REPUBLIC OF PANAMA OFFICIAL VISITOR’S GUIDE

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Here at Panama Visitors Guide we do our best to help you find information on Panama. Costa Rica and Nicaragua the Panama Canal Tours, Panama Hotels, Nightlife, Medical Tourism, Whale Watching, Medical Vacations at Hospital Punta Pacifica Panama, San Blas Vacation Resorts, Bocas Del Toro Restaurants, Casinos, Beach Information,Vacations, The best deals on Panama Real Estate, Panama Condo’s, Ocean view Beach front Land, Sport fishing, Sailboat Charters, Panama Waters Sailboat Cruising or Information, Rain Forests, Exotic Wildlife, Surfing, Wind Surfing, Scuba Diving, Panama Canal History, Live Web-Cam of the Panama Canal, Video Tours of Panama, Maps of Panama, News Events , Eco-Tourism, The Free Trade Zone, Investing in Panama, Retiring and Living in the Republic of Panama. Costa Rica Visitors Guide, Hotels, Travel, Nightlife

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Panama has only recently come on the radar for travelers  tourists, and ex-pats but this small, unassuming, country has helped shape global history from its creation over 3 million years ago. When early tectonic activity created the isthmus now known as Panama, it not only split the ocean in two, giving birth to the Caribbean, but it also linked the Americas, creating the largest uninterrupted land mass in the world. Flora, fauna, animals, and tribal ancestors flowed across this bridge, influencing each others environments. The importance of transmigration between worlds would continue throughout Panama’s long history.
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Even though indigenous people used the bridge for thousands of years, it was the Spanish discovery of Panama that would further alter its course and its global significance. Upon finding the mouth of the strategic Rio Chagres the Spanish began using the Panamanian isthmus to supply their new colonies and to transport gold and other pilfered wealth from South America back to Spain. Of course a warehouse full of gold was bound to attract attention and soon the world’s most infamous pirates were holding regular plunder parties in Portobelo on Panama’s Eastern Coast. Early transport was made across a harsh trail know as Camino Real (Royal Road). It was soon nicknamed Las Camino De Cruces, or The Trail Of Crosses due to the high level of lives it claimed. Captain Henry Morgan would use this route in the mid-1500′s to eventually sack the impenetrable Fort San Lorenzo and go on to wreak havoc all the way to Panama, which he thoroughly pillaged before burning it to the ground.
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In 1523 King Charles of Pain suggested cutting a waterway through Panama which would allow its heavy ships easy access to South America’s West coast but politics and technological limitations would delay this vision for close to 400 years. The Scottish were the first to attempt the construction of an East-West passage at the end of the 17th century but their two voyages ended in utter failure on the Eastern shores of Darien. The early 18th century saw several Latin American countries establish their independence from Spain and the isthmus of Panama became part of Colombia, who awarded the Canal effort to a French company. Panama fought for their own independence on several occasions between 1831-1843 but were quelled by Nationalist forces. In 1881 the French launched a full-scale attempt, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of local and immigrant workers and left the French nation on the verge of bankruptcy.
The turn of the century saw a change of fortunes for both the Canal and the Panamanian people as a complex bit of politics led the US to supporting the Panamanian separatist effort in exchange for sovereign ownership of a thin-strip of land along the entire length of the canal. By the end of 1903 the Panamanians had won their independence and the US was able to begin undertaking one of the greatest engineering feats in human history.
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  By 1914, 390 years after King Charles of Spain proposed it, the Panama Canal was opened and for the first time since Panama rose from the ocean, the Atlantic and Pacific were reunited. While the waters flowed freely from East to West, the Panamanians were still under the influence of a foreign government but in 1999, acting on a treaty negotiated between Panama and the US in 1971, the canal zone became part of sovereign Panama and the country won its complete independence
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Since that time Panama has seen its economy grow steadily and impressively. A portion of all of the Canal proceeds, constitutionally protected, has been flowing into infrastructure programs aimed at improving the lives of Panamanians across the country. Due to the importance of the global trade route, and openness to foreigners, Panama has become one of the most culturally diverse in Latin America.
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Today Panama enjoys economic and political stability making it a magnet for investment and tourism alike but as people begin to discover this Panama, the government has already turned towards the future and has ear-marked a considerable portion of GDP to modernizing the look and feel of the country. As well as improving infrastructure, modernizing transportation, and tackling the countries waste and energy challenges, the massive construction effort to build a third set of locks, designed to accommodate the ever growing number of super-ships, is nearing completion and will cement Panama’s importance in global trade.
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Panama’s nine provinces each offer their own unique, history, culture, and beauty. We encourage you to take the time to explore them all for yourself. Don’t forget to check out the indigenous islands of Kuna Yala better known as San Blas, one of the most beautiful areas in the world.
If you would like any information on where to go and what to do please feel free to send us an email to info@pananamatravelunlimited.com and we’d be more than happy to help you plan your journey through this enchanted land.

Panama Tours and Travel (2)Panama Dolphin Healingjack-miller-panama-costa-ricaThe United States and China are the top users of the Canal. Panama also plans to construct a metro system in Panama City, valued at $1.2 billion and scheduled to be completed by 2014. Panama’s booming transportation and logistics services sectors, along with aggressive infrastructure development projects, have lead the economy to continued high growth in 2012. Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity, as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About 30% of the population lives in poverty; however, from 2006 to 2012 poverty was reduced by 10 percentage points, while unemployment dropped from 12% to 4.4% of the labor force in 2012. A US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement was approved by Congress and signed into law in October 2011. Seeking removal from the Organization of Economic Development’s gray-list of tax havens, Panama has also recently signed various double taxation treaties with other nations.

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San Blas Islands Anna MorenoKuna Yala Indian Children of Panama Photo by Anna Moreno Ana Moreno Photo's Embara Dura Indians Panama

Panama’s President Levels Dirty Accusations Against Journalist on Twitter

Ricardo_Martinelli_Presidente_de_PanamáEvery so often, President Ricardo Martinelli (@rmartinelli) riles up the Panamanian online community by tweeting controversial and confrontational statements, even insults.

The most recent example is a tweet directed at journalist Santiago Cumbrera of La Prensa, a newspaper with which the president has clashed in the past:

@rmartinelli: For anyone who doesn’t know why Santiago Cumbrera hates me it’s because he was fired from Epasa for being crooked and sexually harassing women.

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Widening the Panama Canal and the Future of Global Trade Mapping

panama-canal-picUp and down the Atlantic coast, US ports are abuzz. Dredging machines, tunnel excavators, and highway pavers from Miami to New York are preparing metropolitan economies and their ports for a newly expanded Panama Canal. As the thinking goes, an expanded Canal promises bigger ships, bigger cargo loads–and each metro wants a piece of the bigger business.

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Is Panama a better choice than Costa Rica?

panama_vs_costa-ricaWhen you think about living full or part time in Central America, Costa Rica seems to be the first country that comes to mind. Having spent a fair amount of time in both Costa Rica and Panama, I may be able to offer a somewhat unique perspective when comparing the two countries. While both countries are similar in many respects, there are some major differences in property in Panama versus property in Costa Rica that you should be aware of….

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Who Else Wants to Retire in Panama and Still Earn a Good Living?

retire-to-your-hammockPanama has made itself an attractive destination for foreign investment through its well calculated tax laws, combined with its natural attributes and an abundance of economic opportunities.

But its pensionado program, which offers the best retiree benefits in the world, sends it to the top of the list for many as a retirement destination. Even better, by putting retirement and investment together, Americans are finding they can retire in comfort and security in Panama – and still make money.

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Panama Nightlife

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Panama City Nightlife is by far some of the best nightlife that Central America has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a trendy club or a local dive bar, you will find it all in the Panama City Bar and Club Scene. If you’re looking for a good club, Calle Uruguay is definitely the best spot. But if you’re looking for a good bar, Casco Viejo has recently experienced a surge in bars, ranging from Jazz Clubs and lounges, to American style city bars.Here is a list of some of the most popular bars and clubs in Panama City.www.relicbar.
For a complete list including the Bad Boy Section Click Here
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5 Little-Known Travel Destinations in Panama

islands-in-panamaPanama’s roots reach back into history as a trade hub and today, its ever-evolving as a real estate and travel hotspot. But with all the widely-publicized beauty the country retains, here are our 5 spots you’ll rarely read about in pamphlets or see on TV.

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Driving in Panama

Driving in Panama can be challenging for the newcomer. Understanding a few of the basics can make the transistion a little easier.
Most of the driving rules and laws in Panama are very similar to those in the US. Drivers drive on the right side of the road, the traffic signals and most of the signs are identical and standard, so you won’t be in for many surprises in that respect.

Talking about Respect, there is no such thing as Curiosity in Panama City, You can sit in your driveway for as long as you would like, you sit there and wait for someone to let you onto the street, it will not happen. There is no Curiosity in Panama City, you have to force your way into traffic. I used to walk to work because I could not get my car out of the driveway.

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