You can see the famous Panama Canal, and at the same time the enchanting rainforests that surround it, by visiting the Soberanía National Park or National Park Soberanía. Here you can get acquainted with the flora and fauna of Panama, go kayaking on Gatun Lake and the Chagres River, on the banks of which, by the way, there is an ethnic village of the Embera people. The world famous nature trail through the park called Pipeline Road is also located in Soberania Park, this is the best place to observe the life of wild animals and birds in the region. The largest and busiest ports in the world are located in Panama. You can be impressed by the abundance of ships and goods from all over the world and feel the unique port atmosphere in the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks. Here you can also learn the history of the construction and development of the Panama Canal and even ride along it. In the capital of the Republic, Panama City, do not miss the opportunity to visit the old quarter of Casco Antigua, full of colonial architecture in a mixed Havana and New Orleans style. And the Place de France also offers beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean! Causeway Dam is the meeting place for everyone and everything in Panama City, where most of the restaurants and other institutions of the capital are concentrated. Views of skyscrapers on the one hand and hundreds of ships in the Gulf of Panama on the other make everyone come here: both citizens and foreign tourists. Don’t miss Ankon Hill, home to rare agoutis and exotic toucans, and Panama la Vieia, the first colonial settlement now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can and should plunge into the cultural environment of Panama in the Sun Blas archipelago, where the ethnic minorities of Kuna Yala and Embera live. San Blas includes 360 coral islands in the Caribbean Sea, where these peoples manage to maintain their usual way of life for more than a century. The Internet, Coca-Cola and advertising for them will be nothing more than incomprehensible words.
National cuisine of Panama
According to calculatorinc, traditional Panamanian cuisine is rooted in Central American traditions and combines Indian and Spanish flavors. The main ingredients, without which it is impossible to imagine the local cuisine of Panama, are rice, corn, legumes, meat, onions, vegetables and herbs. A separate role is assigned to the national cuisine and seafood, because the country is located off the coast of two oceans at once! Among the characteristic features of serving dishes in Panama, it is worth mentioning a small amount of spices in dishes (hot and spicy sauces are served separately), an abundance of vegetable salads, as well as replacing ordinary dishes with tortillas, in which food is directly laid out. The most common dishes of Panamanian cuisine include rice with beef “arros-con-carne” – pork with corn or potatoes in banana leaves, scrambled eggs – “juevos revueltos”, “paella” – rice with seafood, “fufu” bananas and sea fish stewed in coke milk, fried and then chilled fish fillet “escabeche” and much more. All this is used with all kinds of cakes, such as “tortilla de mais” or “plantan tortillas”. Strong Panamanian coffee is the talk of the town, here it is drunk around the clock after each meal and between them, served with a jug of milk. Numerous desserts are called upon to offset coffee bitterness: vanilla tres leche pie, pi de lemon pie with lemons, el carmelho – a fruit pie, as well as bananas with vanilla and cinnamon, fried dough with ohaldres jam and coconut meringue plantain tortillas. The local drink “chichas de papaya” made from fresh papaya juice and pineapple is also very popular. The most common alcoholic drinks are Abuelo rum.
Transport
There are no direct flights to Panama from Russia, but the country is connected by air with several dozen countries, so you can use one of the transit options. For example, you can fly to Panama with a transfer in London or one of the US cities. There is also a land option: through Costa Rica, there are three border crossings open to international buses and other transport: Paso Canoas, Sabalito and Sixaola. Getting through Colombia to Panama is possible only formally, the border here is difficult to pass. Panama’s main airport is Tocumen or Tocumen International Airport (PTY), located 24 km east of Panama City, where most international flights arrive. Domestic flights in Panama are provided by three local airlines: Aeroperlas, Copa Airlines and Air Panama. Flights are usually very inexpensive, but there is a high probability of an unexpected cancellation or rescheduling of the flight. The most common type of transport in the country is buses: intercity (with air conditioning) and urban (more often without them). They connect all settlements of the country and areas in large cities. The main bus station, Albrook Bus Station, is located in Panama City. Some of the Panama Islands can be reached by sea, but be careful, many ships are smuggling. Taxis are available only in major cities, the price is negotiable, which should be discussed before the start of the trip. To avoid theft and other crimes, it is recommended to use the services of official branded taxis only. The cost of a trip from Tocumen Airport to Panama City is about $20. To rent a car, you will need an international driver’s license and a credit card as a deposit. For safety reasons, do not leave the car unattended, close all doors and windows, and do not leave anything of value inside. Panama is famous for its quality roads, the best in Latin America. From east to west, the Pan-American Highway runs through the country, no less high-quality roads pass from it to the coasts.
