Comments(0) The Panama Canal, The Casco Viejo, and Panama Viejo are not the only tourist attractions on the isthmus. Panama also attracts large numbers of adventurers seeking excitement surfing, or experiencing the jungle up close and personal on an eco-tour. Those who are on a shoestring budget or want to rough it will bring their own gear and campout. These are all great ways to explore Panama.
Jungle trail
Comments(22) Several years ago when I was living in Panama as a soldier, a group I was with crossed the Isthmus through the jungle. A Desk Man (in the Army this would be an officer without a command who comes up with great ideas for others to try) had been reading up on Panamanian history. He learned how the early Conquistadors had crossed the Isthmus on foot. Later, the King’s Road was built. This was followed by trails forged by gold seekers headed to California via Panama. These trails became the foundation for a railroad, and finally, the Panama Canal. The Desk Man thought it would be a great training exercise to recreate what the Conquistadors had done, and to truly test our jungle survival skills. The rules were simple. We would parachute onto Venado Drop Zone (DZ) south of Howard AFB on the Pacific side. We would assemble into our assigned teams and head toward the Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side. We had to stay within the Canal Zone, which covered a swath of land that was five miles wide on either side of the canal. And, most importantly, we could not use roads or receive any indigenous help. As a safety precaution, instead of carrying one radio, we would carry two.
Map of central Panama
