Panama usually refers to as the Bridge of the Americas, this little parcel of land that fits right in between of the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. Home of many locals and adopted by many foreigners, which we call “Crisol de Razas”, because the abundance of different ethnicities that compose the core of its populations, the aboriginals, the afro-descendants, the mulattoes among others that later came to this land looking for better opportunities and established their homes.
At the same time its natural attributes are to envy, between chain of mountains, hills, breath taking waterfalls, and rain forest. The different species of wildlife that can be observed along the coasts and even in Panama City, different bird types, butterflies, wild cats, amphibians and many more, its flora and fauna is as diverse as its population. It is worth mentioning during certain seasons of the year, Panama welcome on its oceans and shores the migrations of different mammals, birds, and whales that also come to mate in different regions of the country.
Historically, Panama is what you could consider a Pioneer in a certain way, if that can be said for a country. Since its origin it has been used as a passage by land from one ocean to the other, allowing world travellers to shorten their journeys by a few weeks or a few months, as a former Spanish colony, it was also used not only as a place to dig for Gold and silver, but also to allow Spaniard to bring gold, silver and other important items from other countries but also to take them to Spain through the Dry Canal, which later helped determined the path and built the water bridge or as it is known today the Panama canal.
Panama might be small in land superficies and its entire population is less than a city in the States of Florida, such as Miami, however it’s a great country, the warmth of its people, how welcoming they are and the friend you can find in each and every of its citizens makes its one of the most beautiful places on earth, like the Panamanians say “we are big at heart”.
To most people, Panama is just the canal, that could not be further from the truth, besides of its people as its greatest assets, this tropical land from South to North is limited by the pacific and Atlantic Ocean and from East to West is limited by two countries and in between, you have many areas that are not known to the typical tourists, some destinations and attractions are located in less than an hour from Panama city, in the capital there are national parks that can easily be visited to observe many beautiful animals, butterflies, see the leaves cutter ants at work, monkeys, sloths, deers, and much more, a zoo located 45 minutes away from its metropolitan area, within the Soberania national is also a great attraction that was also home of the bird of Panama.
The Ancon hill with a very historical value right in the city center, that offers a great view from the height of the city amenities. The fish market right, by the Pacific Ocean and the former colonial town, gives visitors the chance for their palates to appreciate part of Panama finest dishes prepared by locals.
Anton Valley or El Valle de Anton, the old crater, locate a 1 hour and 45 minutes away from the city, with its beautiful landscapes, mountain views, waterfalls, the famous sleeping Indian mountain, the hot spring and the zoo are a few amongst the satisfying attractions of the site, the temperature is always nice and cozy. Campana, located about an hour away from Panama City, has also a national park and it offers a tremendous view over the Pacific Ocean, while you up the hills, one of the greatest places to see the sunset and sunrise.
