Travel guide Panama

Air-conditioning is present in most public places in town, and while it's certainly appreciable in these hot weather conditions, it's all too often set (or not set) to maximum. So don't forget your sweater before a movie or a long trip on one of these "refrigerated" buses(nevera), as some are nicknamed!

A much-anticipated event, Carnival is celebrated with the greatest fervor. Four days where everything comes to a standstill (vacations are imposed), except the binge! Parades, queen elections, hosing down the crowds... You can quench your thirst with beer or seco... The most popular and craziest carnival is Las Tablas, on the Azuero peninsula.

In the ^mid-19th century, a large Chinese community arrived for the construction of the railroad line linking Panamá and Colón. Today, their descendants run most of the laundries, popular restaurants and, above all, grocery stores - over 99% of them! In fact, el chino means "the grocery store" in everyday language.

With their colorful graffiti, their backfiring exhaust pipes and their mega horns, the "red devils" are the law in the capital! Don't venture to cross the street if you see one coming from afar! Their name would come from the nickname given to some national guardsmen who wore a red beret under the dictatorship of Noriega..

This small lizard of less than 5 cm is frequent in Panama. If you don't see it, you will surely hear it at night in your hotel room. It hides in all the corners and emits a small noise (toc toc) which will accompany you throughout your trip. Don't be afraid of it, it only attacks small insects, such as mosquitoes.

Panama's most famous coffee is the most expensive in the world. Over $800 a pound for the best beans! The volcanic highlands of Chiriqui produce an arabica with unique aromas. But it's not so sure you'll appreciate this famous Geisha, which is more suited to tea lovers, since its taste is very similar.

These gigantic shopping malls are all the rage in Panama. Consumer paradises that you either love or hate. Modern and air-conditioned, they attract many Latin American tourists for their brand names and low prices, and often represent an oasis of coolness for the locals in the midst of the tropical humidity.

The country's most emblematic piece of handicraft, immediately evocative of the world of San Blas and the Gunas Indians. The mola that covers the blouses of indigenous women is made up of several layers of colored fabric interwoven using the appliqué-inverted technique to form original patterns. Genuine works of art!

Through its flag of convenience, Panama has the largest merchant marine fleet in the world! Since 1925, any ship can apply for a Panamanian registration and thus benefit from a very flexible social and maritime legislation, tax exemptions and an anonymity dear to the unscrupulous shipowners...

The hat commonly called "panama" is not native to the isthmus, but to Ecuador. The name given to the Ecuadorian hat comes from the expression "panama hat" used by the Americans to designate the hats worn at the beginning of the last century by the workers and engineers of the canal, many of whom were from Ecuador.

Name given to ships that were allowed to use the Panama Canal before its enlargement. The "post-panamax" or "neo-panamax" - with up to 14,000 containers - that pass through the new Agua Clara and Cocoli locks sometimes have only a few centimetres of clearance on each side when they pass through the locks.

This term, which encompasses a way of life, cuisine, music, dance and traditional costumes, refers to a great deal of regional pride and authenticity. The carnival and several festivals pay tribute to this "typically" Panamanian folklore, originating from the central provinces commonly known as El Interior.