Introduction
Falling under the radar of tourist crowds, Panama's divine natural gifts shine. While Panama is known mostly for its famous canal, the country's natural attractions offer an irresistible lure to far-sighted travelers. This oft-overlooked country offers some of the finest birding, snorkeling and hiking in the Americas.
Panama's charms include its stunning coastline of palm-fringed beaches, its astounding wildlife - boasting an incredible diversity of tropical birds - and its proud, vibrant indigenous peoples, such as the Kuna. While in Panama, you'll find it hard to shake the inescapable feeling that you're in on a secret the rest of the traveling world has yet to discover.
Geography:
Bordering Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east, the isthmus of Panama is the umbilical cord joining South and Central America. Panama's arched shape reflects both its role as a bridge between continents and as a passageway between oceans. At its narrowest point, it is only 50km (30mi) wide, but it has a 1160km (720mi) Caribbean coastline on its northern shore and a 1690km (1048mi) Pacific coast to the south. The famous canal is 80km (50mi) long and effectively divides the country into eastern and western regions. Along both coastlines, there are literally hundreds of islands where you can indulge in all of your island-hopping fantasies. The two major archipelagos are the San Bl á s and Bocas del Toro chains in the Caribbean Sea, which are famous for their Kuna population and tropical beaches respectively, though the best snorkeling, diving and deep-sea fishing are to be found in the Pacific near Coiba Island and the Pearl Islands. Panama has flat coastal lowlands and two mountain chains running along its spine; its highest point is at Volc á n Bar ú (3475m/11,400ft). Rainforests dominate the canal zone, the northwestern portion of the country and much of the eastern half. Although Costa Rica is widely known for its fantastic wildlife, Panama has a greater number of flora and fauna species, more land set aside for preservation and far fewer people wandering through the jungle looking for wildlife and inadvertently scaring it away. There's much truth in the Panamanian saying that in Costa Rica 20 tourists try to see one resplendent quetzal, while in Panama one person tries to see 20 of these exquisite birds.
Destination Facts
Capital: Panama
President: Martin Torrijos Espino
Government: constitutional democracy
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 78200
Population: 3191319
People: 70% mestizo, 14% African descent, 10% European descent, 5% indigenous
Languages: Roman Catholic (80%), Protestant (12%), Islamic (4%), other, including Jewish, Baha'i and Buddhist (4%)
Currency: Balboa (B)
GDP: Approx. B22760000000
Major industries: Banking, construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling, shipping and agriculture
Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, Central America & Caribbean, Japan
Country Dialing Code: 507
Getting there and away
Panama has flights to all Central American countries and both North and South America; Miami is the principal hub for flights to Panama. COPA is the national airline. There's a 20.00 departure tax on international flights, payable only in cash. There are three land border crossings between Panama and Costa Rica: Paso Canoas, on the Interamerican Hwy, is the most popular, followed by Guabito-Sixaola near the Caribbean coast. R í o Sereno, at the terminus of the La Concepci ó n-Vac á n Rd, is the least usual border post. There are buses to the border that connect with local services on the Costa Rican side. Despite the huge amount of shipping passing through the Panama Canal, it's hard to catch a ride on a boat. The two-week hike through the jungle that comprises the Dari é n Gap - the roadless terrain between Yaviza and the Colombian border - is an unwise endeavour. But if you absolutely must cross the Panama-Colombia border on foot, do so at Puerto Obaldia, a sleepy little town just a couple of kilometers from some fine beaches.
Getting around
Panama has a number of domestic airlines and a good domestic flight network. There's an inexpensive bus system servicing all accessible parts of the country.Boats are the principal mode of transportation in several parts of Panama, particularly in the San Bl á s and Bocas del Toro archipelagos. Kuna merchant vessels carry cargo and passengers along the San Bl á s coast, between Col ó n and Puerto Obald í a. Be warned that occasionally these boats are used to traffic narcotics. Travel by these often dangerously overloaded boats is neither comfortable nor safe. Hiring a local boatman is a wiser option. Cars can be rented in Panama City and David.
Weather
Panama has two distinct seasons. The dry season lasts from mid-December to mid-April while the rainy season goes from mid-April to December. North of the mountains, on the Caribbean side of Panama, it rains all year round. However, it tends to rain less in February, March, September and October than it does the rest of the year. Temperatures are typically hot in the lowlands throughout the year - days usually reach around 32 ° C (90 ° F) and only drop to an average of 22 ° C (72 ° F). During the rainy season the humidity makes the heat even harder to endure. Mountain temperatures are much cooler, ranging from 10-18 ° C (50-64 ° F) in a day, and they too vary little throughout the year.
Places of Interest
Panama buzzes with butterflies, bees and salsa beats. Flanked by archipelagos, Panama is only 30km (20mi) wide at its narrowest, you can swim in the Pacific and the Caribbean on the same day! Pass through mountain springs and rainforests in the cool highlands, and don't miss Panama City for incredible Spanish architecture and Latin beats.
While Panama is known mostly for its famous canal, the country's natural attractions offer an irresistible lure to far-sighted travelers. This oft-overlooked country offers some of the finest birding, snorkeling and hiking in the Americas. Panama's charms include its stunning coastline of palm-fringed beaches, its astounding wildlife - boasting an incredible diversity of tropical birds - and its proud, vibrant indigenous peoples, such as the Kuna. While in Panama, you'll find it hard to shake the inescapable feeling that you're in on a secret the rest of the traveling world has yet to discover.
Warning
Bandits, smugglers, Colombian guerrillas and paramilitary forces make the area of Dari é n Province between Yaviza and the Colombian border along the upper Tuira River unsafe. However, the vast majority of Dari é n National Park is relatively safe - travel with a guide is recommended. There have been reports of armed criminals targeting travelers at Madden Dam in Chagre National Park.
Related Country: Columbia, Costa Rica, Honduras
Falling under the radar of tourist crowds, Panama's divine natural gifts shine. While Panama is known mostly for its famous canal, the country's natural attractions offer an irresistible lure to far-sighted travelers. This oft-overlooked country offers some of the finest birding, snorkeling and hiking in the Americas.
Panama's charms include its stunning coastline of palm-fringed beaches, its astounding wildlife - boasting an incredible diversity of tropical birds - and its proud, vibrant indigenous peoples, such as the Kuna. While in Panama, you'll find it hard to shake the inescapable feeling that you're in on a secret the rest of the traveling world has yet to discover.
Bordering Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east, the isthmus of Panama is the umbilical cord joining South and Central America. Panama's arched shape reflects both its role as a bridge between continents and as a passageway between oceans. At its narrowest point, it is only 50km (30mi) wide, but it has a 1160km (720mi) Caribbean coastline on its northern shore and a 1690km (1048mi) Pacific coast to the south. The famous canal is 80km (50mi) long and effectively divides the country into eastern and western regions. Along both coastlines, there are literally hundreds of islands where you can indulge in all of your island-hopping fantasies. The two major archipelagos are the San Bl á s and Bocas del Toro chains in the Caribbean Sea, which are famous for their Kuna population and tropical beaches respectively, though the best snorkeling, diving and deep-sea fishing are to be found in the Pacific near Coiba Island and the Pearl Islands. Panama has flat coastal lowlands and two mountain chains running along its spine; its highest point is at Volc á n Bar ú (3475m/11,400ft). Rainforests dominate the canal zone, the northwestern portion of the country and much of the eastern half. Although Costa Rica is widely known for its fantastic wildlife, Panama has a greater number of flora and fauna species, more land set aside for preservation and far fewer people wandering through the jungle looking for wildlife and inadvertently scaring it away. There's much truth in the Panamanian saying that in Costa Rica 20 tourists try to see one resplendent quetzal, while in Panama one person tries to see 20 of these exquisite birds.
Capital: Panama
President: Martin Torrijos Espino
Government: constitutional democracy
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 78200
Population: 3191319
People: 70% mestizo, 14% African descent, 10% European descent, 5% indigenous
Languages: Roman Catholic (80%), Protestant (12%), Islamic (4%), other, including Jewish, Baha'i and Buddhist (4%)
Currency: Balboa (B)
GDP: Approx. B22760000000
Major industries: Banking, construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling, shipping and agriculture
Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, Central America & Caribbean, Japan
Country Dialing Code: 507
Panama has flights to all Central American countries and both North and South America; Miami is the principal hub for flights to Panama. COPA is the national airline. There's a 20.00 departure tax on international flights, payable only in cash. There are three land border crossings between Panama and Costa Rica: Paso Canoas, on the Interamerican Hwy, is the most popular, followed by Guabito-Sixaola near the Caribbean coast. R í o Sereno, at the terminus of the La Concepci ó n-Vac á n Rd, is the least usual border post. There are buses to the border that connect with local services on the Costa Rican side. Despite the huge amount of shipping passing through the Panama Canal, it's hard to catch a ride on a boat. The two-week hike through the jungle that comprises the Dari é n Gap - the roadless terrain between Yaviza and the Colombian border - is an unwise endeavour. But if you absolutely must cross the Panama-Colombia border on foot, do so at Puerto Obaldia, a sleepy little town just a couple of kilometers from some fine beaches.
Panama has a number of domestic airlines and a good domestic flight network. There's an inexpensive bus system servicing all accessible parts of the country.Boats are the principal mode of transportation in several parts of Panama, particularly in the San Bl á s and Bocas del Toro archipelagos. Kuna merchant vessels carry cargo and passengers along the San Bl á s coast, between Col ó n and Puerto Obald í a. Be warned that occasionally these boats are used to traffic narcotics. Travel by these often dangerously overloaded boats is neither comfortable nor safe. Hiring a local boatman is a wiser option. Cars can be rented in Panama City and David.
Panama has two distinct seasons. The dry season lasts from mid-December to mid-April while the rainy season goes from mid-April to December. North of the mountains, on the Caribbean side of Panama, it rains all year round. However, it tends to rain less in February, March, September and October than it does the rest of the year. Temperatures are typically hot in the lowlands throughout the year - days usually reach around 32 ° C (90 ° F) and only drop to an average of 22 ° C (72 ° F). During the rainy season the humidity makes the heat even harder to endure. Mountain temperatures are much cooler, ranging from 10-18 ° C (50-64 ° F) in a day, and they too vary little throughout the year.
Panama buzzes with butterflies, bees and salsa beats. Flanked by archipelagos, Panama is only 30km (20mi) wide at its narrowest, you can swim in the Pacific and the Caribbean on the same day! Pass through mountain springs and rainforests in the cool highlands, and don't miss Panama City for incredible Spanish architecture and Latin beats.
Bandits, smugglers, Colombian guerrillas and paramilitary forces make the area of Dari é n Province between Yaviza and the Colombian border along the upper Tuira River unsafe. However, the vast majority of Dari é n National Park is relatively safe - travel with a guide is recommended. There have been reports of armed criminals targeting travelers at Madden Dam in Chagre National Park.
Related Country: Columbia, Costa Rica, Honduras
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