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Even before the construction of its famous canal, Panamá 's strategic location at the wasp waist of the Americas
and at the meeting place of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans made it one of the great crossroads of the world. A narrow,
S-shaped isthmus that stretches some 750km between Costa Rica and Colombia, Panamá remains a vital thoroughfare
of international commerce, but is rarely visited by travellers. In part this is because the land bridge to South America, the
Darién Gap, remains virtually impassable; in part because the use of the US dollar and the relatively high level of economic
development make it a more expensive country to visit than other places in the region. But above all it seems that Panamá
suffers from a serious image problem. Although the last US troops have now left Panamá and the canal is in Panamanian
hands, to most outsiders the country remains a virtual colony of the US, artificially created in order to facilitate construction
of the canal, while its culture is seen as a desperately compromised imitation of North America: urbanized, anglicized and
Coca-colonized. Yet while it is true that no other country in Central America has been so dominated by the US - Panamá
owes its very existence to US intervention - in fact the North American cultural influence, though strong, is but one among
many. Spanish, African, West Indian, Chinese, Indian, European - all have contributed to a compelling cultural mix , creating
perhaps the most cosmopolitan, open-minded and outward-looking society in Central America. At the same time, it is also
home to some of the most unassimilated and culturally fascinating indigenous societies in Central America - within 30km of
the high-rise banking district of Panamá City, for example, the indigenous Emberá still practise subsistence agriculture in the
rainforest and hunt for their supper with blowpipes.
Most travellers who make it down to Panamá are surprised by its outstanding natural beauty . With 1600km of coastline on the
Pacific and 1280km on the Caribbean side, Panamá boasts unspoiled beaches and coral reefs to match any in the region. And
although it is Costa Rica that has achieved world renown as an ecotourism destination, in terms of pristine wilderness and
ecological diversity Panamá has little reason to envy its neighbour. A biological bridge between continents, Panamá supports
an astounding biodiversity, including over nine hundred species of bird, more than in the whole of North America. Over half the
country is still covered by dense tropical rainforest, and large areas are protected by a system of national parks and nature
reserves.
Although the government is keen to promote international tourism, for the moment Panamá remains one of the best-kept
travellers' secrets in Central America. Of course, this means that in comparison to, say, Costa Rica, the infrastructure for
visiting the protected wilderness areas is much more limited. But while this may put some people off, for others it simply adds
to the sense of adventure - visitors to Panamá's national parks are unlikely to have to share them with more than a handful of
other people. Moreover, wherever you travel in Panamá, the absence of a travellers' "scene" means you will be forced into much
more direct contact with local people, an experience which, given the natural warmth and open-mindedness of most Panamanians
and the fact that they have not yet become jaded with foreigners due to the impact of mass tourism, is undoubtedly one of the
most rewarding aspects of any visit to this underrated and misunderstood country.
Read the full travel guide about travelling to Panama here
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