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Panama

TRAVEL GUIDE IN PANAMA: THE BEST PLACES AND CITIES OF THE COUNTRY

Panama

When the country of Panama is mentioned the first thing that will pop into your mind will be the Panama Canal. But Panama is much more than just a canal. The country is also developing rapidly in terms of economy, and tourism due to its glorious and exotic beaches. The capital Panama City is a large metropolis with skyscrapers along the coast. This is a large business center of trade and the banking sector, so good communications and high-speed Internet are always available in the city. Panama City has a historic district called Casco Viejo that is worth seeing for its beautiful colonial mansions, cobblestone streets, art galleries, the Panama Canal museum, and is well known for its excellent gastronomic scene. Panama was once of strategic importance in the struggle for Latin America between Spain and England, therefore it has a rich historical and archaeological past. And it attracts tourists with its unique blend of Spanish, North American, Native American, and even African cultures, landscapes of pure nature, and stunning beaches on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Oceans. And many people don’t realize that Panama is dotted with thousands of stunning islands off its Pacific coast, including the popular San Blas And Bocas del Toro islands, some of these having been recognized as the best beach destinations around the world. For the bird watching aficionados, just a short 45 minute drive from Panama City is the famous Pipeline Road in Gamboa, considered a “birding paradise,” with easy road hikes to get a glimpse of its extensive bird species, exceeding 400. And just half an hour away is the Isthmus of Panama that separates the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, also linking North and South America, and where the famous Panama Canal now lies. And when you visit the canal, be sure and tour it via the Panama Canal Railway. In just one hour this passenger train connects Panama City on the Pacific Coast with Colon on the Atlantic, providing a picturesque ride through lush rainforests, a view of the canal’s locks and Gatun Lake, as well as the Gaillard Cut, where the canal crosses the mountain range. For the more physically active, there are a number of beaches and islands that provide fantastic diving and snorkeling: Coiba Island, the Bocas del Toro archipelago, the Pearl Islands, and Portobello National Park. There are also beautiful beaches for surfing and swimming, and for walking along the rocky beaches. And in Panama there are about seven native tribes still living and thriving among the population, and tourists have a chance to spend time with them and get a feel for their traditional culture and interesting way of life. You can visit the Embera tribe in Wounaan, in the Chagres National Park, where you can cruise down the river in their dugout canoes, try their homemade fried tilapia, buy handmade crafts and artisan creations, and experience their music and dance cultural performance. Among the lush rainforests of the Panamanian Highlands you will find a very unique coffee circuit consisting of 15 coffee farms that offer tours and tastings in what has been called the “Napa Valley of Coffee.” And in the Highlands you have the quaint town of Boquete, next to the Caldera River, with beautiful scenery, volcanoes to visit, river rafting, a wildlife refuge, and at 4,000 feet above sea level is much cooler than the rest of the country.

TOURS TO PANAMA - CHOOSE A TOUR ACCORDING TO THE PARAMETERS

Tours to Panama

Choose the country, route duration, budget, type and subject of your future tour. Pay attention to our regular combined programs for several countries

PANAMA HAS MORE 20 MAJOR CITIES

Cities of Panama

The most famous tourist places and cities of Panama are the capital of Panama City, the cities of Colon, David, Portobelo, El Valle de Anton, as well as the Baru volcano, the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Boquete and the Panamanian Highlands, the islands of Isla Grande, Coiba, Pearl Islands, Chagres Park and Chorro Waterfall

EXCURSIONS IN THE BEST PLACES OF PANAMA WITH A LICENSED ENGLISH GUIDE

Excursions

We know the best routes for beach holidays in mainland Panama and on the islands, the sights of Panamanian cities and natural parks of Panama. Holidays in luxury all-inclusive hotels, diving, snorkeling, rafting, trekking in the mountains, bird watching, visiting Indian tribes, gastronomy and nightlife of the country are waiting for you!

REMINDER OF PANAMA FOR TRAVELLERS

It's useful to know

Highlights

-Beautiful islands and reefs of San Blas and Bocas del
-Watching birds and impressive waterfalls in Boquete and El
-The colonial district of Casco Viejo in Panama City
Geography
Panama is located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. By 1999, Panama controlled the Panama Canal that links the North Atlantic Ocean via the Caribbean Sea with the North Pacific Ocean.

A nearly impenetrable jungle forms the gap between Panama and Colombia. It creates a break in the Pan-American Highway, which otherwise forms a complete road from Alaska to Patagonia.
Language
Spanish is the official and dominant language; English is also recognized as an official language and is spoken widely on the Caribbean coast and by many in business and professional fields.
Money
The currency used in Panama is the Panamenian Balboa. One Dollar is about 1 Panamenian Balboas.
Climate
Days are hot, nights much cooler; temperatures range from 32 °C (90 °F) during the daytime to 21 °C (70 °F) in the evening practically year-round. The rainy season takes place between October and November, and the best months to visit are mid-December and late March.
Gastronomy
Panama has a rich tradition in the culinary arts. Due to its location, the country is home to a vast array of fresh and tasty fruits, herbs and vegetables. Combine this with influences from the Native Indians, Europeans and other Latin American countries and you have some great food in Panama. Some interesting dishes are:

Hojaldras: These are commonly referred to as Panamanian Doughnuts. Essentially there are dough that is deep fried and then covered with sugar on top. A sweet snack to start off your day
Sancocho: If you are looking for a typical dish, Sancocho could be it. Found everywhere in Panama Sancocho is a type of chicken soup. Depending on who is cooking it other ingrediants in the soup can vary
History
Panama was claimed by the Spanish in 1501. In the 17th century Panama became part of Gran Colombia, but in 1903, Panama broke with Colombia. Eleven years later, the mighty Panama Canal was opened. The different cultural that inhabited Panama left behind a remarkable cultural history.
Religion
The overwhelming majority of Panamanians are Roman Catholic, accounting for almost 80% of the population.
Culture
There are six different Indians Cultures in Panama and each one of them practices its very own typical customs. Each province of Panama has a varied Folklore reflected through its dances, music and cuisine. In the deeply catholic provinces of Cocle, Herrera and Los Santos churches are found on the main town square (Plaza) as was the Spanish tradition. Nata, one of the oldest colonial cities, boasts the oldest church of the American Continent. One of the yearly festive highlights is Carnival, celebrated throughout the country in the month of February.
These provinces also have the greatest expression of folkloric traditions of the country, which can be found back in the Panamanian National Dress the Pollera, which is handmade. The Pollera with all it’s jewelry and ornaments makes a magnificent mixture that emphasizes the beauty of the Panamanian women.
Another artisan center by excellence is the Valle de Anton (Anton Valley) with a handicrafts market where on Sundays all the craftmakers of the area gather to offer their pieces for reasonable prices to domestic and foreign tourists alike in a picturesque environment.
Music
The most important native instruments are the mejoranera, a five-stringed guitar used to play songs called mejoranas, as well as torrentes, and the rabel, a violin with three strings.

Popular Panama folkloric music is generally called música típica or pindín, which since the 1940s has included instruments such as the guiro, conga and especially the accordion, among others. A folk dance called tamborito is very popular, danced by men and women in costumes.
Wildlife
Algae-covered sloths, tiny marmosets and night monkeys make their home in the canopy. If you want to see strange animals, the bushdog and the giant anteater can be found in Panama.
Panama is home to many of the most-sought jewels on any birders list. Five species of macaws and a dozen and species of parrots, parakeets and parrotlets add more than just a visual treat, a lot of decibels to the jungle’s dawn symphony. Toucans, bell birds, umbrellabirds and motmots, and even the quetzal, mostly restricted to the cloud forest of Chiriqui, are other beautiful elements to enrich the country’s avifauna.
Panama is fish heaven, from the small multicolored Killifish and dwarf armored catfish, inhabiting the fresh-water streams and lakes, to the monstrous black marlin off Hannibal Bank and Pinas Bay, Panama has it all.

Vacation in Panama

Discover Panama with Ada Tours Tour Operator!

Ada Tours travel agency would be happy to organize your unforgettable holiday in Panama. We know the best hotels in Panama City and the best beach hotels in the Pacific and the Caribbean, including all-inclusive hotels. In this country, you will experience not only beach holidays, but also ecological tours in the Bocas del Toro archipelago or in the La Yeguada nature reserve. Eco-tours can also be organized to the Panama Highlands in Boquete, or visit the crater of the extinct volcano and waterfall in El Valle de Anton, or trek around the crater of the Baru volcano, from where you can see a stunning sunrise and a view of both the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines- the only place on earth where that is possible. Active tours in Panama are ideal for those who love snorkeling, diving, surfing, rafting, kayaking, or sailing. If you are interested in shopping and nightlife in Panama, as well as the sights of Panamanian cities- David, Colon, Portobelo, then we incorporate a city tour for you. We would be thrilled to plan the holiday of your dreams in Panama and its islands, with the additional option of having a tour guide in your native language.