Travel to Panama
Search Panama for Vacation Rentals, Home Exchange, B&B, Homestay (furnished apartments, villas, bed & breakfast and other types of accommodation):
Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Panama
- Time ZoneGMT/UTC -5
- Electricity: 120V, 60 Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellullar phone etc.)
- Weights & measures: Metric
Must See - Properties on UNESCO World Heritage List
- Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo
- Darien National Park
- Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park
- Archaeological Site of Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá
Panama
Location
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Capital
Panama City
Population
3,360,474 (July 2009 est.)
Regions
Panama consists of 9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca)
Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, and Veraguas
Climate
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Ethnic groups
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages
Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
Government type
constitutional democracy
Background
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
Panama Travel and Accommodation – Your Tips for Travelers
If you would like to share your experiences of traveling to Panama or to any other country, please send us your article and we will gladly post it at this website.
Disclaimer: Although we have tried to make the information on this website as accurate as possible, some of the facts may not be accurate, or may have recently changed. We do not accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience suffered by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify important information with the relevant authorities before traveling.