Photos and Videos

On a recent trip to Panama, copy editor Eric Moya stayed at the Riu Playa Blanca, pictured, and the Riu Plaza in Panama City. The Playa Blanca property opened on April 4 and is the hotelier's second Panama property and its first all-inclusive in the country. TW photos by Eric Moya; posted May 23, 2014

Riu's 573-room resort on Panama's Pacific coast is the newest property to join the increasing number of hotels and condos that line the shores of Playa Blanca, a former fishing community in Cocle province about 90 miles west of Panama City. Pictured, early morning in Playa Blanca.

A day trip from the resort to other parts of Cocle province included a stop at Artesanias Elaguila, where Panamanian straw hats -- not to be confused with Panama hats, which actually originated in Ecuador -- and other souvenirs are made and sold. Pictured, a woman weaves colored and plain straw for a hat.

Balsa carvings begin to resemble macaws. Simpler pieces can be completely carved and painted in a matter of hours, while more complicated carvings can take more than a day.

A personalized chunk of soapstone.

Plaza Mayor and the Metropolitan Cathedral in the Casco Antiguo area of Panama City. Casco Antiguo was named a Unesco World Heritage site in 1997.