Panama is a beautiful country rich with culture and history. Officially called the Rebulic of Panama, Panama is the most industralized country in Central America. However, Panama also has the lowest population in Central America. Panama is home to over 10, 000 different species of plants including 1,200 varities of orchids, 678 differnt ferns and more than 1,500 types of trees. Panama is home to more birds than the United States and Canada combined and because of the diverse climate many South America species thrive here as well. At its narrowest distance, only 80 kilometers of land, separate the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Panama has 5,637 kilometers of coastline and more than 1,518 islands. Survivor was filmed in the Pearl Islands just off the Pacific Cost of Panama three seperate times. Panama is the only place in the world, where you can see the sun rise in the Pacific and set in the Atlantic. Panama elected its first female President in 1999 as Mireya Moscoso. The Panama Railroad was the most expensive railroad ever built, as it cost 8 million dollars and took 5 years to build and more than 12000 people died during construction. Most retirees are real estate owners and buyers in Panama and thus, Panama in considered as one of the best locations in the world to retire. Boquete is considered to be one of the best destinations to retire in Panama. Panama was also named the number one tourist destination of 2012 by the New York Times. If material originally excavated to build the Canal were put on to a train of flat cars, it would encircle the world four times. And more than 60,000,000 pounds of dynamite was used to excavate and construct the Panama Canal. There 480 rivers in Panama and 3 lakes.
Panama has a little something to offer everyone: beautiful mountainous terrain and vast sandy beaches, lush jungles and crystal clear Caribbean waters. A trip to Panama isn’t complete without soaking up rich historical culture in Casco Viejo and practicing your Spanish. Visit us here at the Casco Antiguo Spanish School, participate in one of our walking tours of Casco and practice your Spanish here in Panama.