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PANAMA
 Overview
Panama forms the land link between the North and South American
continents. Panama borders Colombia to the east, Costa Rica
to the west, and the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean to the
north and south. The country constitutes an S-shaped isthmus
which runs east–west over a total length of 772km (480
miles) and 60-177km (37-110 miles) wide.
Geography
The landscape is mountainous with lowlands on both coastlines,
streams, wooded slopes and a wide area of savannah-covered
plains and rolling hills called El Interior, between the Azuero
peninsula and the Central Mountains. The Caribbean and the
Pacific Ocean are linked by the man-made Panama Canal, cut
into a gap between the Cordillera de Talamanca and the San
Blas mountain range, stretching for over 65km (40 miles);
the length of the Canal is often referred to as 80km (50 miles)
as this is the distance between deep-water points of entry.
Only
about a quarter of the country is inhabited. The majority
of the population live either around the Canal and main cities
of Panama City and Colón, or in the Pacific lowlands
and the adjacent mountains. (40% of the population are concentrated
in the two cities which control the entrance and exit of the
Canal.)
Climate/Clothing
Panama has two temperatures: hot and really, really hot. If
you are looking for sun, the best time to come is around December
through to May. The rest of the year is the rainy season.
Panamanians
love the sun and hate the rain. When a rainstorm comes, you'll
see them hiding in shops or under covers. The rain is WARM
and it's always around 90 degrees here.
Humidity
is quite bearable in the dry season, but in June and July,
it soars until you can taste the water in the air. Many people
would drive for 30 minutes when you could walk the same distance
in five. If you go outside without the benefit of air conditioning
for even 5 minutes, you come back soaked in sweat and breathless.
Temperatures
are high across the whole country throughout the year, though
cooler at high altitudes. The rainy season lasts from May
to November. Rainfall is twice as heavy on the Pacific coast
as it is on the lowlands of the Caribbean coast.
Required
clothing: Lightweight cottons and linen, rainwear advisable,
particularly in the rainy season. Warmer clothes for the highlands.
People/Culture
Panama's arts reflect its ethnic mix. Indian tribes, West
Indian groups, mestizos, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Swiss, Yugoslav
and North American immigrants have all offer contributed ingredients
to the cultural stew. Traditional arts include woodcarving,
weaving, ceramics and mask-making. Spanish is the official
language, though US influence and the international nature
of the canal zone reinforce the use of English as a second
language. West Indian immigrants also speak Caribbean-accented
English. Indian tribes have retained their own languages.
Panama is predominantly Roman Catholic, but there are sizable
Muslim and Protestant minorities and small numbers of Hindus
and Jews.
Entry
& Exit Requirements
U.S. citizens are encouraged to obtain a U.S. passport before
traveling to Panama. Although entry into Panama is permitted
with any proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a certified birth
certificate or a naturalization certificate) and official
photo identification (such as a driver's license), travelers
may experience difficulties entering Panama or leaving Panama
to return to the U.S. when not in possession of a valid U.S.
passport. Panamanian law requires that travelers must either
purchase a tourist card from the airline serving Panama or
obtain a visa from a Panamanian embassy or consulate before
traveling to Panama.
Health/Travel
Advisories
Health risks: Dengue fever, hantavirus (Los Santos province),
malaria, rabies and yellow fever.
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