Panama is a very impressive place

Panama City is as modern a metroplis as Hong Kong.

Just got back from my Panama visit and my first impression of this new kid on the block tourist destination is I'm very impressed.

Panama is much more than a canal - which, I must admit, is one of the most impressive man-made structures I've ever seen; right up there with China's Great Wall and Egypt's pyramids.

Panama City, the capital, is a fast-paced vertical metropolis that's as exciting as Hong Kong, New York or London - lots of great restaurants, brand new hotels (like the about to open Trump Tower), old world charm in its Old Town district and an exciting nightlife that's spiced up with lots of casinos and clubs.

The people of Panama are friendly - a bit shy and certainly not as in your face as Brazilians, but they are welcoming and always flash a smile.

Of course, as I discovered, Panama's ecology is second to none and its eco-tourism sector, that feature rain forest safaris and jungle walks that lead to breathtaking waterfalls even impressed a couch potato like me.

Some people are calling South and Central America the new Caribbean. I couldn't agree more. The Caribbean is too costly for me and the beach resorts one finds in Panama and the rest of Latin America offer much better value.

Okay, I know there's always a safety concern about Latin America. Get over it folks. The drug dealers have all moved north to Mexico from places like Colombia and the only thing you have to be afraid of in Panama is the giant-sized insects that look like jumbo jets.

Speaking of Colombia - a place I can't wait to visit - people in Panama were telling me their neighbour - Panama once belonged to Colombia - is the next tourist hot spot in this region.

I flew with Copa Airlines to Panama and the Panama City-based carrier, which will soon become a member of Star Alliance along with Air Canada, is superb in every way - service and reliability are right up their with the 5-star carriers.

Business is booming in Panama and my plane was full of Canadian business executives headed to Panama City to make big deals in mining and finance. One of the biggest banks in Panama is our own Scotiabank.

One of the fastest growing demographics in Panama is retirees, mostly from the U.S. and Canada. Here you can get downtown Pacific Ocean-view condos for about $140,000 and over on the Caribbean side of the country, Canadian developers are about to open condos along the Atlantic Ocean coast for about the same price.

I highly recommend Panama as a vacation destination and Copa Airlines is a great way to get there.

El Macho waterfall a big Panama thrill

El Macho is well worth the trip to Panama.

DATELINE PANAMA - This was the Panama I wanted to see - lush rain forests, volcanic mountains, endless ocean vistas, waterfalls, rare flowers and quaint vacation towns tucked away in dramatic tropical landscape.

It all came together for me early this morning when we pulled into the small tourist town of El Valle de Anton - think Muskoka with a Latin accent - that sits at the base of a majestic range of mountains known locally as the Sleeping Lady whose peaks are hidden from view most days by low hanging clouds.

Located within those lush mountains is El Macho, a beautiful waterfall that is the biggest tourist draw in this part of Panama - about 120 kilometres south of the capital Panama City.

You can zip line across the waterfall and lush jungle for about $35 dollars or just walk the tails leading to El Macho for only $3. Along that trail are rare plants, some wild creatures like golden frogs - one of rarest species in the world - and even a few square trees - honestly, the trunks are square.

We were welcomed at El Macho but a loud buzzing sound made by giant bees - think the 747 variety of the bee world. Insects like cockroaches that come in small sizes everywhere else in the world are super sized in Panama - the cockroaches here are as big as a big man's fist.

Panama, I'm quickly realizing, is an eco wonderland and El Macho is the big boy in this eco tourism world.

Sharing some Kodak moments from Panama's lovely and historic capital



Playful food vendors offer more than hot dogs in Panama.


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The walls of the Panama City are colorfully decorated.

The Panama Canal is a thrill to see.

Tiny locomotives guide giant ships through the Canal.

Panama City is one of Latin America's most beautiful cities.

Old Panama City is colorful and charming to walk.

I'm off to Panama in search of seco

Panama City is the new hotspot of Latin America.

I'm desperate for a good glass of seco, so I'm heading to Panama tomorrow morning to find the best in the world.

Seco, officially known as Seco Herrerano, is the national drink of Panama and is just like a premium vodka - elegant and smooth with a silky mouth feel and just a hint of light rum.

I actually tasted it when I was Brazil at a bar in Rio that claimed to be authentic Panamanian.
 

Now I want to taste seco in the land where it was first introduced to the world.

 

The Panama tourism board and Copa Airlines, which started service into Toronto recently, have invited me down to sample some of the Central American country's legendary charm and hospitality.

 

Copa Airlines, which boasts the youngest fleet in Latin America, wants to make Panama City a hub for Canadians travelling to places like Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile and all the other great countries in that part of the world.

 

I've never been to Panama City - so if any of my faithful readers has, please send me names of some good restaurants, bars and places you'd recommend I visit while I'm there.
 
I'll be reporting back daily so stay tuned - this is one trip I'm really looking forward to.