Population: 3 million - Capital city: Panama City (pop. 450,000)
- Time difference: -5 hours GMT
- Language: Spanish
Panama is most famous for its canal, one of the great engineering feats of the 20th century. Less well-known is the fact that the country is host to some magnificent natural scenery, including some of the most pristine areas of rainforest in the world.
This in turn is home to a diverse wildlife population, with over 940 recorded endemic bird species and 125 animal species found nowhere else on the planet.
The developing tourist industry is concentrating on the limitless possibilities for eco-tourism. Lodges are being established to rival those in neighbouring Costa Rica where the infrastructure is long-established.
Although not well known for its beaches, Panama has almost 3,000km of beautiful coastline. The coral reefs and unspoilt sands are as gorgeous as any of the more celebrated beaches in the region. These are located both on the Caribbean in the north and on the Pacific in the south.
Although currently little visited by tourists, Panama is a friendly and welcoming country with an eclectic mix of cultures from Europe, Africa, China, India and the West Indies.