Jorge Espino, founder of Panama Heavens, is one of the people that most knows about the country. He turned his passion into a business proposal and today he serves as a guide for dozens of Panamanians and foreigners that want to venture into discovering the land from a different point of view.
#panamaheavens. What started out as a hashtag to record family memories created in ultramarathons and championships became a business idea that today attracts foreigners and locals that want to travel through the Isthmus in a different way. This is not your traditional tourism, this is pure adventure tourism.
The face behind this initiative is Jorge Espino, a young 23 year old who is passionate about adventure and being able to show the world the natural and cultural beauty that Panama has to offer.
“This initiative began during the pandemic and the aim was to create experiences around the country”, Espino commented. “I started investing in camping gear, experiences and slowly started working on my Instagram page. While I was scouting San Jose island, a young man’s mother contacted me asking about the possibility of creating a trip around the country”.
This is how the first idea Panama Heavens: Crossing the Isthmus came to be. A cultural and educational tour in 36 days around the provinces in the country with 8 recently graduated or college bound students who were able to experience what was happening in the country first hand.
“Through the tour they were able to meet people and entrepreneurs as well as gaining knowledge about all that Panama has to offer, as well as some of the main attractions of the country such the tallest waterfall, the highest point and many experiences that few people get to enjoy in Panama,” Espino mentioned.
From there, Panama Heavens has started to create different offers that combine experiences promoting ‘Green Tourism’ in the country.
“We want to catch the Panamanian public’s attention and teach them that there is a lot of local tourism, lots to see and eventually position Panama as a world class tourist destination”, confirmed the entrepreneur.
“Why ecotourism? Because it is the future. I believe the future of tourism is a lot greener. For example, we are creating a 24-day experience in Bocas del Toro for remote work. With a space for coworking, yoga every morning, cooking lessons, surf lessons, connecting entrepreneurs and ideas that will allow us to promote Panama.”
Panama in a few words
How would you describe Panama to a foreigner?
“It is a country where distance is a virtue. It is the only place where you can be in both oceans on the same day. Or in a volcano. It is a place full of history that has a lot of culture. We have always been a commercial route with a lot of influence in other cultures. We have Caribbean flavors in our foods and we also have the Pacific Ocean lifestyle. The people. Panama is a pretty balanced country and it is all condensed in a small area.”
Places you recommend
“It will depend on what you are looking for and they type of tourism because there are many. For example, seeing both oceans from the top of the Volcan Baru. Or camping up there. Going to the waterfall that is located in the Ngäbe-Buglé district, the Kiki Falls, is impressive. There are amazing islands in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. The Portobelo coast has a lot to offer. Very few people have been to Mamoni River and Kalu Yala, right before reaching Darien.”
Something that caused an impression
“Culturally, one of the things that most shocked us while traveling around the country was when we brought a Congo group in Portobelo and they told us their stories through drums, singing, music and dancing. This was culturally inspiring.
The Mil Polleras is a must see. The way that the sombrero pintao is made, how the palms come, how they are braided, which is the reason for them to be one more expensive than the other.
Gastronomically speaking, our cacao has incredible quality. It is impressive and it is sold for nothing in the exterior. The number of estates that are producing coffee is incredible. It has to be one of the best in the world. In the Colon coast there is not one woman that cooks poorly, their flavors are amazing.
An impressive route (beyond San Blas that has an island per day of the year) is the route from Santiago to Santa Fe. With an incredible amount of amazing waterfalls (almost 24) and when you finish that road you reach the Escudo de Veraguas.
