Amador Causeway, the Outstretched Arm of Panama City

On your way to the Causeway there is the striking architecture of the Figali Convention Center. It was built as the primary venue for the Miss Universe Pageant in 2003. It is now used mostly for concerts and sporting events such as boxing or ice skating. The Figali seating capacity is 10, 275. It is known to be one of the largest and most well equipped convention centers in Central America.

As you drive down the Causeway you will find well maintained lawns, benches and walking space. You might even run into a functioning carriage horse which transports people along a portion of the Causeway. Panama City, Panama embraces an international population of about one million persons. Panama is a country the size of South Carolina, with a populace of over three million. The city now includes over 250 high-rise office buildings, as well as condominiums and hotel towers, with another 280 or so high rises under construction. The Causeway is a wonderful part of Panama City, that is getting a lot of attention right now.

Continuing down the Causeway you will then be on Perico Island, on the left side, facing the Bay of Panama. Between Perico and Flamenco Islands there are many private motor and sailboats at anchor at the Flamenco Yacht Club and Fuerte Amador Resort and Marina. There are shops, restaurants and bars. On Flamenco Islands, the Southern tip of the Amador Causeway there are more restaurants and the cruise ships docks called Port Amador. That modern terminal is designed to comfortably receive passengers and offers them Immigration and Customs services, internet cafe, call center and several duty free shops.

The Amador Causeway connects four small islands: Noas, Culebra, Perico and Flamenco; with the mainland near the foot of the Bridge of the Americas in the Panama Canal. All of the islands were part of Fort Grant, which was established in 1913 as a fortification for the Panamanians and Americans to protect Panama canal access during the two world wars. Many of the fortifications and massive underground bomb proof structures still exist. The most distant of the islands - Isla Flamenco, was a US military Command Post in 1942 and on Isla Perico - part of the Fuerte Amador Shopping Center is built over an old underground military sanctuary.

The first island is Noas Island, when you make a right there you will find the home of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's Laboratories (STRI). The scientists have been working on Punta Culebra since early in the last century, accomplishing enormous amounts of research and analysis. It offers visitors an open-air museum focusing mainly on marine science and education, conservation and interpretations of marine coastal environments. Within walking distance is their Marine Exhibition Center which offers a number of interesting exhibits, explained both in English and Spanish. Some of these are: Panama: abundance of fish; Sea Turtles: mysterious navigators; Sea Aquarium; Marine invertebrates touching pool; Marine Physical process; Rise of the Isthmus: Panama's People and Oceans; Ocean Pollution; From the Reef. The most demanding entertainment available might be the use of their free telescope to view the ships passing on their way North and South in the Panama Canal.