Why Panama?
Panama is recognized as one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth.
Panama’s geographical, biological, cultural, historical and recreational diversity are boundless. The many varied ecosystems of Central America support an incredible variety of life, and the interaction between the geology, climate and animal species of Panama have resulted in wildly dense plant and bird populations. With over 1600 miles of coastline & mangroves that vary greatly between the Caribbean and Pacific, Panama is host to more than a thousand islands and a rich variety of marine life. And the short distance between the two coasts is host to some of the most amazing watersheds in the world, which support more than 35 worldclass whitewater rivers in the Chiriqui province alone.
In the Chiriqui province you can travel from mountains to sea, from cloudforests to rainforests, from mangroves to pristine white sand beaches and uninhabited islands all in a single day.
In addition to abundant natural wonders, Panama hosts an unparalleled cultural diversity for the region. The unique cultures and native people of Panama are vividly apparent as you travel from one province to the next. You may observe the Emberá in the region of the Chagres outside Panama City, the Kuna in San Blas, and the Ngöbe-Bugle in and around Boquete. The unique ancestral traditions of these surviving pre-Columbian cultures combined with remnants of colonial history mix with today’s more global culture to form a richly diverse society.
Traveling in Panama is safe, easy and a whole lot of fun!
Because of the Panama Canal and Panama’s stable, democratic government, Panama’s first-world infrastructure is the best in all of Central America, far better than neighboring Costa Rica. The Interamericana (Pan-American Highway) that connects the eastern part of the country with the westernmost province of Chiriqui is well-maintained and supports an excellent public transportation system. Traveling in Panama is easy and relatively safe, particularly in the western part of the country (Chiriqui Province) which is far less-developed and less-populated than the rest of the country. The US dollar is accepted as currency, ATM’s are easily accessible and credit cards are widely accepted, which simplifies things a great deal. Panamanians generally embrace foreign visitors and are helpful and eager to share their local knowledge.
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