Panama is known as a transit country because of the Panama Canal. While the country is known for its famous canal, its natural attractions include birdwatching tours, white-water rafting, and snorkeling. Panama's biodiversity is said to be three times greater than that of the United States, Canada and Europe combined. Panama is a small country located in Central America that connects two continents, but it has undoubtedly impacted the world. Bordered by Costa Rica and Colombia, it is a country of undeniable beauty and an excellent tourist destination.
However, it is also famous for having one of the most important engineering projects ever carried out, the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is an 82 km artificial waterway that connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, crosses the Isthmus of Panama, reduces navigation time between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and changes world trade forever. Do you love coffee? Then you should know about geisha coffee: it is considered the best coffee in the world and is produced in Panama, among other countries, but we are going to explain why it is so special in Panama. Geisha coffee is an Arabica variety from the people of Gesha in Ethiopia.
The seeds were taken to Costa Rica and later to Boquete in Panama, where they gained fame and awards for the best coffee. The flavor profile is one aspect that makes geisha coffee so well-known: it has a sweet flavor and an aroma of floral notes, jasmine, chocolate, honey and even black tea. This unique flavor contributed to its reputation and, consequently, to its considerable price and PRESTIGIO. Geisha coffee from Boquete is considered to be the most expensive coffee and the best coffee in the world.
With a metropolitan area of 1.5 million inhabitants, Panama City is the largest city and capital of Panama. It is also the most important and developed city in Central America. Due to its skyscrapers, its frenzy and, in general, its functional and fast-paced city, it has called the Miami of Central America. Initially founded in 1519, pirates led by the infamous Henry Morgan plundered and destroyed the original city.
Later, two years later, it was restored a few kilometers away. The old city is called Panamá Viejo and its ruins can be easily visited from Panama City. Old Panama is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Panama Canal Railroad opened in 1855, more than half a century before the maritime canal was built parallel to the railroad and benefited greatly from its existence. The route extends for almost 80 km and connects Panama City with Colón and links the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean.
The San Blas Islands are some of the most beautiful small islands in the world. The archipelago is located in the Guna Yala region, a few kilometers from the Caribbean coast of Panama. The Guna are the original tribes of the region and have extended their autonomy within Panama; there is even passport control to enter the territory of Guna Yala. First of all, it is famous for being the only stretch where the Pan-American Highway is interrupted.
There are no roads in the Darién Gap (on both sides of the border), making it impossible to cross from Central America to South America. The straight-line distance between Turbo in Colombia and Yaviza in Panama is only about 100 km. Finally, it is also known for its biodiversity and its virgin nature. An area that is difficult to access and has had little or no development, completely covered with forest, is full of life, some of which has yet to be discovered. El Darién is undoubtedly one of the richest places in the world in terms of biodiversity, but it is far from the only place famous for it in Panama.
All this wealth of fauna and flora is exhibited at the Museum of Biodiversity in Panama City. The museum building itself deserves a mention, as it was designed and built by the famous architect Frank Gehry. Around 14,000 ships pass through the Panama Canal each year and it takes between 8 and 10 hours to complete the trip. Panama does not have its own paper currency.
Instead, the country uses the U.S. dollar as legal tender. The exception is the coins, which are Panamanian and come in pieces of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents or a balboa coin. They have the same size, color and weight as American coins. Despite more than 100 years of American presence, it can still be difficult to find English speakers in many parts of the country. Panama's national language is Spanish, and they'll love you if you try to say a few sentences.
As a land bridge between North and South America, Panama is one of the most biodiverse places in the world, with 125 animal species found nowhere else in the world. Panamanians see tips as a reward for good service, and they don't expect it. It's normal to leave a 10% tip at restaurants, especially if you're going to spend the night there. However, keep in mind that some restaurants include an automatic 10% for the service, so check your bill carefully before paying.
It is also famous for having one of the most biodiverse rainforests in the world, as well as for having some of the most beautiful beaches in Central America. In addition to being the most famous thing in Panama, the Canal is an enormous source of income for the Panamanian state and, therefore, is responsible for the country's development. Many of the island chains are still home to local indigenous groups, such as the Guna Yala in the San Blas Islands, famous for their textile springs. The repercussions of the scandal have been enormous, and famous people and organizations have been involved in it.
Panama is also famous for its specialty coffees, traditional textiles, surfing and for having the only tropical jungle in its capital.
