Mention the name Panama and immediately to most persons there springs to mind the Panama Canal while to others the name conjures up visions of great shopping. Undoubtedly the Panama Canal is one of the marvels of the modern world but Panama offers much more than visiting the Panama Canal and doing some shopping. Panama also offers a world of outdoor adventures in a tropical setting.

The waters off Panama are the habitat for humpbacked whales, orca whales, spotted dolphins and bottle nose dolphins and you can go whale watching in the Golfo de Chiriqui.  Humpback whales from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres come to Panama to breed and give birth. Making Panama one of the few places in the world with two whale watching seasons, July- October with several thousand whales from Antarctica and December.-February with several hundred whales from Alaska.  You can also view turtle nesting as five species of turtles nest on Panama's beaches; leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead, green, and olive ridley. If simply relaxing on a white sand beach is your desire, Panama has 1,500 islands each with stretches of white sand beach.

Panama means "abundance of fish" in Indian language and Panama lives up to its name. It has several world class fishing area including Panama's Pinas Bay, home to more world fishing records than any place in the world - 250 to be exact and the Gulf of Chiriqui and Coiba Island area in West Panama. Black, blue and striped marlin abound in numbers and Pacific sailfish are present yea round. Dolphin are also caught all year and average 20 to 60 lbs. Many yellow fin tuna are boated each year. Inshore, there are amberjack, snapper, grouper, roosterfish, pompano, rainbow runner, mackerel, jack and other species.  For fresh water fishing, Lake Gatun in the Panama Canal 45 minutes from Panama City. 

Panama is the place for some of the finest and most exciting kayaking excursions. Major locations are in West Panama(Chiriqui/ Bocas Del Toro) and East Panama (Colon/ Panama province / Darien). Sections that are Class III, IV, and V, some 20 kms long await the white water enthusiasts. In West Panama near the Costa Rican border, the Chiriqui River and the Chiriqui Viejo River are the two main rivers used for rafting, which range from categories III-V. Both rivers are scenic rides through forests, by sheer rock walls and with waterfalls nearby. Outside of Chiriqui province, you can raft on the historic Chagres River near Panama City and as well as several few rivers in the province of Cocle near El Valle de Anton.In addition to whitewater kayaking, Panama boasts of miles upon miles of open sea coastal water and rivers suitable for touring, expedition, and sea kayaking.

There are many national parks that you can visit for every ecological habitat you'd like to see. The mountains along the spine of Panama have their beguiling charms. You can hike through cloud-covered forests or swim in chilly mountain streams. If you feel adventurous enough, you can trek up Volcan Baru, the highest peak in Panama, and get a really unique experience: seeing, at the same time, the two largest oceans and the two largest continents at your feet. In the country's 500 rivers and 22,000 square kilometers of rain forest, there are 940 bird species and 125 animal species. 

Panama also offers you the colonial ruins and fortifications that once defended old Panama, Spain's capital in the New World. Plus you can check out the many fortresses along the Caribbean coast.

Learn More about Panama by visiting our other Panama Pages