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Revision as of 15:22, 6 April 2012
Corregimiento and town in Bocas del Toro Province, Panama| Almirante | |
|---|---|
| Corregimiento and town | |
| Country |  Panama |
| Province | Bocas del Toro Province |
| Population | |
| • Total | 8,816 |
Almirante is a city in the Bocas del Toro Province of the Republic of Panama. Its name is Spanish for Admiral.
Tourist Use
For travelers, Almirante is mainly used as a jumping off point for land travel to other cities on the mainland, Panama or to Costa Rica. An approximately 30-minute water taxi ride from Bocas del Toro, which usually costs $5.00, will land persons in Almirante. From the water taxi dock, it's only a few minute taxi ride to the bus stop known as "el cruce." There are taxis waiting both at the water taxi dock, and at "el cruce".
There 2 bus terminals, one located in the center of the town, where you can take Changuinola buses that can take you to Guabito. The second station is located in the outskirt of the town known as "el cruce", there you can take David and Panama City buses.
There are direct buses available from Almirante to David and Panama City, as well as private shuttle services to Boquete. Additionally shuttle services exist between Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Bocas del Toro passing through Almirante.
Almirante is popular with tourists going between Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro. When traveling by land, tourists coming from or going to Costa Rica must clear both Costa Rican customs in Sixaola and Panamanian customs in Guabito.
Town
Central Almirante most popular areas are: Una Milla ("One Mile"), Zegla, Barrio Frances ("Patua Town"), Aeropuerto, Media Milla, Tampico, Bda. San Agustin, Las Golondrinas.
Surrounding communities are: Milla 3, Miraflores, Ojo de Agua, Rio Oeste and Milla 5.
Point of Interests in town are: Port of Almirante, Sea Wall area, Central Park, Catholic Church, Anglican Church and Ojo de Agua area.
Almirante is also surrounded by a beautiful Ambrossian Bight, with calm waters.
Almirante was struck by a powerful earthquake in April 22, 1991, in those days wood houses were common construction and most of them were torn down. Because of this government decided to built new residences outside Almirante.
People
Almirante town was basically built by United Fruit Company, as a port for their bananas exportations.
Almirante first settlers mostly are black descendants from Jamaica and smaller Antilles, that moved inland for the banana plantations early 1900s.
Due to the importance of Port Almirante, attracted chinese, hindi and jewish businessmen to the town, as minority. After 2002 a massive chinese migration entered all Bocas del Toro province, so it's normal to see them around.
Since Bocas del Toro has a vast indigenous population, they also migrated to Almirante town, replacing blacks as major group.
In Almirante english is spoken, spanish, native indigenous languages and Guari-Guari.
Almirante people mostly depends from Port Almirante activities, government employees and AES hydroelectric plant located close to Ojo de Agua.
Due to the lack of operations by the port, many have moved to Panama City looking for new opportunities.
Sports
Even the town is small, has several sports facilities, specially concrete basketball courts in Una Milla, Zegla, Barrio Frances, one artificial turf soccer field by Barrio Frances, and the most important Myrick Stadium for baseball and softball.
Major sports figures: Fernando Seguinold and Ruthford Salmon, both played MLB level baseball.
References
- Frommer's Panama (2E, 2009), ISBN 9780470371831.
- World Gazeteer: Panama – World-Gazetteer.com
 Bocas del Toro Province | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capital: Bocas del Toro | ||
| Almirante District |  | |
| Bocas del Toro District | ||
| Changuinola District | ||
| Chiriquí Grande District | ||