Overview
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 constitutes an S-shaped isthmus which runs east–west over a total length of 772km (480 miles) and 60-177km (37-110 miles) wide.

Geography
The landscape is mountainous with lowlands on both coastlines, 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, stretching for over 65km (40 miles); the length of the Canal is often referred to as 80km (50 miles) as this is the distance between deep-water points of entry.

Only about a quarter of the country is inhabited. The majority of the population live either around the Canal and main cities of Panama City and Colón, or in the Pacific lowlands and the adjacent mountains. (40% of the population are concentrated in the two cities which control the entrance and exit of the Canal.)

Climate/Clothing
Panama has two temperatures: hot and really, really hot. If you are looking for sun, the best time to come is around December through to May. The rest of the year is the rainy season.

Panamanians love the sun and hate the rain. When a rainstorm comes, you'll see them hiding in shops or under covers. The rain is WARM and it's always around 90 degrees here.

Humidity is quite bearable in the dry season, but in June and July, it soars until you can taste the water in the air. Many people would drive for 30 minutes when you could walk the same distance in five. If you go outside without the benefit of air conditioning for even 5 minutes, you come back soaked in sweat and breathless.

Temperatures are high across the whole country throughout the year, though cooler at high altitudes. The rainy season lasts from May to November. Rainfall is twice as heavy on the Pacific coast as it is on the lowlands of the Caribbean coast.

Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linen, rainwear advisable, particularly in the rainy season. Warmer clothes for the highlands.

People/Culture
Panama's arts reflect its ethnic mix. Indian tribes, West Indian groups, mestizos, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Swiss, Yugoslav and North American immigrants have all offer contributed ingredients to the cultural stew. Traditional arts include woodcarving, weaving, ceramics and mask-making. Spanish is the official language, though US influence and the international nature of the canal zone reinforce the use of English as a second language. West Indian immigrants also speak Caribbean-accented English. Indian tribes have retained their own languages. Panama is predominantly Roman Catholic, but there are sizable Muslim and Protestant minorities and small numbers of Hindus and Jews.

Entry & Exit Requirements
U.S. citizens are encouraged to obtain a U.S. passport before traveling to Panama. Although entry into Panama is permitted with any proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a certified birth certificate or a naturalization certificate) and official photo identification (such as a driver's license), travelers may experience difficulties entering Panama or leaving Panama to return to the U.S. when not in possession of a valid U.S. passport. Panamanian law requires that travelers must either purchase a tourist card from the airline serving Panama or obtain a visa from a Panamanian embassy or consulate before traveling to Panama.

Health/Travel Advisories
Health risks: Dengue fever, hantavirus (Los Santos province), malaria, rabies and yellow fever

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