Panamanians are very religious. 85% of believers are Catholics, up to 10% are Protestants, 5% are Muslims.
Transport in Panama
The best way to get to Panama is by plane. The international airport is located 17 km from the city of Panama. You can also get into the country by sea transport through one of its ports.
The country is crossed from west to east by the Pan-American Highway, from which many highways are laid to the coasts. The state of roads in Panama is considered one of the best in Latin America, so tourists can travel around the country in a rented car. In order to rent a car, you must be over 23 years old, have an international driver’s license and a credit card. The other most common mode of transport among tourists, but also the most expensive, are airplanes.. Buses and mini-buses also run between the main cities of Panama, but the disadvantage of such trips is the irregularity of flights and the slowness of drivers. There are practically no railways in the country, and they are used mainly for the transport of goods. The coastal islands of Panama are reached either by plane or by ship, but you should be careful, because some ships are involved in drug smuggling.
Inside major cities, taxis are the best way to get around. When traveling by taxi, you should agree on the price with the driver in advance. In addition, bus services are established in large cities.
Plant and Animal World in Panama
In the north of Panama, along the Caribbean coast, mangroves are common. The lower parts of the northern mountain slopes are occupied by dense evergreen forests with broad-leaved valuable tree species. Slightly higher are “liana forests”. In the southern part of the country near the Pacific coast, humid savannas extend, which, with an increase in relief, turn into semi-deciduous forests. Evergreen forests are also common on the border with Colombia. In general, forests cover most of the country’s territory.
The fauna of Panama is represented by such animals as puma, ocelot, deer, monkeys, peccaries, anteater, sloths, armadillos and kinkajou. Reptiles include crocodiles, alligators and snakes, including poisonous ones. Birds include North American migratory birds, parrots, herons and toucans. The sacred bird of the ancient Indians – quetzal, which is considered one of the most beautiful birds of the New World, lives in the highlands of the province of Chiriqui, and in the jungles of the province of Darien you can see the largest bird of prey to date – the Harpy eagle.
Minerals in Panama
Panama has deposits of oil, copper, gold and silver.
Banks in Panama
Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 15:00, on Saturdays – from 08:30 to 12:00.
Money in Panama
The official currency of Panama is the Balboa. One balboa is equal to 100 centavos. Previously, when the Panama Canal belonged to the United States, the official currency of the country was the US dollar, and to this day it is the country’s legal payment unit. One US dollar is equal to 100 cents. The exchange rate of the national currency is pegged to the US dollar at a ratio of 1 balboa to 1 dollar. Panama does not issue balboas in the form of paper banknotes, they are replaced by paper bills of US dollars. Balboas are present only in the form of coins, and Balboa coins are a copy of American coins only with a modified inscription. In circulation are coins of 10 and 1 balboa, as well as 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos. US dollars are present in banknotes of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 US dollars and coins of 1 US dollar and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, hotels and at the airport. However, it is best to purchase US dollars before your trip, as it is not necessary to change them at all, they are legal tender. Traveler’s checks are cashed only in banks of large cities. In order to avoid exchange fees, it is recommended to purchase traveler’s checks in US dollars.
Credit cards are accepted everywhere in Panama City. Outside the city, it is best to have cash with you.
Course: 10 Panamanian Balboa (PAB) = 9.02 USD
Political State in Panama
According to politicsezine, Panama is a unitary republic. The head of state and government is the president. He is elected by popular vote for a term of 5 years. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral National Assembly. Executive power is concentrated in the hands of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers, whose members are chosen by the President.
Population in Panama
67% of the country’s population are mestizos (descendants of mixed marriages of Indians and “whites”) and mulattoes (descendants of mixed marriages of Africans and “whites”), 14% are Africans and “antillanos” (immigrants from the islands of the Caribbean and Latin America), 10 % of the population are Spaniards, and the share of indigenous Indians (Kuna, Wounaan, Embera, Bugle, Naso, Bribri and Guaimi) accounts for about 9% of the inhabitants of Panama.
Language:
The official language of the country is Spanish. English is widely spoken, especially in business. In mountainous areas, local residents communicate with each other in Indian dialects.
Cuisine in Panama
The cuisine of Panama contains both Spanish and Indian culinary traditions. The main products are legumes, maize (corn), rice (arros), meat (carne) and a wide variety of vegetables and spices.
Of the traditional meat dishes, you should try “ceviche” (meat marinated or stewed with vegetables), “fritura” (assorted fried bananas, sausages, eggs and herbs), “karimokolas” (a dish of yuca with meat), “saos” (marinated pork), “arros con polio” (fried with spices chicken meat with rice), “tamale” (meat baked in banana leaves with potatoes or corn), “hokon” (chicken in green sauce), “conejo pintado “(fried agouti meat),” sankocho “(stew with vegetables, reminiscent of soup in texture),” arroz con carne “(rice with beef), fried tortilla” gallos “with meat filling and fried tortillas with meat” such “. Seafood dishes are also very popular: “a la plancha” (baked fish),
As a side dish, fried bananas (“platanos”) of two types are usually served: sweet “maduros” and crispy “tostones”, as well as “casados” – a mixture of rice and vegetables. Cabbage and tomato salads, corn and egg salads, rice and seafood salads, or tropical fruit salads are very popular. There are always all kinds of cakes on the table, which are used as plates and cutlery, and spicy sauces.
Desserts include plantain tortillas, sweet corn and banana tortillas, rice boiled in coconut milk, el carmelho fruit pie, tres leche vanilla pie, lemon pi de lemon pie, coconut meringue. Delicia de Coco milk, Tentación, Ochaldres bananas fried with sugar, vanilla and cinnamon
Locals drink coffee with milk and Latin American mate tea in large quantities. Of the soft drinks, the most popular fruit juices are “refrescos” mixed with milk (“leche”), water (“aqua”) and ice, “chichas de papaya” (drink made from papaya and pineapple juices), “naturales” (drink bottled with fresh tropical fruit), batidos (milkshake with ice cream), pipas (green coconuts filled with coconut milk) and sodas lemonade. Alcoholic drinks are represented by local beer varieties: “Panama”, “Levenbrau”, “Atlas”, “Soberana” and “Balboa”, rum varieties: “Seco-Ererrano” and “Carta Vieja”, and traditional Indian “chicha”.
