6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Panama At Least Once In Your Lifetime

At the crossroads of two oceans and two continents, Panama is a narrow little country packed with culture, tropical beaches, history, wildlife, and basically all you could wish for if you are looking for an adventurous holiday. Widely unexplored, it offers much more than you’d ever expect. Here are 6 reasons why you should visit Panama at least once in your lifetime.

1. Easily accessible

Panama is considered the bridge of the Americas and is only a 2.5 hour flight away from Miami. Since it is a connecting point for routes continuing to Central and South America, almost all major airlines fly to Tocumen International Airport. Once in Panama, you can easily catch a 45 min internal flight to the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro or to the mountains of Boquete, near David.

2. The currency

3. The Panama Canal

This is no surprise, yet we cannot help but mention it. The Panama Canal is a world-renowned engineering marvel, a 48-mile artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, opening the way between two continents and transforming the face of maritime shipping forever. There are many ways to experience the Panama Canal, from the Miraflores Locks in Panama City, to the partial or total boat tours that cross the Canal all the way to the city of Colon. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

4. The champagne of coffees

As a small coffee producing country, Panama has many advantages that make its coffee so prestigious. The altitude, as well as the perfect balance of sun and humidity and the many microclimates are ideal for the production of a wonderful variety of aromas. The geisha coffee, grown on the mountains of Boquete, is sometimes referred to as the “champagne of coffees”, due to its refined character – and its cost.

5. A hub of biodiversity

Panama is a tropical paradise that hosts some of the most diverse and exotic species of animals and plants of the planet. Due to its geographical position, the country serves as a biological corridor connecting North and South America. Almost entirely covered in rainforest, with mountain forests and mangrove wetlands, it is home to over 10,444 types of plants, 255 mammals species, and 972 indigenous bird species, according to the National Society for the Protection of Nature of Panama.

6. Hundreds of islands

What makes Panama a unique destination for all those travellers who love to wander off-the-beaten path is the incredible number of unexplored islands that you will find in the country. The San Blas Archipelago, whose beaches rank amongst the most beautiful in the world, is composed of approximately 100 nameless islands, 113 with names and 30 that are entirely made of coral. In Bocas del Toro you will find nine inhabited islands and around 300 tiny islets. On the Pacific side is the Pearl Archipelago, facing Panama City, and smaller famous islands in natural parks like the Island of Coiba.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.