B & B La Estancia - Panama City
By Neville Blech
It’s always nice to find a city hotel that’s far away from the noise and bustle and
yet is near enough to the action not to feel too isolated. Thus we found ourselves
in Panama City - in the city but on the edge of the jungle as close to nature as
we city slickers may feel comfortable.
We were recommended to stay at the B&B La Estancia. Nestled in the quiet hillside
of Cerro Ancon with views to the Bridge of the Americas, it’s not far from the domestic
airport, old town Casco Viejo, the Panama Canal, Amador Causeway, and only 10 minutes
from the heart of the city with it’s high rise buildings, historic old parts, vibrant
traffic, lunatic drivers and inexpensive shopping malls.
At La Estancia’s non-smoking B&B you are surrounded by nature. It’s a good place
for bird watchers as well as nature lovers who enjoy wakening to the sound of birds.
Rooms are on the small side but are perfectly adequate, comfortable and well-equipped
enough. Some rooms have balconies which is an added bonus. Breakfasts, which includes
eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and pancakes, as well as a selection of fresh fruit,
cereal, yogurt, cheese, fruit juices and bread can be taken indoors or on the breakfast
balconies where you can amuse yourselves by watching the birds and animals going
about their daily business. Also, throughout the day, complimentary tea, coffee and
fruit are available for guests. Free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet connections or 24-hour
access to a "house" computer for guests is an added bonus.
After a short 20-minute walk to the top of Cerro Ancon, guests can enjoy a 360˚ view
of Panama City and the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. On your walk around Cerro
Ancon, you may also see, in the thick and unspoiled vegetation, monkeys, exotic birds,
deer, sloths and many other kinds of animals unique to this area.
The owners of La Estancia are Tammy Liu and Gustavo Chan. Gustavo has lived in Panama
since 1977 and speaks fluent Spanish as well as English and Cantonese. He has a wealth
of local knowledge and Panama experience. Tammy moved to Panama from England in 2000,
the year they were married. Together, Tammy and Gustavo started their tour company,
Panoramic Panama, in 2001 to assist tourists who want to visit Panama. In 2003, they
expanded their services by offering overnight accommodations in La Estancia, in a
residential district which was mainly used to house the American personnel who ran
the Panama canal until it was taken over by the Panamanians in 1999. Guests there
have the added advantage of being able to log in to an experienced tour guide operation
with genuine local knowledge and no rip offs. A pick up service from and to the International
airport at all times of the day and night is easily arranged over the internet.
One of the most compelling things about La Estancia is the excellent value for money
it provides. A basic charge of $75 a night plus taxes for a double room including
breakfast is half of what you would expect to pay for similar accommodation in the
centre of the city and taxis are so cheap (around $5-$8 depending which part of the
city you want to get to) that it well compensates for being just that little bit
off the beaten track. One drawback, however, is that there are no restaurants within
walking distance of the establishment, but there are various takeaways that you can
call to get your (admittedly very basic) food delivered directly to your hotel room
and the hotel provides plenty of wine, beer and soft drinks to keep you going all
night if you so desire! Two restaurants we can recommend, although we obviously haven’t
been there enough times to give them a full review, are the restaurant at the Miraflores
lock - with stunning views over the Panama canal (make sure you get an outside reservation
and lunch late since the ships usually come through the lock around 2 p.m.) and Manolo
Caracol, in the Casco Viejo quarter of the city (an interesting and intriguing tasting
menu). The staff at La Estancia will be happy to make reservations for you and organise
transport.
Ratings
Rooms 39
Breakfast 10
Service 8
Atmosphere 8
Value for Money 15
Total 80
For an explanation of the ratings click here
B & B La Estancia: Casa 35, Calle Amelia Denis de Icaza, Quarry Heights, Cerro Ancon,
Panama
Telephones: +(507)314-1581 or +(507)6615-4155 or +(507)314.1604 or +(507)314-1417
