Reflections of Panama

Although we've not been in Panama for long we both feel that we've been able to see most of the highlights with the exception of the Pacific coast. We're glad we included it in our itinerary and we've enjoyed our time here although it wouldn't be somewhere we'd rush to return to. There were no real wow moments apart from the Canal.

• It's primarily a country of jungle and beaches
• The landscape is very green and lush
• It's easy to get around with a good network of roads and most distances are relative short (compared to those in South America)
• Bandits are present in some tourist areas, we met or heard of people who had been robbed at gunpoint. Although we felt very safe, always using the usual common sense rules
• Compared to it's South American neighbours it's very expensive probably because they use the USD as their currency
• The quality of the accommodation we booked was lower for the same price in Colombia and Ecuador
• The food is OK although nothing special, especially once you're outside Panama City. Usual fare of fried fish or chicken, rice and plantains. Balboa beer was good as was the real local coffee
• It seemed to lack any real distinct culture although we didn't visit any of the indigenous villages
• It's very popular with US expats and in some places such as Boquete you thought you were in the USA! 
• There's little evidence of Spanish colonial times outside Casca Viejo and the forts near Colon
• It would be interesting to see if the canal expansion brings much change to the country; the people are very proud of it and are building more locks to increase the amount of shippage and money