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Panama offers some of the finest snorkeling, birding and deep-sea fishing in the world. It is a proud and prosperous nation honoring its seven Indian tribes and its rich Spanish legacy. The Panama canal and its surrounding lush forests, as well as the numerous tropical islands dotting both coasts positions Panama as one of the most alluring destinations in Latin America. |
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| GEOGRAPHY |
Panama forms the land link between the North and South American continents.
Panama borders Colombia to the east, Costa Rica to the west, and the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean to the north and south.
The country constitutes an S-shaped isthmus which runs eastwest over a total length of 772km (480 miles) and 60-177km (37-110 miles) wide.
The landscape is mountainous with lowlands on both coastlines, streams, wooded slopes and a wide area of savannah-covered plains and rolling hills called El Interior, between the Azuero peninsula and the Central Mountains. The Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean are linked by the man-made Panama Canal, cut into a gap between the Cordillera de Talamanca and the San Blas mountain range, stretching for over 65km (40 miles); the length of the Canal is often referred to as 80km (50 miles) as this is the distance between deep-water points of entry. Only about a quarter of the country is inhabited. The majority of the population live either around the Canal and main cities of Panama City and Colon, or in the Pacific lowlands and the adjacent mountains. (40% of the population are concentrated in the two cities which control the entrance and exit of the Canal.)
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| MONEY EXCHANGE |
Currency:
Balboa (B) = 100 centesimos. There is no Panamanian paper currency; coins exist in denominations of B100 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 centesimos. US currency circulates freely: B1 = US$1.
Currency exchange:
There is no need to exchange US Dollars. Banks and cambios are available for changing currency.
Credit cards:
Visa and American Express are the most commonly used, but MasterCard and Diners Club are also accepted. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travelers checks:
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, visitors are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.
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| PEOPLE |
Population: 2,674,490 (official estimate 1996).
Density: 34.8 per sq km.
Capital: Panama City. Population: 668,927 (1996).
Language: The official language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken.
Religion: 85% Roman Catholic.
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
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| SHOPPING |
You can find everything you want in Panama at reasonable prices, whether you're looking for electronics, music, food, clothing, or souvenirs. Here are our recommendations:
Food - Supermercado Rey on Via Espana: open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It stocks everything you could possibly imagine: groceries, alcohol, stationary, pharmaceuticals, plants, music... There is a cash machine on site as well as a jewelry store, a CD shop, and a Kodak photo processing place. There is ample guarded car-parking all night too. Tip: It's customary to tip the boy who packs your grocery bags in a Panamanian supermarket. They don't get paid, and your tip is their only salary (50 cents of a dollar is good enough).
Electronics: Audiofoto International in Punta Paitilla is great. They have everything you could desire, and if you ask nicely, a decent discount too. See Gilbert when you get there.
Music - CD Center in Obarrio has a good selection, and they also order in for you. Audiofoto and CD Place in Paitilla are also good sources. Expect to pay around 18USD for a recent release.
Clothing - Just about any shop on Via Espana will fill your needs. Avenida Central is also a good source for bargains, but beware.
Souvenirs - There's an excellent local market run by the Kuna Indians in El Valle. It's open only on Sundays, and you can be there in an hour by car. They sell their own handicrafts at sometimes half price of big stores. There is a small but very good market in Panama Viejo too which has a large selection of gifts from all over Panama.
Pharmaceuticals - The Pharmacia Arrocha chain is the best source for your medical needs and more. The branch off Via Espana, near the Hotel Ejecutivo is open 24 hours too. |
| TAX |
| Departure Tax: A US $20 departure tax is charged when you exit the country.
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| HOLIDAYS & FESTIVITIES |
| Jan |
1 |
New Year's Day |
| 9 |
Martyr's Day |
| Feb |
28 |
Carnival |
| Mar |
Varies |
Easter Friday |
| Apr |
Varies |
Easter Friday |
| May |
1 |
Labour Day |
| Oct |
12 |
Columbus Day |
| Nov |
3 |
Separation from Columbia |
| 10 |
First Cry of Independence |
| 28 |
Independence from Spain |
| Dec |
8 |
Mother's Day |
| 25 |
Christmas |
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| COUNTRY ORIENTATION |
Tourist visa or tourist card from the airline is required for U.S.citizens along with a valid passport.
Panama offers a wide variety of tourist attractions, including excellent shopping. Its position as a crossing point between the Atlantic and the Pacific has naturally made it a major commercial route.
Panama City: The capital is a curious blend of old Spain, modern America and the bazaar atmosphere of the East. Most of the interesting sights are found in the old part of the city with its narrow, cobblestoned streets and colonial buildings. These include the Plaza de Francia, the Court of Justice Building, the Paseo de las Bovedas along the massive stone wall, San Jose; Church with its magnificent golden Baroque altar and the Santo Domingo Church, next to which is the Museum of Colonial Religious Art. Overlooking the bay is the President's Palace, the most impressive building in the city; further along the waterfront is the colourful public market. The most interesting museum in town is the Museum of the Panamanian Man, north of the market and near the shopping centres. A worthwhile excursion from the city is a visit to Panama Viejo and its ruins, including the square tower of the old cathedral, 6km (4 miles) away. This is the original Panama City which like Fort San Lorenzo was sacked and looted in 1671 by Henry Morgan. The Panama Canal to the west of the city attracts many visitors. It is recommended a train or bus ride alongside or a boat trip on the canal the scenery is beautiful, and the mechanics of the canal equally fascinating. The canal was opened in 1914, and an average transit takes eight hours to complete.
Balboa: A rather Americanized suburb between the Canal quays and Ancon Hill. An hour's launch ride away is the island of Taboga, where fine beaches and quality hotels abound. The main method of transport is water taxis, known locally as pangas. A longer trip by launch is necessary to get to the Pearl Islands, which are visited mainly by sea-anglers.
Colon: The second-biggest city in Panama that lies on the Caribbean end of the Canal. Visitors should see the cathedral and the statues on the promenade known as the Paseo Centenario. Front Street is famous as a shopping centre for duty-free luxuries, though it is now rather run down. The city is bustling and quite rough most visitors just pass through here.
Azuero Peninsula: Much more relaxed and peaceful than Panama's cities is the Pacific Peninsula de Azuero, where charming small colonial towns, quiet villages and nearby empty beaches await visitors. Do not expect to find big luxurious hotels.
Portobello: 48km (30 miles) east of Colon, a Spanish garrison town for two centuries with three large stone forts facing the entrance to the harbour. There is also an old Spanish cannon, and the treasure house where gold and silver from Peru and Bolivia were stored before being shipped to Spain.
San Blas Islands: An interesting trip can be made from Colon to the San Blas archipelago which comprises 365 islands. It is the home of the Cuna Indians, the most sophisticated and politically organized of all Indians in Panama.
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| WEATHER |
Panama has two temperatures: hot and really, really hot. If you are looking for sun, the best time to come is around December through to May. The rest of the year is the rainy season.
Panamanians love the sun and hate the rain. When a rainstorm comes, you'll see them hiding in shops or under covers.
The rain is WARM and it's always around 90 degrees here. Humidity is quite bearable in the dry season, but in June and July, it soars until you can taste the water in the air. Many people would drive for 30 minutes when you could walk the same distance in five. If you go outside without the benefit of air conditioning for even 5 minutes, you come back soaked in sweat and breathless.
Temperatures are high across the whole country throughout the year, though cooler at high altitudes. The rainy season lasts from May to November. Rainfall is twice as heavy on the Pacific coast as it is on the lowlands of the Caribbean coast.
Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linen, rainwear advisable, particularly in the rainy season. Warmer clothes for the highlands.
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