Nature Scuba Diving Culture Surfing Events Shopping Panama Naturally connecting the two extremes of the American continent and being for almost a century, a privileged means of communication by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Panama enjoys also the privilege of being now one of the most complete and most promising tourist destination of the western hemisphere.

Its name means abundance of fishes, it has more than 2,500 km of coastline and its geography offers the most diverse attractions with 480 rivers, imposing mountain ranges and more than one fourth of its territory is protected as part of National Parks and Wildlife Reserves that provide shelter to more than 1,000 bird species, 220 mammals, 240 reptiles and more than 10,000 vascular plants. The extensive coastal areas outlining Panama are a permanent invitation to lie on the sun and enjoy the beaches on its two shores. Thus, the fact that the country can be crossed in barely 90 minutes gives travelers the rare possibility of experiencing the pleasure of seeing both an authentic Caribbean dawn and a the sun setting on the Pacific waters. A little bit more than 1,500 keys and neighboring islands regale visitors with adventures and plenty of open-air activities including water sports. The happy, hospitable Panamanian people; the noticeable heritage treasure of the country and its rich history of both pirate and corsair attacks with fortune hunters who used to travel to the northward by train in the first transcontinental railroad, make Panama a unique destination boasting excellent tourist sites, great hotels and a diversity of proposals to enjoy some unforgettable holidays. General information Location The Republic of Panama occupies a narrow strip of land with several archipelagos and it is located to the central part of the western hemisphere, exactly at 7º12’07" and 9º38’46" North Latitude and 77º09’24" and 83º03’07" West Longitude. It limits to the north with the Caribbean Sea, to the south with the Pacific Ocean, to the east with Colombia and to the west with Costa Rica. The country has a total area of 75,517 square kilometers, a rich hydrographic system and four mountain range lines, being the Baru Volcano the highest summit with 3,000M of height above sea level. Language Spanish (In the main tourist centers it is common to find people who speak foreign languages: English, French, Italian and German). When to go Any time of the year is good to travel to Panama. It has a tropical climate with an average temperature of 28 Centigrade degrees. In the capital city, being enclosed by the Pacific Ocean, the Gatun Lake and abundant natural areas, the wind chill factor of the heat is more intense, therefore public places, stores and offices are usually air conditioned. The weather is nicer inland and in the mountains. Currency The US dollar is the currency used in Panama. Traveler’s checks and credit cards are widely accepted. A 5 to 10 percent fee is usually charged on top of the service price in restaurants, and in hotel rooms. When leaving the country, tourists must pay 20 USD as airport tax. Power and Voltage 110 Volts (60 Hertz) National Holidays New Year’s, January 1 Martyrs Day, January 9 Carnival Tuesday, Tuesday before Ashes Wednesday Holly Friday, Friday before Easter Work Day, May 1 Anniversary of the Separation from Colombia, November 3 Day of the Spanish Independence, November 28 Mothers Day, December 8 Christmas, December 25 Office Hours Public offices are usually open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m; banks open until 2:30 p.m. and markets and stores are usually open until 7:00 p.m. in continues working hours from Monday to Sunday. Fees Restaurants charge a 5% fee and hotels a 10% fee on top of the room price. Upon leaving the country, 20 USD must be paid as airport tax. Access Along the coasts of the country there are a few cruise ship ports, basically the Colon, Cristobal and Amador Fort and marinas with docks at the archipelagos open to tourism. The Panama Canal is known worldwide and equally important is the International Airport of Tocumen, a true international center for the transportation of passengers with permanent operations all year long; it is the main gateway to the country. It has many border crossings with Costa Rica facilitating land communications with the neighboring country and the rest of Central America. Population According to the most recent counts, the Panamanian population is close to three million people, the majority of them of mixed race, 10 % are white and 5 % are natives, whose isolated ethnics and deeply rooted traditions are one of the country’s greatest attractions. Culture Traditions forged from the mix of natives, Spaniards and Africans create a very interesting cultural and folkloric universe in Panama. A curious and very special fact in the Panamanian culture is the existence of six native settlements scattered in the country: the Embera, the Wounan, the Kuna, the Gnobe Bugle, the Bokota and the Teribes, all whom preserve their ancient customs and major producers of top-quality handcrafts. The patron saint’s day and carnivals are Panama’s traditional celebrations par excellence. Shopping Panama has clearly consolidated as a big business center thanks to its interoceanic canal and the Free-Trade Zone of Colon. Its development is also evident in the capital where there are important shopping centers with everything that can be thought of, from jewelry to household items of the most famous European and American brands. The main avenues, neighborhoods-from the most centrally located to the more distant- compete with each other to attract clients to their businesses, this generates a constant flow of public in one direction and another, and hence many think of this city as a gigantic bazaar. Albrook Mall, Multiplaza Pacific, Multicentro, Los Pueblos, Los Andes and El Dorado are some of those facilities. Driving Driving in Panama is on the right. Visitors with driving license in order can drive without having to make any arrangements for up to 90 days. The maximum speed limit is from 90 to 100 km/h in highways and rural areas; 60 km/h in suburban areas and 40 in the cities. Although the big cities are well signposted and basic requirements for smooth driving are met, in the roads of the interior of the country precautions must be maximized due to the presence of rudimentary transportation means such as carts and wagons and, likewise, sometimes animals. There are different variants for public transportation and for excursions from the main tourist centers there are buses that offer transfer services. At airports, hotels, resorts and major cities, there is a large number of car rentals available. Tourism In the main tourist areas of the country there are all-inclusive and ultra all-inclusive hotels and resorts operated by prestigious international chains which constitute a guarantee of comfort and efficient services. Over the last few years, top-quality hotels have been opened in true paradises such as Bocas del Toro, by the Caribbean; and Pedase, on the Pacific coast. Panama’s tourist authorities jointly with the private sector are engaged in the development of nine large areas combining assets associated to nature, sea and culture and whose projects have been identified as La Amistad, Bastimentos, Arco Seco, Farallon, the metropolitan zone, Portobelo, Kuna Yala and Darien. Cuisine The gastronomic panorama of Panama City goes from gourmet and experimental to typical, traditional or vernacular. Fresh fish, shellfish, international food and refine menus from the Mediterranean, Peruvian and Asian cuisine can be easily found in restaurants in the capital of the country. There is a wide variety of fast food stands, American style, and other facilities serving pastas and other types of Italian food or nice ice cream places such as Gelateria. Sports Diving on its different varieties, sailing, windsurf (Pacific coastline), ecotourism including watching and adventure tourism, playing tennis and golf are the main options. Rafting and sport fishing attract more and more travelers every year to Panama.