Panama

Panama (República de Panamá) is a Central American country bordered by Costa Rica and Colombia, and bisected by the famous Panama Canal. Panama has the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south, and the canal connects these two seas.

A significant portion of Panama’s GDP comes from canal tolls. Other important sectors are commerce, banking and tourism.

Short facts about Panama

Name	República de Panamá (Republic of Panama)
Official language	Spanish
Motto	Pro Mundi Beneficia (For the benefit of the world)
Anthem	Himno Istmeño (Hymn of the Isthmus)
Area	74,177 square kilometres 28,640 square miles Of which 2.9 % is water.
Population	4+ million (Estimate for 2016)
Currency	Balboa (PAB) United States Dollar (USD)
Time zone	EST (UTC -5)
Calling code	(+) 507
Internet TLD	.pa
Traffic	Drives on the right
Capital	Ciudad de Panamá (Panama City) Coordinates: 8°58′N 79°32′W

Geography

Many tourists visit Panama each year to enjoy the warm climate and explore the tropical landscape. Some of the plants and animals that live in Panama’s jungle are endemic to Panama and found nowhere else.

The interior of the land consists chiefly of steep, rugged mountains and dissected upland plains. Along both coasts, gently rolling hills and flat plains are common.

Roughly 40% of Panama’s land area is forested, but this number used to be considerably higher in the past – before widespread logging and farming. Still, there are many parts of the country were the rainforest goes all the way from the seaside mangrove swamps of one side to the lower reaches of the slopes of the other side.

The highest spot

Panama’s highest point is a volcano named Barú, which towers at 3,475 meters above sea level. (This is roughly equivalent to 11,400 feet.)

The Panama – Colombia border region

The infamous Darién Gap is a gap in the Pan American highway, a highway that except for this gap stretches from Alaska to Patagonia. The gap is located in the Panama – Colombia border region, where undeveloped swampland has made it practically and politically difficult to create a highway. On the Panamanian side, this region is dominated by mountains covered in thick rainforest. On the Colombian side, you’ll find the flat and marshy river delta of the Atrato River.

Climate

Located mostly between latitudes 7° and 10°N, Panama enjoys a tropical climate with high temperatures year round. Elevation will of course have an impact on the temperatures, and frosts do occur on the higher peaks of the Cordillera de Talamanca.

There is a dry season and a rainy season, but the likelihood for rainfall also varies between the different regions. Generally speaking, you can expect heavier rainfall on the Caribbean side of the country compared to the Pacific side. In some parts of the country, the rainy season is nine months long. In others, it will rarely last longer than six months.

Panama lies outside the main Caribbean hurricane belt.

Notable cities, towns and villages

Name	Region	Info
Almirante	Caribbean West	Located on the Caribbean coast, Almirante is a departure point for water taxis going to Isla Colón.
Bocas del Toro (Bocas Town)	Caribbean West	Located on Isla Colon in the Caribbean.
Balboa	Central Panama	Located between Panama City and the canal. Separated from Panama City by the Cerro Ancon (Ancon Hill).
Boquete	Pacific West	Located in the Chiriquí highlands Home to the volcano Baru Important hub in the coffee district Tourists come here for rock climbing, whitewater rafting, zip lining and similar mountain adventures.
Boca Chica	Pacific West	Village located at the Pacific coast Tourists come here for swimming, snorkelling deep sea sport fishing, and visits to nearby islands.
Colón	Central Panama	Port town on the Caribbean coast. Several international cruise ships dock in Colón. La Zona Libre is the second largest free trade zone in the world. Violent crimes are more common in Colón than in the rest of the country.
Coronado	Central Panama	Coastal town near Panama City. The first resort community in Panama was created here.
David	Pacific West	Located along the Pan American highway and has an airport.
Panama City	Central Panama	The capital city of Panama
Pedasi	Pacific West	On the Gulf of Panama. Tourists visit for fishing trips, snorkelling and diving. Close to Isla Iguana and Isla Cana.
Portobelo	Central Panama	Located on the Caribbean coast, boats to Colombia leave from Portobelo. Tourists also come for the diving and to visit old Spanish forts.