Posts by Blogob

For an upcoming trip to Panama, we contacted the Tout Panama network, which requires a (real) credit card for the rental companies it acts as an intermediary for—something that’s rare and apparently not so easy to get in France. I’ve posted another question about where to find a credit card in France, but that’s a different topic.

Usually, we do our research directly on forums and especially Google Maps. We scan all the listed rental agencies and scrutinize the reviews. Very often, we come across local agencies with excellent ratings. So we avoid the big brands, which always find a way to scam you.

But for the first time, I can’t find anything that inspires confidence. On the contrary, in Panama City, all of them have terrible ratings (scams, delayed charges, etc.).

My question: are there any travelers who can recommend reliable agencies (possibly with contact details if they’re companies) that might accept debit cards?

Thanks so much in advance,

Hi, I’m planning a trip to Panama and have a general question, because it seems that debit cards are systematically refused there.

Are there any credit cards available in France that I can use for travel without restrictions, especially for renting cars abroad?

I’d appreciate any useful info: bank names, how to sign up, specific requirements, guarantees, how much to put in the account, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks so much for your detailed reply! We're slowly making progress on the itinerary...

Hi there, we're heading to Panama.

We're looking for up-to-date info on day trips to: 1-Coiba (from Santa Catalina). I’ve seen prices like: $65 per person + 20 € for the national park entrance, and also a "package" price of $225... Has anyone got recent info? Are these prices to be shared, or is it really a minimum of 85 € per person (even for a 6-year-old kid)?

2-Escudo de Veraguas From Bocas del Toro, I’ve seen prices around 150 € with a 2-hour lancha ride. Or from Calovébora (no info on price or trip duration).

Has anyone been to this island recently and have any up-to-date tips?

Thanks in advance,

Hi there,

After a lot of hesitation about our Central America destination (trip in July), we finally decided on Panama.

For this country, we're looking for info to fine-tune our itinerary.

To avoid spending entire days in the car, does anyone have any firsthand experiences or suggestions for towns or villages to stop at: Between Panama City and Valle de Anton? Between Valle de Anton and Pedasí (Santiago, Parita, Chitré)? Between Pedasí (or another nearby village) and Santa Catalina? Is Isla Cébaco worth the detour? (How do you get there?) Is there another departure point for Coiba (other than Santa Catalina)? Between Santa Catalina and David (is Boca Chica worth the detour?) Between David and Boquete? Between Boquete and Bocas del Toro?

Also, we’ve seen that Panama is known for its waterfalls, some of which look stunning—like Cascada Macho de Monte and La Silampa.

Do you know of any waterfalls that are easy to access (we’re traveling with a child) and don’t require hours of hiking?

Thanks in advance if you can help! (Of course, we’re researching everywhere, but nothing beats real-life experiences.) :)

yes, thanks! We're actually looking for intermediate stops, given the travel times! We’ll start another thread to find out more.. Thanks! !

Thanks lacondor, yeah, we’ve thought about it... maybe for a future trip.

Thanks! !

thanks Chrissand, we finally chose Panama, but we’ll keep your travel journal (blog) in mind, thanks! !

Thanks so much for these tips! We’re going for nearly a month, so we’ll have plenty of time! We had no idea there was a Trump Tower in Panama! (thanks for the rooftop tip)

Hi there,

We’re planning a trip to Central America and South America, but we’re still unsure about the destination. It’s for a trip in July 2025, so weather is definitely a factor. For Ecuador, the weather seems favorable, but my wife knows an Ecuadorian woman who told her that the security situation has really deteriorated, especially on the west side (beaches, etc.).

Has anyone traveled to Ecuador recently (in 2025) and could share their experience? (security situation, recommended itineraries)

In terms of things to see (typical villages, landscapes), weather, and prices, Ecuador seems more appealing to us than Costa Rica or Panama, which we’re also considering.

I posted a few questions recently about Costa Rica and Panama, since we're still hesitating between the two for a trip in July.

Our plan would be to drive up through Panama to Bocas del Toro, then fly back (a classic loop).

We have tons of questions, since travel blogs and sites are often so glowing, which is why we'd love to hear real firsthand experiences.

1-We're really drawn to small colonial-style villages. Are there any similar to Casco Viejo in Panama City elsewhere in the country? 2-Which island is worth the detour, and are there any paradise-like beaches (clear water, snorkeling right from the beach) outside of Bocas del Toro and San Blas? 3-Which coast is better between Panama City and Bocas del Toro?

We're traveling with a child, so we'll avoid anything like treks or waterfalls that are hard to access.

Thanks in advance if you can help us out! 🙁

Great, thanks so much for these tips—I’ll keep them in mind! :)

Thanks so much for these valuable tips!! Yeah, I think we’ll rent a vehicle, but we’ll probably go through a local agency rather than an international chain—we’ve read a lot of bad reviews about them.

While I’m at it, I’m researching the "most beautiful villages in Panama" but not finding much. Do you have any must-recommend places or villages?

Hi there, we're looking into Costa Rica for a short trip in July (10 days).

From what we've read here and there: - Most travelers head to the Pacific coast. - For a July trip, the Caribbean coast is less prone to heavy rains.

Is that correct?

Question: When it comes to beaches, parks, and driving distances, is the Caribbean coast worth it compared to the Pacific coast?

Especially for the beaches—I’ve seen tons of blogs and sites with photos of Caribbean beaches vs. Pacific ones, and it seems like the Pacific side is way more paradise-like. Is that accurate? (It looks like, regardless of season or weather, the sea on the Caribbean side is darker and choppier.)

Thanks in advance if anyone can share their experience (Caribbean vs. Pacific, pros, cons, etc.)

Hi there,

I have a few questions about Panama. I’ve heard that it’s possible to travel from Panama to the San Blas Islands.

1- Does anyone have information about small plane transport to the islands? I understand it’s possible to fly to one of the main islands, but there might also be other drop-off points for visiting more remote islands. We’re traveling with kids and would prefer to avoid a 5 AM wake-up and a mountain car ride if possible.

2- Regarding our route through the country: we’ve noted the issues with renting a car. We’ve seen that a common itinerary is to fly directly to Bocas del Toro afterward, then return in stages by bus or rental car.

We imagine taking the bus would be really long and tiring (especially with a child). If we rent a car all the way to the west of the country, do you have any recommendations? (e.g., options to rent there and drop it off at the airport or in Panama City, names of local agencies?)

Thanks in advance!

You’ve probably all noticed how a discussion, often stimulating at first, inevitably tends to devolve into personal attacks. The argument gives way to sweeping judgments: "They’re just promoting their blog, so they lack sincerity," or "They criticize the bourgeoisie, but aren’t they bourgeois themselves since they travel?" And just like that, the debate withers, stuck in a spiral of *ad hominem* attacks—both sterile and exhausting.

This phenomenon, so common in this space, isn’t lost on anyone. Maybe it’d be wiser to adopt a simpler, more serene approach: respond if you feel like it, and refrain if you don’t. Perhaps we should also question that almost reflexive urge to "correct" or criticize not the ideas themselves, but the person expressing them.

Why, when someone shares an opinion—whether positive or negative, and without it having any real impact—do we so often feel the need to shift our focus from the message to the messenger?

Isn’t this a glaring and unsettling illustration of our inability to tolerate the mere existence of a differing perspective without seeing it as a threat to our own coherence or the stability of our beliefs? Maybe it’s time to recognize that expressing an opinion, no matter how debatable, doesn’t demand immediate approval or relentless refutation. At best, it calls for respectful silence or a thoughtful response; at worst, polite indifference.

That way, discussions might—just once—avoid turning into a battlefield of egos and return to their original purpose: a free and fruitful exchange of ideas.

Unfortunately, Attila embodies one of the main reasons I left this forum. His behavior, which you’ve all witnessed, follows a pattern of systematic provocation, an endless quest for confrontation. Such an attitude likely reveals a latent neurosis, or at least a mind inclined toward malice. This relentless need to find flaws, to impose his views as an unquestionable norm, reflects a compulsive desire for dominance in the discursive space.

All I did was raise a topic, an open reflection for discussion, without pretending to set a framework or dictate behavior. Wouldn’t it be more constructive—even more elegant—to refrain from intervening if the subject doesn’t spark interest or agreement?

I wonder about this visceral need some people have to jump in not to enrich the debate, but to derail it into ego-driven quarrels. If we can’t avoid this dynamic, maybe it’d be wiser to let everyone choose their battles and stay silent when the exchange promises nothing but sterile conflict.

With that, thank you to the other contributors for taking the time to read and share your perspectives.