Tourist Places in Panama

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_________________________________________________________________________________ While visitors to Panama may come for the Panama Canal, they stay for everything else. Known as the “Crossroads of the Americas,” Panama is not only the geographical point where North America meets South America but also where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet in the country’s famed canal. The original meaning of the word “panama” means “abundance of fish,” and fishing is just one of the many water sports and activities that visitors to Panama can enjoy. More highly developed than neighboring Central American countries, Panama enjoys a modern infrastructure, making travel through the tropical paradise easy and convenient. Here are the top tourist attractions in Panama that are well-worth visiting.

_________________________________________________________________________________ Long overshadowed by the Panama Canal and a reputation as a hub for drug-running, Panama City is not only reinventing itself as the thriving commercial and financial hub of the Americas, it is asserting itself as a burgeoning tourist destination. Panama City (commonly referred to simply as "Panama") is one of those rare Latin American capitals that has it all: a high standard of living, a seemingly endless supply of investment from abroad, a surplus of natural beauty, and a rich cultural brew of ethnicities and religions. There is a sizeable ex-pat presence in the city, as well as a growing Asian community, which continues to change the face of Panama City. It has been called the new Hong Kong and Miami -- a sleek and modern city proud of its role as host to the world.

_________________________________________________________________________________ Panama’s physical landscape includes beaches and mountains, islands and forests; its civic landscape covers everything from a cosmopolitan capital city to ultra-basic indigenous villages. Needless to say, there is a broad range of places to visit, which can make it tough to decide where to go. The following destination categories will help you understand your options. One of the best strategies is to decide on one or two destinations and then find supplementary places nearby. It’s not uncommon for travelers to visit three to four destinations in a 7-10 day period. From backpacker beaches to urban bungalows, Panama’s small size makes it easy to sample different locations in a short amount of time.