 While Panama is most famous for its canal, the country is one of the greatest undiscovered destinations in the Americas. The minimally developed and well-preserved natural scenery is some of the best in Central America, offering an uncrowded and inexpensive experience for intrepid travellers. Often overshadowed by neighbouring Costa Rica, Panama has some of the finest birding, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing in the region. If you love the outdoors, and want to be the first on your block to visit an untapped ecotourism destination, then Panama is perfect for you.
Most visitors arrive by plane at the country’s main airport just outside the capital, Panama City. With its diverse range of natural environments, where you go in Panama depends on what you feel like doing. Being an isthmus, the country has miles and miles of gorgeous coastline dotted with undiscovered sandy beaches. All that clear, warm tropical water means activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and sea-kayaking are excellent. Not many countries can boast of having the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean within two hours of each other.
 But the sea and sand aren’t the only things going for Panama. The isthmus is separated by a beautiful highlands region, packed with volcanoes, rivers, waterfalls, coffee plantations and quaint towns. The cool refreshing mountain weather is always Eden-like no matter how hot it gets down in the lowlands. Here you can trek around dormant volcanoes, kayak some of the best water in Central American and drink a cup of stellar Panama coffee from Boquete. It’s an adventurer’s paradise, no matter what your level. For the truly hardcore, you can explore the Darien Gap, one of the last truly wild places on earth. With a guide, you will see wildlife, birds and natural scenery only a few people will ever experience.
There is a wide range of accommodation available ranging from guest houses to top-class hotels. Regardless of whether you are a family, a single person on business or you are looking for extreme luxury, you will find undoubtedly find something suitable in Panama.
With its abundance of fresh produce and seafood, Panama offers excellent dining opportunities all around the country. Most visitors don’t come here for the nightlife, the depth of cultural institutions or a sophisticated urban environment. They come to Panama for the natural beauty, dearth of outdoor activity, and the welcoming people who call this slender little slice of paradise home.
Weather
 Panama is a country of two seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season runs from January until mid-April and the rainy season lasts from May until December. Regardless of the month however, the country’s tropical climate is wonderfully pleasant, with a yearly average temperature of 27°C. The dry season brings refreshing trade winds to cool things off and even in the rainy season it’s rare if the sun doesn’t appear at least once during the day.
The local geography of Panama also plays a big role in determining the regional weather. Rainfall is heavier on the Caribbean side of the highlands that separate the isthmus than the Pacific side, where most people live. Elevation is also a major factor in the temperature. The lowland areas of Panama are fairly hot throughout the year, averaging around 32°C during the daytime, but dropping down to about 22°C at night. Mountain areas experience much cooler temperatures, ranging between 10-18°C during the day, making them the most pleasant parts of the country. It’s wise to bring mainly lightweight clothing along with a few warmer items if you plan to visit the mountains. Raingear is important as well, especially if you come during the rainy season.
History
 Before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama was inhabited by the Cocle and Cuevas cultures for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the indigenous tribes were decimated by disease and the sword. After many exploratory ventures, the Spanish established their first permanent settlement on the Caribbean coast in 1510, which they named Nombre de Dios. The Spanish used the Pacific coast of Panama as a launching point for invasions of Peru, where they stole vast amounts of Inca gold. As they transported the wealth overland from the Pacific port of Panama City to Nombre de Dios, local pirates caught wind of the activity and began to attack the convoys. By the 18th century, the Caribbean was so dangerous and pirate-infested that Spanish ships started to bypass Panama altogether and sail directly from Peru around Cape Horn to reach Europe.
As Spanish influence waned across the globe, Panama fell into decline and became a province of Colombia when this new nation received its independence in 1821. Panama’s independent future really began to evolve in 1846, when Colombia allowed the United States to build a railway across the isthmus and defend it with military force. This opened the door to the idea of a canal, which had been considered as early as the 16th century. The French were the first to attempt to build one in 1880, but it was a dismal failure, with 22,000 workers dying from yellow fever and malaria. The whole operation went bankrupt.
 The French sold the rights to build a canal across the isthmus to the United States, despite serious objections by the Colombian government. When the economic and strategic interests of the US momentarily coincided with those of Panama’s revolutionaries, a coup occurred. With the overt support of the US, the revolutionary junta declared Panama independent on 3 November 1903.
The Panama Canal Zone was completed in 1914 and became an American Protectorate. The country remained under American protection until 1939, when the US relinquished control to the local government. Panama was relatively stable until a military coup in 1968 saw General Herrera take over the country. He remained in power until his death in a plane crash in 1981. During the rest of the 1980s, Panama was run by General Noriega, who attracted the attention of the US with his involvement in drug trafficking. The US tried its standard brand of foreign diplomacy by backing local coups and supporting democratic elections, but Noriega proved difficult to uproot. In 1989, US President Bush invaded Panama, took control of the country and arrested Noriega.
In 1999, the most important event of Panama’s recent history occurred when the US returned the Panama Canal Zone. Also groundbreaking was the fact that the event was overseen by Panama’s first female president, Elisa Rodriguez. And so Panama continues its evolution into the 21st century as a strategic bridge between North and South America, the Caribbean and the Pacific, and as an up-and-coming tourist hotspot.
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