03/26/2025
15 Interesting Facts about Panama 🇵🇦 Panama isn’t IN the Caribbean but it does border the Caribbean Sea. It’s located in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica.
1. Panama is home to the famous Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and significantly reduces the time it takes for ships to travel between the two oceans, revolutionizing global trade.
2. The country boasts one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, with diverse ecosystems that include rainforests, mountains, and coastal areas, making it a hotspot for ecotourism.
3. Panama has no army. In 1990, the country abolished its military, focusing instead on civilian defense and law enforcement, making it one of the few countries without a standing army.
4. The official currency in Panama is the Balboa, but the U.S. dollar is also widely accepted, and both are used interchangeably in daily transactions.
5. Panama is the only place on Earth where you can watch the sunrise on the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic Ocean due to its unique geography.
6. The country’s national flower is the "Flor de Vida" (flower of life), which is a species of orchid native to Panama and symbolizes the beauty and diversity of the nation's natural environment.
7. Panama is famous for its indigenous cultures, with several groups still residing in remote regions, such as the Guna, Ngäbe-Buglé, and Emberá tribes, who maintain traditional lifestyles and cultural practices.
8. The country is known for producing some of the finest coffee in the world, particularly the Geisha coffee, which is prized for its unique flavor and high quality.
9. Panama is a key player in the global shipping industry due to the Panama Canal, and the country has one of the most modern and efficient ports in Latin America, particularly in Colón and Balboa.
10. The "Panama Hat," traditionally made from the toquilla palm, is actually from Ecuador, but it became popular in Panama and was famously worn by Theodore Roosevelt during the construction of the Panama Canal.
11. The country's national bird is the Harpy eagle, one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world, which can be found in Panama's rainforests.
12. Panama’s capital, Panama City, is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the Pacific Coast of the Americas, founded in 1519 by the Spanish conquistadors.
13. The country celebrates Carnival with colorful parades, music, dancing, and festivals, especially in the city of Las Tablas, where it is one of the most famous Carnival celebrations in Latin America.
14. Panama is one of the few places where you can find both tropical rainforests and a desert region, which is home to several unique plant and animal species.
15. The country has a growing tech industry and is known for its startup ecosystem, particularly in fintech, as a result of its strategic location and ease of doing business.
Source: Planet Earth page
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