Panama has a cosmopolitan capital city, incredible rainforest and some of the finest snorkelling, birding and deep-sea fishing in the world, so it's hard to figure out why travellers tend to steer clear of this country or just whiz through. It may have something to do with the fact that Panama is known internationally for its canal, the 1989 US invasion and the name it donated to a style of headgear, but this does it no justice.
The reality is a proud prosperous nation that honours its seven Indian tribes and its rich Spanish legacy and embraces visitors so enthusiastically that it's difficult to leave without feeling that you're in on a secret that the rest of the travelling world will one day uncover. |
When to go
Panama's tourist season is during the dry season from around mid-December to mid-April. The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season, when the humidity makes the heat more oppressive than otherwise. Rain in Panama tends to come in sudden short downpours that freshen the air and are followed by sunshine. If you'll be doing any long, strenous hiking, the dry season is the most comfortable time to do it; the Darién Gap can be crossed only at this time.
If you like to party, try to be in Panama City or on the Península de Azuero for Carnaval, held each year on the weekend before Ash Wednesday. Panama City's Carnaval celebration is one of the world's largest.
| FACTS FOR THE TRAVELLER |
| Full country name: |
Republic of Panama |
| Area: |
78,000 sq km (30,420 sq mi) |
| Population: |
2.8 milion (growth rate 1.3%) |
| Capital city: |
Panama City (pop 700,000) |
| People: |
65% mestizo, 14% African descent, 10% Spanish descent, 10% Indian |
| Language: |
Spanish, English and Indian languages |
| Religion: |
85% Roman Catholic, 10% Protestant, 5% Islamic |
| Government: |
Constitutional Republic |
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