Some tourism promoters spout more bull than facts. But the guy addressing a room full of visiting Canadian travel agents wasn't exaggerating when he declared Panama "is more than a canal."

The tiny Central American country can't compete with Cuba's Varadero or Mexico's Mayan Riviera. They're closer and have more resorts, better beaches and easier access to attractions. But Panama is carving out a niche market with people who yearn for sun and sand but wouldn't say no to a rainforest adventure or some serious bargain shopping.

Panama isn't new to the Canadian winter travel scene. World of Vacations (now Nolitours) has been selling packages there for eight years, and now Sunwing has entered the market.

Beach development is in its infancy -- two resorts on Costa Blanca, on the Pacific, and one opening in December near the entrance to the Panama Canal -- but more are coming.

Vacationers should know that high tides on Panama's Pacific side are up to 7 metres, compared to three on the Atlantic. Bathing at high tide is advised because walking out a distance at low tide can put you in sting ray territory.

I joined 180 Canadian travel agents on a Sunwing fam (short for familiarization) trip. Sunwing is using the Grand Playa Blanca, a 218-room all-inclusive resort. The only other resort on this coast is the 832-room Royal Decameron Beach Resort, Golf, Spa & Casino, offered by Nolitours, a 30-minute walk away.

Both are about two hours by bus from the airport. At Sunwing's property, the food was good and varied but the staff was the biggest asset -- dining room and bar staff were particularly friendly and responsive. Rooms are spacious but glitches such as safes that wouldn't open need attention.

Optional excursions range from zipping along a cable above the rainforest to doing a partial transit of the canal. They are operated by Aventuras 2000, a Panamanian firm with impressive organizational talents and friendly, knowledgable guides.

There's a 10-person minimum but Augustino Terracina of Aventuras 2000 tells me that at Decameron resort, "we were always able to come with the minimum on all tours."

We took two tours:

- The Anton Valley, where we hiked through secondary rainforest and over suspension bridges, visited a botanical garden and a clinic for injured critters, and shopped for souvenirs. The lush valley -- in the crater of an extinct volcano -- is 700 metres above sea level and cooler. The excursion takes six hours and costs $39 US per person (about $46).

- Panama City, where we visited the Miraflores Locks visitor centre for a fascinating introduction to the canal, took a whirlwind bus ride through the oldest and newest areas, and were turned loose at one of Central America's biggest shopping malls where leather shoes were about $15 and jean jackets $5. One agent bought a pair of Land Rover leather sandals for her husband, paying about $26 instead of $70-$80.

The canal-shopping combo takes 11 hours and costs $53 US (about $64).

Tips:

- Take small American bills. Panama has its own coins -- they're worthless outside the country -- but uses U.S. bills.

- Set aside $20 US for Panamanian departure tax.

- Sunwing's prices for one-week packages start at $1,239 and are under $1,500 most of the winter, except Christmas and March Break. A two-centre holiday -- five nights at the beach and two in Panama City -- is also available.

I'll have more on Panama next week.