Latin America - Panama - Country Information

Panama offers some of the best scenery in all of Central America and few countries of its size offer such dramatic contrasts. Panama is the crossroads between Central and South America and as a result is a fascinating fusion of many different races. It is also a meeting point for wildlife in the region – for example, there are more than 900 species of birds in Panama, more than in all of North America.

Key Facts
Full Country Name	Republic of Panama
Area	78,200 sq km
Population	3 million
Capital	Panama
Time Difference	5 Hours Behind GMT
Visa	A visa is not required
Currency	Balboa
People	65% mestizo, 14% African descent, 10% Spanish descent, 5% indigenous
Language	English, Spanish
Dialling Code	00 507
Electricity	110V 60 Hz

Visas:

A visa is not required

Health risks:

Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Polio, TB, Tetanus, Typhoid

When to Go:

Panama's dry season runs from around mid-December to mid-April. The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season, when the humidity makes the heat more oppressive than otherwise. Rain in Panama tends to come in sudden short downpours that freshen the air and are followed by sunshine.