Panama - Ver en español

Panamá…A land with incredible beaches on two oceans; seven distinct Indian cultures; nearly 1,000 different bird species in vast national parks; over 1,500 islands perfect for diving, fishing, surfing and kayaking; fascinating historical monuments; and, last but not least—a thoroughly modern infrastructure. Welcome to Panamá, cultural bridge of the world. Panamá really is much more than a canal!

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Location
Bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica.

Capital
Panama City

Population
Approximately 3.3 million inhabitants: 70% Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white), 14% black, 10% White, 6% Amerindian.

Languages
Spanish is the official language. Many Panamanians are bilingual.

Climate
The temperature is pleasant and tropical year-round with the average being 80ºF.

The rainy season falls between June and mid-December.

When to visit
Some activities are preferable during the dry season—mid-December through May—such as Caribbean diving, certain types of sport fishing and bird-watching. Because the storms during the rainy season usually last only an hour or two in the late afternoon, most activities can be planned around them.

Government
Constitutional Democratic Republic

Local time
GMT/UTC minus 5 hours (or US Central Standard Time). Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

Currency and credit cards
Officially the Panamanian balboa, though the bills are exactly the same as the US dollar and have exactly the same value.

Major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, major stores and better restaurants in Panama City. Outside Panama City, cash is usually necessary. You can get a cash advance on your credit card at most major Panamanian banks with your passport for I.D. Traveler's checks are usually accepted only at banks. Banks will exchange currency from almost anywhere in the world.

There's a 5 percent tax on all purchases except for medicine, food and school supplies.

Wiring money
You can wire money through MoneyGram at World Money Wire and Banco del Istmo. For more information, call (507) 213-1510.

Business Hours
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. Banks: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Government offices: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Shops: Monday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Electricity
120/240V AC, 60 Hz

Entry and visa requirements
Citizens of most countries, including the United States and Western Europe, do not need a visa. Tourists from some countries, including the United States, need to purchase a US$5 tourist card at the ticket counter on the day of departure for Panama. A tourist card gives you an automatic 30-day stay in Panama and is extendible for another 60 days. Citizens of most other countries need only their passport.

Departure taxes
There is a departure tax of approximately US$20.

Customs
The duty-free allowance is 500 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500g tobacco; three bottles of alcoholic beverage; perfume and eau de cologne in opened bottles for personal use.

Tipping
A 10-15 percent tip on restaurant bills is appropriate

Luggage carriers and bellboys in the hotels usually receive the equivalent of one dollar per piece of luggage. Tipping taxi drivers is not customary.

Tourist offices
Instituto Panameño de Turismo (IPAT)
Apartado 4421, Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA, Vía Israel
Panamá 5, Republic of Panamá
Tel: (507) 226-7000 or 226-3167 or 226-4614. Fax: (507) 226-3483
Web site: www.ipat.gob.pa

Telecommunications
The Cable & Wireless offices throughout the country offer international telephone, telegraph, fax and sometimes e-mail and modem services. International calls can be made from payphones by connecting directly with an operator in Panama.

The country code is 507. There are no area codes. The outgoing international code is 00. To make international calls via the operator, dial 106.

Panama City
The capital is a thriving metropolis with a state-of-the-art convention center, first-class hotels and restaurants, racetracks, shopping—as well as a fascinating history kept alive in its many monuments and ruins. The 16th-century remains of Panamá La Vieja, sacked by the pirate Henry Morgan, are today a tourist attraction with a museum and an artisan market. The old district of San Felipe, also known as Casco Viejo, is a colonial treasure, with many historical buildings and churches including the Interoceanic Canal Museum of Panama, the 17th-century Metropolitan Church, the Plaza de Bolívar, the presidential palace and more. There are quite a few museums to visit. To get a bird's eye view of the city, drive up Ancon Hill, which overlooks the city on one side and the Canal on the other. Visit Mi Pueblito, an exact replica of a small interior town at the turn of the century.

A visit to the Summit Botanical Gardens and Zoo is a must to see many of the animals and birds unique to Panama, as is a stop at the Parque Natural Metropolitano, a 654-acre national park perched on a hill behind the city.

Panama is a duty-free haven where luxury goods from all over the world can be bought at a savings of at least one-third. High fashion, fine jewelry, porcelain, crystal, table linen, oriental goods, cameras, electronic and audio visual equipment are all on sale. Shoppers will have a fine time on the Avenida Central and Via España, which are lined with stores selling products from around the world. Handicrafts markets are located at the ruins of Panamá Viejo and off the Plaza Cinco de Mayo behind the Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz. Must-buy souvenirs include colorful Kuna molas (an intricate, multi-layered appliqué textile), woodwork, Panama hats, and beadwork handmade by the Gnobe Buglé Indians.

David
The capital of Panama's Chiriquí province, David is a pleasant base of operations from which to explore the many wonders of the area. This southwest province offers adventurous white-water rafting trips, long soaks in the hot springs at Pozos de Caldera, lovely beaches and the National Marine Park at the Gulf of Chriquí. This is the location of Panama's only volcano, the majestic Volcán Barú. Now a national park (the volcano is no longer active), visitors can trek, hike, climb or horseback ride to their hearts content along its seven craters. Keep your eyes peeled: the park is home to puma, jaguar, and tapir, as well as hundreds of bird species (including the Resplendent Quetzal).

The province is also the site of the enormous Parque Internacional de la Amistad (International Park of Friendship), jointly established between Panama and Costa Rica. Flora and fauna are equally abundant in this pristine rainforest; check with the rangers for guided tours.

Museum tour The ethnic diversity of Panama and its pivotal role in history has led to the creation of quite a number of museums. These include the Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz, with its collection of archeological, anthropological and ethnological material; the Museo Afro-Antillano, which pays tribute to the Afro-Antillean workers of the Panama Canal; the Museo de Ciencias Naturales, which highlights the geology and the flora and the fauna of Panama; the Museo de Arte Religioso, which dates back to the early 1700s and has a fine collection of religious paintings, artifacts and a golden altar; the Museo de Historia Panameña, with documents dating from the colonial era to the Torrijos-Carter treaty of 1977; the Panama Canal Museum, highlighting the historic role of Panama as an Interoceanic route from prehistoric times to the present; and the Contemporary Art Museum, with permanent exhibits by local artists.

The Panama Canal The most famous attraction in Panama City, this lake-and-lock type canal connects the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, fringed on either side by lush, tropical jungle. The best way to view the smooth transit of the enormous ships is via the platform located on the Miraflores Locks. There's also a museum, and boat tours are available through the Canal itself.

Don't leave without visiting the Bridge of the Americas, which connects the two landmasses separated by the construction of the canal. This huge, US$20 million bridge is today part of the Pan-American Highway.

Isla de Taboga One hour and a half by boat from Panama City, this is a day trip that's well worth the time. The trip itself gives visitors a grand view of the city's skyline as well as the activity at the entrance to the Canal. The island is quite beautiful, with fragrant and colorful blooms everywhere you look (it's also known as the "Island of Flowers"). There is a quaint colonial plaza with a church that's said to be the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere, a pretty beach and an area of protected rainforest. It's a great place to stroll around and enjoy the local treat of a frozen duro, a sort of popsicle made from coconut, soursop or other tropical fruits.

Barro Colorado Island Located in the Gatún Lake (part of the Panama Canal), this island was once restricted to research scientists that formed part of the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research. Today, tour operators take visitors on day trips through nature trails that wind through the habitats of nearly 400 bird species, over 100 mammal species and over 1,300 plant species.

Archipielago de San Blas
Situated in the Caribbean Sea a few miles off the northern coast of Panama, the archipelago is made up of some 365 islands, of which only 49 are inhabited. This is the home of the Kuna Indians, who create the colorful and intricate molas (embroidered fabrics). Snorkeling and diving is a favorite pastime, and the Kuna are very friendly towards visitors.

Darien
The largest of all the national parks of Panama, the Darién National Park has been categorized as a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve. This is the least known province in Panama, a region of dense tropical rainforest, sandy beaches, rocky coasts, mangroves and swamps that shelters an indigenous population of Emberá, Chocó, Waunaan and Kuna Indians, as well as one of the most naturally diverse flora and fauna in tropical America. Contact any of the major ecotourism agencies in Panama City for information on exploring this pristine land.

El Valle de Anton
Located some 70 miles north of Panama City, El Valle de Anton is situated within the crater of an extinct volcano. This peaceful getaway combines a cool climate with waterfalls, excellent hiking trails and a wonderful Sunday mercado. The place is also famous for its orchids and its golden frogs. Ask your guide about the tree canopy adventure, where guests are fastened onto a harness, pulled up into the tree tops and swung from one platform to another—it'll give you quite a different perspective!

Panama City boasts a wide range of nightlife from nightclubs and casinos to folk ballet, belly dancing and classical theatre performances at the National Theater and the Teatro en Círculo. Dancing and entertainment are available in all the big hotels, as well as many clubs. There are a variety of pubs, particularly in the financial district. Visitors might want to try the Chiva Parrandera, a party bus that takes you on a 3-hour ride through the city (with a few stops along the way) to the rhythm of a mini-band and an open bar, then drops you off around midnight at one of the discos.

Other large towns and resorts have music, dancing, casinos and cinemas.

Take Panama's diverse Spanish, Afro-Caribbean and American heritage; mix it with locally grown fruits and vegetables such as yucca, squash and plantains, and you have the makings of a unique and rich cuisine. A typical Panamanian meal is called casado and consists of meat, coconut rice and beans, local vegetables such as yucca and plantains. Beyond this, local favorites include sancocho (a stew of chicken and vegetables), carimanola (fried yucca rolled and stuffed with meat and eggs), empanadas (pastries fried with meat, potatoes and sometimes cheese) and tamales (corn dough stuffed with meat and wrapped in a banana leaf). Side dishes may be fried yucca (a tropical sort of French fry) and plantains either fried or baked and sprinkled with cinnamon. Ceviche (chopped raw fish, shrimp or conch marinated in lime juice and served with tortilla chips) is popular in coastal towns. Finish off a meal with a raspado, snow cone topped with sweet fruit syrups and sweetened condensed milk. Panama beer brands are Panama Cerveza, Balboa, Atlas and Soberana.

Proximity to the canal has brought much foreign influence to Panama. You will find practically anything, from French, Spanish and American food plus an endless number of establishments that specialize in international cuisine.

Panama is still a hidden gem for ecotourism. Of course, boat trips through the Panama Canal are a major tourist attraction. Not only can you observe the enormous vessels moving through the canal locks, you'll also have the opportunity to observe a great variety of wildlife along the banks and the surrounding jungle.

Archaeology

Ruins of Panama Viejo, the first European city on the Pacific Coast of the Americas, are today preserved and offer a glimpse of life back in the time when the Spaniards transported gold across the country to the Caribbean Sea and ultimately to ships destined for Spain. Stately stone ruins of once-elegant buildings, which include a massive bell tower on the cathedral, are surrounded by a large forested park just east of the present-day Panama City.

Beaches

Both of Panama's coasts have beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, white sand, coral reefs and palm trees. On the Pacific Coast, west of Panama City, stretch miles of inviting beaches with names like Punta Chame, Nueva Gorgona, Coronado, San Carlos and El Palmar. On the Caribbean side, superb sand beaches are at Bocas del Toro, San Blas and Isla Grande.

Bird Watching

Panama boasts more species of birds than the United States and Canada combined (940 at last count), thanks to some of the world's most beautiful and diverse forests. The Soberanía National Park and the Gamboa Tropical Rainforest Reserve are just two of the many parks in this verdant land. Harpy Eagles, classified as an endangered species and Panama's national bird, is common in the Darien area near the border of Columbia.

Caving

Don hardhats and headlamps to visit Nivida Cave on Isla Bastimentos, the longest cave in the country. A boat ride, kayak paddle and short walk lead to the cave entrance where hundreds of bats on the ceiling make an impressive sight. Take a swimsuit and swim in the river that runs through this subterranean chamber. There are a number of caves within the Chagres National Park, as well as near the shores of Lake Bayano.

Golf

Golf enthusiasts will find many courses to suit their desires and tee times. Mantaraya Golf Club, at the Royal Decameron Beach, Golf & Casino Resort, is an 18-hole course with all the amenities located only 30 minutes outside Panama City. Six of the holes are lit for nighttime play. Summit Golf & Resort is an 18-hole world-class golf facility set on the east bank of the Panama Canal. The Quebrada Grande is a 9-hole executive golf course that is one of the only courses in the world to play through a working coffee plantation.

Hiking

Hiking and mountain climbing are popular in the mountainous Chiriquí province, as is horseback riding.

Watersports

FISHING — Fish are abundant both in the Pacific and the Caribbean waters off of Piñas Bay, Contadora Island, Taboga and the San Blas Islands. Piñas Bay is a hot spot for big marlin, especially during the months of August and September. There's a fishing lodge here that offers tournaments that attract some of the best sports fishermen in the world. The Gulf of Panama is where you can big game fish offshore for tuna, wahoo and sailfish, or bottomfish for roosterfish, snapper and amberjack. Snook and tarpon fishing are excellent on the Bayano River, while peacock bass is best at Gatun Lake.

KAYAKING & RAFTING — Rivers located in the Chiriquí province and eastern Panama offer plenty of opportunities to go white-water rafting. In addition, miles of coastal waters are ideal for sea kayaking.

SAILING — Day sail charters are popular around the Bocas Del Toro archipelago. There's an American Sailing Association-certified sailing school in Panama City that offers both lessons as well as yacht charters to the Pearl Islands, Taboga and other surrounding islands.

SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING — With 1,000 miles of coastline on two oceans, watersports such as diving and snorkeling abound. Check out Isla Grande, the Bocas del Toro archipelago, Taboga Island and the San Blas Islands.

SURFING & WINDSURFING — Surfers flock to the beaches of Panama — El Palmar, Rio Mar, Punta Barco and Playa Venao — to ride the waves. Swell season spans from April through October. Board rentals abound and there are also a handful of surf camps.