Panama
Welcome
Motto: Pro Mundi Beneficio (Latin)
"For the Benefit of the World"
Anthem: Himno Istmeño (Spanish)
"Hymn of the Isthmus"
Panama is known as a transit country because of the Panama Canal. While the country is known for its famous canal, its natural attractions include birding, whitewater rafting, and snorkeling tours. Panama's biodiversity has been said to be three times higher than the United State, Canada and Europe combined.
Capital: Panama City 8°58′N 79°32′W.
Population: 4,338 million inhabitants.
Gross Domestic Product - GDP (PPP): $128.500 billion.
Official languages: Spanish.
Area: 75,417 km2.
Water (%): 2.9.
Currency: Balboa (PAB) & U.S. dollar ($) (USD).
Safety rating: Ranked 61 on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.88.
Food
Guacho
Similar in style to a risotto, Guacho is a slightly soupy rice dish filled with regional vegetables, yucca, and meat or seafood. You’ll find this Panamanian specialty on the menu at most local restaurants. The seafood Guacho with coconut at Maito is easily Panama City’s most scrumptious.
Carimañola
Of the many deep-fried options, Carimañola is perhaps one of the most popular. Small, handmade yucca balls are stuffed with ground meat or cheese before heading to the frier for golden, crispy perfection. Grab a few for breakfast or a midday pick-me-up while exploring the best gay Panama City has to offer.
Sancocho
It doesn’t get more iconic than the country’s national dish: Sancocho. Broth, vegetables, chicken, and a side of rice are a few of the key ingredients in this typical Panamanian soup, but it’s the abundant use of local culantro spice that reigns supreme. Not to be confused with cilantro, culantro boasts a stronger smell and flavour with slightly sweet undertones. Sancocho is best enjoyed after a night of overindulgence; locals claim the healing soup to be the ultimate hangover cure. It is also called “the national dish of Panama”.
Ceviche
While ceviche is not an exclusive Panama food (most Historians agree it first originated in Peru), it remains one of Panama’s most beloved seafood dishes. Here, the ceviche is typically made from Corvina, a local Sea Bass, or shrimp. It’s tangy and citrusy, ideal for a light, refreshing lunch on a hot day in the tropics.
Ropa Vieja
Ropa Vieja may very well be the most well known. Shredded beef is simmered with tomato, garlic, onion, cumin, and oregano, and then typically served with white rice and fried, smashed plantains. Legend has it that Ropa Vieja (which translates to old clothes) originated in Spain long ago when a poor man ran out of food and was therefore forced to make a stew out of old, shredded garments.
Arroz con pollo
When it comes to typical food in Panama, it doesn’t get more classic than arroz con pollo. Easily recognizable for its yellow hue and shredded chicken, you’ll find this simple yet satisfying rice dish on nearly every local menu in Panama.
Empanadas
A deep-fried snack absolutely bursting with flavour, empanadas are savoury pastries stuffed with ground meat, potatoes, or cheese. There are countless hole-in-the-wall bakeries where you can get your empanada fix, but some of the best are found at Artisana, a smart cafe in the Bohemian neighbourhood of El Cangrejo.
Transportation
Metro in Panama City
Called El Metro, there is currently one line with 14 stations running north to south from Albrook to San Isidro. Two other lines are currently under construction.
Bus
The most important means of transportation throughout the country is definitely the bus. From the Gran Terminal Nacional in Albrook buses leave in all directions. For longer distances, you have very big luxurious buses with air condition, comfortable chairs, and entertainment. For shorter routes you will get familiar with the so called ‘chicken busses’. They are quite small, but you’ll be surprised how many people they cramp inside. In Panama it’s not possible to book a bus ride in advance and for the smaller buses there are also no reliable timetables. You just show up at the station and pay the driver in cash. If you want to get on the bus at another place than the official stations that is possible. You just wave or stick out your thumb as a bus passes by and if they are not full, they will give you a ride.
Car Rental
It really isn't necessary to rent a car if you are staying in the city. Many of the top car rental services in the world, such as Hertz, Enterprise and Sixt, are available in Panama. Economy vehicles can be rented for as little as $5-$15 USD per day, but an average price with insurance is $35 a day.
Private Shuttles
A popular alternative to the buses in Panama are private shuttles. If you want to be more flexible and are with a bigger group, they are a great option. If the price is shared between many people, it’s not even much more expensive than the bus.
You can book a shuttle service via hellotravelpanama.com or caribeshuttle.com.
Plane
Marcos A. Gelabert is the main hub for domestic flights around Panama and is located right next to Albrook mall. You can find flights there to David and Bocas del Toro. As Panama is very small, flights within the country usually take less than an hour. However, there are cheaper and more sustainable options out there.
Best things to do
Bocas del Toro
Considered to be one of the ultimate Caribbean destinations, Bocas del Toro has the same old soul one might relate to New Orleans. Some places are just so full of this old world charm that they make you feel like time has left them behind. You can see it in the buildings and hear it in the music that drifts from pulsing bars late and night. Isla Colón is the main island and it is home to the capital, Bocas Town. Bocas Town is a hub for dining, shopping and nightlife, and music flows from bars into the night. It’s also home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Panama, and one of the most beautiful beaches that I’ve ever seen.
Attend the Panama Jazz Festival
Panama City is the jazz capital of Central America, and among the best things to do in Panama there is attending the Panama Jazz Festival which usually takes place each year in January.
Visit the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is one of the unmissable places to visit in Panama. Not far from Panama City, it is one of those attractions that anybody visiting Panama will love.
There is a very interesting museum that has a great exhibit of photos and documents on the construction of the Canal. You can admire the huge ships that cross the Panama Canal at the Miraflores Locks. They now even sell boat tours of the Panama Canal online.
Portobelo
Portobelo is a lovely fishing village with a nice Caribbean feel and a fantastic, quiet bay. It’s a place where boats headed to San Blas on their way to Colombia dock. The village itself is a nice place to explore, relax and for visits to nearby beaches.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Panama is between January and mid-April. This is the driest part of the year and shows off this tropical country at its most stunning. However, it's also worth considering traveling to Panama during the rest of the year, when you can experience local events and festivals. Panama sees the most tourists during the dry season between December and April.
The best time to cruise the Panama Canal is December. Panama's rainy season is from mid-April to Mid-December. Cruise just after this for a high chance of good weather while avoiding the crowds of tourists and the high prices of the most popular time, which is January to March.
Quick tips
Crime is certainly an issue in some parts of Panama, such as in Colón (which is the main connection point between Panama City and Portobelo, and a major free port) and in the above mentioned Darién Gap. Make sure to avoid streets that have little or no illumination at night and not to walk around alone at night.
The areas to avoid while visiting Panama due to higher crime rates are: The Caribbean Coast of the Darien Province (Drug Trafficking Region) The Mosquito Gulf coast region (Drug Trafficking Region) The Caribbean Port Town of Colon (Poverty Based Street Crime and Gang Activity).
Don't carry your actual passport around however always carry your ID.
