This restaurant is a good source for super-cheap Panamanian food. Everything is a la carte - you basically just go down the line pointing at the things you want. They have rice and beans, excellent chicken, and a variety of other dishes to choose from. And the price can't be beat - on my first visit I had a large meal and a soda for under $4.

Loved this restaurant! Their main set of dishes is a plate with beans and rice, french fries, salad, and a meat of choice: chicken, pork chop, fish filet, lobster, octopus, or more. I had the octopus and was extremely impressed. Normally when I get octopus it is tough and chewy, but this was perfectly done! The sauce it was in was delicious as well. I was still craving more after cleaning my plate - was tempted to get a second order.

This is a nice chill bar. You can join the regulars at the counter for a drink or two ($1.50 beers), or play darts. What I really loved about this bar is that it's the site of a regular poker game (Texas Hold'em cash game, $20-$100 buy in, small/big blinds are $0.25 and $0.50) held by a group of ex-pats. It was great to sit down and join them for a few nights, play some cards, join in on the banter, and hopefully make a couple bucks. They're there usually every night but Sunday from around 8 until close, and always welcome new players - stop by and check it out!

This restaurant has some excellent Panamanian food at a great price. You can pick from a selection of dishes they have ready (basically cafeteria style). A typical plate will have a meat dish, rice and beans, and a salad. You can add a second meat for another dollar or so. Good food at a great price!

This restaurant has some great burgers! They are gigantic, and delicious. I also really enjoyed the ambience - it is over the water, with open walls, and a conical thatched roof. Surf boards and other water sport gear are stashed in the rafters. Definitely a good place to go to if you're craving a good ol' American burger.

This general store is a great place to pick up travel stuff you lost, used up, or forgot at home. Need more toothpaste? They've got it! Sun screen? Of course. Run out of pens? They have a variety to choose from. Want a mouse for your laptop? No problem. If all that shopping is making you hungry they've got candy bars, soda, and other snacks. I was really impressed by the variety of this store, and the prices were great too.

Tired of eating typical panamanian food? The Om cafe has got you covered, with a variety of good indian meals. They have all the classics like Chicken Tikka Masala, butter chicken, and more. They've also got a wrap-like dish wich is basically salad and meat wrapped in a naan-like pita which was a new experience for me (and quite good). The service was a bit slow, though - we watched several people sit down after us and get their food before us!

This hostel/bar is a backpacker's paradise. It is located on the island of Carenero, but is just a dollar boatride away from Isla Colon (go to the dock near barco Hundido and ask to go to Aqua Lounge - it's right across the water). Aqua lounge is built directly over the water, with a large swimming area cut into the deck. If you're feeling brave you can try doing a flip off of a 10-foot diving platform. If you're not feeling quite so adventurous, you can go for a swim, swing on the swings, or just sun on the deck. If you have a computer you can lie in a hammock and surf the web (free wireless) in between swims. The staff is very chill and friendly, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed during the day. There is almost always music wafting over the loudspeakers, with a group of hostel guests and visitors gathered around the tables, sunning on the deck, or going for a swim. At night things get a little wilder: they have happy hour (dollar beers) every night, and on party nights (Wed night is Lady's night, and Sat night is Splash Fever) the deck fills up with revelers dancing the night away until 3 AM. The hostel has 2 rooms with 11 beds each, and offers free wireless (as mentioned above) as well as free breakfast of pancakes and toast. Come here and enjoy your own slice of paradise for only $10 a night!