Panama

The transit country

Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America. The Panama Canal, a famous feat of human engineering, cuts through its center, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to create an essential shipping route. In the capital, Panama City, modern skyscrapers, casinos and nightclubs contrast with colonial buildings in the Casco Viejo district and the rainforest of Natural Metropolitan Park.

 

Population: 4.099 million
Capital: Panama city
Currency: Balboa (PAB) & United States dollar (USD)
Official languages: Spanish
Different ways to move around: Motorcycle tours and rentals are less common, buses in Panama city are popular or taxi (fix a price before the ride) and long-distance buses.

Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America. The Panama Canal, a famous feat of human engineering, cuts through its center, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to create an essential shipping route. In the capital, Panama City, modern skyscrapers, casinos and nightclubs contrast with colonial buildings in the Casco Viejo district and the rainforest of Natural Metropolitan Park.

The amount of cash you should carry depends on what you plan to do. If you envision a day of eating at better restaurants, having drinks, and maybe even buying a souvenir, you’ll want $30-50 per person. However, if your hotel includes some meals and you’re only planning on lounging along the beach, $20 should cover it.