From clear turquoise seas to the coffee farms and cloud forests of Chiriquí, Panama can be as chilled out or as thrilling as you wish. The canal has defined Panama in the last century, but what lies just beyond it could define the next. Pristine beaches, lush rainforest and big city nightlife gives a taste of the country’s outstanding assets.
Best time to visit: Mid – December to mid – April (dry season)
Top things to see:
- Monster freighters and Capuchin monkeys sharing the panama canal,
- Perfect beaches and poisonous dart frogs in the Bocas del Togo Archipelago,
- The great roadless wilderness of rainforest and waterways known as the Darien Gap,
- Sunrise over the pacific and sunset over the Caribbean.
Top things to do:
- Snorkel with sea turtles, sharks and school of jack in Parque Nacional Coiba,
- Trek through Parque Nacional Volcan Baru in search of the elusive quetzal,
- Barter with shrewd Kunas, an autonomous indigenous group in English, Spanish and Kuna on the sun-soaked islands of San Blas,
- Sip award – winning local java in the cool mountain town of Boquete.
Local Cuisine: Eat Sancocho (chicken and coriander soup) or carimanolas (meat filled yucca puffs), Drink Chicheme (sweet corn, cinnamon and vanilla in milk) or seco (sugar-cane liquor served with milk and ice) – sounds delicious!
Random Fact: The Panama Canal makes almost US$4million every single day!
Official Language: Spanish
Wow – Panama sounds amazing! Take us there right away! Hope you are lucky enough to visit there some day too! What a unique and very beautiful country! If you know of any hidden gems, or have any adventure stories about your trip to Panama (which I’m sure you do if you’ve been there!) be sure to share them with us, simply e-mail: OntheQT.ie@gmail.com!
