Panama is also been called the “Crossroads of the World”.  It has been a crossroads for human migration between the two continents and between the two oceans.

Location

Panama is located between Central and South America.  It covers 75,517 square km (29,208 square miles).  Panama is between 50 and 120 miles wide (89km and 192 km) and is bordered by 1,287.7 km (805 miles) of Caribbean coastline and 1,700.6 km (1,062.8 miles) of pacific coastline.

Climate

Panama has a tropical climate.  Temperatures are around 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 25-30 degrees Celsius) and humidity is always high.  The average annual rainfall is 1,500 mm along the pacific coast and 2,500 mm on the Caribbean side.

Seasons

There are only two seasons, the “dry season” from December to April and the “rainy season” from May to the end of the year.

Highest Point

Peak at 3,475 m.  Extinct volcano located 700 m below the summit and surrounded by cloud forest up to 3,200 m.  Subalpine scrub forest at summit.  Baru has more Quetzals during the nesting season April and May than some of the countries have north of Costa Rica.  One of the best locations to view the Volcano hummingbird and more than 100 other species.

Population

The population of the country as of the 1990 census is 2,329,329 of diverse origins: Spanish descendants, black Cimarrones, Indians, immigrants from North America, Europe, Asia, East India and other countries.  Known as the “melting pot of races”.  Nearly 49% of the people live in the urban areas.  Panama City has an estimated population of 825,300.  Density of 30.8 persons per square kilometer.    There are 5 indigenous groups in Panama: Kunas on the San Blas Islands-Caribbean coast, Chocoe (divided linguistically into 2 groups-Embera & Wounaan) in the province of Darien, Guaymies (Ngobe Bugle) in the provinces of Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro & Veraguas, Teribes & Bokotas (Buglere) in Bocas del Toro province. 

Time zone

Panama is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (ESTZ), five hours behind GMT.

Language

Spanish is the official language.  English is widely spoken in the business, banking, retail and international communities, in tourist-oriented activities and in the cities of Panama and Colón.

Currency

The currency is the “Balboa” which has the same value as the dollar.  The dollar is legal tender in Panama, which doesn’t print bank notes but only mints its own coins.  Coinage is either Panamanian or US equivalent in 0.50, 0.25, 0.10, 0.5 and 0.1 cents.

Folklore

Panama’s folklore is fully expressed in its traditional dances, its colorful “Pollera”, the national costume, and “tembleques” (hair ornaments) wore by women; the embroidered, long-sleeved shirts, calf high trousers, and a straw “Montuno” hat, the national costume worn by men.  It may be admired in town’s festivals and during the famous Carnival, which is a four-day celebration before Lent.

Electricity

120 volt, 60 cycles in all parts of the republic.