Panama Overview

Fast Facts

Capital: Panama City

Currency: Panamanian Balboa (PAB) US Dollar (USD)

Language: Spanish (official), English is also widely spoken

Religion: Roman Catholic 85% Protestant 15%

Electricity: 120V/60Hz

Calling Code: +507

Time Zone: UTC-5

Emergencies: Police: 104, Fire: 103

Location: Panama forms the land link between the North and South American continents. It borders Colombia to the east, Costa Rica to the west, and the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean to the north and south. The country forms an S-shaped isthmus, which runs east–west over a total length of 772km (480 miles) and is 60 to 177km (37 to 110 miles) wide.

Local Transport: The only way to go to and from Panama is by plane, car or bus. There is an excellent bus service between Costa Rica and Panama. To go to South America, the only way is to take a plane. There is no boat service to Columbia. If you have a car, it can be shipped to a Latin American port.

When to go & Weather: When to go to Panama, largely depends on what you plan to do their. Panama’s tourist season is during the dry season from mid-December to mid-April. This is true for the Pacific slope, but the Caribbean side can get rain throughout the year. The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season, when the humidity makes the heat oppressive. If you’ll be doing any long, strenuous hiking, the dry season is the most comfortable time.