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COUNTRY INFORMATION - PANAMA

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Location Of Panama:
Panama forms the land link between the North and South American continents. Panama borders Colombia to the east, Costa Rica to the west, and the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean to the north and south. The country forms an S-shaped isthmus, which runs east–west over a total length of 480 miles and is 37-110 miles wide. The landscape is mountainous with lowlands on both coastlines cut by streams, wooded slopes and a wide area of savannah-covered plains and rolling hills called El Interior between the Azuero peninsula and the Central Mountains. The Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean are linked by the man-made Panama Canal, cut into a gap between the Cordillera de Talamanca and the San Blas mountain range and stretching for over 40 miles. The length of the Canal is often referred to as 50 miles as this is the distance between deep-water points of entry.

Airports:
Panama City international airport is 17 miles north-east of the city and the travel time is around 30-60 minutes. Buses and taxis go to the city.

Language:
The official language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken.

Places To Go:
The capital is a curious blend of old Spain, modern America and the bazaar atmosphere of the East. In the old part of the city with its narrow, cobble stoned streets and colonial buildings, most of the interesting sights are to be found. These include the Plaza de Francia, the Court of Justice Building, the Paseo de las Bóvedas along the massive stonewall, San José Church with its magnificent golden Baroque altar and the Santo Domingo Church, next to which is the Museum of Colonial Religious Art. UNESCO as a World Heritage Site lists the old historic city with the Salón Bolivar. Overlooking the bay is the President’s Palace, the most impressive building in the city. Further along the waterfront is the colourful public market. The most interesting museum in town is the Museum of the Panamanian Man north of the market and near the shopping centres. A worthwhile excursion from the city is a visit to Panamá Viejo and its ruins including the square tower of the old cathedral, 4 miles away. This is the original Panama City, which & #8211; like Fort San Lorenzo & #8211; was, in 1671, sacked and looted by Henry Morgan. The Panama Canal, to the west of the city, is Panama’s main tourist attraction and naturally draws many visitors. Recommended is a train or bus ride alongside or a boat trip on the Canal & #8211; the scenery is beautiful, and the mechanics of the Canal equally fascinating. There is a new Panama Canal Museum in the Casco Viejo area. The Canal was opened in 1914, and an average transit takes eight hours to complete. On December 31 1999, Panama took over full control of the canal from the USA. Some 30 miles north-west of the capital lies Barro Colorado, the largest island in Gatun Lake, a man-made stretch of water created during the construction of the Panama Canal (and one of the world’s largest artificial lakes). The island is a biological reserve managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and reputed to be one of the world’s leading natural tropical laboratories. Day trips to the island from Panama City take visitors to the small town of Gamboa from where special tours (either on foot or by boat) can be arranged.

Instituto Panameño de Turismo (IPAT) (Institute of Tourism)
Apartado 4421,
Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA,
Vía Israel,
Republic of Panamá
Tel: 226 7000.
Fax: 226 6856.
E-mail: ggral@ns.ipat.gob.pa (general) or infotur@ns.ipat.gob.pa
Website: www.ipat.gob.paor www.visitpanama.com

Consulate of the Republic of Panamá
Panama House,
40 Hertford Street,
London
W1J 7SH,
UK
Tel: (020) 7409 2255.
Fax: (020) 7493 4499.
E-mail: panama@panaconsul.co.uk
Website: www.panaconsul.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1730.

Embassy of the Republic of Panamá
40 Hertford Street,
London
W1J 7SH,
UK
Tel: (020) 7493 4646.
Fax: (020) 7493 4333.
E-mail: panama1@btconnect.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1030-1700.

British Embassy
Calle 53,
Urbanización Marbella,
Swiss Tower,
4th floor,
PO Box 889,
Panamá 1,
Republic of Panamá
Tel: 269 0866.
Fax: 223 0730.
E-mail: britemb@cwpanama.net

CIA World Factbook - Panama

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