Panama
From clear turquoise seas to the coffee farms and cloud forests of
Chiriquí, Panama can be as chilled out or as thrilling as you wish. Boasting
some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world and rich and fascinating
culture, it’s easy to see why Panama is so popular with tourists. The country’s
allure as a tourist destination grows more powerful every year, and tourism
plays a vital role in the nation’s economy.
Culture & History
The culture of Panama is a mixture of cultures from many parts of the
planet, this country also shares and hosts an exchange of languages, ethnic,
commercial, tourist, gastronomic, literary, musical, religious, and more.
Panama is the bridge of union of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as a product
of the creation of man and his culture. Its strategic geographical position has
contributed to the culture to be a point of commercial attraction and therefore
all the individual interests of the different international cultures.
Panama preserves numerous colonial buildings, such as the cathedral and
the church of Santo Domingo, in the capital. In the old part of some cities,
houses are preserved with the characteristic Andalusian-style interior
courtyards.
There are seven indigenous cultures in the country that practice
ancestral customs. You’ll also find museums, archaeological sites, and three
historic colonial cities with fortresses, churches, and convents dating from
the 16th to the 19th centuries.
Flavors
Panama is very rich in culture and tradition since the Central American
coast is the geographical union of all America. Influenced by Indian and Arab
customs, this nation reinvents itself to create stunning dishes. This land
offers a culinary mix that is worth knowing, as they have spicy flavors that
combine with any food.
Many international foods in Panama are recognized for their quality and
variety of ingredients, one of them is the famous Panamanian tripe. Soups like
this and sancocho are among the most popular, they have protein and a very rich
salty broth.
Typical Panamanian foods are mildly flavored, without the pungency of
some of Panama's Latin American and Caribbean neighbors. Common ingredients are
maize, rice, wheat flour, plantains, yuca (cassava), beef, chicken, pork, and
seafood.
Corn-based dishes come from the kernel, cooked in water, and then
ground to obtain a dough (as opposed to using corn flour to obtain the dough).
Fresh corn is also used in some dishes. Due to the multicultural background of
the Panamanians, many of its dishes are heavily influenced by the cuisine of
other Latin American countries and also the Caribbean as well as European.
Urban Experience
Panama City is culturally diverse and driven,
rough-edged yet sophisticated. And there's much that's new or improved. Central
America's first subway is operating, the historic Casco district has been
beautifully restored, and a massive canal expansion is completed. Pedal the
coastal green space, explore the Casco, or attend an avant-garde performance
and you will realize this tropical capital isn't only about salsa: that's just
the backbeat.
Casco Viejo, its cobblestoned historic
center, is famed for colonial-era landmarks like the neoclassical Palacio
Presidencial and bougainvillea-filled plazas lined with cafes and bars. The
Miraflores Locks offers views of ships traversing the canal, an essential
shipping route linking the Atlantic and Pacific.
If anyone in the family envies the pirate way of life, don't miss a Sea
Dragon Pirate Cruise. A two-hour exploration of St. Andrew Bay set to music,
this swashbuckling adventure gives kids the chance to sword fight, read a
treasure map, and find hidden booty. For a more educational experience, your
family is sure to love Seacrest Wolf Preserve, a rare opportunity to interact
with real wolves.
Outdoors & Adventure
Explore
the ruins of Spanish forts on the Caribbean coast or boat deep into indigenous
territories in a dugout canoe. Wildlife is incidental: a resplendent quetzal on
the highland trail, an unruly troupe of screeching howler monkeys outside your
cabin, or a breaching whale that turns your ferry ride into an
adrenaline-filled event. Adventure tourism means zipping through rainforest
canopies, swimming alongside sea turtles or trekking to sublime cloud-forest
vistas.
With a plethora of deserted islands, chilled Caribbean vibes on one
side and monster Pacific swells on the other, Panama sits poised to deliver the
best of beach life. And a whole other world begins at the water's edge. Seize
it by scuba diving with whale sharks in the Pacific, snorkeling the rainbow
reefs of Bocas del Toro, or setting sail in the indigenous territory of Guna
Yala, where virgin isles sport nary a footprint. Meanwhile, surfers will be
psyched to have world-class breaks all to themselves.
You
don't have to make it to the Darién to get off the beaten path – though if you
do, you've hit one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet. Go where the
wild things are. Soak in the spray of towering waterfalls near highland Santa
Fé. Visit one of Panama's seven indigenous groups through community tourism.
Live out your castaway fantasies in the Guna Yala or idle on a wilderness beach
in Península de Azuero. Panama could be as wild as you want it to be.