About Panama
Why Panama?
Even though Panama is a small country, it has a great biological and habitat diversity due to the convergence of two hemispheres, two oceans, and its amazing topography with extremely young soils. This creates wonderful and continuous changing landscapes for the ones going across the country.Panama has a great variety of world-class attractions all in close proximity. Exotic tropical rainforests, beautiful mountain refuges, Caribbean-style beaches, seven living Indian cultures, a Miami-style capital city, historical sites, golf, diving, rafting, sportfishing- not to mention that 8th wonder of the world and engineering marvel- The Panama Canal. And it's all in a country just 50 miles wide, the size of South Carolina.
Panama has the highest rating for tourist safety from the Pinkerton Intelligence Agency. In a Newsweek magazine article on tourism safely worldwide, Panama received same tourism safety rating as the USA. Foreign residents in Panama will tell you how safe they feel living in Panama compared to any other country in Central America.
English is spoken as a second language. The Panamanian people are amongst the friendliest in the world. They are known for their peaceful, get-along and fun loving nature. As a result of the 90 year presence of Americans in the Canal Zone, Panamanians understand and appreciate Americans- thousands have worked with Americans as well as studied in the United States.
Panama's currency is the US dollar. That's right! What a great convenience. In Panama, there's no need for currency exchange. No need to be a mathematical genius to figure out what that meal just cost or how much to tip the bellboy. Your bank accounts and investments are also all of course in US dollars.
Panama has the easiest-to-get-to exotic nature in the world. It's position as a narrow land bridge connecting two continents has endowed it with some of the worlds’ most pristine and bio-diverse rainforests in national parks covering 5 million acres. A key indicator of its bio-diversity: Panama has 944 recorded bird species, more than the U.S. and Canada combined. Furthermore, all that great nature is very accessible, with some of the best locations less than an hour from Panama City. There is a local saying that while in other countries you have 20 tourists looking at one bird, in Panama you have one tourist looking at 20 birds
For many, Panama is mostly known for its Canal. Completed in 1914 and built by the US, it is a truly impressive piece of engineering and a reason in itself to visit Panama. Once you read the historical account of its construction, The Path Between The Seas, you will want to see it out for yourself!
The Panama Canal and the long standing involvement of the United States, (Panama has the highest per capita US investment in all of Latin America is one reason why Panama's infrastructure is far and away the best in Central America. Highways, airports and shipping centers are extensive and well maintained.
The government is stable and the business climate is optimistic. British Cable and Wireless recently won the bid for controlling interest of INTEL, the government phone company, with a bid of $625 million. Cable and Wireless subsequently announced that they would invest an additional $572 million over the next five years to expand and modernize the existing system.
More than $800 million of foreign investment has been made in the new Canal Zone Industrial Center.
Panama is blessed by nature-unlike the rest of her Central American neighbors, Panama has no hurricanes-amazingly it’s in a special climate area that is totally hurricane-proof. It also has no major earthquakes. Your Panama vacation will never be re-scheduled due to natural events. Your property investment will always be safe from hurricanes and earthquakes.
Location
Panama is located in both North and Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. Its location on the eastern end of the isthmus forming a landbridge connecting Central and South America is strategic.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 Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. It creates a break in the Pan-American Highway, which otherwise forms a complete road from Alaska to Chile.
Area
75,990 sq km (29,939 square miles)Geographic Division
Panama's political divisions are 9 provinces, 75 districts or municipalities, 5 indigenous comarcas, and 620 "corregimientos." Panama is divided into 9 provinces (provincias) and 3 provincial-level indigenous territories (comarcas indígenas). There are also 2 sub-provincial comarcas, Kuna de Madugandí and Kuna de Wargandí, which are part of Panamá and Darién provinces, respectively.- Provinces
- Provincial-level comarcas
Climate
Panamanian weather is pleasantly tropical, and uniform throughout the year. Nights are usually cool. The average temperature is 27 degrees C. Panama has two weather seasons: rainy and dry. The former stretches from March to December.Time
The time in Panama all year long is the same as the EST (GMT -5). We do not observe Daylight Savings Time.Language
The official language is Spanish. However, many panamanians speak both Spanish and English.Electricity
It is 110 volts. Plugs are two pronged without the grounding prong.Currency & Exchange Rate
The Panamanian balboa (B) = 100 centesimos. The official paper currency is the U.S. dollar, which is accepted everywhere at the rate of B1 = US$1.If you have U.S. dollars or U.S. dollar-denomination traveler's checks, then there is no need to exchange currency. Unlike most other parts of Central and South America, it is relatively easy to exchange other major currencies also, due to the extensive offshore banking business in Panama. Traveler's checks and currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange shops, and hotels, as well as international airports. Larger banks may offer the best exchange rates, but avoid black marketers at all cost. Consult your bank about current exchange rates before departure. Keep all receipts for reconversion. Banks do not cash personal checks.
Most currencies can also be exchanged, but try to take only crisp and new notes, as wrinkled and soiled notes are likely to be refused.
Credit Cards
Automated Teller Machines (ATM's) can be easily found in most populated areas of Panama.American Express and Visa are the most commonly used credit cards; Diners Club and MasterCard are also easily accepted in most upmarket places in the cities, but smaller restaurants and shops may ask for cash. Some banks in the capital offer cash advances on credit cards, but make sure you bring your passport.
Tipping
Taxi: drivers do not expect tips. Any intended gratuity should be figured in with the pre-trip negotiated fare.Hotel: generally, a 10 percent service charge is figured into the overall tab. Tipping individual staff directly is sometimes appropriate.
Hotel Porters: 50 to 75 cents per piece.
Hotel Chambermaids: usually over-looked, probably those most deserving of a gratuity. $1/ day would be a nice tip.
Restaurant: if a restaurant does not include a service charge, tip 10 to 15 percent.
