind during the dry season.

HOW TO GET THERE: About one hour by plane from Panama City's Paitilla Airport.

Volcan, c / o Aptdo 8.055, Panama City, Panama 8.

Tel: 71-4265.

Type: First slass sports hotel and casino.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, poker, roulette).

Amenities: 45 rooms, restaurant, tennis, pools, sauna, gym, fishing, white water rafting, hunting, horseback riding.

Rates: US$59 - 150.

Calle Central, PO Box 37B, David, Panama.

Tel: 752221.

Type: Spanish style tourist hotel & casino.

Location: 45 miles from Costa Rican border near the Pacific coast.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, poker, roulette).

Amenities: 73 rooms, 5 suites, restaurant, bar, bowling, hunting, fishing, beach & river swimming.

Rates: US$14 - 25.

Colon (population 10,000) is on Cristobal Bay the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal about 45 miles / 75 km from Panama City.Tourists can always see 20 to 30 ships waiting to enter the canal at Cristol Bay.It resembles the French Quarter of New Orleans in the U.S.with its large two story houses, with iron balconies, columns, and ample arcades.

CLIMATE: Tropical uniform temperatures year round ranging from 73? F to 83? F (23?c to 28?c).The rainy season is from April to December with up to 120 inches of annual rain fall.

HOW TO GET THERE: By train - on the Panama Railroad from Panama City, or by car or express bus on the Transisthmian Highway, or by air - from Panama City's Paitilla Airport.

The capital Panama City (population 1,2 million) is on the Gulf of Panama on the south coast of the Pacific Ocean.Panama City has much to offer.It is a city of contrast with the colonial flavor of Casco Viejo, the old quarter, the modern high rise buildings at Punta Paitilla, the luxury stores of Via Espana.It is a blend of old Spain, American progress, and Eastern atmosphere.The population is the most polyglot of any Latin American City.The Panama Canal continues to be one of the country's main tourist attractions and can best be view at Miraflores on the Pacific side.The cabarets, nightlife and gaming are an attraction to those so incline.

CLIMATE: Tropical stable temperatures year round ranging from 73? F to 83? F (23?c to 28'c).The rainy season is from April to December with up to 65 inches (1,590 mm) of annual rain fall.During the dry season there are steady trade wind breezes.

VISITOR INFORMATION: Instituto Panameno de Turismo, Para Mayor Informacion, Apartado 4421, Panama 5 PMA.

Tel: 636500.

HOW TO GET THERE: Panama City is served by Tocumen Int'l Airport (PTY) 17 miles northwest of the city for international flights and Paitilla Airport (PAC) for domestic flights.There are direct flights from Miami in the U.S.; from Spain and the Netherlands in Europe; El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico in Central America; Cuba in the Caribbean, and Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela in South America.

Via Israel, PO Box 6-4249, El Dorado, Panama City 6A.

Tel: 26-4077.

Fax: 26-0116.

Type: Deluxe convention resort hotel & casino.

Location: Directly across from the ATLAPA Convention Center, near the ocean.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 391 rooms, 14 suites, bar, disco.3 restaurants, coffee shop.swimming pool, tennis, gym, sauna.hydrotherapy pool.

Rates: US$115 - 525.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Description: This hotel has a good view of the nearby ocean from the 18th floor restaurant.

Av.Peru & Calle 28 Este, PO Box 8735 Panama City 5.

Tel: 27-2525.

Fax: 27-3115.

Type: Moderate first class hotel & casino.

Location: Downtown location.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 166 rooms, 9 suites, wheelchair access, coffee shop, bar, rooftop pool, meeting facilities, Credit Cards: AE / DC / MC / VISA.

Rates: US$40 - 45.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Description: The Caribe is popular with locals.

Via Espana and Calle 42, Aptdo.7511, Panama City 5.

Tel: 63-6911.

Type: Moderate first class hotel & casino.

Location: In front of the Bella Vista Theater.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 147 rooms & suites, cafeteria, restaurant, bar.swimming pool, entertainment, dancing.

Rates: US$40 - 80.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Av.Peru & Calle 30, Aptdo.3385, Panama City 4.

Tel: 27-1133.

Fax: 27-0884.

Type: Moderate first class group oriented hotel & casino.

Location: In the business center, a few blocks from the government buildings and the Pacific Ocean.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 200 rooms, 20 suites, restaurant, bar, entertainment, rooftop swimming pool.

Rates: US$45 - 110.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Description: One of Panama City's better bets.It has a fine view of the city and Canal from the top floor.

Espana 111, PO Box 1753, Panama City 1.

Tel: 695000.

Fax: 23-6080.

Type: Modern hotel & casino.

Location: on 9 acres in the Banking and shopping district of Panama City.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 345 rooms, restaurant, pub, disco, meeting facilities.pool, tennis, racquetball, gym, shops.

Rates: US$100-125.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Plaza 5 de Mayo, Panama City.

Tel: 621000.

Type: First class hotel & casino.

Location: In the commercial center of the city.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker), 85 rooms, rooftop restaurant, cocktail lounge.

Rates: US$41 - 47.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Via Italia and Winston Churchill, PO Box 1807, Punta Paitilla, Panama City 1.

Tel: 69-1122.

Fax: 23-1470.

Type: Superior first class tower hotel & casino.

Location: On the shore-front on Panama Bay overlooking the entrance to the Canal, 1 mile from downtown.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 160 Rooms, 10 suites, 5 bars, poolside bar, rooftop restaurant, entertainment, show bar, swimming pool, tennis.Rates US$112 - 122.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Description: This is the only oceanfront hotel in the city proper.Its 20 story round tower has a vista of the bay and Panama City.A massive chandelier hangs in the center of the mirrored round casino.

PO Box 6-999, El Dorado, Panama City 6.

Tel: 203333.

Fax: 694559.

Type: Moderate First class hotel & casino.

Location: 30 minutes from the center of Panama City, 2 minutes from the Airport.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 200 rooms, 2 suites, cocktail lounge, discotheque, piano bar, restaurant, coffee shop, outdoor swimming pool, tennis, shopping arcade.

Rates: US$60 - 155.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Description: The former La Siesta Int'l Airport Hotel which joined the Riande Hotel group in 1987.

Affiliation: Riande Hotels Panama.

Via Espana, PO Box 8475, Panama City 7.

Tel: 639999.

Fax: 694559.

Type: First class hotel & casino.

Location: In the business center overlooking the bay.

Casino: state run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 240 rooms, 21 suites, bar, nightclub, restaurant, coffee shop, outdoor swimming pool, shopping arcade.

Rates: US$87 - 130.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Description: This is a well managed group oriented hotel.

Affiliation: Riande Hotels Panama.

Av.Eusebio Morales, Aptdo.8457, Panama City 7.

Tel: 644900.

Fax: 640930.

Type: Moderate First class multistory Hotel & Casino.

Location: In a commercial and residential area near restaurants and shopping; 15 minutes from the city center, one block off Via Espana.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, poker).

Amenities: 177 rooms, 10 suites, cocktail lounge, entertainment, restaurant, coffee shop, outdoor pool & terrace, shopping arcade.

Rates: US$87 - 130.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.

Description: This is a nice medium size hotel from which you can safely walk to the diversions of the more expensive hotels nearby without paying their higher rates.

Affiliation: Riande Hotels Panama.

Calle 50 and R.Arias 23, Panama City, Panama.

Type: Nightclub, discotheque & Casino.

Casino: State run Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette & poker).

Playa Coronado is on the Gulf of Panama about 1.5 hours drive from of Panama City.

Playa Coronado, Apartado 4381, Panama City 5.

Tel: 240-4444.

Fax: 240-4380.

Type: An exclusive club.

Casino: State run.

Games: slots, tables (blackjack, craps, roulette).

Amenities: 74 luxurious suites, 4 restaurants & bars.olympic pool, spa & health club, tennis, 18 hole golf course, meeting rooms.

Credit Cards: AE / DC / MCNISA.

Rates: US$125 - 350.

Service: 10%.

Tax: 10%.