Panama

Panama is a connection point between divergent worlds. Its territory emerged—first as islands, then as continuous shore—between 11 and 2.5 million years ago, bridging two continents and enabling an unprecedented exchange of species.

Today Panama is one of the most densely bio-diverse regions on earth—Panamanian forests 30 miles apart are less alike than those 900 miles apart in the Amazon Basin.

Diversity is a recurring theme here; at least eight distinct indigenous groups populated this part of the isthmus before the arrival of Europeans and Africans. Those visiting more than one location, will likely overhear conversations in Spanish, Creole, English and Kuna.

Panama is closer than you might think. Fights to Panama City’s international airport from Miami take just over three hours. Fights from Houston last four hours, and flights from New York arrive in about five hours. Trips to Panama can be combined with extensions to Costa Rica (one hour), Ecuador (two hours), and Peru (under four hours).

Panama is situated less than 10° north of the equator. Although the country has at least a dozen distinct microclimates, temperatures generally range from the low-90s to high-70s year-round near the coast. The rainy season typically extends from May to November.