پاناما

Understand

The isthmus connects two major landmasses—South America with Central and North America—resulting in incredibly diverse flora and fauna. Panama is often cited as the country with the most bird species in the world, boasting close to 900. Several Indigenous tribes still thrive here, living much as their ancestors did, which contributes to the richness of the nation's cultural fabric.

The Panamanian government maintains strong ties with the United States and is highly supportive of business, development, and tourism. The International Monetary Fund has praised Panama’s diversified economy and predicts it will have one of the strongest GDP growth rates in the coming years. The country is well-known for its highly developed international banking sector, with nearly 80 banks from around the world—such as HSBC, BBVA, and Citi Bank—maintaining branches in Panama. The expanding Panama Canal continues to drive the country's service-based economy and remains one of the most important transportation hubs globally. Beyond its strong economic foundation, Panama's physical infrastructure—including modern hospitals, airports, and roads—is significantly more advanced than that of its Central American neighbors.

Panama is home to a large expatriate community; around 25,000 U.S. citizens live in the country. It's worthwhile to spend some time reading about Panama and connecting with locals, expats, and other travelers before arriving. Consider joining local forums, expat blogs, or the Central…

Get in

thumb|450px|Visa policy of Panama

See

thumb|Beach on Coiba Island The Panama Canal - one of the world's most important interoceanic connections and probably the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking about Panama. There are different ways to explore the canal: the most visited place at the canal is the Miraflores Visitor Center / Miraflores Locks in Panama City (see the city's article for details). It is located at the old canal with its smaller locks for smaller ships, but still very impressive. To see the new, expanded canal, you can visit the Agua Clara Visitor Center in the city of Colon (Panama), on the Caribbean side of the canal. In addition, it is also possible to book a luxury train ride along the canal, or a boat ride on the canal. Panama City - being not only the capital city of, but also by far the biggest and most populous city in Panama, it is the economic and cultural heart of the country.

Do

Panama's strongest attraction is its diversity. In less than five days you can visit a beach, a mountain, a modern city and historic ruins. While in Panama City don't miss the four must-dos: the Panama Canal, Panama Viejo, Casco Antiguo (also known as Casco Viejo) and the jungles surrounding the Canal area.

Panama Viejo was the first city of Panama, founded by the Spanish in 1519. It was the first city founded at the Pacific and it became rapidly a prosperous point where gold from the southern colonies would make it to the Caribbean and later to Europe. It was attacked by pirates several times, the last of them by Pirate Henry Morgan who destroyed it in 1671. In 1673, a new city was built, but this time using the knowledge painfully acquired by experience. The Spanish by then knew well the risks of settling cities in tropical swamps: mosquitoes, tropical diseases and difficulty to defend its territory. The second city was founded at the opposite side of the bay in very different conditions: a rocky peninsula easy to defend and with crossed winds that would ensure the health of its inhabitants. This city is known today as Casco Antiguo, and it is here where the Republic of Panama was born.

A UNESCO protected site, Casco Antiguo (or Casco Viejo) is Panama City's second touristic destination because its buildings reflect the diversity of Panamanian society. Although a Spanish colonial city, because of several fires and the influence of merchants from all around the world, it b…

Eat

In the larger cities you can find all types of food ranging from the French haute cuisine to the freshest sushi. There are Arabic restaurants, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican... whatever you're in the mood for.

Outside of the cities, the selection is largely Panamanian with bountiful seafood and beef due to the abundance of cattle farms and the fantastic fishing in the area. Panamanian cuisine is a mix of several cultures. Reminiscent of the country's Afro-Caribbean, French and Spanish influences, the dishes take on a complete character of their own. If you get tired of eating beans or gallo pinto in the rest of Central America, you might want to head towards Panama. Since Panama has a little more Caribbean influence than other Central American countries, you'll see a lot more plaintain than beans here. Most dishes are served with coconut rice and a type of squash or other native vegetable. If Panamanian food has to be summed up in one word, that word would be culantro, which is a local plant that tastes like cilantro, except that it has a much stronger flavor. thumb|Lunch near [[Portobelo]] A typical plate in a humble, family restaurant can range from $1.25 to $5.00, including your choice of meat: mondongo (beef stomach), fried or baked chicken, pork, beef and sometimes fried fish; rice, beans, salad: cabbage, carrot & mayonnaise; beet salad; green salad; potato or macaroni salad; and patacones (fried green plantains). The Panamanians also enjoy their chichas (fruit, wate…

Drink

National beers are produced (Balboa, Atlas, Soberana, Panamá), but don't measure up to a good import. Balboa is probably the best of the domestic brands, however, Atlas is the most commonly purchased; many women favor Soberana. Beer can cost as little as $0.30 per 12-oz can in a supermarket or anywhere from $0.50 in a local town bar up to $2.50 in upscale bars.

Carta Vieja and Ron Abuelo are the main domestically produced rum. Seco, a very raw white rum, is the national liquor. Seco con leche (with milk) is a common drink in the countryside.

Sleep

thumb|Lobby in Hotel Colón, Casco Viejo, Panama City

Panama’s hotel accommodations are as diverse as its geography. Panama City has as much glamour and glitz as New York City, without the high price tag. You can find 5-star high rise hotels in the heart of downtown; or you can venture out to the smaller neighborhoods, where old Canal military barracks have been converted into B&Bs. In terms of an authentic Panama experience, the historic district of Casco Viejo provides the charm of yester-year with modern amenities of today. Because tourism is so new to the district, lodging accommodations are largely limited to the fleet of short term apartment rentals at Los Cuatro Tulipanes

Bocas del Toro has typical island cabanas and small hotels, some literally right on the water (similar to the cabanas in Bali). The Chiriqui Province, in the western lowlands, has small hotels on some of the outer islands, and an Eco-Preserve in Chorcha where you can spend the night in Jungle Hammocks with the monkeys. In the western highlands, around Boquete, there are hostels for $5 a night, and 5-star hotels for $300 a night or more. No high rises here, but small very artsy boutique hotels and casitas. David Panama, capital of the Chiriqui Province, has become a destination and a hub for backpackers crossing from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro and Costa Rica.

Stay safe

Most of Panama is very safe. People in rural areas are generally extremely friendly and very helpful. If you want to visit Latin America, but are paranoid about security, Panama might be a good place to cut your teeth.

One exception is the border region between Panama and Colombia, which is considered extraordinarily dangerous due to Colombian rebel groups and drug traffickers. Most of the city of Colon is considered dangerous, and some neighborhoods in Panama City are a bit sketchy, in particular El Chorrillo, Curundu and El Marañón, poor and crime-ridden areas. The old colonial quarter, Casco Viejo (also called San Felipe) has a lingering bad reputation among travelers and some Panamanians, but is gentrifying rapidly.

During the daytime, San Felipe is perfectly safe for foreigners. At night, the main streets and plazas, as well as the district of bars and restaurants toward the point, are also safe, but visitors should exercise caution as they move north along Avenida Central towards Chorillo.

Stay healthy

thumb|Located in the tropics, several major mosquito borne diseases are a risk in Panama Panama is well known for its excellent medical care, making it a hot spot for medical vacations.

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all visitors over 9 months of age travelling to the provinces of Darien, Kunayala (San Blas) and Panama, excluding the Canal Zone. Most countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before permitting travelers to enter from Panama.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control state that risk of malaria exists in rural areas of Bocas del Toro, Darién, and San Blas provinces; no risk in Panama City or in the former Canal Zone. NB: Chloroquine is no longer effective for San Blas Province.

Dengue fever is endemic, particularly in the province of Darien.

Tap water is safe in virtually all cities and towns, with the exception of Bocas del Toro, where bottled water is recommended.

The moisture and heat of the tropics can encourage yeast infections. 3-day and 5-day treatment courses are available in pharmacies, but must be purchased from the pharmacist. There are many hospitals that can give tourists first class attention. Many can take international insurance policies, though your insurance company may require you to pre-pay and submit a claim form. Verify with your company prior to travel what the requirements are for filing a foreign claim, as you will not typically be provided with a detailed receipt (one that includes diagnosis and treatment codes) u…

Respect

Panama is a diverse country, with a mix of cultures, ethnicities, and lifestyles that coexist in relative harmony. Although race is generally not a determining factor in daily life, it’s useful to understand certain customs and expressions to avoid misunderstandings.

In general, Panamanians are direct in their speech. In the capital, people may come across as abrupt or impatient due to the fast-paced environment, but this shouldn’t be interpreted as rudeness. In the interior of the country, interactions are usually more relaxed, friendly, and hospitable toward both locals and foreigners.

Respect for Indigenous cultures is highly valued. If you see someone wearing traditional clothing, do not point at them or take photos without their permission. Each Indigenous territory has its own style, reflecting its identity. When speaking about these communities, avoid using the term “Indian,” which can be offensive. It is more appropriate to refer to them as Indigenous peoples or by their specific names: Guna, Emberá, Ngäbe, among others.

In everyday language, it’s common to hear words like moreno or chombo to refer to people of African descent. While such terms may not be offensive in informal local contexts, their use by foreigners could be misunderstood, so it’s better to avoid them. Similarly, the word chino is popularly used to refer to shop or mini-market owners, regardless of their actual ethnic background.

Another sensitive topic is the 1989 U.S. military invasion, a painfu…