Why go to Panama? The 10 good reasons to go Panama

Most of the museums are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9-10 am to 4-5 pm. They are closed on Mondays and holidays. There is not much influence in the Panamanian museums, except in the most prestigious ones such as the Biomuseo and the Miraflores Visitor Center, where you can observe the passage of the locks of the Panama Canal.

Except to get close to the Panama Canal (Miraflores and Agua Clara visitor centers, Isla Barro Colorado), or for large groups, reservations are not required to visit the museums.

Except for some museums (Biomuseo, Museum and Visitor Centers of the Panama Canal), the fees are low, generally between 1 and 5 US$. Nationals and residents benefit from reduced rates compared to foreigners. There are also special rates for children, students and pensioners. The national parks are free of charge, except for the Coiba National Park.

The main event that makes Panamanians' eyes shine is the carnival, during February or at the beginning of March. It lasts 4 days and takes place in several cities or villages of the country. The most famous is the one in Las Tablas, in the Azuero peninsula. Other important popular and religious celebrations are: the parade of the Thousand Polleras in January, again in Las Tablas; Corpus Christi, in June, in La Villa de Los Santos; the Festival of the Mejorana, in the village of Guararé, at the end of September; or the pilgrimage of Cristo Negro in Portobelo, in October.

The Panama Jazz Festival, which takes place in January in the capital, is probably the most important musical event of the moment.

French-speaking guides are few and far between, and tour operators have to find them for their groups. If you're traveling independently, you can use local French-speaking agencies for day tours or excursions, or for a few days. This is the case in Panamá and Bocas, for example. Most of them are mentioned in this guide.

The information you can obtain from tourist offices is often limited to the most basic details, and practical information is usually provided by the staff at your hostel or hotel.

According to the WHO, Panama is the country with the lowest smoking prevalence rate in the world! The smokers we see are usually foreigners. The legislation is strict, it is forbidden to smoke in public places, including in parks where sports activities are practiced, or on the Cinta Costera.

Mass tourism has not yet arrived in Panama and that's good. There are few tourist traps, and Panamanians are rather benevolent towards foreigners. However, this is not a reason to trust anyone!

A visit to Panama's famous canal is a must. There are two visitor centers for this: Miraflores, not far from Panamá City, and Aguas Claras, near Colón. There is also the possibility of taking the historical train that connects Panamá and Colón in one hour, following a large part of the canal and the Gatún lake. On another note, don't miss the Biomuseo, to better understand why the isthmus is one of the richest regions on the planet in terms of biodiversity. And you should know that Ciudad de Panamá is one of the only capitals in the world to host the tropical jungle, just 10 minutes from the modern city!