Panama, the bridge between Central and South America, has much more to offer besides its famous Canal! Because of its unique position as a pathway between two continents, Panama's natural and human histories speak of a variety of origins -- southern, northern, and European. The land mass is shaped roughly like a tilde (the squiggly line over some "n" letters in Spanish) and runs east/west, with the western border joining Costa Rica and the east adjoining Columbia. Eastern Panama is home to the Darien "Gap" in the Transamerican Highway, the only unfinished section from Alaska to Cape Horn.

Panama has six remaining groups of native people: the Ngobe (Guaymi), the Naso (Teribe), and the Bribri in the west, the Wounaan and Embera on the Pacific side of the Darien, and the Kuna of the Caribbean. Unlike the situation in many Central American countries, the native populations in Panama have established a political presence -- most are represented in the federal government and the laws of individual native groups are respected within the territory of each group.

Panama's economy is based mostly on income from the Canal and because of this, the official currency is the US dollar. Since the Carter/Torrijos Treaty went into effect on December 31 of 1999, all US military presence is gone from the country and the ownership and operation of the Canal is solely in the hands of Panama. Like Costa Rica, Panama has no standing army, and security is provided by police and border patrols. The government is democratically elected and the country is politically stable. The crime rate is lower than most US cities.

Panama's climate is tropical, with little seasonal variation in temperature. Seasons are determined by rainfall, with the dry summer beginning in late November and usually lasting through April. Summer is also the windiest time of the year, and the oceans tend to be roughest during these months. Because of the proximity to the equator, the sun is very strong -- hence the agreeable custom of a midday siesta.

Although Panama is oten considered a third world country, much of the infrastructure in Panama City was built according to US standards during the American occupation of the canal zone. You can freely drink water right out of the tap! Infectious diseases have been effectively controlled and travelers have little to worry about in terms of pre-trip health preparations. For tourists entering from the US, there are no required vaccinations.