City Profile: Panamá City, Panamá Important Information About the City of Panamá

The lively city of Panamá is undeniably Central America’s most sophisticated capital. It is not only an entryway to the natural riches of the country; it is an exciting destination pulsating with energy as well. Being a flourishing international trade, banking and business center, the city of Panamá boasts of giant skyscrapers and contemporary shopping malls, along with steel towers that reminds one of Miami. It is not a surprise therefore that Panamá is sometimes referred to as “Miami of the South,” with the exception that English is spoken a lot more in the American city.

Panamá City is ideally located between a tropical forest called the Metropolitan Nature Park or Parque Natural Metropolitano and the Pacific Ocean. It stretches from Panamá through the Panamá Canal. It is home to the rarest species of birds and various animals. The Marine Exhibitions Center or the Centro de Exhibiciones Marinas in Spanish is located on the canal entrance on its Pacific side. This is a research facility that features a wide variety of marine life and other ecological interests and run by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

The tropical forests that surround Panamá are essential for the Panamá Canal to function, as these supply the water needed for the canal’s operation. Because of how important the canal is to the economy of Panamá, the rainforests surrounding it are maintained to a near perfect state. On the canal’s western side lies the Parque Nacional Soberania that is composed of a zoo and botanical gardens. Here in the park is the Pipeline Road, a popular trail that is a favorite among birdwatchers.

While there is certainly no lack of finer dining establishments and stylish dance clubs in the city, visitors seem to be more frequently drawn towards “Casco Viejo,” which is a decrepit neighborhood with historic structure and cobblestone streets, very similar to that of Old Havana. Casco Viejo has long been abandoned for the more posh neighborhoods of the city, leaving it crumbling for decades. Nevertheless, following a grand reclamation of the once beautiful district in more recent years, Casco Viejo is getting primed up to mesmerize visitors all over again.

Panamá’s architectural diversity could most probably be rivaled only by the city’s cultural diversity. Residents of the area come from various parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, from Asia, as well as Europe and North America. Because of this ethnic assortment of races, the city boasts of a wide range of restaurants catering to the various tastes of its multi-cultural residents. Not very far from the city itself, visitors would be able to discover some very impressive adventure activities, such as hiking along the tropical rainforests, exploring the jungle, or even going on an enjoyable train ride towards Colon.

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Panamá City has a wet and warm tropical climate. It is not able to experience the seasons that are marked by changes of temperature. Rather, the seasons in Panamá are either wet or dry. Dry season in Panamá generally starts around the middle of December, although variations may occur by three to four weeks. During this particular time, strong north-easterly winds or what is referred to as trade winds, start to blow. At this point, there might be a bit of rainfall or none at all for several weeks on end. The temperatures during the day slightly increase to about 30 to 31°C or 86 to 88 °F. At night, the temperature stays constant, at about 22 to 23 °C or 72 to 73 °F. Panamá’s wet season generally starts the first week of May, though it may vary again by one to two weeks. The month of May is frequently the wettest, specifically in the area of the Panamá Canal, which is why there could be a dramatic transition from the dry to the wet seasons. When rains come, the temperatures in the city cools down slightly during daytime, and the trade winds disappear. A daily forecast of the weather in the city of Panamá would not really be too accurate. There is that big chance that the dry season will be sunny and hot from the middle of December until the last part of April, while it could be hot as well as humid with about a 50% chance that thunderstorms could occur in the afternoons during rainy season. There is no short-term forecast of the weather that could be more exact than this.

Most people who visit Panamá City do not seem to encounter any trouble during their stay. Nevertheless, it is best to remember that there is still some risk of crime here. Knowing the safety measures to take while visiting is the best way to make the most out of a great vacation in a great destination. While in Panamá, it is not a very good idea to be carrying around huge amounts of cash and valuables in public places. You must also practice vigilance when it comes to making use of ATM machines while in public areas. Should you be in any of the tourist spots in the city, or even in the main shopping areas, be careful about pickpockets who are waiting for unknowing victims. When taking taxis around the city, it is best to use only the taxis that are operated by registered companies instead of getting one from the streets. This is because there have already been a number of reported incidents regarding assaults that involve cab drivers themselves. Additionally, you should never share a cab with strangers, or allow the cab to take other passengers while you’re in it. There have also been burglaries committed by gangs who deceive people to be able to gain access to properties. Caution is advised. When traveling to the province of Darien, it is advised that visitors do so by air and join a group that is going to recognized tourist areas that are under the security of Panamá police. It is also advised that travelers steer clear of the border with Colombia because this area is quite dangerous. It would be also wise to keep away from the political demonstrations of the city, which are usually held in Panamá University, as well as a main road called Transistmica.

The city is served by the Tocumen International Airport. A regional airport, Marcos A. Gelabert, handles the flights within the country and the Bocas del Toro islands in the Caribbean and the Pearl Islands in the Pacific. The international airport also provides direct flights to Caribbean’s major cities, to South and Central America and the United States.

Panamá could certainly keep visitors busy, what with its various districts that provide so much for people to see, along with architecture rich in history, whether they are in a state of decay or restored beautifully. They are all a delight to the eyes. Additionally, there is great fun and excitement with the stylish bars all over the city, as well as restaurants serving up all types of cuisine. And then of course, there are virgin rainforests, the stunning beaches, and the remarkable Panamá Canal, which make up one of the best destinations to have an unforgettable vacation.

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History of Panamá City

The city of Panamá was established in 1519 by Pedro Arias de Ávila, a Spanish governor, following Balboa’s first sight of the Pacific. This area was given the name Panamá Viejo, which became the launching point of the expeditions starting in 1532 that set out to conquer Peru’s Inca Empire. Its strategic location at the coast of the Pacific Ocean made the old settlement the ideal stopover point of one of the most significant trade routes in the Americas, which carried silver and gold from other countries bound for Spain. This led to the creation of the Portobelo and Nombre de Dios trade fairs.

In spite of the fact that this Spanish settlement became a primary seat of government, as well as a church authority, it was looted and destroyed by Sir Henry Morgan, an English pirate, in 1671. What were left behind were simply remnants of Panamá Viejo.

Three years after, a new settlement was established a few kilometers from Panamá Viejo and that is now referred to as Casco Viejo. Though the peninsular situation of Panamá was supposed to be defended well, the 1746 destruction of Portobelo’s Caribbean port had a heavy impact on the Spanish trade route. The city of Panamá consequently declined in its importance, although it did return to its old prominence during the completion of the Panamá Railroad during the 1850s. This was the time when gold seekers who were going to California swarmed the isthmus via its railways.

Following Panamá’s declaration of independence on the 3rd of November in 1903 from Colombia, the city was securely established as the nation’s new capital. Since the completion of Panamá Canal in 1914, Panamá has risen as an international business center.

In 1989, the city experienced another setback when the U.S. invaded the city to oust then dictator, Manuel Noriega. Panamá suffered significant damage, not only from the U.S. invasions, but also from the looting that was done subsequently. Apart from these, a good number of residential blocks in the district of El Chorillo were destroyed from fires caused by the combat.

At present, the city of Panamá is considered to be Central America’s wealthiest city, and its residents have total optimism as to the future, and rightfully so. After the Canal was handed over in 1999, along with the ensuing closure of the U.S. military bases, the city is in control of its future. Additionally, a flurry of foreign investors, and the current referendum aiming to work on the expansion of Panamá Canal, signifies that Panamá City will most likely carry on with its remarkable progress.

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Demographics of Panamá City

Census figures from the May 2010 census reveal that the country of Panamá has a total population of 3.406 million, with the city of Panamá having the largest number of residents at 880,691. Its metropolitan region is home to about 1.3 million residents. Given that the total city land area is only 275 square kilometers or about 106 square miles, each square kilometer is tightly packed with residents, at 2,750 people per kilometer or 7,656 residents for each square mile.

The elite urbanites are mainly Creole, most of which are of Spanish ancestry. Apart from these, there are also those of Italian, Jewish and Greek descent. A Chinese community has been present in the city for a long time, as well as a small community of Hindus. The largest group, demographically, are called “interioranos” or “interior people,” classified as the Hispano-Indians. They are mostly mestizo, a mixture of Native American and European, whose members believe that they are the true Panamanians.

A large part of the population belongs to American Indian racial groups composed of Guaymi, Kuna, Waunan, and Embera. Fifteen percent of Panamá’s population are composed of people who are of African ancestry, descendants of slaves imported during the colonial times. These people are Roman Catholic and Spanish-speaking. There is also the group of Afro-Antilleans, who are descendants of the Caribbean people who helped in building the Panamá Canal. Most of them are Protestants, and speak French and English, as well as a kind of English idiom that they often use when they are at home. Although Spanish is Panamá’s official language, English is the city’s second language and used in business communication particularly those businesses that are related to banking and tourism.

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Economy of Panamá City

The city is the administrative and political arena of the country. Panama City’s economy relies heavily on the service sector, given that the city is the commerce and international banking hub. Tourism, banking as well as commerce are the top industries in the city although its economy is also reliant on shipping and trading activities due to the Panamá Canal and neighboring Balboa’s port facilities. The city is a major financial hub, with 80 banks in operation and based in the city, 15 of which are national Panamanian banks.

Tourism plays a very big role in the stability of the city’s economy, competing with Dubai and Perth in Australia in terms of tourism revenues. Panamá City is a major stopover for many travelers headed to other parts of Panama, the Caribbean and Latin America. It stands to benefit some more with the expansion projects on Panamá Canal in the coming years and the building new hotels owned by international brands, including the first major investment of Trump Organization within Latin America when the Trump Ocean Club is finished.

The city has also been chosen as one of world’s five most ideal places for retirement according to International Living magazine. Due to this, real estate investment is on the rise. Fifty-five percent of the GDP of Panamá comes from the city’s contribution, with a city garnering a GDP per capita to $11,700.

The city is agog with its construction boom. A former U.S. military base is fast turning into Panamá Pacifico, an industrial park as well as a corporate and residential center. Dell has started a call center operation in the city, so too, Caterpillar, a heavy equipment manufacturing company.

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Panamá City Attractions

The city of Panamá is a great destination for travelers all over the world because of the diversity of places to see here, and the endless things to do. Whether one is fascinated by birds, interested in history, or passionate about either food or fashion, there will surely be something for anyone to fall in love with. Because of the heavy presence of Americans in Panamá, a lot of the residents understand and speak English quite well, which is why things are a lot easier for tourists who cannot speak Spanish fluently. Many of the city’s attractions call visitors from far and near, a unique experience to relive. One of these famous attractions is the Panamá Canal. It would be extremely difficult to understand either the city’s past or present if people do not know about the world-renowned Panamá Canal. By visiting the Miraflores Visitors Center, you could see how important and historical this canal is for the people of Panamá. The center showcases permanent exhibits that are directed towards the conservation of water, biodiversity, the technology of the canal, and why the canal is important for international trade.

Just outside the city is the Amador Causeway that was once home to an Army base of the United States, and has become a most desirable area for tourists in Panamá. The Causeway connects the tiny islands of Naos, Flamenco, Culebra and Perico to the mainland. Whether tourists or the locals, the Causeway boasts of a great potential for tourism, what with so many big projects completed and a lot more being planned out for years to come. The Causeway offers visitors magnificent views of the city of Panamá, as well as the Bridge of the Americas. Here, you could watch a good number of vessels, either entering or leaving the Canal the whole day as they pass underneath the Bridge of the Americas. It has excellent paths for walking, bicycling, jogging and skating. It already has a marina, shopping and restaurant plaza, cruise port, hotels and convention centers. One of the installations to visit at the Causeway is the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on the island of Culebra. Promising to be a stunning, ultra-modern building at the Causeway is the Biomuseum. This natural history and science museum is designed by Frank Gehry, an acclaimed Pritzker Prize winning architect from the United States.

Check out Ancon Hill, a hill that overlooks the city of Panamá. This hill stands at 650 feet, with the upward road, a popular jogging and hiking spot among locals and visitors alike. The residence of the Governor of the Panamá Canal is located higher up the hill. The upward road is a favorite site for locals and visitors as it is possible to encounter deer, Geoffroy’s tamarins, sloths, nine-banded armadillos and white-nosed coati and different species of birds as they walk or jog. Along the path are different types of vegetation including orchids. Ancon Hill also offers a beautiful view not only of the city, but of Panamá Canal, the Panamá Bay, and the Casco Viejo as well.

Casco Viejo is a historic area and Panamá’s cultural gem. This place was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1997 by UNESCO. The area was first founded sometime in 1673 by colonialists from Spain, Catholic Church, as well as different settlers. Casco Viejo was among the wealthiest and the most thickly populated neighborhoods within the Americas. However, the 1950s saw the area experiencing years and years of neglect. Visitors could stroll around the streets that are occupied by buildings, which were homes, government buildings and churches. Restoration to the place is being focused on and at present, Casco Viejo houses museums, charming shops, and gourmet restaurants, together with posh residences. While here do not forget to pass by the Las Bóvedas. These are arched chambers along the fortified walls at Plaza Francia. The former dungeons have been restored and renovated and transformed into a French restaurant with the same name. Near it is the Instituto Nacional de Cultura.

Experience elegance and beauty strolling around Balboa Avenue, where the alleyways and streets simply exude a certain sophistication that lures tourists to visit. Its landscape stretches out starting from Casco Viejo’s entryway, past the statue of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, through the district of Marbella, and ends up at the district of Punta Paitilla. Balboa Avenue is considered to be among the most beautiful attractions in Panamá, what with its wonderful blend of historical monuments and the most contemporary city centers. Apart from this, it offers a panoramic view of Panamá Bay and Casco Viejo, with the beautiful Panamá skyline. Great malls, restaurants, parks and hotels are available for the convenience of city visitors. At nights, Balboa Avenue could be truly captivating because of the energy of night clubs and bars, offering their own unique type of entertainment.

Panamá Viejo is what remains of the old city settlement that was left to decay when the new settlement of Casco Viejo was established after the pillaging campaign of Sir Henry Morgan. The World Heritage Site was the site of the city that was initially established by Pedro Arias de Ávila.

Also in the city is a museum called the Mi Pueblitos, which displays the country’s different ethnicities. It is located at Cerro Ancon. Artisans around the museum produce different kinds of souvenir items that are suitable gifts to people back home. One of the most impressive ruins In Panamá Viejo is the huge bell tower and the Bishop’s House.

Reminiscent of the Spanish colonial presence in the city is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Panamá in Casco Viejo. It is the same age as the foundation of the old settlement and took 108 years to be finished. Previously left in a sad state of disrepair, the cathedral had been renovated. Its façade had been stone carved and its towers are inlaid in mother-of-pearl, making the towers white and providing contrast to the gray color of the church. The exterior might be quite plain but the inside walls are decorated with some outstanding paintings.

Also in Casco Viejo is walled plaza. The French contingent that worked, some of whom perished during the construction of the Panamá Canal were honored with an obelisk at the walled Plaza de la Francia, where the baby-blue colored French Embassy is located. A statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps and other French lieutenants stand at the plaza, looking at their embassy. The plaza also contains the bust of Dr. Carlos Finlay, a Cuban doctor who discovered that the yellow fever caught by the French contingent working on the canal was caused by mosquito bite. The statue of one of the founding fathers and former president of Panamá, Pablo Arosemena is also in the plaza.

Panamá is also a paradise for people who love beaches and islands. It also has over 1,000 islands with 2 coasts. It is possible to go Pacific Ocean surfing in the early hours of the day, and go bathing on the Atlantic Ocean on that day as well. The Pacific Coast that lies just outside of the city has the prettiest beaches, and waters of a beautiful sapphire blue. The Panamá Riviera, which is just about one and a half hours from the city, is the ideal area to go on either day trips or overnight stays. The climate here is close to perfect and visitors can enjoy a game of golf or go surfing. The Panamá Riviera is also fast becoming an ideal retirement place.

Twenty minutes by plane from the city of Panamá is the Archipelago De San Blás, a group of 378 islands, which are home to the Kuna population. This is the area where you will be able to see the authentic Molas, the gorgeous fabrics woven by the Native Indians in every color imaginable. Tourists are able to see what a real Kuna village is like, go snorkeling in waters that are so blue, laze around on the beaches of white sand, or discover the beautiful flora and other creatures of the island.

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Culture of Panamá City

The city of Panamá is historically rich. Two areas in the city have been declared as World Heritage Sites – Panamá Viejo and Casco Antiguo or Casco Viejo. The former is what remains of the initial city the Pedro Arias de Ávila founded in 1519. Although left to decay due to years of neglect after it was ransacked by Welsh Pirate Morgan, it is now receiving much needed attention due to its inclusion in the list and drawing huge crowds of tourists. It was the first settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas for the Europeans and much of the city’s original pattern of its street had remained intact.

On the other hand, Casco Viejo has mixture of architectural styles in its buildings, showing samples of French, Republican, Caribbean, Colonial and Art Deco styles. This is the location of many of the city’s monuments, including the National Theater and Salón Bolivar, churches such as the St. Philip Neri Church, La Merced Church and the Metropolitan Cathedral. The St. Joseph Church, located the corner of Eighth Street and Avenue A holds a very prized city and country treasure, the church’s gold altar that miraculously escaped the Morgan’s siege in 1671.

The earliest records of the city were published in 1535. Being the center of culture since the olden times, there were many poets and writers who were born in Panamá City since the later part of the 18th century, including Manuel Maria Ayala, Amelia Denis de Icaza, Ricardo Miró, Roberto Fernández Iglesias, Diana Morán, Sofia Santim and Katia Chiari.

Several sports have been part of the city residents’ life. The city has excellent baseballers, basketballers, footballers and boxers, with names like Rolando Blackman (basketball), Rod Carew (baseball), Rommel Fernández (football), Roberto Durán (boxing) and Mariano Rivera (baseball). The city has named its to major stadiums, the National Stadium is also called the Rod Carew Stadium, while the other one is name the Rommel Fernández Stadium.

The city of Panamá, like the rest of the country differs from the other colonies of Spain in that its subsistence agriculture has never been dependent on corn. For this reason, fish and game have always been the major protein sources, while corn is taken primarily as “arepas” or thick cakes, and corn gruel. Chinese restaurants are abundant in the city and the country of Panamá, a Chinese legacy left by those who during the 1850s, labored on what the railroad system is today. Families belonging to the upper echelon will usually serve the freshest kinds of seafood during special occasions such as weddings and baptisms, among special events and celebrations. The style of cooking is inclined towards the more continental. The “Interioranos” however, place a lot more value on beef. A traditional meal on Sundays would be “tasajo,” a ham-flavored cured beef. Because of the hot climate in most of the countries in South America, it is a practice to have a siesta at midday. Visitors would find that the shops and the business establishments in Panamá close on lunchtime hours, conducting business before siesta or after.

In spite of the fact that the leaders of the Guaymí Indians were allowed to marry more than once, other Panamanians do marry one wife at one time. The Civil Code also allows divorce under liberal circumstances. For couples that are of African origin, living together even if they are not married is quite common. The unions might often dissolve when the men and the women are able to form new relationships with others when the pre-carnival Congo dances happen each week.

The Panamanians maintain a certain formality when dealing with people they do not know. Greeting in public places is not common, and the manners of the Panamanians a bit stiff. Nonetheless, when a person becomes quite familiar with a family, or establishes friendships, he/she is immediately included in celebrations and parties. People also generally dress up formally even with the city’s tropical climate.

In Panamá, about 8.5% of the population is Roman Catholic. The city’s most significant ritual is the “Carnaval.” Five days prior to Ash Wednesday, Panamá closes down. A queen who has been chosen by the charitable organizations leads the celebration. A competing celebration, the Congo also happens in Las Tablas, within the interior. This celebration is also led by a chosen queen, and begins in January. Portobelo, found within Colón at the Atlantic coast, houses the shrine of the Black Christ, which is the object of adoration. There are annual pilgrimages attracting very many people when Holy Week sets in.

The city of Panamá celebrates two days of independence. November 3 is a celebration of its liberation from Colombia, while November 28, celebrates its freedom from Spain. The festivities however are more low-key, though parades of young school children are done in various localities. Rodeos are held practically each Sunday at the bigger towns of Panamá’s central provinces.

Panamá City has an extensive network of private and public clinics and has 14 hospitals, with about 45% of the country’s doctors located in the city. There are several doctors in the city that have been foreign educated and some of the medical facilities are comparable to the hospitals and medical services available in the United States. For this the city has become a medical tourism destination.

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Interesting Facts about Panamá City

• The Panamá Canal generates one-third of the city’s total economy.
• It was the first country of Latin America to take on the currency of the U.S. and make it its own.
• Van Halen’s song “Panamá” is not familiar to a good number of Panamanians.
• The famous Panamá hat was not actually made in Panamá, but in Ecuador.
• The city of Panamá is the sole capital city with a rainforest just within the limits of the city.
• The railroad in Panamá is the oldest and only one continuously operating to this day, travelling from the city itself, up to Colón, then back.
• Panamá City is the only place where you are able to swim in both the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean in one day. Likewise it is the only place where you could view the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and see it set down at the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Spanish language in Panamá has been colored by other ethnic languages and influenced by the Spanish spoken in the Caribbean, Andalusia and the Canary Islands, as well as other Latin American countries and American English. As such there are variations in the way some of the words are spelled and pronounced. A Panamanian would say “perquea” rather than “aparca” when parking the car. When going shopping a Panamanian is likely to say “chopear” rather than the lengthy “va de compras,” but not in a “centro commercial” but in a “mol” that is clearly borrowed from the American English word, mall.

It would be a good idea for visitors to know a few important words and phrases that Panamanians use. This will help in being able to communicate better with locals, who might know how to speak English, but would surely appreciate your effort to learn the local language. The following are a few of the words that are quite different from the standard Spanish that you might find useful while visiting the city of Panama.

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References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamá_City#Geography
http://www.iexplore.com/travel-guides/central-and-south-america/Panamá/Panamá-city/overview
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/Panamá/Panamá-city
http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Panamá.html
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/major-tourist-attractions-Panamá-1115.html
http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Panamá/Basics
http://www.stri.si.edu/english/about_stri/about_Panamá/index.php
http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Panamá/Basics
http://unravelled.travellerspoint.com/22/