Welcome to Panama With tropical rainforests, turquoise seas and swaying palms fringing idyllic beaches along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, Panama continues to entice travelers of all ages to its shores to explore this Central American gem. Situated at the junction of North and South America Panama is often referred to as the “Crossroads of the Americas.” From the paradise islands of Bocas del Toro to the hustle and bustle of Panama City, there is something to entice travelers of all ages and interests to this eclectic destination.

Know your History Pre history Humans have inhabited Panama for at least 10,000 years. Unlike its Latin America neighbours, there are few physical remains of the past great civilizations, no temple structures or great pyramids hidden away in the jungle. Pottery and sculpture are the only artifacts that remain to tell us the story of the indigenous groups like the Emberá, Kuna, the Ngöbe-Buglé, the Wounaan and Naso. Early artifacts that have been found in Panama are Paleo-Indian projectile points and pottery. The Panamanian culture of the Monagrillo are some of the earliest known pottery makers in America dating to about 2500 - 1700 BC. The Monagrillo were also known for their unique burials dating to c. 500- 900 AD using Gran Coclé style pottery and monolithic sculptures, as can be seen at the Barriles site. Panama was settled by many indigenous groups like the Chibchan, Chocoan and Cueva peoples. After colonization the indigenous people fled into the forest and nearby islands. Many of the local people were believed to have disappeared due to the infectious diseases brought over by the Europeans.

Conquest to 1799 The first European to explore Panama was the Spanish explorer Rodrigo de Bastidas who was searching throughout the region for gold in 1501. The following year Christopher Columbus visited the beautiful Bocas del Toro, and the narrow strip of land separating the Carribean Sea from the Pacific Ocean, known as the Isthmus of Panama and tried to set up a resident colony but failed to do so after facing considerable local resistance. Indeed the resistance of the native communities proved to be the main deterrent for colonisation throughout the early 1500’s. Finally in 1509 the resistance was broken and Panama became part of the Spanish Empire for 300 years from 1538- 1821. Due to its logistical convenience, the country proved to be a key marketplace for gold and silver, with goods being brought in by ship from South America, hauled across the Isthmus of Panama and then loaded onto ships departing for Spain.

Post-Colonial Panama In 1807 Napoleon’s army conquered Spain which ultimately led to the loss of much of it’s colonial treasure. Shortly afterwards, Panama gained independence from Spain in 1821 and joined the province of Colombia. For the next 82 years Panama attempted to secede from Colombia. The largest of these attempts was the Thousand Day’s War of 1899-1902. In 1846 The U.S. contructed a railroad to improve the transport of goods across the isthmus, but it was in 1878 that the French received the first contract to build a canal to allow the passage of ships directly through the continent. The French experienced a number of setbacks from the outset, including the loss of over 22,000 workers from yellow fever and malaria before finally going bankrupt. The U.S. government signed an agreement to purchase the French concessions in 1903, despite strict opposition from the

Colombia government. This disagreement led to Panama gaining its independence from Colombia in 1903, however this was not officially recognised until 1921 when the U.S. government paid the Colombian government $25 million in ‘compensation.’ The U.S. completed construction of the Panama Canal and had its first ship sail through the channel in 1914.

Rise and Fall of Government General Omar Torrijos came to power in 1968 and as head of state succeeded in running the country into great debt through failed public work programmes, despite having taken control of the Panama Canal from the U.S. government. Torrijos was killed in a plane crash in 1981. Two years later Colonel Manuel Antonio Noriega made himself de facto ruler of Panama. Noriega was reported to be a former CIA operative and created a military dictatorship throughout the country, using forms of torture, exile and illegal drug trafficking throughout his rein. Noriega was involved in the coup that deposed of the then president of Panama and appointed a new president who was more sympathetic to his cause. The U.S. President Ronald Reagan began sanctions against Noriega’s military regime. The U.S. government froze economic and military assistance to Panama in 1987. In 1989 Noriega ordered the killing of an unarmed U.S. marine that escalated into a military conflict that led to more than 2,000 civilians dead, tens of thousands homeless and destroyed entire tracts of Panama City. The leader claimed asylum with the Vatican embassy and has since been incarcerated in various prisons around the world.

Modern Times In 1999 the U.S. formally handed control of the Canal back to Panama. More recently, Martin Torrijos Herrera, son of the former dictator Omar Torrijos won the presidential election in 2004. The country approved a plan to expand the Panama Canal in 2006 which is expected to be completed by 2015. Ricardo Martinelli is currently the president and has had a period of rapid economic growth within the country.

Money Talks Exports Panama’s key exports include bananas, sugar, coffee, shrimp, clothing, drinks, textiles and manufacturing aircraft parts. A significant portion of the country’s GCP comes from the Panama Canal tolls. Due to the location of Panama it’s economy has a well-developed service sector in banking, trading and tourism.

Currency Panama uses the U.S. dollar as its currency, called the Balboa (PAB) locally, however it does mint its own coins, having the same value and size as US coins. Businesses do not always break US$50 and US$100 and when they do they may require you to show your passport.

Get Culture Savvy The culture of Panama is a unique mix of European, Caribbean and African customs blended with that of the native indigenous Americans. Music, art and traditions have been affected by the ethnic groups creating a culture unlike anywhere else. The indigenous population is only around 8% of the total population. There are 7 distinct groups throughout the country which are the Kuna, Embera, Waounan, Ngobe, Bugle, Nassau and Terribe people.

The blended culture of Panama is reflected in traditional goods like woodcarvings, ceremonial masks and pottery. Woven baskets used to be made for utilitarian purposes but now are mostly produced for the tourist craft market.

Music &Festivals Local cities host their own jazz, blues, salsa, reggae and rock performances of Reggae en Español, Compas, Colombian and Reggaeton styles. Festivals and dances vary depending on the region and give a great glimpse into the local folklore. One style of Spanish dance is called the tamborito which originates from a blend of Spanish and African rhythms, themes and dance moves. Panama City celebrates El desfile de Navidad on December 25th. They create large floats for a parade decorated in Panamanian colors. The celebration includes a Christmas tree, carols and marching bands.

Clothing Pollera is a type of clothing worn by Panamanian women during the El desfile de Navidad. The pollera originated in Spain in the 16th century and became a common style of dress in Panama in the early 1800’s. Polleras started being worn by the women servants and maids but as the years went on the upper class women adopted the dress. Original polleras are ruffled blouses worn off the shoulder, a ruffled skirt with gold buttons that when lifted up looks like a peacock’s tail fan, two matching mota (pom poms) on the front and back, ribbons on the waist line and caberstrillos (five chains of gold) hanging from the neck. The finest pollera can cost up to ten thousand dollars and take almost a year to complete. Men wear traditional clothing consisting of white cotton shirts, trousers and woven straw hats. Mola is the traditional style of blouse worn by the Kuna. Molas are a work of art created by the women of the tribe. They are elaborate embroidered panels of varying color, loosely stitched together, and made using the reverse applique technique.

Food Typical meals usually include game and fish and thick cakes called arepas. Breakfast is often deep–fried corn tortillas with eggs and meat and a cup of Panamanian coffee. Lunch and dinners usually have meat, coconut rice, beans and local fruits and vegetables like squash, plantains and yucca. Sancocho is a stew made of meat and veggies eaten by many non-Indian Panamanians. Empanadas are a popular dish made with corn or flour pastries filled with meat, potatoes and cheese. Carimanola are a delicious item of fried yucca stuffed with meat and boiled eggs. And you can’t forget the tamales which are boiled corn dough, stuffed with meat and served in banana leaves. The Kuna have different traditional foods where they roast and boil bananas in a soup dish with water squeezed through fish, game meat and coconut meat. Most towns also have Chinese restaurants from the days of the railroad when the Chinese came to work in Panama in the 1850’s.

Holidays January 1: New Year's Day January 9: Martyrs' Day (Panama) Carnival's Monday: The Monday before Ash Wednesday

Carnival's Tuesday: The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday Holy Friday: Good Friday - Death of Christ May 1: May Day - Labor Day November 3: Separation Day (from Colombia) November 4: Flag Day November 5: Colon Day November 10: "Primer Grito de Independencia de la Villa de los Santos" The uprising in the Villa de los Santos against Spain November 28: Independence Day (from Spain) December 8: Mothers' Day December 25: Christmas

Learn the Lingo Spanish is the official language of Panama and is spoken by 93% of the population. Many of the citizens speak both English and Spanish or native languages. Many of the Caribbean's speak a lively dialect of English, known as Creole, while indigenous languages are also spoken in some isolated areas. Panamanians speak standard Latin American Spanish, but they, like most other Central American countries over the years, have developed distinct patterns in their language. The accent is considered to be very similar to the Colombian accent, with one of the unique features being a distinctive pronunciation of words beginning with "tr" with a less rough, longer pronunciation than in most Central American countries. Panamanians usually utilise the respectful "usted" form when addressing one another; this is somewhat formal and surprises some Spanish-speaking foreigners when they arrive. Also, when they do use the familiar form, they often use the more polite "vos" rather than "tú", which is used in most other Latin American countries.

Remember: The letters LL together are pronounced as Y The letter J is always pronounces as H The letter V is soft, so pronounce it as B ENGLISH

SPANISH

Greetings

ENGLISH SPANISH Numbers

Hi

Hola

1

Uno

Goodbye

Adios

2

Dos

Pleased to meet you!

Mucho gusto!

3

Très

How are you?

Como estas?

4

Cuatro

Good morning

Buenos días

5

Cinco

Good afternoon

Buenas tardes

6

Seis

Good evening/night

Buenas noches

7

Siete

8

Ocho 9

Nueve

About Yourself My name is...

Me llamo...

10

Diez

I am from England

Soy de Inglaterra

11

Once

I don't speak Spanish

No hablo Español

12

Doce

I don't understand

No entiendo

13

Trece

What's your name?

¿Cómo se llama usted? 14

15

Quince

In the Shop

Catorce

16

Dieciséis

17

Diecisiete

How much does it cost? Cuánto vale?

18

Dieciocho

Please

Por favour

19

Diecinueve

Thank you (very much)

(Muchas) gracias

20

Veinte

Yes

Sí

100

Cien

No

No

500

Quinientos

1000

Mil

I would like.../I want...

Quiero

In the Restaurant Chicken

Pollo

Vegetables

Vegetales

Beef

Res

Meat

Carne

Cheese

Queso

Fish

Pescado

Tomato sauce

Salsa de tomate

Beer

Cerveza

I am a vegetarian

Soy vegetariano

Lay of the Land Panama is the southernmost country of Central America. It shares borders with Colombia to the south and Costa Rica to the north. It is also bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the northeast and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The main feature of the country is the central spine of mountains and hills of the continental divide. The mountain range has different names depending on where in the country you are but can generally be referred to as the Cordillera Central. The isthmus Panama lies on was created 65 million years ago when North and South America joined then split 15 million years later before rejoining again and becoming the Panama we know today.

What's the Weather like?

Panama is a tropical environment with consistently high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. The average temperature is between 24 °C (75.2 °F) and the afternoon maximum 30 °C (86.0 °F). The rainy season is usually from April to December but can vary from seven to nine months in length. October and November have the heaviest rain fall with some days having continuous rain.

Biodiversity Panama's wildlife holds the most diversity of all the countries in Central America due to it bridging the gap between two landmasses that have their own unique species. The biodiversity in Panama numbers 218 mammal species, 226 reptile species, 164 amphibian species, and 125 animals found nowhere else in the world. Panama has the largest recorded number of avian species in Central America at 940, and comes highly recommended by ornothologists with the opportunity to see Harpy eagles, toucans, hummingbirds, macaws, Quetzals, tanager and raptors. The Harpy eagle is the national bird, weighs up to 20 pounds and can carry off howler monkeys, capuchins, sloths and even anteaters. Mammals like the jaguar, puma, ocelot and many primate species such as the Geoffroy’s tamarin are only found in Panama. Reefs have everything from tropical fish to humpback whales, reef sharks, bottlenose dolphins, killer whales and five of the seven varieties of sea turtles.

Good Books Lonely Planet Guidebook to Panama. Carolyn McCarthy. ISBN-13: 9781741791549 (2010) Healthy Travel: Central and South America (Lonely Planet Healthy Travel). Isabelle Young. Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781864500530 (2000) Lonely Planet Latin America Spanish Phrasebook. Roberto Esposto. ISBN-13: 9781742201870 (2012) The Rough Guide to Panama. Sara Humphreys. ISBN-13: 9781848361928. (2010) Lonely Planet Watching Wildlife Central America. David Andrew &Luke Hunter. ISBN-13: 9781864500349. (2002)

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