Panama is far more than just its world-famous canal; it is a vibrant crossroads of culture, history, and breathtaking biodiversity. From the only capital city in the world with a rainforest within its limits to the stunning San Blas Islands, this Central American gem offers endless surprises for every traveler.
Whether you are fascinated by its unique geography—where you can witness both the Pacific sunrise and Atlantic sunset in a single day—or its eclectic mix of indigenous traditions and modern urban life, Panama promises an unforgettable adventure. Discover the hidden stories and remarkable facts that make this country a must-visit destination.
The narrowest part of Panama is only 30 miles wide
The narrowest part of Panama is only 30 miles (48 kilometers) wide, so it’s very easy traveling from one side to the other. You can even do it multiple times a day if you want. It’s really cool getting to see both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on the same day.
You can watch the sunrise in the Pacific and set in the Atlantic
Panama is the only country in the world where you can watch the sunrise on the Pacific coast and then set on the Atlantic coast. You can see this from the top of the highest point in the country, Volcan Baru at 3,474 m.
Panama City has its own rainforest within the city
Panama City is the only capital city in the world that has a rainforest within the city limits. It’s one of the reasons it’s such a humid city to visit.
Panama has two independence days
How about this as an interesting fact about Panama – the country has two independence days! The first is from Spain in 1821, and the second from Colombia 82 years later in 1903. Double fiesta time!
Panama hats don’t actually come from Panama
This is one of our favorite fun facts about Panama, but the infamous Panama Hat doesn’t originate from here – it actually comes from Ecuador in South America.
The Canal is Panama’s main source of revenue
By 2021, the Panama Canal Authority is hoping the project will bring in US$2.1 billion per year in added revenue. That’s a huge amount of money!
Building the canal was a dangerous task
This is one of the scarier facts about Panama. Between 1904 and 1913, some 5,600 Panama Canal workers died, mainly due to disease as they had no immunity. Malaria was thought to be the biggest factor.
Panamanians are mad about baseball
Mirroring the US, baseball is the most popular sport in the country. They are mad for it here – in fact, watching live baseball is one of the top things to do in Panama.
Panama is home to the San Blas Islands
There are more than 1,500 islands in Panama. The most famous of these are the San Blas Islands. The Kuna people are the local indigenous people who live on the islands and offer homestays. This is such a great way of immersing yourself in the local community here.
Panama has a variety of Indigenous Cultures
Indigenous people currently make up around 13% of Panama's population. There are still seven distinct indigenous cultures, these are then divided into four major groups, these are the Ngöbe-Buglé, the Guna, the Emberá-Wounaan, and the Naso-Bribri.
There are only two seasons in Panama
The dry season runs from November to April, and the wet season runs from April to November.
There are a huge number of birds in Panama
If you are a bird lover, this would be the most exciting fact about Panama. In the country alone, there are at least 970 species of birds; that’s an astonishing number. Many bird watchers visit the region for this specific purpose; to discover the country´s nature and biodiversity.
Panama has mind-blowing Bio-diversity
Panama is home to 10,000 different plant species, including more than 1,500 species of trees, 1,400 varieties of orchids, and 678 types of fern. This makes it one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.
The Panama Flag
Panama’s flag is unique. An interesting fact about Panama’s flag is that it is one of few with a distinctive design. Forget all the triple vertical or horizontal stripes designs with different widths and arrangements, you won’t have a hard time with that when it comes to the Panama flag.
The currency in Panama is the US$
Panama was the first Latin American country to adopt the U.S. currency as its own. The other countries in Central or South America that use US$ are Ecuador, El Salvador, and Puerto Rico.
The Chucunaque River
The Chucunaque River is the longest in Panama, measuring 144 miles long.
The inventor of Murphy’s law was born in Panama
Edward Murphy Jr, best known for creating Murphy’s Law, which is said to state that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong”, was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1918.
Panama is the second smallest country in Central America
With a population of 4.4 million people, Panama is actually the second smallest country in Central America. The most populous is Guatemala with 17.25 million people. Belize is the smallest with half a million people.
The Panama national bird is scary
The national bird of Panama is the harpy eagle. If you’ve never seen pictures of the harpy eagle before, it’s pretty freaky. And massive.
You can swim under the Panama Canal
Scuba divers have the opportunity of swimming practically under the Panama Canal at the Gatun Lake. Here you can even see the old submerged railroads used during the Canal’s construction.
Darién National Park is beautiful but you can’t cross it
Darién National Park is a world heritage site in Panama. It is about 325 kilometers (200 miles) from Panama City and is the most extensive of all national parks of Panama and is one of the most important world heritage sites in Central America. However, due to drug traffickers, it’s virtually impossible to cross the Darién Gap into Colombia.
Panama is home to the oldest operating railroad
A total of 12,000 lives were lost in the construction of the Panama Railroad, which is the oldest continually operating railroad ever in the world. It is still fully functional as it transports passengers between Panama City and Colon.
Panama is home to the largest Artificial Lake in the world
At the time of completion in 1912, it was the largest artificial lake in the world. This large freshwater lake is approximately 25 meters above sea level. The Gatun Lake is a key part of the Panama Canal.
A Fishy Tale
The word 'Panama' is traditionally said to mean "place of fishes".
The Poison Dart Frog
Panama is home to the tiny but toxic strawberry poison-dart frog. This little guy is too poisonous to even touch!
These are just some of the interesting facts about Panama. If you want to learn more about this stunning and fascinating country ask us here!
