(Surfline) As a surf destination, Panama first became popularized in the ’60s and ’70s, along with neighboring Central American countries, for its myriad and diverse setups along the southwest-facing Pacific Coast in summertime. In recent years, however, Panama’s other coast — the Caribbean side, and specifically Bocas Del Toro — has gained popularity as a winter escape. … [Read more...]
Panama Canal watershed records 5th driest year in 70 years
(Startribune) The Panama Canal's watershed experienced its fifth driest year of the last seven decades in 2019, officials said this week, underscoring warnings that climate change poses a major challenge to the recently expanded waterway, a major driver of the Central American nation's economy. Monday's annual report from the Canal Authority said that the watershed … [Read more...]
Emberá create world’s largest patacón
(Remezcla) A small but mighty Indigenous community in Panama has set the Guinness World Record for the largest patacón in the world. After six months of coordinating and planning, the Emberá community in Ipetí, Panama fried a 245-pound, 11.2-foot wide patacón. To put that in perspective, that equates to about a year’s worth of tostones for Sunday breakfast and is equivalent to … [Read more...]
Panama 30 years after US invasion is still thriving
(Americas Quarterly) Not every country in Latin America is aflame. Panama is flourishing. The expanded Canal is a critical node of global trade and may at some point be expanded again. The economy has averaged almost 6% annual growth since the restoration of democracy, and yet another free and fair election and peaceful transition of power in 2019 shows that democracy … [Read more...]
Panama City is way more than just the Panama Canal
(Thrive Global) Panama was full of surprises for me. It was strikingly more American than expected for a Central American locale yet still managed to hold onto that warm, relaxed feel of a distinctively Latin American country. The streets felt safe to roam day or night and the Panamanian people were friendly and acommodating to the U.S. traveler. Before I arrived, I thought … [Read more...]