Panama

Capital City: Panama City

People: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Religion: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Language: Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual

Currency: Panamanian Balboa, US Dollar

Electrical Voltage:
How to get there:

By plane: International flights arrive at Tocumen International Airport, which lies about 20 miles east of Panama City.

By car: You can drive across at Paso Canoas (Pacific side), but be aware that it is one of the busiest (if not the busiest) and disorganized border crossings in Central America. It is very easy to accidentally drive across the border without realizing it.

By bus: You can't cross from Panama to Colombia by bus--the Darien Gap begins at Yaviza, where the Interamericana runs out.
If you're coming in from Costa Rica, however, things will be a bit easier. There are three possible entry points, the main one being Paso Canoas. Panaline and Ticabus, among others, can get you straight from San Jose, Costa Rica to David or Panama. The trip from San Jose is quite cheap, but takes about 18 hours. If you want to see things in between, you can also go by local buses, although the trip will take much longer.

Weather: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Travel Documentation and Custom Duty:

Getting Around: Taxi, Car Rental, Bus

Tourism Website:
 
Medical Facilities:

Banks:

Emergency Numbers: