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There is a wealth of things to know about Panama. This is a beautiful country and Panama tourism is thriving because of all that it has to offer. Starting with the world-famous Panama Canal and winding throughout the country, there are a number of Panama activities and attractions available for Panama tourists to enjoy.

Tourism in Panama has been a growing business sector for many years and it will likely continue well into the future. Not only are the Panama attractions and activities drawing new visitors each year, but the expanding Panama medical tourism trade has begun to draw many people as well. With many American-trained doctors and a growing number of world-class medical facilities, Panama health tourism will continue to flourish.

Although they have been overlooked in the past, Panama's activities have started to receive the worldwide attention that they deserve. Among the many things that you can do in Panama, the country's fishing and surfing have become world-renowned. In addition, many people are drawn to study the wildlife that can be found in abundance in Panama.

The Panama Canal is one of the most famous locations in the world, referred to my many as the "engineering marvel of the 20th Century." What people have discovered is that Panama attractions extend far beyond the famous Canal. Starting with the amazing Volcán Barú near the border with Costa Rica, cutting across to Bocas del Toro and extending to Casco Viejo in Panama City, attractions are found throughout the country.

Whether your interest is the Festival of the Black Christ in Portobello or seeing the Panamanian Golden Frogs in El Valle, there are Panama activities and attractions for every tourist who visits the beautiful country of Panama.

About Panama
The Attraction of Panama Fishing
A Climate that Panama Tourist Can Enjoy in the City of David
Panama - Getting to Know a Beautiful Country
About Panama - The Province of Darien
Have a Taste of the Delectable Food of Panama
Getting to Know Panama's Attractions and Activities
The Panama Canal
Seeing (Five) Stars - Panama City Luxury Hotels
Panama Nightlife - Panama's Attraction that's a Deliciously Feral Bash
Panama Sports - Out of the Sand and into the Arena
Panama Tourism - A Travel To The Land Of Magnificence
The True Colors of Multicolored Panamanian Culture
Panamanian Golden Frog- A National Emblem that Reaches Extinction
Panamanian Newspapers - Back to the Future
The Majority Religion of Panama
Panama Activities and Attractions - Fun Times for Panama Tourism with Sports and Pastimes
Nikki Beach - Bringing Miami to Panama Real Estate
Panama Bearer Share Offshore Corporation; Anonymous Protection of Wealth in Panama
English Language Newspapers in Panama
Oil Prices, Transportation Costs, World Trade, and Their Effects on Panama
Panamax; Simulated Defense of the Panama Canal against a Terrorist Attack
Shopping at the Grocery Store in Panama
Panama Car Rental
Global Politics, Panama Disease and the Banana Industry in Panama
Panama Fishing: Adventures in Paradise
Cost of Living in Panama
Insider Deals and Bargain Prices for Sale of Land in Chame
Fundacion Calicanto; a Panama Charitable Foundation
Moving Dirt and Unexploded Bombs; the Panama Canal Expansion Proceeds
Watch Panama Canal Expansion Video on the Internet
Round the Clock Viewing; the Panama Canal cameras
Panama Canal Authority to Pay for Most of Panama Canal Expansion Out of Operating Budget
Port Upgrade at Mobile in Anticipation of Panama Canal Expansion
A Brief Review of Panama Canal Cruises; When to Go and What to See
Panama Canal Statistics for Fiscal Year 2008
Panama Has Earthquakes next to Costa Rica
Thoughts on Environmental Protection in Panama and the Rest of Central America
Relief for Victims of Bocas del Toro, Panama Flood
Environmental Concerns over a Wind Farm in Central Panama
Mexican Drug Trafficker Arrested in Panama after the Seizure of 2.5 Tons of Cocaine
Drug Lord Arrested and Extradited
Progress on the Cinta Costera Project
Colombian Pyramid Scheme and Money Laundering Crime Boss Arrested in Panama
Crime Prevention and Tourism in Panama
Metropolitan National Park, Panama
A New Frog in Panama
Panama to Start Vaccinations for Human Papilloma Virus, the Leading Cause of Cancer of the Cervix
Free Vaccination to Prevent Cancer of the Cervix in Panama
Russia, Latin America, and Panama
Panama Inflation; Gas, Bio Fuel, and the Cost of Sugar in Panama
Major Shipping Companies Share Routes including the Panama Canal
Pirate Attacks and the Suez Canal; How Does That Affect the Panama Canal?
Cocaine and Panama
Fiberglass in Chorrera
British Petroleum to Reverse Trans-Panama Pipeline
Extradition of Manuel Noriega to France or Return to Panama?
Is France Losing Interest in Noriega? How Soon Will Noriega Return to Panama?
Panama Jazz Festival 2009
Oil Prices, Transportation Costs, World Trade, and Their Effects on Panama
Cleaning up the Bay: Panama City and Bay of Panama Sanitation Project I
Panama Canal Cruises by Crystal and Others
History or Progress in Historic Bella Vista; Who Decides and What Drives the Equation?
Isla Contadora: a Tropical Island with Great Beaches and a History
Life in Panama
Digging Another Big Ditch at the Panama Canal
Panama Climate
The Darien, Panama, Tropical Rain Forest a Few Kilometers from a First World City
Panama Container Shipping and the Panama Canal Expansion
Panama Canal Shipping, Investment, and Real Estate in Panama
Health Concerns Related to Panama Canal Shipping
Panama Expatriate Revisited
Panama Canal Traffic Down for 2009
Frog Triage in Panama
Panama Commercial Real Estate and Logistics

Destino. Whether you are drawn here by Panama tourism or investments in Panama, it would be good for you to know and understand some things about this beautiful tropical land. For Westerners and especially Americans on a Caribbean vacation, Panama will probably seem very familiar since the country has adopted many things like the United States; same currency, same setup for utilities and television. More

Panama is a beautiful country in Central America situated between Costa Rica and Colombia. Panama draws thousands of visitors yearly to see the sights, enjoy the weather, learn the culture and partake in the Panama attractions. In recent years, Panama has also begun to make an upswing in terms of its outside investors in real estate. Potential real estate investors are lured to panama by its climate, governmental stability, and exciting Panama attractions that await them. Panama sports help to create a recreation industry that makes the country very exciting, including Panama fishing, surfing, rafting and other events. More

When Panama tourists are asked why they find the country so attractive, they often answer in reference to the Panama Climate. The ideal Panama climate reflects the tropical nature that Panama encompasses. Many different areas throughout the country experiences variations in their respective climates, but most remain relatively steady year round. David Panama, in particular, is one area that experiences a variety that the Panama climate presents, enhancing the enjoyment of Panama activities. More

Panama tourism has flourished for years; however, if most Americans were quizzed on their knowledge of the country of Panama, their top 5 answers would be something like:

-Don't they have the Panama Canal?"
-Didn't that guy, Noriega live there?
-It must be a big country because they have that canal thing
-Didn't they have a bobsled team in the Olympics like that movie "Cool Runnings? (Don't think too hard on that one, it was really Jamaica!)
-It must be hot and have a lot of people that speak Spanish because it's south of the United States. More

Real estate is a fluctuating industry, no matter what part of the world you refer to. Several factors affect this often-fickle sector of a country's economy. Some of these factors include the state of a respective country's economy in general, times of war, international relations in general, tourism within a particular country, as well as the presence of foreign investors. In a country like Panama, tourism is quite successful thanks to Panamanian attractions and activities in places like David, Panama City and Darien. More

Panama is commonly referred to as the crossroads of the world. As such, you can notice that the food of panama is a combination of the Central America cuisine and South America cuisine. Though there are American fast food restaurants such as Taco Bell, KFC and McDonalds to trap some Panamanian tourists, the various places to eat and savor the distinct tastes that represent national foods are truly Panamanian attractions. More

Whether you are drawn for Panama tourism or attractions and activities in Panama, it would be good for you to know and understand some things about this beautiful tropical land. For Westerners and especially Americans, Panama will probably seem very familiar since the country has adopted many things like the United States; same currency, same setup for utilities and television. More

The Panama Canal is a shipping canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through Panama. The canal runs from Limon Bay on the Atlantic to the Bay of Panama at the Pacific. It is one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. Although the idea for the canal dates back to the 16th century, the first attempt to construct it began in 1880 by the French. The work was completed by the US in 1914 and it has been extremely successful ever since. After negotiations with the US, control of the canal was given to Panama. The Panama Canal can accommodate most ship sizes and ships must pay a toll to pass through. Tolls are determined by the size and type of ship and the cargo carried. The Canal has become the most popular attraction in Panama, drawing many Panama tourists to see modern history at work. More

There are times that you deserve the best; you've worked hard, saved your money and you're getting ready to visit as a Panama tourist. With all of your lavish plans, you don't want to overlook your hotel, the luxury hotels of Panama City are some of the best you can find. Panama City hotels boast incredible 5-star establishments such as the InterContinental Miramar Panama and the incredible Gamboa Rainforest Resort. The Gamboa has the distinction of being situated in the only rainforest totally located inside of a city. But for extravagance at its finest, grab the suntan lotion and head for a true tourist attraction, Panama City's luxury hotel the Royal Decameron Beach Resort. More

Rocking yourself with food and music at night is a great thing of pleasure. For it makes you feel extraordinary to enjoy yourself breaking the serenity and calmness of the night. And the occasion where you can discover such a pleasurable treasure is the nightlife in Panama. Just look for numerous options of activities in Panama and feel the pulse of the city, whether you are a local or a Panama tourist... More

Tropical Panama is known for its incredible beaches and since the Spanish word for sand is "arena", it is only natural that any discussion of Panama attractions and activities starts and ends in the arena! Although Panama is a small country, about the size of South Carolina in terms of both area and population, there is a rich history of excellence in Panama sports. More

Panama is alive with activity, a city full of lures with exotic nature, striking biodiversity, effervescent cultural life and heaps of recreational endeavors packed into a sturdy infrastructure full of up-to-date amenities can be your dream destination. Panama tourism is chock-full of happenings and offers you a most exciting package of Panamanian attractions. More

Panamanian culture has come a long way with the native Indian people in the beginning, the colonial era settlements and currently the multi-race communities. The outcome is the bundle of cultures that it holds. The country's culture is as diverse as it could have been. Whether it is the Spanish influence or the North American culture that thrives mainly in the Panama Canal region, Panamanian culture is varied and well merged; it indeed sits pretty with a whole lot of influences that have even curbed Panama customs to say the least. In fact, Panama activities, religion, music, dance, festivities, literature and even cuisine speak all of that. More

Like the Panama Canal, the Panamanian Golden Frog is the national emblem of nature and a unique Panama attraction. This frog can be found almost on anything such as lottery tickets, souvenir shirts and Panama tourism brochures. Few of the remaining populations of the endangered Panamanian Golden Frog, Atelopus zeteki can be found at the slopes of the Central Cordilleran rainforest of west-central Panama. More

Maybe you remember the old Michael J. Fox movie, "Back to the Future". Fox's character stepped back in time to the 1950's and found things different than they currently were in his era. For those who were familiar with this period in American history probably got a little nostalgic. It's always good to savory fond memories. More

Panama has no official religion. However, it was accounted that majority of Panamanians are identified as Roman Catholic. About 82 percent of the 3.2 million population of Panama are Catholic. Though the Panama Constitution regards Catholicism as the religion of the majority, still it is not recognized as the official Panama religion. Minority religious groups are as follows: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) about 16,000 members, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Episcopalians ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 members, Hindus, Buddhists, Baha'i Faith and other Christians. Also, Jewish and Muslim communities have roughly 10,000 Panamanian members each. There are also indigenous religions, which include Embera, Wounaan, Bugle, Ngobe, Kuna, Bribri and Naso. More

For many potential Panama tourists, the Panama Canal is likely the first thing that comes to mind when considering the country. While the famed Canal is certainly a popular Panama attraction, the country has much more to offer than the average traveler may realize. Mountains, rainforests, beaches, and islands make for a diverse environment that caters to a wide range of hobbies, sports interests and pastimes. Indeed, one is never lost for things to do with so many Panama activities More

Picking up where 2006 left off, 2007 has been another strong year for building in Panama. Continued strength in the residential Panama real estate market has also translated to growth in commercial Panama property. This trend is evident as Nikki Beach, a famous Florida resort chain, has begun building in Panama with the purpose of bringing Miami to Panama real estate. More

A Panama bearer share offshore corporation in conjunction with a Panama foundation is one of the world's best vehicles for preserving wealth. Panama law provides for complete anonymity in setting up and maintaining bearer share offshore corporations to protect off shore wealth. Combine the offshore corporation with the anonymity of a Panama private interest foundation for unparalleled wealth protection. More

There are several English Language newspapers printed in Panama. The Visitor, The Panama Post, The Panama Times, The Panama Star are just a few. Many of the publications provide general information for tourists and space for tourist targeted ads. The Panama Start provides local and international news and is replaced as an insert in La Estrella on Sundays by the international edition of USA Today. More

As the cost of oil goes up and up so does the cost of shipping. This fact has benefited the Panama Canal Authority. The present expansion of the Panama Canal is premised on the need for not only larger locks but more capacity for shipping. At the same time manufacturers are rethinking where they put their factories. Will a factory in Mexico need the Panama Canal to ship to the USA? More

Since 2003 there have been yearly joint military maneuvers in a simulated defense of the Panama Canal against a terrorist threat. This year over 40 countries are involved in this exercise, named Panamax. The Panama Canal carries five percent of world shipping. A successful terrorist attack closing down Panama Canal shipping would have wide repercussions on the world economy.More

Grocery stores in Panama are plentiful and varied. Panama neighborhoods have "tiendas," pronounced tee AYN dass. There are American style supermarkets throughout Panama City and the country. You will pay for your groceries in dollars although they are called Balboas in Panama. Expect to have your groceries bagged for you at the checkout counter and carried to your car or taxi. Expect also to pay a tip of a quarter for the service.More

Panama Car Rental: a wide variety of choices and competitive prices. Panama City, Panama is a million person first world city with a complete range of services including car rental. If you are flying to Panama most of the car rental companies are at Tocumen Airport. In addition there are many car rental locations in the city. A quick search of the internet under "Panama Car Rental" will get you a list and phone numbers. For the major car rental companies you can reserve your rental car before you leave home and pick it up at Tocumen.More

Banana production is having problems in Panama. From European tariffs to infection with "Panama Disease" banana cultivation has become unprofitable in Panama. In Chiriqui Province and Bocas del Toro where banana production is primarily located the worker cooperative that runs the business is in danger of collapsing. More

From deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Chiriqui to fly fishing in Lake Gatun, Panama has a wide variety of angling experiences in store for you. The list of fish in the waters in and around Panama reads like a Who's Who of the marine world. Come to Panama to experience fishing in a tropical paradise. Come to Panama and catch the trophy fish of your dreams. Purchase fishing property in Panama and live the life of your dreams. More

The cost of living in Panama is less than in North America or Europe. The cost of living is also slowly and steadily increasing in Panama. Foreign retirees can still live comfortably in Panama, especially with the "jubilado" or retiree discounts on virtually everything. More

La Estrella, Panama on November 6, 2008 reports that in 2003 while land prices were rising all over Panama the mayor of Chame, Panama sold prime land by the Chame airport at bargain prices. The Chame land was sold in three parcels to the mayor's brother and to a Chinese businessman in Panama and his wife. An audit done in 2007 states that the Chame land was not sold until 2007 and at a higher price. La Estrella says that they called the Chinese businessman to ask about the discrepancy and the businessman in question would only speak in Chinese. More

North Americans think of a Panama foundation as a vehicle for maintaining the privacy of their financial assets. However, there are also charitable foundations in Panama. Fundacion Calicanto is a non government organization devoted to improving the lives of people living in Panama's old city, Casco Antiguo. More

The Panama Canal expansion project is moving forward with a request for bids on the expansion's third and forth dry excavation projects. The excavation projects will entail moving 8 million cubic meters of material, demolishing a bridge, and clearing roughly 500 acres of unexploded munitions left over from US military use of the Panama Canal Zone. The expansion of the Panama Canal is going to double capacity. For those interested in Panama real estate investment this project and its positive effects on the Panama economy is good news. More

The construction of the Panama Canal at the beginning of the 20th century is considered one of the world's engineering marvels. At the Miraflores Locks you can see old black and white photos of those days. Today's Panama Canal Expansion is being documented with streaming video which you can watch on the internet. More

There are web cams set up along the Panama Canal. Three are broadcast on ACP's web site. These are at the Miraflores and Gatun Locks and at the Centennial Bridge. These web cams update every ten seconds. More

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has just received approval on a set of loans to build the new "third lane" of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Expansion will double Panama Canal shipping capacity and allow larger boats to traverse from ocean to ocean. It is of note that the Panama Canal Authority only needs 2.3B USD in loans as it expects to pay the remaining roughly 3.3B USD cost with funds generated by operations. ACP is extremely well run and the outstanding example of Panama governance, business, and commerce in operation. More

The Associated Press reports another United States port upgrade to accommodate the much larger container ships what will pass through the Panama Canal after completion of the Panama Canal Expansion. Mobile, Alabama has completed a $300 million USD expansion of their port facilities. More

A Panama Canal Cruise; the best way to see the Panama Canal. So, what types of cruises, from where , to where, how much? The Panama Canal is the system of man made channels, locks, dams, and artificial lakes that connect the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean across the Isthmus of Panama. Come see one of the greatest engineering feats in the world and have a great trip to boot. More

The Panama Canal Authority released its end of fiscal year statistics October 24, 2008. According to the press release tanker and passenger transits were up over the previous year whereas total number of ships transiting the Panama Canal and total tonnage remained nearly the same. Container shipments bound for the USA were less but this shipping volume was replaced by other destinations such as an increase in tankers carrying petroleum from Gulf Coast refineries to Chile whose natural gas supply from Argentina had been suspended. Passenger ship transits were also up by 17.6% although this greater number reflected more trips by smaller cruise ships. More

The common wisdom in Panama is that Panama does not have earthquakes but Costa Rica does. It turns out that the parts of Panama next to Costa Rica get an occasional tremor too. According to press reports there was a tremor of 6.2 on the Richter scale located 30 miles beneath the surface of the earth and 35 West of David, the capital of Chiriqui Provence and the third largest city in Panama. More

Panama's neighbor, Costa Rica, has passed a law allowing its environmental protection agency to stop any real estate development that threatens to put wildlife or the environment at risk. Additionally the law allows private citizens who gain the signatures of 10% of registered voters in a city to directly submit a request to the Costa Rica Environment and Energy protection agency to stop construction. The immediate reaction of real estate insiders in Costa Rica was that such an environmental law will send business to Panama. More

Panama's Environmental Protection Agency, Agencia Nacional del Medio Ambiente (ANAM), levied fines totaling a million dollars in October 2008 against companies that are not in compliance with a 2000 clean water law. The 2000 law states that companies will recycle waste water or remove contaminants before releasing the water into the environment. More

Days after all major highways into Bocas del Toro were inundated or damaged by flood waters the government of Panama has reopened the Transistmica highway. First vehicles to pass are carrying food, water, and medical supplies. Prompt action by the government of Panama in organizing relief efforts and help from its allies is in the process of alleviating a historic natural disaster. More

A wind farm in the works in Central Panama has raised questions from two environmental groups, the Panama Audubon Society and the Centro de Indicencia Ambiental (CIAM). Criticizing the environmental impact statement put out by the Autoidad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM) the environmental groups note that logging of primary forest would be necessary for the wind farm towers and connecting roads. Also ANAM's study seems to be of a different area that in the wind farm builder's plans. ANAM says it is discussing these issues with the Panama environmental groups. More

An alleged Mexican drug trafficker was arrested trying to leave Panama via the border crossing at Paso Canoas. This arrest falls on the heels of the seizure of two and a half tons of cocaine in Pedregal. Panama authorities state that the 32 year old carried two Mexican passports under different names and that he was in Panama to coordinate the shipment of the Pedregal cocaine to Mexico. More

The restaurants in downtown Panama City are so good that they even attract Colombian drug lords. Unfortunately, for the drug lord in question, he did not get to finish his meal. Panama police arrested William Johnny Tamayo Hernandez and proceeded to extradite him to the United States where his former boss is being held. Because of its geographic position between Colombia and Mexico Panama has often become involved in the transport of cocaine heading for the United States. Those who think, apparently, that drug lords are afforded safety in Panama had better think twice. More

In late 2007 Panama began the long awaited construction of a coastal strip along Avenida Balboa, the main avenue on the Bay of Panama. This is the Cinta Costera project in Panama. Heavy equipment moved in, fences went up and men went to work dumping rock and gravel along the shoreline. Almost a year later storm sewers have been extended out to the bay and the bay filled in for hundred yards from the old shoreline. Trees are being planted and parking lots are in the making. Crews are working day and night with the hope of finishing the $180 Million USD project by the end of President Martin Torrijos' term next year. More

Panama police picked up and alleged pyramid scheme boss November 19, 2008. Colombia has been closing offices and arresting people for the last week are so in an effort to close down a money laundering and pyramid scheme operation in that country. The alleged boss of the operation, David Murcia Guzmán, was arrested in Campana, Panama on November 19 despite being accompanied by 14 bodyguards. More

Statistics show that Panama has a lower crime rate than any other country in Central America except Costa Rica. Nevertheless crime and personal safety have become issues in Panama of late. As Panama develops a home port for cruises in Colon the government is looking into an "ambitious security program" including increased police presence and security cameras in Colon. A government spokesman stated the obvious. If tourists think that Panama is dangerous they will not come. More

Panama's Metropolitan National Park is a square mile of protected forest within the boundaries of Panama City, Panama. The park is contiguous with other park areas providing a sustainable habitat for native birds, butterflies, and small mammals. Metropolitan National Park has three main trails and a visitor's center. The park is open daily from 6 am to 5:30 pm. More

Scientists have discovered a new frog in Panama in el Valle de Anton. The news of a new species of frog in Panama comes on the heels of news that a deadly, amphibian-killing fungus has been found on the East side of the Panama Canal. The discovery is so new that scientists have not yet picked a name for the new species of frog. The finding of a surviving frog species when other species of frog are dying is attributed to conservation efforts in el Valle de Anton. More

Panama president Martin Torrijos announced October 27, 2008 that Panama is taking a leadership role in Latin America in providing free immunizations. Panama is inaugurating a program for vaccination against the leading cause of cancer of the cervix, the human papilloma virus. The vaccination is recommended for 11 and 12 year old girls. If women up to age 26 have not been vaccinated it is also recommended for them. More

Panama is the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to provide the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to young adolescent girls, free of charge. As part of collaboration between UNICEF and the Panamanian Ministry of Health, among other partners, public health centers will offer the preventive vaccine to all girls aged 10 and 11. More

Russia has been making friends in the Western Hemisphere, especially Mr. Chavez in Venezuela. Russia is trying to strengthen ties again with Cuba. The problem that Russia and Venezuela both have currently is that these countries are major oil exporters and the bottom has dropped out of the petroleum market. Russia's attempts to buy friends in the West have been dealt a blow as Panama and the rest of Latin America looks to Barack Obama in hopes of better relations with the USA. More

As the price of gas goes down will the price of sugar go up? Panama has been fighting inflation for the last couple of years. Recently gas prices have gone down but food and retail prices remain high. One of the culprits may be the development of biofuels. For example, Brazil is one of the world´s largest producers of sugar. Brazil has also become a large biofuel producer. Figures for 2007 show that Brazil produced 30 million tons of sugar of which it exported 19 million tons. According to press releases Brazil also exported 17.5 billion liters of ethanol for use as fuel. More

According to the Journal of Commerce Online website two shippers are sharing two shipping routes to maximize efficiency. Maersk and CMA CGM will start the two services in May of 2009. One service will connect Asia to New York via the Suez Canal and the other will connect Asia to New York via the Panama Canal. Both shippers note that shipping volumes are "flat" or declining. More

The last pirate activity in Panama was in the day of Henry Morgan when the privateer burned the old city to the ground. That is, of course, if you do not count the one armed bandits at the Venito Casino just off Via España in Panama City's el Centro. The Panama Canal is safe from pirates. Western Hemisphere maritime powers routinely hold exercises to safeguard the Panama Canal. On the other hand the number of pirate attacks and ships held for ransom goes up daily in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. More

Cocaine is produced in Colombia and largely sold in the USA after transshipment through Mexico. Panama is often part of the route taken to move cocaine from Colombia to Mexico to the USA. The press announced on August 8, 2008 that over a ton of cocaine was impounded when members of the Mexican Golfo drug cartel were apprehended recently. More

According to La Prensa, November 3, 2008, there is concern in Chorrera that the use of fiberglass pipes in a new water plant will be dangerous. The Movimiento por la Defensa de los Recursos Hídricos de La Chorrera, or Movement for the Defense of Water Resources of Chorrera, claims that use of fiberglass pipes in the water plant will be harmful. More

Press reports have re-emerged in La Estrella's insert, The Panama Star regarding reversing the Trans-Panama oil pipeline that runs from Chiriqui to Bocas del Toro. British Petroleum has signed an agreement with Petroterminal de Panama S.A. to modernize and reverse the pipeline in order to ship crude oil from Angola to refineries on the United States West Coast. More

Manuel Noriega, the ex strongman of Panama, has finished his prison term in the United States and is trying to return to home to Panama. His release is being delayed because France is trying to extradite Noriega on charges of money laundering. In general the impression one gets from Panama's newspapers is that Panama does not want Noriega to return and bring back memories of a corrupt and brutal military dictatorship. Ask someone on the street and you might get a different answer. More

The matter of whether or not former Panama strongman Manuel Noriega comes back to Panama next January or goes to France to prison continues. Noriega has a hearing to decide the issue in court in Miami. According to press reports France is "losing interest" in the case based in part upon difficulty reaching an extradition agreement with Panama. If Noriega returns to Panama he will likely be charged with various crimes including murder. More

The 2009 Panama Jazz Festival runs from January 12 through January 17 in Panama City, Panama. The festival is in its sixth year. Founded by a Panamanian pianist, Danilo Perez, the Panama Jazz Festival attracts jazz artists and devotees from throughout the world. In addition to performances the Panama Jazz Festival features auditions for prestigious music scholarships, and workshops for aspiring jazz musicians. More

As the cost of oil goes up and up so does the cost of shipping. This fact has benefited the Panama Canal Authority. The present expansion of the Panama Canal is premised on the need for not only larger locks but more capacity for shipping. At the same time manufacturers are rethinking where they put their factories. Will a factory in Mexico need the Panama Canal to ship to the USA? More

Panama is cleaning up the bay. IDAAN, the sanitation arm of the Public Health Ministry, is expanding sewer systems and reducing river contamination that has lead to the dumping of raw sewage into the Bay of Panama for years. The Inter-American Development Bank approved a 45 million dollar loan in 2006 of which about 7 million has been spent. The long term hope is to fix the sewer systems throughout the city and return the bay to its native state. More

Crystal Cruises has just announced that when you book one of their 14 to 16 day cruises between Los Angeles and a Florida port (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or Palm Beach) that Crystal Cruises will pay for your return trip by air to Los Angeles or to Florida. Departures for this offer are January 6, February 16, and May 7 of 2009. Base cruise prices start at $3,595 per person for this offer. Each of these cruises features a day long passage through the Panama Canal. More

Bella Vista, beautiful view, is a middle class area of Panama in middle of change. Historic homes are being demolished to make room for high rises. Despite vocal opposition progress in construction continues, fueled by increasing property values in this area close to the Cinta Costera project of bay front and road improvement. More

Why would you name an island "accountant?" There is a beautiful tropical island in the Pacific when legend has it either the Spanish or the pirates who raided them stopped to count their gold. Isla Contadora (Accountant Island) is in the Pearl Islands off the Pacific Coast of Panama. Isla Contadora has come a long way from treasure galleons and pirate ships. Its airport (OTD) has regular flights to and from Panama City so that you can easily visit its beaches and hotels. You can even buy property on Isla Contadora. More

Over the last decade North American retirees have come to Panama in increasing numbers. Younger people have come to Panama to start a new life. Expatriates have brought their skills and their resolve to help Panama develop and prosper. Panama's economic boom has attracted Latin Americans and North Americans both to a life in Panama. More

The Panama Canal Authority has awarded another excavation contract for the Panama Canal Expansion. The third of four such contracts was awarded to the lowest bidder, Constructora Meco, SA headquartered in Costa Rica but licenses in Panama since 1995. The Panama Canal Expansion involves creating a new "third lane" and a set of two much larger locks to allow passage of most of the 37% of world ships which are too large to pass through the original 1914 locks. More

Panama is a tropical country bordered by two oceans. The central mountains of Panama range from 1,000 to 11,000 feet. Therefore weather in Panama varies from hot and humid in the rain forests to hot, sunny, and breezy on the coasts. In the highlands temperatures can drop into the low fifties at night and daytime highs are often not more than 80 degrees. The Panama climate includes two seasons, wet and dry. The "summer" dry season coincides with North American winter which is a great deal for tourists. More

The Darien is a large area of sparsely populated tropical forest on the Panama border with Colombia. It is home to Darien National Park, reachable for Panama City by airplane to El Real. The park was named a Biosphere for Humanity by UNESCO in 1981. More

A November 19, 2008 press release states that Dredging International has received a contract to dredge 1.5 million cubic meters of weathered rock for an access channel to the Panama International Container Terminal at Rodman, Panama. PSA of Singapore is developing a container facility for post Panamax vessels on the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. The first stage will be the building of one jetty with a final project capacity of 450,000 TEU a year. One TEU is a twenty foot long shipping container equivalent. More

The health of the Panama Canal affects the economic health of Panama. The recession has reduced shipping rates slightly through the Panama Canal. However, scheduled rate increases meant to help pay for the Panama Canal Expansion, have raised concerns among shippers who have threatened to send ships around Cape Horn instead of pay increased Panama Canal fees. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has just announced a temporary plan to reduce rates from the level of the announced increases. This adjustment will last from June 1 to September 30 of 2009. More

A recent issue of the Manchester Guardian has an excellent article detailing the pollution caused by low-grade diesel fuel used by large ships. This is a concern for any country with ports and a coastline as that is where these boats spend a large amount of their time. A study conducted in Denmark estimated that pollution from ships accounts for a cost to their national health service of more than $7 billion a year! The figure for the USA is $330 Billion. With five percent of world shipping passing through the Panama Canal and the number soon to go up this can be a problem for Panama. More

In the last year there was a lot of press about expatriates moving to Panama to live their lives, start businesses, and contribute the their adopted country. With a worldwide recession and now the flu a lot of the "personal" news has been knocked off the front page if not out of the news. However, the expatriates have not gone away. In fact this may be the best of all times to start or restart your life in Panama. More

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that it expect to sees canal traffic tonnage for the rest of the year to be up to five percent less than the same months in fiscal 2008. For the first seven months of the fiscal year tonnage was done 2.4 percent compared to fiscal 2008. ACP expects to see world trade some back strong by 2011 making 2010 a building year. More

A fungus is killing frogs in Panama and naturalists are doing frog triage. The problem is that a fungus, the chytrid fungus, is killing amphibians at mid and high altitudes world wide. In Panama institutions such as the Amphibian Arc and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute are setting up and running programs to save amphibians, including Panama frogs, from extinction. The problem is that there are a lot of frog species and only so much space, manpower, money, and time. More

There are many Panama commercial real estate opportunities in logistics. Five percent of world trade passes through the Panama Canal and that percentage is likely to increase with the completion of the Panama Canal Expansion. Panama already ranks well in Latin America in handling cargo. Panama is also upgrading its logistics infrastructure. That is where commercial real estate investment comes in. More