the original tropical forest cover was cleared to make way for cattle pastures, there remains plenty of wildlife to fascinate the dedicated animal lover. In particular, Panama is the home to, and a stop for, nearly a thousand bird species, including some of the world’s rarest. Amateur ornithologists will find themselves well rewarded at the pond in Pocri, just north of Pedasí, where dozens of bird species alight to court, mate, raise young, or just rest their wings for a moment.
Scuba divers will find a plethora of marine life in the coastal waters, particularly around Isla Iguana and the Frailes Islands. Several species of rays, including manta rays, sharks, trumpetfish, sea turtles, seahorses, octopus and a thousand variegated fish congregate in the balmy waters.
For those who prefer more activity, the smoothly-paved hilly roads are the perfect base for long-distance cycles, with plenty of opportunity for heading off-road. For a more organic means of travel, horseback riding is possibly the preferred choice in Los Santos cowboy country – you’re unlikely not to share the road with horses and riders rounding up a herd of cattle, or making their leisurely way home at the end of a long day in the field.
Three’s a Crowd, Four’s a Party: Los Santos Fiestas
No mention of Los Santos would be complete without the colorful outbursts that punctuate every town, seemingly every weekend: the fiestas. There are no end of reasons to celebrate in Los Santos, whether religious or commemorative, or simply a matter of long-held tradition. The most riotous celebration of all is the five-day Carnival, and the town of Las Tablas is renowned for its frenzied merriment, with lavish parades presided by lovely girls in