Friday, April 3, 2009

Alternative travel: A voyage to Chiriqui province Panama

Dear Techies,

Sorry for the long delay in writing, like all of you I am riding the waves of change, recession and searching for what's really important in life.

As many of you know, last year I opened a Hostel in David Panama, 25 miles from the Costa Rican border in David Panama. It is www.bambuhostel.com we had an awesome season there selling out on many nights. We feature a lovely new pool, tropical gardens with fruit trees all over the property that provide, avocados, coconuts, papaya, passion fruit and some strange stuff that is white and sweet with large black seeds! We also have a mayan style rancho, and there we have nightly jam sessions, we have hand drums and guitars for guests. Otherwise chill out by the pool listen to our sound system, or head out to the center of David and enjoy fresh sugar cane and lemon juice, nothing better than that.

David, Panama while not considered to be a tourist destination is a great place. Located less than hour from the famous Highland paradise of Boquete www.boquete.org and half an hour to the nearest surfing beaches of the Pacific coast, and 3.5 hours to the Caribbean jungles and reefs of Bocas Del Toro www.bocasdeltoro.com

David is a crossroads and Bambu Hostel is a backpackers paradise with lovely gardens, a brand new pool and $8 dorm beds.

Currently flights to Panama are available for as little as $250 roundtrip from many places in the US. You can search at www.airtech.com click on 'lowest airfare' airplane icon and enter your dates and etc. the best link that i found there was for ATI flight..

Prices are dirt cheap in Panama, bunks at bambu are $8 and a seafood dinner across the street from the hostel will set you back $3, beers are sixty cents. Also if you need Dental work done is is %75 cheaper than in the US, I used Dental Esthetic www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/29/dental-estetic-opens-in-david-in-plaza-mallorca/comment-page-1/ that blog was where I found it. I saved 1500 dollars doing my dental work in Panama, with what I saved it paid for the entire trip including the airfare!

David is a great base for many trips with an hour, for example you can go soak in the Hot Springs at Caldera www.hablayapanama.com/ecotourism/hotsprings.html entrance there is $2 and you can stay all day lounging in the springs or swimming in the river. Another trip is to boquete where you can hike, see coffee plantations and rainbows and swim in waterfalls.

About an hour away from David is the amazing Lost and Found Jungle Lodge www.lostandfoundlodge.com/lostandfound/Eco_Resort.html the only Hostel in a National Park (Fortuna) in Panama. Beautifully constructed in the rain/cloud forrest, you can hike, ride horses and swim, or just read a book in a hammock as you watch magnificent condors fly at eye level. Dorm beds average $12.

There is a lot to Do in Panama if you like to surf, sail, birdwatch, snorkel, scuba, swim and bike. There are always incredible 'Faerias' going on around the country, huge county fairs where you can dance till dawn to the dynamic panamanian music mix which includes heavy doses of reggaeton, reggae in Spanish as well as Rock salsa and merenque.

So if you are looking for an adventure and you dont have a lot of money to spend consider coming to Panama, come to bambu the beer is on me! There we will help you plan your itinerary, we are all experts! If you have general questions about panama feel free to write me mike@airtech.com 212-219-7000 x1 (lv message)

One last note: Hawaii is still available and can be booked 7 days or less before date of travel, after 4/15 prices average $250 each way.. 212-219-7000 x1

Europe from NY Boston and Florida $359 one way to europe, about $400 one way back no advance purchase neccesary, this is good for last minute unplanned trips when prices have gone sky high...
www.airtech.com

Well thank you for your time, i hope that this letter finds you at peace and in health.

Mike Esterson
President, airtech and owner bambu hostel

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