It’s more than just a canal…. Much. Look what Vasco Nuñez de Balboa found in Panama
at the Pacific Ocean side.
Since then, visitors have been making discoveries about this very special country. For
many the discovery could be the casinos, the Atlantic (or the Pacific) Ocean, the
mountains, the jungle, the fishing, the rhythm, or, of course, the Panama Canal. The
Panama Canal is number one on the sightseer’s list.
The world knows no engineering work of comparable magnitude, designed at the turn of
the last century, operating since 1914, that copes so well with the chesty demands of
21st century shipping.
Most of the population is of mestizo origins, descendants of Indian, African and Spanish
heritages, even though there is great ethnic diversity. The population density is evident
along the coastal region of the Gulf of Panama, particularly on the Azuero Peninsula
and in the metropolitan areas of Panama City and Colón. A high degree of urban
development in recent years has attracted a growing urban population, currently
representing 59% of the total country population.
Panama forms a long isthmus that connects Central America with South America. Its
more than 75.000 km2 are nature, culture, history, and this great connection to the
sea, it is a place of absolute harmony, offering a destination with an incredible diversity
of attractions to visit and enjoy. Bordered by both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans,
which are joined by the impressive Panama Canal, known as the first masterpiece and
site of this country, constructed from 1904 to 1914, and considered the eighth wonder
of the world that gave the country its status of bridge to the world and cradle of a rich
society.
Exploring the City of Panama, you are aware of the ancient and the modern coexisting
without conflict: an interminable line of skyscrapers and numerous buildings from
colonial times, splendidly conserved and forming the country’s capital.
The old city was declared UNESCO Patrimony of Mankind in 1997, when restoration of
the buildings began. You must not miss this pleasant excursion through its numerous
plazas, historic and religious monuments, a mixture of Spanish, French and Caribbean
architectural styles.