Panama Culture

Panama is located in Central America, where many cultures intersect. Ethnic diversity is reflected in local ceramics, ritual masks, architecture, cuisine and festivals.
Festivals and celebrations are held throughout the country throughout the year. At the end of February, the world-famous Panama Carnival takes place in Panama City. This is a very colorful festival during which local women wear traditional dresses and adorn themselves with gold jewelry.
In the north of the country, in the province of Colon, tourists can get acquainted with the cultural traditions of the peoples of Africa. Therefore, Congolese drums are very popular among the residents of this province.
Cuisine
The main food products are beans, rice and meat. Fish and seafood dishes are excellent on the coast and on the islands. Mango and coconut are often added to local dishes. Tourists are recommended to try "sancocho" (stewed chicken with vegetables), "empanadas" (pancakes with meat or cheese), "carimanola" (small pies with meat and boiled egg), "tamales" (pancakes with corn and banana leaves), "gallo pinto" (rice and beans with pork), "ceviche" (slices of raw fish or shrimp marinated in lime juice and mixed with tomatoes, cilantro and onions).
The traditional alcoholic drink is "seco" (a liqueur made from sugar cane).
Attractions in Panama
Tourists are recommended to visit the city of Panama Viejo, destroyed by pirates, where ruins of Spanish buildings dating back to the early 16th century are still preserved. However, many of the ruins of this city have been preserved in very good condition, and therefore they can hardly be considered as such. These are, first of all, the Monastery of Santo Domingo, the Church of San Jose and the Royal Bridge.
Be sure to visit the Panama Canal, which is associated with many different political events. You will definitely see a large ocean liner there. By the way, more than 12,000 large ocean liners pass through the locks of the Panama Canal every year.
Panama's reserves and parks are popular with tourists, and there are many of them in this country. The most famous of them are the Soberania National Park, located about 40 km from Panama City, as well as the Metropolitano, Portobello, Volcan Baru, Sarigua and Darien National Parks. Don't forget to also visit the marine park on Bastimentos Island.
Cities and resorts
The largest cities are David, Colon, Burican, Boqueron, Atalaya, Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Olán, Parita, Portobello and, of course, Panama City. Panama has a very long coastline, and with hundreds of islands, you can only imagine how many beaches there are in this country. Most tourists realize that the best beaches in Panama are not on the Pacific coast, but on the Caribbean coast. Moreover, the beaches on the islands are considered the best.