Rating: 
Summary: Recommended
Review: (Planeta.com Journal) - This insightful guidebook is based on the author's years spent roaming around the country every weekend. The book deftly summarizes conservation efforts in Panama and provides in-depth profiles of natural destinations throughout the country. The Panama Canal is a featured attraction and beautifully described in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Be warned
Review: Although this book does contain some useful information there is a very definite bias. The visa information relates only to US citizens, there are other countires in the world, and the information on the canal is very definitely the view of a zonian. Areas which to me are very definitely in the city are described as being in the canal area.
I do not have a problem with a museum in a Spanish speaking country giving the information in Spanish and resent the patronising comments he makes about the fact not everyone speaks English.
Rating:
Summary: Be warned
Review: Although this book does contain some useful information there is a very definite bias. The visa information relates only to US citizens, there are other countries in the world, and the information on the canal is very definitely the view of a zonian. Areas which to me are very definitely in the city are described as being in the canal area.
I do not have a problem with a museum in a Spanish speaking country giving the information in Spanish and resent the patronising comments he makes about the fact not everyone speaks English.
Rating:
Summary: Adventures in Nature Pamana
Review: Do not, repeat, do not go to Panama without this book. There is little of interest spared from this book. Mr Friar obviously has traveled the paths about which he writes, from the trails in the western highlands of Chrirqui to the bustling streets of Panama City. If he makes a comment such as 'your call', believe me be cautious. We just returned from a 10 day trip that included hiking some of the highland trails. We negotiated roads that should not be driven, and competed for space in streets barely wide enough for our rental van in San Felipe. We hiked trails that require athletic skill and wrestled our way through the market at Sal Si Puede.The directions are impeccable, and food recommendations are excellent plus still quite current. If he does not write about something it is likely of little interest or non existent. Example: when we lived there from 1994-97, there was a nice artesan market at Stevens Circle at the foot of the canal commission headquarters. We wrongly thought Mr Friar missed it, however,it was not mentioned because it no longer exists. We found it has moved to just up the street from the YMCA on the way to the Bridge of the Americas. Even as former residents, this book was a truly valuable guide to travel in this quite interesting little country.
Rating:
Summary: Adventures in Nature Pamana
Review: Do not, repeat, do not go to Panama without this book. There is little of interest spared from this book. Mr Friar obviously has traveled the paths about which he writes, from the trails in the western highlands of Chrirqui to the bustling streets of Panama City. If he makes a comment such as 'your call', believe me be cautious. We just returned from a 10 day trip that included hiking some of the highland trails. We negotiated roads that should not be driven, and competed for space in streets barely wide enough for our rental van in San Felipe. We hiked trails that require athletic skill and wrestled our way through the market at Sal Si Puede. The directions are impeccable, and food recommendations are excellent plus still quite current. If he does not write about something it is likely of little interest or non existent. Example: when we lived there from 1994-97, there was a nice artesan market at Stevens Circle at the foot of the canal commission headquarters. We wrongly thought Mr Friar missed it, however,it was not mentioned because it no longer exists. We found it has moved to just up the street from the YMCA on the way to the Bridge of the Americas. Even as former residents, this book was a truly valuable guide to travel in this quite interesting little country.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: Excellent book. You don't really need to be an adventurer to get a lot of use from this book, just be interested in the outdoors. We visited Isle Grande (crowded only on weekends), Boca Brava, San Blas, and the Volcan Baru region and found the book to be quite accurate and reliable. The San Blas islands were our favorite, but we enjoyed all places. No one got sick. All had a great time. We did not use the book for either hotel or restaurant recommendations so I can't rate it there.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: Excellent book. You don't really need to be an adventurer to get a lot of use from this book, just be interested in the outdoors. We visited Isle Grande (crowded only on weekends), Boca Brava, San Blas, and the Volcan Baru region and found the book to be quite accurate and reliable. The San Blas islands were our favorite, but we enjoyed all places. No one got sick. All had a great time. We did not use the book for either hotel or restaurant recommendations so I can't rate it there.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent guidebook to Panama
Review: I have read this book and used it in my travels in Panama. It provides insight into the culture of the country that is only possible from an author who grew up there. This book covers the entire country and gives detailed information about accommodations,tours and everything you need to know to travel about the country with an emphasis on eco-tourism. Anyone visiting Panama will find this book invaluable. I have also read "Portrait of the Panama Canal" by this suthor and this new book is written in the same easy-to-read style. If you are going to Panama, take this book with you.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific guide, with a personal touch
Review: I just finished reading this book, and want to offer the author my thanks and compliments. I'm planning to move to Panama someday, and his book helped cement my plans. Friar does a lucid and loving job in describing the country, but for me the most important undercurrent in the book is his obvious love and respect for the people who live there. Friar doesn't just tell you about Panama's hotels and restaurants and tours; he introduces you to the people who run them.
Rating:
Summary: Be warned
Review: This book provides good, in depth information about natural destinations in Panama. It gives more detailed descriptions of each place then a guide like Lonely Planet. However, the restaurant, hotel, and transportaion information is too limited for this to be the only guide book you take. I took this book and the Lonely Planet guide on my trip to Panama, and it worked out well.
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