Panama
palm tree with coconuts by the beach in Panama

Panama

Panama is one of the premier destinations for all kinds of divers. It has numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites that are carefully conserved. From the pristine white beaches and clear blue waters, to the rustic Old Panama villages, the islands of Panama offer numerous attractions for the intrepid traveler to explore.

Geography of Panama

Panama is a tropical country in Central America that connects North and South America. Its capital, Panama City, can be found on the Pacific coast and east of the Panama Canal. This cosmopolitan city is the center of Panama’s commercial and financial services.

Part of Panama is the 51-mile- (82-km-) long Panama Canal. The canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is one of the most strategic ports and transportation hubs in the world. The Panama Canal gives the country a significant role in international commerce and trade. Despite having a relatively small land mass, Panama has diverse landscapes, which is reflected in its rich biodiversity. Panama boasts tropical rainforests, savannas, tidal lands, beaches, and coral reefs.

Archipiélago de las Perlas

The Pearl Islands (Archipiélago de las Perlas in Spanish) is named after the abundance of pearls that the Spanish conquistadors found in the archipelago. It is a group of more than 200 islands and more than 100 unnamed islets. It is located in the Bay of Panama, the Pacific side of the country, and has abundant white-sand beaches. It has diverse and calm dive sites, as most of the islands shield the waters from ocean currents. There are also diving sites that face the ocean, which tend to have rougher waters and stronger currents. These make them ideal for drift dives.

Bocas del Toro Islands

The Bocas del Toro, or “The Bull’s Mouth” Islands, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a rich marine biodiversity and numerous dive sites for amateur and professional divers, making it one of the premier Panama diving sites. Here, you can enjoy the shallow waters of Mangrove Point, or explore the Old Wreck, a 12-meter deep shipwreck that was intentionally sunk in 1997 and became home to different kinds of marine life.

Coiba National Park

The Coiba National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the best dive spots along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Colombia. The archipelago consists of 38 islands and is home to many exotic marine life. Here, you can see an abundance of shark species like bull, tiger, and hammerhead sharks. Whale sharks can be spotted when diving during the winter months, while pods of pilot whales, orcas, and humpbacks can be seen seeking warmer coastal waters during the month of July.

Islas Secas

Islas Secas is part of the Gulf of Chiriquí and is located on a chain of sixteen volcanic islands. The archipelago has clear waters and is home to over 750 species of fish and 128 species of plants. Here, you can swim with white tipped reef sharks, giant manta and eagle rays, and see pods of dolphins and schools of tropical fish.

Isla Ladrones

Isla Ladrones is a popular sport fishing and scuba diving spot in the Gulf of Chiriquí. It is located 27 miles south of Boca Chica and can be accessed by boat. You can swim with eagle, mobula and devil rays all year round, while giant manta rays are present from May to November. Isla Ladrones also has an abundance of sharks, as you can see white-tip, black-tip, and nurse sharks swimming around the coral reefs. Other smaller reef species like angelfish, surgeonfish, parrotfish, and triggerfish can also be seen here.

Gatun Lake

Gatun Lake is one of the most unique dive spots in Panama as it is a man-made lake. It can be found next to the Panama Canal and still has structures like trains and buildings underwater. These were the remnants of what the lake engulfed over 100 years ago, and is now home to many species of plant and marine life. Make sure to be careful when diving here as it is a freshwater lake and offers below-average visibility underwater.

Portobelo National Park

Portobelo National Park is an 86,000-acre protected land and marine area. Tourists can reach Portobelo easily. It is only one hour and 30 minutes away from Panama City through the Transisthmic Highway. Divers and tourists can enjoy the beaches, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and coastal lagoons along the coastlines of the park. Portobelo National Park is also the nesting grounds of the highly endangered hawksbill turtle.

Marine Life

  • Sea Turtles - Four species of sea turtles can be found in the waters of Bocas del Toro and the Comarca. Leatherback, hawksbill, green, and loggerhead turtles frequent particular beaches in Panama and are widely protected and monitored.
  • Whitetip Reef Sharks - Whitetip reef sharks are common coral reef dwellers thanks to their slender bodies. These sharks are highly nocturnal and are among the most common species of sharks found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
  • Giant Oceanic Manta Rays - The giant manta ray is the largest species of rays in the world. Giant manta rays are filter feeders, consuming zooplanktons like krill, shrimps, and planktonic crabs. This species can be seen swimming alone or in packs of up to 50 rays at a time.
  • Humpback Whales - Humpback whales are a species of the baleen whale. They’re often seen in tropical and subtropical waters where they gather to breed. These whales are also filter feeders, eating mainly fish and krill. Humpback whales can be seen in the waters of Panama from July to October.
  • Bottlenose Dolphins - The bottlenose dolphin is another marine mammal that frequents the warm and temperate waters of Panama. These dolphins swim the ocean in pods, and are among the smartest marine mammals in the world. They’re also known for their use of echolocation to hunt for food efficiently.

Other Attractions

  • Panama Canal - The Panama Canal is one of the most popular landmarks in Panama and plays a large role in the country’s economy. This feat of engineering was finished in 1914 to serve as a crossing for numerous shipping vessels. Many visitors also go to the Miraflores Locks Museum to see how the canal’s mechanics operate. The museum has a restaurant where patrons can watch ships cross the canal.
  • Sendero Los Quetzales - Sendero Los Quetzales is located near the town of Cerro Punto. This trail goes through the cloud forest of Parque Nacional Volcán Barú and ends above the Boquete mountains. It is one of Panama’s most beautiful trails thanks to its scenic route and beautiful waterfalls.
  • El Valle de Anton - El Valle de Anton is the perfect destination for nature-loving tourists who want to take a break from the beach. This village is located in the Cocle Province of Central Panama and is surrounded by an ancient volcanic caldera. El Valle de Anton captures Old Panama, as it is mostly isolated from the rest of Panama. Make sure to go here after your trip to Panama City to see other wildlife, visit the local orchid conservatory, or go to nearby forests for bird-watching.
  • Playa Las Lajas - Playa Las Lajas is a 13-kilometer long beach along the Gulf of Chiriqui. Cheap restaurants and small, rustic shacks scatter around the beach. Its waters have little currents and are the ideal temperature, making it perfect for swimming and bodysurfing. The beach has yet to be commercialized and remains one of Panama’s best kept secret beaches.
  • Volcan Baru - Volcan Baru is located in the Chiriqui Province of the Pacific West, and is the highest peak in Panama. It is 3,474 meters above sea level and offers a perfect view of Costa Rica, as well as the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Tourists can enjoy the scenic route as they ascend to Volcan Baru, making the trip more about nature than anything else.

How to Get There

By Air
Countries have enforced stricter travel guidelines since the COVID-19 pandemic. North and South America have non-stop flights to Panama, while direct routes are available from Europe and the United Kingdom. You can fly internationally through Copa Airlines (Panama’s national airline), as well as United, British Airways, American Airlines, and KLM.

By Sea
Sea travel to Panama is very popular among tourists. You can board boats in Balboa, the main port of Panama. Most boat trips to Panama come from Cartagena in Colombia or leave from Portobelo. Most cruise ships also stop over or pass by the Panama Canal.

Best Time to Visit

If you don’t like navigating your way through crowds of tourists, consider visiting Panama during non-peak seasons. The peak season is from December to March, and the best time to go Panama is during the dry season, which allows you to enjoy its pristine beaches and warm waters freely.

Required Trainings & Certifications

To dive the waters of Panama safely, make sure you have the right trainings and certifications. It’s advisable that you take either the PADI Open Water Diver course or the PADI Advanced Open Water course if you want to explore the deeper and more dangerous spots during your Panama diving vacations.

Miscellaneous Information

Currency
The Panamanian balboa is the official currency of Panama.

Language
Spanish is the official language of Panama as it is spoken by the majority of its residents. All of the indigenous groups living in Panama speak and preserve their native languages. English is also spoken here, particularly those with West Indian backgrounds, as it is taught in Panamanian schools.

Time Zone
Panama follows Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5).

Driving Side
Vehicles in Panama are driven on the right side of the road.

Calling Code
If you’re calling Panama from another country, dial 507 after the IDD.

ISO 3166 code
ISO 3166-2:PA is the entry for Panama in ISO 3166-2.

Internet TLD
.pa is the Internet top-level domain for Panama.